From the DAR records of Mrs. Nina Bass Stratton Foster, granddaughter of Jacob Battle Sumner and his wife Mary Bass. She was the daughter of Jacob's daughter, Laura (see Sumner genealogy). DAR # 193125
Richard Drake and his brothers, John and Thomas, emigrated from England about the Year 1713 and settled in the county of the Isle of Wight now South Hampton Colony of Virginia.
Richard and his wife Margaret, maiden name not know, had 8 sons and 3 daughters, all of whom died in North Carolina except Elizabeth and Margaret of whom I have no account.
Francis settled in Chatham County, North Carolina, raised a family of whom no account, except that Eugene B. Drake of Statesville, Iredel County, N. C. is a gr. gr. son.
Matthew settled in Nash County, N. C. and married Ann Arrington, had 3 sons and 7 daughters. Matthew married Milbrey Griffin; Frank, his cousin Betsy, daughter of William Drake; James, a daughter of Peter Arrington; Mourning married her cousin Caswell Drake, son of Edmund Drake; Patsy, William Parker and Mr. Woodruff; Ann died young; Betsy, Michael Collins; Tempy, E. P. Sumner; Polly, Duke W. Sumner and Dolly, John Sumner and Judge Phillips of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Nathaniel settled in Nash County, North Carolina, and married Delillah Floyd, 5 sons and 3 daughters. (Orin?) never married; (Dirdesian?), Miss Beale, (Polinson?) died young; Nathaniel and Allen never married.
Truston (Trustous?) settled in Halafax Co., N. C. had 5 sons; Eli, Richard, Truston, Herbert and Jesse.
William settled in Nash County, N. C. married Zilpah (Kirby?) and had 5 sons and 2 daughters. Matthew and William never married; Britain, Hearty Bridges, 6 sons and 6 daughters; William B. married Ann Robertson, a son and a daughter. Edmond B., Permelia Brooks, Miss Sypert and Minerva E. and Minerva E. Davis, 2 sons and l daughter by Minerva; John H., Calantha Motley, l son and l daughter; Matthew M., Sally Randolph, several sons and three daughters. Elijah B. Sally Ralston, large family; Frank, Martha Weir, a daughter. Sally, Thomas (Thompson?) T. Hays (or Hayes), large family. Betsy, William Hunter, a son and a daughter. Penelope Williams, James Harvey Davis--large family, all dead but William Dewitt Clinton, now 80 years of age-the oldest living descendant of Britain and Hearty Drake. Francis, Obediah Gordon, the family is extinct Matilda, John H. Clopton, the family nearly extinct and Malinda who died when a child.
Richard, brother of Britain, married Penelope Bridgers, daughter of Hearty Bridgers. They had three sons and 5 daughters. James W. married Honora G. (Rootes? Nootes?). Irvin and (Washington?) died young. Tempy, William H. Ford and Mr. William K. Thomason; Harriett, James Craig; Minerva C., John R. (Rootes?) and John Murry, ______________, Robert Ruffin; Angelina P., William (Tyree?) and David _______________, Sally Ann, John R. Anderson; John, Chloe Boddie, __________children, Sally & Betsy--Sally died young and Betsy married Frank Drake-five sons and 4 daughters;_____________, William, Francis, John, Eliza and Dolly, Bolivar and Richard, Sally Ann, Tempy, Britain supposed to have died young.
Richard settled in Chatham County, N. C., married and reared a family, nothing known of them.
Edmund settled in Nash County, North Carolina and married Polly (Swan?), 4 sons and 8 daughters, Edwin and Augustus _________ never married; Henry married a daughter of Daniel Vaulx, had 2 sons and 3 daughters. Edmund drowned in C. river near Nashville, Tennessee, when a boy. James Clemen-married Jane Osment, had 6 sons and 3 daughters--James Vaulx, Martin V., Macon J., Samuel H., John H. and William H., Margaret Frances, Harriet Shelby and Sarah Catherine; Polyhinia, John R. Seat; Martha Vaulx, Randall M. Ewing and Margaret who married James Green; Caswell married Mourning Drake, had a large family only three now (1858) living--Matthew M., Edwin D., and Joseph J.; Elizabeth, James Green; Polly, William Dozier and James (Severe? Seruva?); (Benj.?), Henry, (Archibald?), Patsy, Richard Dozier; Sally, Richard Olin, (Nancy?) Mr. Emory and Mr. Montgomery.
