As part of our ongoing research into the genealogy of Henry S. Salt and his extended family, one of the most intriguing puzzles to emerge concerns the origin of the Leigh name in the Joynes line. The name first appears through the marriage of Joseph Joynes (1701–1762) and Ellen (Ellin) Leigh, who were married on 10 January 1735 at St Peter, Ightham, Kent. Their descendants continued to use Leigh as a middle name for several generations, including James Leigh Joynes, father of Salt’s first wife, Catherine Leigh “Kate” Joynes, and again in her brother of the same name.
Yet, despite the prominence of the name, almost nothing is known about Ellen Leigh herself. No baptism, parentage, marriage licence (beyond the parish entry), or burial record has yet been identified, leaving her as one of the most significant gaps in the early Joynes family story.
A Potential Clue: Reverend Ralph Leigh of Ightham
During our wider research, we identified a potentially significant figure: Reverend Ralph Leigh, Rector of St Peter’s, Ightham—the very church where Joseph and Ellen married. His timeline and circumstances provide several points of interest.
Kent Burials Record
- Revd Mr Ralph Leigh
- Rector of St Peter, Ightham
- Buried 29 May 1760
- Kent History & Library Centre (Archive ref: P202/1/A/2)
From The Speculum of Archbishop Thomas Secker (p. 286)
- Ralph Leigh (1671–1760)
- Of Blackrod, Lancashire
- BA 1714, MA 1722
- Rector of Ightham from 1724 to 1760
- m. Brasenose 1710
- With the vital note: “Now at Mr Joynes’s at Gravesend. 70. Dead, May, 1760.”
This final line is particularly compelling. It places Rev. Leigh in the household of a member of the Joynes family shortly before his death. Whether this was Joseph Joynes, or another relative, is not yet known.
Is There a Family Connection Between Ellen Leigh and Rev. Ralph Leigh?
At present, no documentary evidence directly links Ellen to Ralph. However, the circumstantial alignment is strong enough to raise genuine questions worth preserving for future research:
1. The Marriage Took Place in Ralph’s Parish
Ellen Leigh married Joseph Joynes at St Peter, Ightham, where Ralph was Rector at the time. It was common for rectors to officiate or host family marriages.
2. The Rare Appearance of the Leigh Name
The Leigh surname does not appear frequently in this part of Kent during the early 18th century. Its sudden and enduring use within the Joynes family suggests a connection of some importance.
3. Ralph’s Final Residence With a “Mr Joyne”
This note places the Rector with the Joynes family at the very end of his life. It is unusual enough to merit attention—Ralph must have had some form of association, whether familial, pastoral, or personal.
4. Missing Vital Records
No marriage has been located for Ralph Leigh, nor any evidence of children. Similarly, Ellen’s origins remain undocumented. It remains entirely possible that Ellen was a daughter, niece, cousin, or ward of Ralph, but that the relevant parish records are missing, damaged, or lie in an unindexed archive.
5. Ralph Leigh’s Lancashire Origin
Ralph Leigh’s origins in Blackrod, Lancashire, raise the possibility that Ellen may not have been local to Kent. If she came from elsewhere—particularly from a family connected to Ralph—her baptism may exist outside Kent, explaining the absence of local records.
What We Still Need to Discover
To establish a definitive link between Ellen and Ralph, the following materials would be invaluable:
- Leigh family wills (particularly in Kent and Lancashire)
- Ightham parish chest documents
- Any surviving Rector’s notes or correspondence from St Peter’s
- Marriage licence allegations or bonds involving the Leigh surname
- Gravesend records linking the Joynes and Leigh families
- Unindexed family papers mentioning either surname
At present, these sources either remain elusive or are not yet digitised.
Why We Are Publishing This Research Now
We are releasing these findings to make our current understanding—and uncertainties—publicly available, in the hope that future researchers, local historians, or descendants may recognise a detail or possess material we have not seen.
This is an open invitation to contribute to a missing chapter of both the Joynes family history and the wider genealogy surrounding Henry S. Salt.
Even a single overlooked document could resolve questions that have remained unanswered.
Can You Help?
If you have access to:
- Leigh family documents (Kent or Lancashire)
- Private genealogical research
- Parish material not yet online
- Local historical collections
- Information relating to St Peter’s clergy or parishioners
—we would greatly welcome any contributions, however small.
Please contact the Henry Salt Foundation with any relevant insights or sources.
