Henry DRAKE & Anne HAMMETT

The Drakes of Barnstaple:

This web-page details what is known of the life of Henry Drake and his wife Anne Hammett. Prior to their marriage each person is separately treated, first Henry and then Anne. An Appendix has further information regarding Henry and Anne Drake's children. 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).

Henry DRAKE

Henry Drake was born at Barnstaple, county Devon, England, on 9 November 1745. He was baptised on 10 December 1745 at Barnstaple.
1745. Henry, son of Mr. John Drake and Anne [Gregory] his wife, baptized 10 day of December. [Extract from Barnstaple baptisms register]

Parents: John Drake and Anne (née Gregory).

Henry’s mother, Anne Drake died before he was two years of age. She was buried on 18 October 1747 at Barnstaple. In August 1749 Henry’s father married Jane Harwood.

In 1770 Henry Drake was listed as a resident of High Street, Barnstaple. The document recording this information is a handwritten list entitled "Names of Residents in Streets of Barnstaple in the year 1770" (akin to a rough census) [Barnstaple Athenaeum Library].

Henry’s father, John Drake, died and was buried on 2 January 1770 at Barnstaple.

Henry’s marriage record (October 1771) describes him as Town Clerk of Barnstaple.

Anne HAMMETT

Anne Hammett was born on 16 February 1747 at Clovelly, county Devon. Baptised on 11 March 1747 at Woolfardisworthy (a parish and village in North Devon, located 15 km WSW of Bideford).

Parents: Richard Hammett and Elizabeth (née Risdon).

Anne’s father, Richard Hammett, died on 26 March 1766 at "Kennerland", Clovelly, county Devon, aged 59 years.

Prior to her marriage Anne was living at Clovelly, county Devon.

Henry Drake and Anne Hammett were married at Clovelly, county Devon, on 20 October 1771.
1771. Mr. Henry Drake, Town Clerk of Barnstaple co. Devon, and Miss Anne Hammett of this parish, spinster, by license, 20th October 1771. In the presence of Zach. Hammett and Mary Hammett. [Clovelly marriage register]

Children: Anne, baptised 12 April 1774 at Barnstaple.
                Henry, baptised 12 November 1775 at Barnstaple; probably died as a child.

                Zachary Hammett, born at Barnstaple; baptised on 5 September 1777 at Barnstaple.

                John, baptised on 5 October 1779 at Barnstaple [IGI record]; probably died as a child.

                Henry, born at Barnstaple; baptised on 22 June 1781 at Barnstaple.

                Elizabeth, born at Barnstaple; baptised on 19 April 1784 at Barnstaple [IGI record].

                John, born at Barnstaple; baptised 17 April 1785.

                Richard, born at Barnstaple; baptised on 17 February 1786 at Barnstaple;

                              married Frances Sarah Lee; died on 4 February 1853 at Chelsea, London.

                William, born 27 July 1787 at Barnstaple; baptised on 28 July at Barnstaple.

                Charles, baptised 30 March 1789 at Barnstaple; died as an infant and buried on

                             8 September 1790 at Barnstaple.

                George, baptised on 11 May 1792 at Barnstaple; died as an infant and buried on

                             15 June 1793 at Barnstaple.

               (see Appendix for further details)

11 October 1773: newspaper advertisement – Henry Drake, regarding the sale of a house at Barnstaple. [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.mansfield1/sher76af.txt]

2 January 1775: newspaper reference to "Henry Drake – attourney at Barnstaple". [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper]

7 August 1775: advertisement "Henry Drake – Barnstaple, inn to let". [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper]

18 November 1776: newspaper reference to "Drake, H. - town clerk Barnstaple". [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper]

6 January 1777: Henry Drake - inn sale, Barnstaple. [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper]

16 March 1778: newspaper reference to "Henry Drake – Barnstaple" regarding the "estate of James Reed". [Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury newspaper]

1783 – Henry Drake was recorded as an "Attorney at Law, Town Clerk, N.P. and Deputy Register of the Archdeaconry". [From Bailey’s Western & Midland Directory or Merchant’s & Tradesman’s Useful Companion for the year 1783. Entry listed under "Barnstaple, in Devonshire, and Neighbourhood; Market Day, Friday"]

Anne’s mother, Elizabeth Hammett, died on 24 March 1787 at Woolfardisworthy, aged 77 years. She was buried there on March 31.