Martha married Jacob Williamson, 4 sons and 3 daughters; John, James, Jesse and Matthew--Patsy and Nancy.
Elizabeth probably died young.
Margaret married Edmund Branch, no children.
This genealogy was received by James Vaulx Drake from James W.Drake of Pontotoc, Mississippi in 1858 and we can from it trace our ancestry back in a direct line to Richard Drake, one of the three brothers who settled in America about the year 1713 and can run them back, by reference to Burkes Peerage and Baronetory, London, 1852, to the brother of Sir Francis Drake, the distinguished navigator who placed Great Britain at the helm of naval warfare and himself upon the "topmost niche. of fame.
(Signed) William Dewitt Clinton Montgomery Davis
P. S. This record was copied from the original which was in the possession of my great grandmother, Mrs. Temperance Ann Bass and given to my mother about thirty-five years ago (1889).
The following was also with Mrs. Foster's Papers
Genealogy of the Drake family given by Caswell Drake of North Carolina to James Drake, Pontotoc, Mississippi and by him to me E. B. Drake, May 18, 1858, Caswell Drake was 80 or 90 years old when this copy was given.
Note by Mrs. Foster--"This sheet contains practically the same information as the others, but was a little fuller and came to me from a different source so I sent it along too. It has been in the family for generations.
(Signed) Nina Bass Stratton Foster
Taken from North Carolina Archives, Nash County Wills, 1778-1859, Vol. Pt. II, p. 89
In the name of God Amen. I, Matthew Drake Senior of Nash County and State of North Carolina being of sound disposing mind and memory Do hereby make, ordain, publish, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others, in manner and form following To wit...
I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mourning Drake one negro girl named Jinny with her increase, conveyed formerly by a verbal gift; also two other negroes Reddick and Fanny, two cows and calves, one Bed and furniture, one mare called Peacock, one hunting Saddle and Bridle, one walnut Chest and also one hunting Saddle and Bridle, one walnut Chest and also one negro woman named Sarah, the whole delivered and now in her Possession to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I lend to my daughter Martha (Nailor?) Parker Three hundred and Twenty Acres of land, be it more or less lying on little Swamp where John (Bedgood)? formerly lived, one hunting saddle & bridle, one Bed and furniture three Cows and calves and two negroes, Ausey & Sarah, for and during the term of her natural life and then to be equally divided amongst my Daughter Martha Nailor aforesaid have Issue begotten of her Body, then and in that case, it is my will and desire, that the said child or children after her death, shall possess a title in fee simple to all the property lent as aforesaid both real & personalTo them and their heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Son, Matthew Drake, the land and plantation whereon I now dwell, containing by estimation, two hundred forty five acres, also part of another Survey for four hundred acres granted by the Earl of Granville, adjoining all that part lying on the South side of little creek and up said branch to the public road thence up said road to the South line. This land is joining the Mannon Plantation. One negro man named Matthew, one boy named Sampson, one wench and child, Lizette, the wench called Hannah, one horse called Damon, one saddle & bridle, one Bed & furniture, one large Bible, one Dictionary and one Shotgun, To him and heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Mary Sumner, two negro boys named Ben and Joe, one bed and furniture, one hunting saddle & bridle, one mare called Pigeon, also two cows and calves, the whole delivered and now in her possession. To her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Son Francis Drake Six hundred and forty Acres of Land I purchased of Will Hooks, one negro man named Pompey & two Boys Moses and Bob, one Bed and furniture, three cows & calves, one small still, worm & cap, one Bay mare called Bandy Filley-To him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Elizabeth Collins, four hundred & forty acres of land, granted me by the State adjoining the lines of (Sion?) Beckwith, Burrel Beckwith and formerly Cooper Jones Tract, the Best black Frank, one bed and furniture, one saddle & bridle, three cows and calves, one Bay horse called (Newel?) colt and three negroes, John, Sam & Ferriby---the whole Delivered and now in her possession except the land--to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Temperance Drake all the balance of Four hundred acres of land granted by the Earl of Granville as aforesaid lying on the North & partly on the South side of the little creek--I mean all the balance of this Tract after my son, Matthew Drake shall have his courses run out as aforesaid--two negroes Dilse and Peter, one Bed and furniture, three cows and calves, one saddle and bridle, one trunk, one Bay horse named Buck and D. W. Sumner's note for Forty three Dollars & eighty two cents; also Francis Drake's note for thirty Dollars and eighteen Cents-To her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Dorothy Drake, one hundred and fifty acres of land I purchased of John Williams, three negroes, Chaney, Harary and Charles, one Bed & furniture, one saddle and bridle, one mare called String Filley and fifty Dollars, also a note on Michael Collins for nine dollars, three cows and calves and one black trunk-to her and her heirs.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son James Drake, Seven hundred acres of land that I purchased of Hardy Griffin, one negro boy named Isham, one named Jim and wench named Edy and child Lewis, one gray horse, Sterling, one Bed and furniture, three Cows and Calves, one Bridle and Saddle and a British musket--To him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Martha Nailor Parker, a note on Caswell Drake for eight dollars and seventy six cents.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son, James Drake, a note of hand on Caswell Drake for one hundred and four dollars, to him and his heirs forever.
