Drake Family

Connecting Drake Families in the United States.
  • Diana

    The young man in the portrait above is Frank Drake, my Great, Great Grandfather. He was born 20 November 1853 in Indiana. His father, John Drake, is called an "orphan" in his biography in a county history book. I am searching for the father's parents who died in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
  • Diana

    John Drake was born in Northumberland County, Penn., December 17, 1815.  At the age of eight years, he was left an orphan.  When about seventeen years of age he began working at the carpenter trade in his native county.  Soon after reaching his majority he went to Erie County, Penn., where he worked at his trade until he came to this county in 1844.  He built one of the first saw mills in Swan Township and worked at milling and his trade until the close of the late war, since which time he has been engaged in farming, stock-raising and lumbering.  He was united in marriage to Miss Maryetta Bruce in 1839, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1813.  Five children have been born to them, viz: Rollin W., Susan A., Mary A., Newton O. and Frank.  Rollin W. served his country during the late war.  He was taken prisoner and was in Andersonville some five months.  Mr. Drake owns 220 acres of land, well-improved.  He is a self-made and self-educated man; was a Whig and is now a Republican and has been an active antagonist of the great social evil - intemperance.
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    One of my brick walls is what was my 3xgreat-grandmother,Mary Drake,maiden name. She was married to William Drake,Jr. at some point.He was born circa 1784 in MD. His parents were: William Drake,Sr. & Elizabeth Hinkle who married in Frederick Co.,MD. in 1780. William & Mary Drake moved from Bedford Co.,PA. to Harrison Co.,OH. in 1819.They moved to Guernsey Co.,OH. in 1835. William Drake,Jr. died 1Oct.1852. I have less information on Mary Drake.

    Thanks for any information!

    Pam Drake in IN.
  • Kay Bolduan

    I'm struck by the number of physical features that look like members of my Drake line. Especially around the eyes. My Drake lines were also in Northumberland. You may be able to have a breakthrough if you have a living male Drake willing to participate in the Drake DNA project. Let me know if you'd like more information. My brick wall involves Stephen Drake, father of Abraham Drake who appears in Northumberland census records. I know he died probably somewhere in the Fishing Creek area, but can find no written records to confirm. I also know he had children for whom I have no names, and a brother, Cornelius who lived in Monroe County New York following the Rev war. Cornelius also lived in the Northumberland area for a time, and had children born there.
  • Diana

    Hello Kay, Welcome to our Drake Group and to GenealogyWise. Sorry, no living Drake male that I know of at this time. Further research will tell if I have a living cousin that don't know about. How exciting that both of our Drake Families were In Northumberland Co., PA. Yes, this does show promise. I will continue my research and get back to you, and the group, when I find something that might connect theses to families. I remain hopeful. The photograph that I used for my profile above is of Frank Drake's mother, Mary Etta (Bruce) Drake, my 3rd Great Grandmother.
  • Diana

    Wow. I need to proof read closer before sending. I meant to say: I will continue my research and get back to you, and the group, when I find something that might connect these two families.
  • Kay Bolduan

    Well, it just goes to show you that you can't tell much from a photo. Since Mary married into the Drake line, there is no blood relationship between us. Do you have a photo of Frank or of any of his children? My grandfather had a wide forehead, and lots of curly hair. His ancestors migrated from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, then to Iowa.
  • Diana

    That is Frank Drake at the top of the Drake page. I would not conclusively say that there is "no relationship" between the two of us just yet. It simply means that you don't have a Bruce connection. Our two Drake families in Northumberland Co., PA could turn out to be very interesting. Let's dig a little deeper.
  • Deborah Dale

    Hello, it is fun to read about other Drake lines--but who knows maybe a connection exists somewhere.

