I WONDER if any of your readers in the Poole/Dorchester/Bridport areas are able to help me.

I am trying to see if there is a link between the families of Ann Balston who married Joseph Ricketts (two of my great, great grandparents) in Poole in February 1829 and the families of Symes/Simes and Symes Balston.

There appears to be little of a mention of Balstons in Poole much before 1750 while that of Symes and Symes Balston are to be found in Bridport in the late 16th century and into the 17th and beyond.

Some examples: William Balston (of Allington) married Margret Chicke, June 1, 1595; John Balstone married Honesty Randole May 3, 1627; Richard Simes married Thomsey Porter November 16, 1636; Sarah Symes married William Newman February 10, 1738; John Symes married Ann Hansford October 10, 1775 (witnesses James Balston and Joseph Powell); Ann Balston Symes married Heber Hill December 24, 1811 (witness Joseph Powell); James Symes Balston married Ann Weaden September 13, 1821 (witness W Lilly).

A witness at the wedding of my great, great grandparents, Ann and Joseph was W Lilly who also appears at the weddings of assorted Ricketts during the first decades of the 19th century.

TONY FOOT, Kestrel Close, Bishops Waltham, Hants, SO32 1RN