Mary Jane Drake 1848 doesn't exist before move to Wales

[bethanjane]

Martha's marriage, 1887 to Reuben Constantine

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NND4-7Q6  Added   Page No. 47

Martha & family, 1891

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7ZRH-SMM

1901 census Widowed

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9LY-LLX

Martha returned to Aberystwith & re married in 1906

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2D8X-LYG

Martha's death 1909

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J34-JKF

In the 1911 census, of the 4 girls Martha Jane had, 3 were in service & the youngest Martha in a home for girls. All in Lancashire.

Thank you for all this.
I'll print everything and start trying to fit the jigsaw together!

[Kloumann]

1851 census, Albert Dawson, Wrexham

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG8Z-YCD

[jonw65]

Mention this chap, probably no connection, but I find him interesting! And  because of some of the names, Michael, Theresa, Mary Jane. Sorry!

A marriage on FamilySearch, Cheshire Parish Registers.
14 July 1862, at St. Bridget, Chester
Daniel Drake, 22, father Michael Drake
+
Mary Ann Devreaux, father George
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3RV-463

Sadly no image (will be online somewhere) for father's occupation, which might rule it out
But it was by licence, we can see the allegation
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DB1W-7WH?i=421

Daniel was a police officer!
This looks like him in Chester in 1861 (piece 2625 folio 102 page 9, RD Great Boughton)
Daniel Drake, 21, Police Constable, born Ireland, in lodgings, says he is married!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M721-LMW

There seems to be a story about him in the Chester Observer, 19 July 1862, "The Effects of Jealousy"
Eliza Williams, Mary Anne Williams, who had transferred her name into that of Drake, Ann Bradley, and Daniel Drake charged by a police constable with causing a disturbance.
Drake had promised to marry Ann Bradley, but had instead decided to marry Mary Williams. In the altercation it is claimed that Bradley bit Mrs Williams in the arm.
Two oddities, no mention of Drake being a policeman (if it is the same man), and Mary Ann being Williams rather than Devreax. The argument happened on the previous Sunday, so probably the night before the marriage.

Anyway, they went to America.
I think we can see Mary and two daughters,Mary J, 5, and Teresa, 18 months, arriving in New York on the Virginia in 1868
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M721-LMW

Possible birth registrations, one in Chester, one in Wales
DRAKE, MARY  JANE     
Mother's Maiden Surname: DEVERAUX 
GRO Reference: 1862  D Quarter in GREAT BOUGHTON  Volume 08A  Page 349

DRAKE, THERESA       
Mother's Maiden Surname: WILLIAMS 
GRO Reference: 1865  M Quarter in BANGOR  Volume 11B  Page 544

So it looks as though Mary Ann went under two surnames.
There is a catholic baptism record of Mary Jane, 18 Jan 1863, St. Werburgh's, Chester (they have written in 1862 in error I think).
Only one godparent is named, Jane Drake.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LKF-JH

1870 US census, Oregon
Danl Drake 38 Farmer, born Ireland
Mary A Drake 27 Keeping house England
Mary J Drake 9 England
Theresa Drake 5 Wales
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QT9-JPN?i=115

1880 in Los Angeles
Daniel now a foreman.
Mary Jane not there, Teresa is, and five more children born in Oregon and California
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBF-91YB?i=1

[jonw65]

Daniel Drake's age in America is a bit older than that seen in England.
There is a death in Los Angeles, 17 Feb 1885, of a Daniel Drake (edited)
Age 48, married, born Ireland
Suicide by strangulation? strychnine (in newspapers in Feb 1885!)
Two images, about ten down, v. faint
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9SF-FBSM?i=85

Could that be him? (EDIT NO, but now I'm torn!)

Must be pointed out that there are anglican baptisms of some of the Dawson children in Aberystwyth.

There is very little Drake activity in Aberystwyth, Rosie has mentioned a marriage.
Two births with mother's maiden name Drake have come up, Kate Wood, Sep qtr 1866, and Mary Spooner, June qtr 1871. No idea who they are. Can't see them at all.

[jonw65]

Theresa's age was out on that 1868 voyage I think.
Mary Jane Drake may have married Richard Silver in LA in 1878
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-BNTS-M?i=495

Daniel Drake, 47, born Ireland, Foreman, is on a 1886 LA electors register, having been naturalized 8 July 1884
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GT7V-NQQ

So that seems to rule out the Feb 1885 death? (it was not in 1884 as I reported originally)

Birth of Harbert (Herbert?) Drake, 21 March 1885, Alameda, California
Parents Daniel (b. