The following extracts have been taken from my notes on the Robinson, Duesbery, Lewen, Gray, Gepp and Harrison families, all of which (except Gepp, and perhaps Gray) were families living in Scarborough, Yorkshire, in the eighteenth century. I would be interested in exchanging information with anyone who has a research interest in any of these families. I am particularly interested in tracing the record of the marriage between William Robinson and Mary Duesbery, which does not appear in the parish register for St Mary's, Scarborough. Also, any information at all about the Duesbery (or Duesbury, or Dewsberry) family, which seems to have extended in a southwestly arc from the Yorkshire coast down toward Pocklington in the East Riding, would be very much appreciated. Is anyone aware of any research which has already been undertaken into the history of this family? I have so far been unable to find any record of any will left by Mary Lewen (or Lewins, formerly Robinson, nee Duesbery), and perhaps someone can suggest possible avenues for further hunting (I have tried the Borthwick Institute in York, but without success). Lastly, I continue to seek any record in Yorkshire of the elusive Captain Francis Gray of Cork, as well as details of the further lines of descent from Mary Robinson and Godfrey Harrison. I have found living descendants of the Robinson-Gepp marriage, which dates from the same period, and it would be pleasing indeed to make contact with a Harrison descendant. Although Scarborough is located in the old North Riding, the parish registers and ecclesiastical records are kept at Beverley, in the old East Riding. I am therefore sending this message to both the North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire groups. Mark Robinson, London Generation 1 WILLIAM ROBINSON was baptised on 13 October 1716 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. He married Mary Duesbery in about 1734 or, more probably, in about 1739, place unknown, and was buried on 11 April 1758 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. There were one son, William Robinson, and four daughters, Catherine Robinson, Ann Robinson, Mary Robinson, and Jane Robinson. The last will of William Robinson, dated 27 February 1749/50, and proved on 12 December 1758, reads (in part, and as written) as follows: "...I William Robinson of Scarborough in the County of York Master Marriner...After my dear and loveing wife deceas I give and demise unto my only son William Robinson and to his heirs and assigns...one hundred and twenty pound of British money to my dotor Mary Robinson all that my messuage dwelling houes or tenement and premisses with the appurtenances situate in Tanner Street or Saint Thomas Gate in Scarbrough aforesaid whereing I now live also the houes ye yard adioyning to the back of ye aforesaid houes which I have now taken into own my hand...I do give and demise unto my dotor Catherine Robinson and to her heirs and assigns for ever the houes or tennement where Richard Jackson Malt make now live with half of the garth and grass platt and priviledge of the well ways entry and passages hereto belonging...I do give and demise unto my dotor Ann Robinson and to her heirs and assigns for ever the three tennements adioyning to the back of Mrs Hannah Duesbery houes which she n! ow living...Lastly I do make and constitute my said wife executrix of this my last will and testament, also I constitute and appoint trustees for my children after my wife deceas my brother John Robinson and brother Mathew Duesbery in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 27th day of February in the year of our Lord 1749/50. William Robinson (sealed) William Robinson was a mariner and a ship owner. In 1750, a William Robinson of Scarborough was master and part owner of the Loyalty. In 1756, a William Robinson of Scarborough, probably the same, was master and part-owner of the Felicity. MARY DUESBERY of Scarborough, Yorkshire, was probably the Mary Duesberry who was baptised on 27 November 1716 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. She married twice and, as Mary Lewins (sic), was buried on 5 December 1789 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough, at the age of seventy-three. Subsequent to the death of William Robinson, Mary Duesbery married Thomas Lewen on 15 May 1759 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. That marriage ceremony was conducted by Joseph Woofe, Minister, and was witnessed by Henry Howard, vintner, and John Cornforth.Thomas Lewen was probably born in about 1708, married twice, and died on 17 January 1761 at Hammersmith, where he had gone on Scarborough Corporation business. He was buried on 23 January 1761, also