Item. All the rest and residue of my estate, of whatever nature or kind soever--I have to be sold and after the payment of all my Just Debts, equally divided amongst all my children, share and share alike, except with respect to my daughter Martha Nailor Parker's share, which said share, my desire is that it should be kept on Interest by my Executors, and the Interest only Paid over to my said daughter from time to time so that she may regularly enjoy the profits arising from this part of her estate, but the principal sum, to depend upon the same circumstances, be under the same regulations, and revert in the same manner as is prescribed in the Second clause of my Will respecting her land and negroes, etc., etc.,
Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Joseph Arrington Senr., John H. Drake, Michael Collins, Archibald Griffin, and my son Matthew Drake, Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set and affixed my hand & seal this 7th of January 1807.
Signed, Sealed & delivered in presence of us.
(Signed) Matthew Drake (seal)
James Drury
The foregoing will was duly proven by the oath of James Drury in open court a subscribing witness thereto & (on station?) ordered to be recorded.
Attest Wm. Halliele
- - - - - is registered in obedience to the above order
Attest Wm. Halliele
- - - - - - - - - - - -
This will appeared in DAR Magazine, October, 1978, pp. 808- 810. Taken from the records of Nash County, North Carolina.
In the name of God, amen.
I, James Drake, of the County of Nash and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and Testament in the manner and form following
That is to say.
Imprimis--lend unto my wife, Hartwell Drake, my manor plantation with all the land lying on the southside of the Great Ranch, the grist mill excepted, for and during her life or widowhood. At her death or marriage I bequeath the said land and plantation to my son Benjamin Drake, to his, his heirs, and assigns, forever. I likewise lend unto my said wife one bed and furniture, four cows and calves, four of my best sheep, and four sows and pigs for and during her life, and at her death I give the same to my sons, John H. Drake, and Benjamin Drake, to them and their heirs and assigns forever. I also lend to my said wife four negroes to witDick, Davis, Clary and Agg for and during her natural life.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son, James, one hundred pounds specie.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son Albrittain Drake, eighty pounds specie, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son, Silas Drake, a parcel of land on the south side of Swift Creek on both sides of Poplar Branch, from Thomas Mann's line up the creek to a ford called the Red Ford, thence a straight line to Benjamin Boon's line then said Boon's line to Thomas Mann's line, thence down said Mann's line to the beginning, to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son, John Hodges Drake, one
hundred acres of land I purchased of Daniel Strilby, 1ying on the south side of Swift Creek (one acre excepted and adjoining the mill), also the lands purchased of James Williams and John Battle, also of Ireogin Thompson, likewise another parcel of land on the south side of Swift Creek, beginning at William Bridges line on the creek, thence down said creek to mouth of Buzzard Branch, thence up said branch to a line in the land I bought of Battle, thence said line to Bridgers line and then along line to the beginning, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son, Benjamin Drake, my grist mill with two acres of land to be on each side of the creek adjoining the mill in the most convenient manner, also all the rest of my land not before bequeathed, and two negros, Jennie and Lewis, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I give to my said son, John Drake, two negroes named Phillis and Frank, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I give and bequeath to my son, Silas Drake, one negrowoman Easter, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item--I 1end to my wife, Hartwell Drake, one negro named Suck, for and during her life, also I lend to my son, Benjamin Drake, two negroes, Ross and Iley, for and during the life of his mother.
