Genealogy Forum UK

Hi everyone,

I'm really interested in the Lea family of Rowley Regis and thanks to the Black Country Connections site I think I've found a link with this family.

Catherine Lea born abt 1622 Rowley Regis married William Bate 23 May 1641 Rowley Regis.

I think Catherine's parents were Richard Lea born 1586 Rowley Regis and Joice Bridgewater born abt 1590.

I'm wondering if this Richard Lea was somehow related to the Lea family that purchased Halesowen Grange?

Any ideas on how I could find out further information on Richard Lea's family connections because I've drawn a blank on the IGI site.

The problem is that the surname was spelt a few different ways which helps to confuse the situation eg Lee, Leigh and Lea.

I find the Tudor and Stuart period really engrossing and I've been amazed at the wealth of history I've found on the web about Rowley Regis and Halesowen.

Can anyone suggest some good reading material on the history of Rowley Regis and Halesowen that I could obtain because I've got the history bug

Kind regards
Adrian

Edward Chitham a history of Rowley REgis

and the Anthony page books

some more info on books here
http://www.theblackcountry.net/bookstore.htm

Hi Adrian, if you search the book sites such as Amazon and or Abe Books, even Ebay, there are some good books out there such as Halas Halas Halesowen, the history of Halesowen written by F K Somers; there is The History of Halesowen written about 1850 by William Shaw, more up to date, there are books on Halesowen written by Julian Hunt, Hans and Lena Schwarz (think Lena was a Miss Jones!) David Eades has compiled two books, in the Britain in Old Photographs Series which are a wealth of interest and well worth buying.

The Grange in Halesowen was built by Ferdinando Dudley Lea-Smith about 1750 his descandant was Lord Dudley. After the Lea Smiths moved to The Bell at Belbroughton the Somers bought the Grange. I would think there is a wealth of Documents on this family and 'The Grange' at Worcester Archives. HTH from Linell.

Hi Adrian
Have you checked out the http://thepeerage.com/ are they on there

I see these entries on the RR disc
Marriage
10 Nov 1611 Ric. Lea & Joyse Bridgewater

Baps
19 Jul 1612 Elisab. d of Ric. Lea
11 Aug 1616 Ric. s of Ric. Lea
7 Feb 1618 Catheryne, d of Ric Lea

Burial
9 Oct 1628 Richard Lea

Mar
23 May 1641 William Bate & Catherine Lea

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your help and replies.

This is also all the information I have found but can't get any further back to Richard Lea & Joyse Bridgewaters' parents and no luck on thepeerage.com.
Baps
19 Jul 1612 Elisab. d of Ric. Lea
11 Aug 1616 Ric. s of Ric. Lea
7 Feb 1618 Catheryne, d of Ric Lea
Burial
9 Oct 1628 Richard Lea
Mar
23 May 1641 William Bate & Catherine Lea

I'm thinking maybe Richard Lea belonged to another Lea family and wasn't that well known hence no information can be found.

I really enjoyed looking at the information on the Black Country book website you gave and I've decided to order A history of Rowley Regis by Edward Chitham and History of Halesowen by Julian Hunt which should keep me busy for sometime

Many thanks
Adrian

Shall we archive this then for the moment
or shall we move to brick walls adrian...

Hi,

I think you can archive and I can always post again if required.

Many thanks.
Adrian

or just pm one of us and we will bring it back for you