    The earliest I find any of my Drakes is 1850 in Grayson, Carter Co., Kentucky. Abraham Drake (my ggg grandfather) and wife Martha moved from there to Arkansas where their son William Armstrong Drake was born in 1859. William married Catharine America Holcomb (that's her in my GW profile picture) . Their son Arthur William Drake was born in Arkansas in 1882. Arthur married Ola Peters in Texas in 1905. I have pictures of the William Armstrong Drake family if any of this rings a bell...
  • Linda Smith

    Hi, Just found this site. My Drake ancestors are in NJ ... My family descends from Francis Drake (1615 in Essex, England - 24 Sep 1687 in Piscataway, Middlesex Co., New Jersey) married Mary Walker
    Next, their son John (1655-1740) married Rebecca Trotter
    Then their son Abraham (1685-1763) married Deliverance Wooden
    And finally their daughter Elizabeth (1716 - ) married Daniel Lorentz ... and that ends the Drake surname in my family.
    I have yet to find when Elizabeth died and am working on Drake ancestors too.
  • Dreama Butler

    I am a direct descendent of Sir Francis Drake. My great grandma - Olive Milborough Drake. She had 3 siblings (Charles, Winifred, and John) Her parents - Alfred Charles Drake and Catherine Stollery. Alfred's parents - George and Mary Ann Drake.. George's parents - John Drake and Harriet Swyer. I could go further back to 1250 which is Nicholas Drake. Anyway, my great grandma told my family that we are related to Sir Francis Drake. She's already passed away.
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Dreama!

    I hate to break this to you but no one is a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake,the Admiral. He had two wives but no children. It's more likely you are related to one of his brothers;more likely Thomas Drake.

    If you are related to Captain Francis Drake of Piscataway,Middlesex Co.,NJ. I am too according to the Drake DNA Project test results of my cousin. His parents are not known yet. A lot of people think his father was Robert Drake but again the DNA test results dispute that fact. Sorry to burst your bubble! Keep the research up though.One of these days we will break down that brick wall!

    You might want to also join the Drake List on Rootsweb. Just write Drake@Rootsweb.com & put Subscribe in the Subject line. There are a lot of good Drake researchers on the List.
  • Dreama Butler

    Hi Pamela,

    I apologize for using the wrong word, "direct", but I am trying to find the right word. I know that Sir Francis Drake did not have any children except that he had 2 wives, but there is somehow that we are related.
  • Stacey Thorpe Davis

    I am a decendant of Melissa Drake who married Jacob B. Hart.  Melissa is from the Capt. Francis Drake line of Drake's in New Jersey though she was born in Pennsylvania.
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Stacey!

     

    Do you know who Melissa's parents were or where she was born in PA.? Thanks!

     

    Pam in IN.

  • Stacey Thorpe Davis

    Hi Pamela!

    Melissa's parents were Redmin Drake and Tabitha Watson.  Not sure were she was born but my Drake lineage settled in the Dingman area in the early 1800's from New Jersey.  Hope this helps!  BTW, are you related to Melissa?

  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Stacey!

     

    I'm not sure about Melissa yet. According to DNA test results(my male cousin participated in the Drake DNA Project) we are related to Captain Francis Drake of Piscataway,Middlesex Co.,NJ. in the 1600's.I have about 100 years to fill in the blanks.Captain Drake had 2 sons,George & Rev.John. In turn they had 18 sons between them & 11 daughters. Captain Drake also had a daughter Elizabeth who married Hugh Dunn.

     

    Some of my Drake ancestors lived in Bedford Co.,PA. in the early 1800's. Where is the Dingman area of PA.?

     

    Do you know about the Drake Mail List on Rootsweb? It's also free like GW. To join just write Drake@Rootsweb.com & write Subcribe in the Subject line. There are lots of good Drake researchers on the list as well.

  • Stacey Thorpe Davis

    I, too, am related to Capt. Francis Drake of Piscataway, N.J.  I have a lot of records that trace this line from me to Capt. Francis and beyond.  Is there anyway to send you the info?
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Stacey!

     

    My e-mail address is: padrake@sbcglobal.net

     

    Pam in IN.

  • Stacey Thorpe Davis

    I'm sending you an e-mail now. 
  • Jerry Beach

    I am looking for information on the line of Daniel B. Drake, born in 1852. He married Emma J. Hoover in 1878.

     I'm brand new at this; hope I'm doing this right.

