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This web-page details what is known of the life of John Drake and his wife Anne Gregory. Prior to their marriage each person is separately treated, first John and then Anne. An Appendix has further information regarding John and Anne Drake's children, as well as John Drake's children by his second marriage to Jane Harward. Except where otherwise stated the principal source of information is Devonshire Notes and Notelets, principally genealogical and heraldic by Sir William Richard Drake (London: privately printed c.1878). |
John DRAKE
John Drake was baptised on 27 September 1710 at Barnstaple, county Devon.
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1710. John, son of Mr. John Drake and Christian [Hacche] his wife, bapt. 27 day of September. [Extract from baptisms register at Barnstaple (1710)] |
Parents: John Drake and Christian (née Hacche)
John’s father died when he was two years of age, in January 1713.
In 1716 John’s mother, Christian Drake, married Charles Standish of Barnstaple (a merchant). They had no children.
Christian Standish and her children by her first marriage were mentioned in the will of her mother-in-law, Anne Drake, in November 1718.
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My daughter Christian Standish. My grandson Henry Drake… In trust for and during the minority of and until my grandchildren Henry Drake and John Drake shall severally and respectively attain to the age of one-and-twenty years. |
| They are mentioned again in a codicil to the will, dated 12 February 1718/9. |
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My daughter-in-law, Mrs Christian Standish. My grandson Henry. My grandson John… |
John Drake is recorded as an Attorney in 1733.
Anne GREGORY
Anne Gregory was baptised on 26 October 1709 at Barnstaple in county Devon.
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1709, October. Ann daughtr of Mr. Lewis Gregory & Joan his Wife. Bapt. 26th day. [Extract from baptisms register at Barnstaple (1709)] |
Parents: Lewis Gregory and Joan (née Blake)
Anne was mentioned in the will of her grandfather, George Gregory (1719).
Anne father, Lewis Gregory, died on 26 June 1733 and was buried at Barnstaple. Anne Gregory was mentioned in her father’s will (dated 17 January 1732/3 and proved on 2 July 1733).
John Drake and Anne Gregory obtained a licence to marry from the Bishop of Exeter on 11 September 1733.
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1733. Sept. 11. Despatched at Barnestaple License to John Drake of Barnestaple Attorney and Anne Gregory of ye same Spinster. [Extract from the Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter] |
John Drake and Anne Gregory were married on 12 September 1733 at Barnstaple. |
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1733. Mr. John Drake and Mrs. Anne Gregory, licence, married 12 September. [Extract from marriage register at Barnstaple (1733)] |
Children: Anne, baptised 5 August 1739 at Barnstaple.
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Joan Gregory, baptised 15 February 1741/2 at Barnstaple; married George
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| Edwards (R.N.) on 23 January 1782 at Barnstaple. |
Henry, born 9 November 1745 at Barnstaple; married Anne Hammett
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| on 20 October 1771 at Clovelly, county Devon; died 12 February 1806. |
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| (see Appendix for further details) |
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John Drake was recorded as an Attorney as early as 1733. He was known as the Town Clerk of Barnstaple, and he was also recorded as a Registrar. ["Drake of Barnstaple" in Burke’s Landed Gentry (1900); burial record "Mr. John Drake, Registrar and Town Clerk"]
John Drake was mentioned in the will of his wife’s mother, Joan Gregory (dated 4 December 1741 and proved on 6 December 1744). Joan Gregory died on 13 October 1744 and was buried at Barnstaple.
Anne Drake was buried at Barnstaple on 18 October 1747.
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1747. Mrs Anne Drake (née Gregory), buried 18th day of October. [Barnstaple burial record] |
John Drake married Jane Harward on 6 August 1749 at Hartland, Devon. Jane was the daughter of Lawrence Harward.
