TWO Americans have recruited a writer to help trace a mysterious “missing” Sussex ancestor in time for a special anniversary.

Douglas Darby, from Frisco in Texas, and Rhonda Strawn, from Gulfport in Mississippi, contacted Eastbourne writer Elizabeth Wright after reading her feature The First Beachy Head Light about Belle Tout, at Beachy Head.

It credits Beachy Head’s first warning light to Parson Jonathan Darby (1667-1726), who lived in East Dean and was the curate of Littlington Church. He became well known locally when he occupied a small cave in the Beachy Head cliffs and hung out lanterns in rough weather to warn sailing ships of the nearby dangerous reefs, saving the lives of countless sailors.

Parson Darby married Anne Segar in 1681, and records show they had four children between 1700 and 1703. But both Americans believe they had another son, also called Jonathan, who was born in 1698 and left England for America at the age of 20 for either religious or political reasons.

Ms Wright, the author of the books Belle Tout - The Little Lighthouse That Moved and Made in Sussex, said: “Apparently, there are a good number of Darby relatives in America, but both Doug and Rhonda are hoping to find more here in Sussex, especially if there are any descendants who just might be able to solve the mystery of the ‘missing’ son.”

They hope to find other relatives in time for a 300th anniversary planned for next June to celebrate Jonathan Darby Junior’s arrival in New Orleans.

In an email to Ms Wright, Doug wrote: “My 5th-great-grandfather, Jonathan Darby, claimed in his marriage certificate with Marie Corbin, dated 18 February 1737, that he was the son of Jonathan Darby and Anne Segar. He arrived in New Orleans in June 1719 aboard the Le St Louis out of La Rochelle, France.

“We have theorised that there may have been a falling out between Parson Darby and Jonathan as the son converted to Catholicism, and he went to Louisiana to seek his fortune.”

Rhonda believes she is also a descendent of Jonathan Darby and Marie Corbin and is currently carrying out research with her mother Margaret, who is 86.

“I can’t find any official sources about him being the son of Parson Jonathan Darby,” she wrote. “My mother recently told me that her great grandfather, Adolph Darby, told her Jonathan came to Louisiana because he was a Jacobite and people in England wanted to kill him. We think he was disowned because of this.”

Both Americans are appealing for any records of Jonathan Darby Junior’s birth, and evidence of a falling out between father and ‘son’ through political or religious differences and that he was erased from records.