     

  • Dreama Butler

    I need to rephrase to what I said - I am a direct descendent of my great-great grandpa, Alfred Charles Drake. My great grandmother, Olive Drake Hargraves, told her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren (me) that we are related to Sir Francis Drake. I have tried to find who or where we are related through the family. Even enough Sir Francis Drake is possible related to a royal family somehow? I do not know the facts yet. I decided to stop at my great great grandparents until I obtain the right information like whose parents and what's their name and so on.  I have almost 12,000 family members on my family tree.
  • Dreama Butler

    I also forgot to mention that my great great grandpa's family come from Cardiff, Wales before they migrated to the U.S. in around 1905 before my great grandma was born in 1906 - somewhere in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
  • Dreama Butler

    Jerry, I just checked Daniel Benjamin Drake's record. I see that his wife - Emma Jane Hoover. Daniel's parents - Benjamin and Isabella Drake. Emma's parents - Henry and Emma Hoover. Daniel and Emma Drake were married on April 28, 1878 in Walsingham Township, Ontario, Canada.
  • Jerry Beach

    Dreama - I have some pages from the family Bible of Henry Hoover that says that his wife's name was Amey Starkey, not Emma.
  • Jerry Beach

    Do you have the records that go back further than Benjamin and Isabella Drake? I would like to trace the line as far back as possible.
  • Dreama Butler

    Jerry, really? Maybe Amey sounds like Emma that's why they wrote it down. It's good that you got some sources from the family Bible.
  • Dreama Butler

    Ok, I found a bit more information. Benjamin Drake was born around in 1820 - Port Dover, Ontario, Canada and died in 1891 in Walsingham. I got his wife's maiden name - Isabella Orr and she passed away in 1879 in same area as her husband. They were married on May 20 1839. I tried to read the record's handwriting. It's blurred. I see Isabella's father - James Orr. I don't know about Benjamin's witness i think it says Thomas Sender or something.
  • Jerry Beach

    OK - Thanks.

    How do you fit into the Drake Family picture? If it would be of any value to you, I could try scanning the records I have and send them to you. There are many names of the Hoover family with dates of birth and some dates of death. There are also many Hobsons,Starkeys, Nasfinders (or Nosfinder), and of course, Drakes.

  • Stacy Hagerman Hoppins

    Hi there!  I am researching a Rebecca Drake b. 20 Jan 1789, d. 6 Apr 1856 Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.  Married Isaiah Hagerman 1812.  She was apparently a very prominent school teacher in the area, but she is my brick wall.  Any help would be so appreciated.  Thanks!
  • Jerry Beach

    Sorry, Stacy, I don't have any information going back that far.

     Luck to ya.

     

  • Kaye Shearin

    Looking for information on Rebecca Drake and her sister, Lucy O. Drake.  The story that has been handed down is that they came over together for Lucy to marry Samuel S Legion. Looking for name of parents and the dates they came over. Rebecca was 12 yr old and was afraid to return to England alone. She stayed with Lucy and married Bennett Wall.  They lived and died in Johnston County, NC.
  • Liz Gagliardi

    I'm a decendant of the Drakes. My grandmother was a Drake. I have history on the family going back to the 1300's.

  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Liz!

     

    Where are your Drakes from? Mine come from NJ.,PA.MD.OH.,WV. Thanks!

     

    Pam Drake

    padrake@sbcglobal.net

     

  • Liz Gagliardi

    I'm a descendant of the NH Drakes. Family is from New England.
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Liz!

     

    Are you connected to Captain Francis Drake of Piscataway,Middlesex Co.,NJ. as well? I am according to DNA test results. He was in NH. before going to NJ.

  • Dreama Butler

    Hi again, I have researched a bit further about Drake and Vacher who lived in Milton Abbas, Dorset, England for near 200 years. Between late 1600s and late 1800s. I am still deliberating to find the connection between my great grandmother Drake and Sir Francis Drake. I only could go back to 1691.  The last person is James Drake. He was married to Ursula Vacher (1703-1766). There is over 150 years gap between Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) and James Drake (1691-1766).

  • Liz Gagliardi

    There is no Francis in my lineage. The Drakes from which I descended came from England to NH in the 1640s.
  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Liz!

    Captain Francis Drake was in NH. & NJ. in the 1600's as well. Who were your Drakes in NH.? Thanks!

  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Hi Dreama!

    Sorry to tell you this but Sir Francis Drake,the Admiral had no children but 2 wives. He had some brothers you might be related to though. You might want to join the Drake Mail List on Rootsweb. It's free as well. Write Drake@Rootsweb.com & put Subscribe in the Subject line. There are a lot of Drake researchers on the Mail List.