Henry Drake died at Barnstaple on 12 February 1806, aged 60 years. He was buried on February 19.
1806. Mr. Henry Drake, late Town Clerk, buried 19 February. [Extract from Barnstaple burials register]

Anne Drake died at Barnstaple, aged 74 years, and was buried on 28 February 1822.
1822. Ann Drake (née Hammett), widow, buried 28 February. [Extract from Barnstaple burials register]

Anne Drake’s will was dated 25 August 1821 and was proved on September 5, 1822 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury by her daughters Anne and Elizabeth Drake, spinsters, the Executrixes.

Appendix

The children of John Drake and Anne (née Hammett):

Anne Drake was baptised on 12 April 1774. She was unmarried by 1822 [Will – Anne Drake (dated August 25, 1821; proved September 5, 1822)].

Henry Drake was baptised on 12 November 1775. He died as an infant and was buried on 26 July 1776 at Barnstaple [burial record from Barnstaple Parish records].

Zachary Hammett Drake was born on 5 September 1777. He married Frances Cutcliffe on 6 October 1803 at Marwood, county Devon. [click a link for further details]

John Drake was baptised on 5 October 1779. He probably died as a child (by 1785).

Henry Drake was born on 22 June 1781. He died after having two children, Emily and Katherine. His daughter Katherine Drake married Major Frank Brooke, E.I.C.S. [Burke’s Landed Gentry (1871 Edition), "Drake of Ashe", p. 365].

Elizabeth Drake was born on 19 April 1784. She was unmarried by 1822 [Will – Anne Drake (dated August 25, 1821; proved September 5, 1822)].

John Drake was born at Barnstaple and baptised there on 17 April 1785. He remained unmarried and died in April 1799.

Richard Drake was born at Barnstaple; baptised on 17 February 1786 at Barnstaple. He married Frances Sarah Lee. Richard Drake died on 4 February 1853 at Chelsea, London.

William Drake was born on 27 July 1787. He married Frances Lincoln by license on 13 August 1816 at St. Lawrence’s Church, Reading, county Berkshire. Frances Lincoln was the daughter of Robert Lincoln of Crowland, county Lincoln. William and Frances Drake had the following children:
    William Richard, born on 25 August 1817 & baptised on 9 December 1817 at St. Paul’s,
               Covent Garden, London; married Katherine Stewart Forbes Goodwin (born 19 October 1823 & dau. of Richard Thomas Goodwin, senior member of the Council of the East India Company at Bombay) on 8 August 1846 at St. Marylebone Church. Knighted by Letters Patent dated 1 October 1869; Knight of Oatlands Lodge, co. Surrey (F.S.A.), knight commander of the Italian Order of SS. Maurizio and Lazzaro, and member of the Imperial Turkish Order of the Medjidié of the second class. Katherine Drake died on 21 August 1880 and was buried at the Brookwood cemetery, co. Surrey. Sir William Drake was living in 1882.

    Frances Ann, born 14 December 1819 and & baptised on March 1 at St. Paul’s,
      Covent Garden, London. Living unmarried in 1882.

    Henry, born 10 April 1821& baptised on June 20 at St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, London;
   married Mary Anne Gadsden on 7 June 1855 at St. Mary’s, Paddington; died on 22 November 1865 and buried at Brompton cemetery. Mary Anne Drake was living in 1882.
William Drake was an Attorney and lived at No. 11 Gray’s Inn in London. Gray’s Inn, one of the Inns of Court, are legal chambers. William died on 9 June 1821 and was buried on June 15 at St. Andrew’s, Holborn (Berkshire?). His Will was proved in PCC on 31 October 1821. Frances Drake died on 10 January 1855 and was buried at the Catholic Church in the Forbury, Reading; her Will was proved in PCC in 1855.

Charles Drake was baptised on 30 March 1789. He died as a infant and was buried on 8 September 1790 at Barnstaple [burial record from Barnstaple Parish records].

George Drake was baptised on 11 May 1792. He died as an infant and was buried on 15 June 1793 at Barnstaple [IGI record; burial record from Barnstaple Parish records].

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