at Hammersmith. His will, dated 4 October 1760, was proved at York on 23 April 1761 by his son, James Radcliffe Lewen. Prior to his marriage to Mary Duesbery, he married Catherine Scott, who was buried on 28 April 1755 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough.! From that marriage, there were four daughters, Catherine Lewen, a second Catherine Lewen, Ann Lewen, and Ellinor Lewen, and three sons, Thomas Lewen, a second Thomas Lewen, and James Radcliffe Lewen. Thomas Lewen was enrolled an Attorney-at-Law on 27 November 1730, and was admitted to the Freedom of Scarborough in 1735. He was Bailiff of Scarborough in 1738 and 1751, and was described in the parish register of St Mary's as a Master Mariner. Generation 2 (Issue of William Robinson and Mary Duesbery) CATHERINE ROBINSON was born on 3 April 1742, and was baptised on 8 May 1742 (or 8 May 1741) at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. She may have married Captain Francis Gray of Cork. If so, there may have been at least one son, Francis Gray, who was born on 3 August 1781 at Bridlington, Yorkshire. ANN ROBINSON was born on 4 September 1744, or on 17 September 1744, probably in Scarborough, and was baptised on 30 October 1744 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. She married Edward Gepp, and died on 5 July 1832. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Chelmsford, where there is a memorial tablet. (Details of the line of descent from Ann Robinson and Edward Gepp have been researched extensively, and are not reproduced here) MARY ROBINSON may have been born in about 1746, was baptised on 9 February 1746/7 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough, and married Godfrey Harrison on 26 June 1766 at Scarborough. The marriage ceremony was conducted by the Reverend Joseph Woofe, Minister, and was witnessed by John Robinson and Michael Cales. There were at least five sons, William Robinson Harrison, John Harrison, Robert Harrison, Christopher Harrison, and Edward Young Harrison, and three daughters, Jane Harrison, Catharine Harrison, and a second Jane Harrison. JANE ROBINSON was born in about 1752, and was baptised on 18 December 1752 at St Mary's Church, Scarborough. Generation 3 (Issue of Mary Robinson and Godfrey Harrison) WILLIAM ROBINSON HARRISON was born on 1 May 1767, and was baptised on 23 June 1767 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. He may have been the William Harrison who married Jane Willis on 3 February 1792, at Scarborough, and/or the William Harrison who married Mary Elliot on 5 December 1801, also at Scarborough. From that second marriage, there were six daughters, Mary Harrison, Jane Harrison, Frances Harrison, Ann Harrison, Peggy Harrison, and a second Frances Harrison, and three sons, William Harrison, Francis Harrison, and Robert Harrison. Note also that a William Harrison married Hannah Jackson on 22 September 1788, at Scarborough. JOHN HARRISON was born on 2 September 1768, and was baptised on 30 December 1768 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. He married Ann Bowcock on 11 December 1794, also at Scarborough. From that marriage, there was at least one daughter, Tabitha Harrison. John Harrison may have been the widower, John Harrison, who married Ann Boyce on 12 June 1805. From that marriage, there were two sons, John Harrison, and William Harrison , and one daughter, Jane Harrison. ROBERT HARRISON was baptised on 14 January 1772 at Scarborough, Yorkshire, and married Mary Hartley on 25 November 1802, also at Scarborough. It may be worth noting that a Robert Harrison of Carlton in Co Durham married Ann Bell on 19 September 1796 at Scarborough, although there would appear to be no connection to the Robert Harrison of interest here. JANE HARRISON was born on 12 July 1772, was baptised on 15 July 1772 at Scarborough, and presumably died prior to December 1780. CHRISTOPHER HARRISON was born on 2 January 1774, and was baptised on 4 October 1774 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. He married Jane Scott on 4 May 1799, also at Scarborough. There was at least one daughter, Mercy Harrison. CATHARINE HARRISON was born on 18 December 1777, and was baptised on 9 December 1780 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. She was buried on 30 July 1796, also at Scarborough. JANE HARRISON was born on 16 October 1780, and was baptised on 9 December 1780 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. She married John Taylor on 23 February 1800, also at Scarborough. EDWARD YOUNG HARRISON was born on 6 August 1782, and was baptised on 11 September 1782 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. He was buried on 14 December 1787, also at Scarborough.