 Apart from almost annual voyages to the colony in the preceding fifteen years, on 28 December 1833 he had married Sophia Wentworth, a sister of explorer and politician William Charles Wentworth, at St Philip's Church, Sydney; the couple honeymooned at her brother's estate at Toongabbie.In 1843 he established Robert Towns & Co., General Merchants, Ship and Commission Agents, at Sydney.An early investment was the purchase of the "Elizabeth" (174 tons) in 1843.