Children: Jane, baptised on 10 December 1751 at Barnstaple; buried 30 December 1752
| | at Barnstaple. [parish burial record] |
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Grace, baptised on 3 November 1752 at Barnstaple; buried 19 January 1754
| | at Barnstaple. [parish burial record] |
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Jenny, baptised on 6 July 1754 at Barnstaple.
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John, baptised on 25 July 1756 (or 1757) at Barnstaple. [IGI records]
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Anna Maria, baptised on 6 January 1761/2 at Barnstaple; buried 17 April 1767
| | at Barnstaple. [parish records] |
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John Drake was buried at Barnstaple on 2 January 1770, aged 59 years.
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1770. Mr. John Drake, Register and Town Clerk, burd ye 2 January. [Barnstaple burial record] |
Description of John Drake, by his daughter Joan Gregory Drake in 1777: "my father, tho unblest with the girst of Fortune, by Birth, Education and Profession, was a Gentleman..." [Letter dated 24 October 1777 to Isaac Rebow, father of George Edwards; signed "J. Drake"]
John Drake’s will was dated 1 November 1768, as states as follows:
| | John Drake, of Barnstaple, in the county of Devon, gentleman. My dear wife, Jane Drake. Mr. Lawrence Harward her late deceased father, and Mrs. Jane Harward her late deceased aunt. My son and heir apparent Henry Drake. My daughter Joan Gregory Drake. |
| John Drake’s Will was proved by Henry Drake, his son and executor, on 22 February 1770 in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple. [the copy of the Will has been destroyed] |
Jane Drake was probably buried on 1 May 1804 at Barnstaple.
| | 1804. Mrs Jane Drake, buried 1 May 1804. [Barnstaple burial record] |
Appendix
The children of John Drake and Anne (née Gregory):
Anne Drake was baptised on 5 August 1739.
Joan Gregory Drake was baptised on 15 February 1741/2. Joan Gregory Drake married George Edwards (R.N.) on 23 January 1782 at Barnstaple, though they had been engaged since at least October 1777.
| George Edwards was born in "about 1750", the illegitimate son of Isaac Martin Rebow (of Wivenhoe) and Sophia Christina de Hoppman [CG, personal correspondence]. George Edwards had joined the Royal Navy. In 1777, Edwards visited his father, Isaac Rebow, in Wivenhoe to tell him of his intention to marry. The evidence for this comes from a letter to Isaac simply signed "J. Drake" and dated 24 October 1777: |
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The conference which Mr. Edwards lately had with you in Essex, he has particularly inform'd me of, and also your goodness in giving your consent to our Union... my father, tho unblest with the girst of Fortune, by Birth, Education and Profession, was a Gentleman... I am tremblingly alive to every touch of pain - think what I must fell at our separation - perhaps forever - again he is aboute to encounter the Dangers of the Sea, and the Terror of the enemy - far be it from me to check his laudable ambition. No, I glory in his Character, which is that of a Brave and Worthy Man... You can write to me at Mount Gold, Plymouth. |
| George Edwards died in 1797 at Richmond, county Surrey, in 1797. His will he makes provision for his wife, Joan Gregory Edwards. |
| Joan Gregory Edwards died in 1818 at Richmond, aged 76 years. She was buried on 28 April 1818 in St Mary Magdalene church alongside her husband. |
Henry Drake was born on 9 November 1745. He married Anne Hammett on 20 October 1771 at Clovelly, county Devon. [click a link for full details]
The children of John Drake and Jane (née Harward):
Jane Drake, baptised on 10 December 1751; died as an infant and buried on 30 December 1752 at Barnstaple.
Grace Drake, baptised on 3 November 1752 at Barnstaple; died as an infant and buried 19 January 1754 at Barnstaple.
Jenny Drake, baptised on 6 July 1754 at Barnstaple.
John Drake, baptised on 25 July 1756 at Barnstaple.
Anna Maria Drake, baptised on 6 January 1761/2 at Barnstaple; died as a child and buried 17 April 1767 at Barnstaple.
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