I am relisting my interest in the above. I still would love to know from whence came Michael MURPHY, who married Mary GOSLIN at Topsham, 10 Aug 1748. This is the first Topsham MURPHY marriage on the IGI and their son James, baptised 5 May 1751, is the first baptism of a MURPHY at Topsham (IGI). There are many earlier MURPHY families at Braunton, Barnstaple and Bideford, in nth Devon, but none around Topsham or Exeter as early. I*think* there may be an Ilfracombe connection. A Michael MURPHY married Sarah STEEVENS at Ilfracombe, 30 Sept 1707. They baptised children as follows: Sarah 28 Dec 1708 then a big gap Mary 18 Nov 1716 John 11 Oct 1719 Alice 13 May 1721 Hannah 7 Oct 1726 Given that their first girl child was named for her mother, and that there are no Michaels noted, I speculate that there may have been a Michael born in the big gap between 1708 and 1716. Does anyone have access to records of the Ilfracombe baptisms for that period, who could kindly do a lookup for me please. I would love to hear from anyone who descends from any of the above and who may know of another child - possibly Michael - having been baptised by them. It's another long shot, but here goes, again! Alternatively, does sks have a copy of the following book: DUNSTAN, G J O "The Seaborne Trade of Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe, 1660-1700", Cambridge University Thesis (1972). If so could I ask for a lookup of the name MURPHY please. I understand thatin the 1700s ships went from Youghal inIrelandto the Welsh coast on a regular basis. This has encouragedmy suspicion that Ilfracombe, situated so closel to the south of Wales, could have been the route toDevon of my early Murphys? Any new information would be very much appreciated. Cheers, Madalene Frost Taihape, New Zealand