Item--I give to Michael and Elizabeth Collins forty shillings each, to them, their heirs, and assigns forever. Also the rest and residue of my estate I give to my three children to wit Lydia Hadley, Sara Bridgers and Milbery Wheeles (Wheeler?), to them,their heirs and assigns forever.
I do hereby constitute and appoint Matthew Drake, Albrittain, and John Hodges Drake Executors to this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this_____day of _____.
(SEAL) (no date given)
I, James Drake, of Nash County, North Carolina, resident, but being now in the City of Richmond, in the State of Virginia, and of sound mind and memory, but ill in health, do make, ordain. publish and declare this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all and every former Will and Testament Whatsoever.
Item--I leave my beloved son, John Drake and the aforesaid William Shipworth Mearses executors of this my Will and Testament.
This will made 1791 (Olds)
Will of Hartwell Drake. Hartwell Drake, April 25, 1796, August Court 1796. First childrenFrederick Davis, Goodman Davis, Dolphis Davis, Thomas Davis, Archibald Davis, Oren Dates Davis, dec'd, his child Polly Davis, Children of second marriage John H. Drake, Silas Drake 25 April 1796. (Williams & Griffin, p. 39).
(Note by Christine SumnerSince Hartwell Drake was mentioned in the will of her husband who died before she did, he had to have died before 1796 since this is when she made her own will).
Will of a John Drake, January 5, 1728, May Court 1729. (Grimes, p. 102). Son, James, wife, Sarah, Executor, James Bryant (father-in-law). WitJohn Sutton, John Dickinson, RICHARD SUMNER. Clerk of CourtRt. Forster (failed to note county but may have been Bertie, N. C.). This James Drake mentioned in John Drake's will is probably James, husband of Hartwell, mentioned earlier.
William Judkin of Edgecomb County to Francis Drake of Wight County, Virginia, 17 November 1747. WitFrancis Jones, Richard Drake, Nathaniel Drake. (Hofmann, p. 88Deed Book 3, p. 166).
Francis Parker, Edgecomb County to Richard Drake of Wight County, Virginia, 16 November 1747, witThomas Mann, Matthew Drake, Thomas Drake. (Hofmann, p. 88; Deed Book 3. p. 167).
Francis Parker & Ann, his wife, of Edgecomb County to Brittain Drake 18 November 1757. WitMatthew Drake, Nathaniel Drake, Francis Jones. (Hofmann, p. 246; Deed Book 6, p. 34).
William Judkin of Edgecomb County to Francis Drake of Edgecomb County 19 August 1751, (Hofmann, p. 128; Deed Book 4, p. 102).
Matthew B. Drake married Martha Arrington 27 August 1845, Nash County, North Carolina (Williams a Griffin, p. 39).
#1768 Benjamin Drake
#1769 Isaac Drake
#1770 John Drake
#1776 Jesse Drake
William J. Drake to Polly Bosley 30 October 1817 by Jonathan Drake
Jesse Drake to Rhoda Edington 18 October 1817
John Drake Jr. to Charlotte R. Witt 3 September 1818
James F. Drake to Hannah Marshall 15 August 1827
Isaac Drake to Louisa Basham (Bashaw?) 4 February 1821
Early Marriages of Nash County, North Carolina, Ruth Smith Williams & Margarette Glenn Griffin, published by Joseph W. Watson, 1968.
Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, Compiled from the Original and Recorded Wills in the office of Secretary of State by J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, Published Raleigh, North Carolina by E. M. Uzzell & Co., State Printers & Binders, 1910.
Abstracts of Deeds, Edgecomb Precinct, Edgecomb County, North Carolina, 1732-1758. Deed Book 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 1969.
"Abstracts of Wills of North Carolina 1760-1800," Fred A. Olds, 1925, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, Reprint 1965.
Lazarus Jones
May Court 1810 Nash County
Records of Davidson County Court of July Session, 1812. Enumeration of free male inhabitants of Davidson County taken in 1812...A total of 2232...
Family #245 Matthew Drake 38 Tennessee Sarah A. Drake 25 Tennessee Frances B. (f) 4 Tennessee Napoleon B.(m) 2 Tennessee
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