     

    Pam Drake in IN.

  • Phyllis Drake Jacobs

    My Drakes are in North Carolina.  Wade Drake, born 1842 in Franklin county. Need help.

  • Nancy Becker

    Is there any connection between Sir Francis Drake and Captain Oliver Drake who founded Draketown in Pennsylvania?  He was from Piscataway.

     

  • Pamela Ann Drake

    Captain Francis Drake was from Piscataway,Middlesex Co.,NJ. in the 1600's.I haven't researched Captain Oliver Drake but if he was from Piscataway he was probably a grandson or great-grandson of Captain Francis Drake.

    Sir Francis Drake,the Admiral,had 2 wives but no children. We know his brother Thomas Drake migrated to America but right now we have no proof, so far, of a relationship between Sir Francis & Captain Francis.

    You might also want to join the Drake Mail List on Rootsweb. It's free as well. Write Drake@Rootsweb.com & put Subscribe in the Subject line. There are a lot of good Drake researchers on the list as well as NJ. Drake descendants too. Hope to see you there soon Nancy & any other Drake researcher!

    FYI, any male with the Drake surname can participate in the Drake DNA Project as well.

  • Nancy Becker

    Sorry, I just assumed there was a connection between Sir Francis and Captain Francis.  Should never assume!  Thanks for the info.

    Captain Oliver was in the Rev. War and went to Pennsylvania (Somerset County) after that.  His daughter, Hannah, married my 4G grandfather.  I've run across some disagreement on his origin and that there was more than one Oliver, etc.  Maybe the Rootsweb group will have more on that.  Thanks for the suggestion!

    I'm also looking at Elizabeth Drake, daughter of John Drake and Ann Fitz Randolph, who married my 5G grandfather in the same area of Pennsylvania.  She was one of those who made the trek to Pennsylvania and helped to start the Bethel Baptist Church in Lower Turkeyfoot township. 

    Anxious to hear about Drakes from others on the list!

  • Daniel Drake

    Hello, Nancy!  You are SO close, very close to having it literally all come together.

    Tomorrow evening, I will attempt to get some contact info for you -regarding one of your cousins.

    Here's what I can tell you in a synopsis:

    John Drake married Ann Fitz Randolph. He descends from  Capt. Francis Drake. [Captain Francis Drake, then Rev. John Drake, then Joseph Drake- then there is this John Drake.

    This is the ancestral line for Oliver Drake.  (I need to check who was in-between John Drake & Oliver.) Oliver's family had migrated from NJ to PA..

    The key connecting point is Turkeyfoot. You have the right DRAKE Family Group. Yes, that family was connected to the Baptist Church at that time.

    A key Drake Researcher during the 20th Century was an Oliver Drake. I will attempt to put you in touch with his daughter. She lived in Ohio. (In the past six years, she has started to get interested in Drake Family Research.)


    Yahoo!

  • Nancy Becker

    WOW, Daniel!  That's great!

    I have tried to piece the connections together with what is on the web, but,

    as you can tell, there are still gaps in my info.  I have suspected for a long time that Oliver and Elizabeth were brother and sister, but couldn't find info about it.

    Let's see if that holds up with this info you describe.

    Some lists of the family don't have Elizabeth, but a few do.  But, knowing what my grandmother knew (she researched it many years ago) I knew that the Elizabeth Mountain listed in the Baptist church info was related.  Then I found that she was Elizabeth Drake Mountain. 

    I recently had contact with a cousin who took pictures of a Mountain family Bible that is in an attic in Idaho.  It verified Hannah as Oliver and Frankie Skinner's daughter.  It would be nice for this cousin to circulate those pictures, but not sure she wants to.  Since the Bible isn't actually in her hands, but in the hands of her cousin, I think she feels hesitant.  I just hope they get the book out of attic soon!!!!!  I'm nicely prodding them to do so.

    It just shows that info can pop up at any time.  I never dreamed I would see a copy of handwritten pages with birth and wedding dates!

    Anyway, I so look forward to looking at more info!!

    "Yahoo!" is right!!

  • Pamela Ann Drake

    I'm glad you piped in Ducky. Thanks!