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« on: Sunday 11 December 11 18:25 GMT (UK) »
Hi - good to know these old posts are still read ....!!!
I am afraid I know very little indeed about the Drake family; so far as I can tell there is very little online for Bere Ferrers, and I have not managed to get to the record office in Exeter for a long time. My only connection - so far - to the Drake name is Elizabeth, who married Christopher Foot in 1773. Elizabeth appears to have been baptised in 1747, the daughter of John Drake and Mary Fursman, who married in 1746. I have seen Elizabeth's baptism and the marriage of John and Mary in the parish register films at the record office - but ran out of time before I could look for any further baptisms - and I have never been back!
I do have a transcription of the marriages and burials at St Andrew's Church, Bere Ferrers, but "your" John is not there.
I presume you have census details for "your" John? Just in case, I have had a quick look:
1841 HO107 piece 240 folio 11 page 17
Church Cot, Beer Ferris
John Drake, 50, ag lab, born Devon
Mary Drake, 20, born Devon
Christopher Drake, 13, born Devon
Mary Drake, 18 months, born Devon
William Drake, 14 months, born Devon
1851 HO107 piece 1883 folio 79 page 18
Monkeys Castle, Beerferris
John Drake, head, widower, 63, ag lab, born Beerferris
Jane Harry, daughter, married, 27, born Beerferris
Christopher Drake, son, unmarried, 22, labourer in lead mine, born Beerferris
Mary Ann Harry, granddaughter, 1 month, born Beerferris
1861 RG09 piece 1457 folio 54 page 7
Monkeys Castle, Beerferris
John Drake, head, widower, 71, sexton, farm labourer, born Beerferris
1871 RG10 piece 2142 folio 41 page 3
Well Farm, Beer Ferris
William Cole, head, married, 54, hind, born Thornbury
Elizabeth Cole, wife, married, 49, born Beerferris
John Cole, son, unmarried, 19, born Beerferris
Jane Cole, daughter, unmarried, 10, scholar,born Beerferris
John Drake, father, widower, 82, sexton, born Beerferris
Thought this 1871 might be yours - even though you say John died in 1861 - because of the occupation - but you probably know better!!
Sorry I cannot be of more (any!) help - I have not done any research on the Drake family for ages because I came to a brick wall, but you have prompted me to have another look online to see if there is anything new, or maybe I will have a look at the Devon Family History Society website to see if they have any new publications about Beer Ferrers - I doubt that I will get to Exeter in the near future! If I find anything about your John - I will certainly let you know. Please keep "my" Elizabeth in your thoughts if you make any further discoveries ....!!!
Best wishes
Barbara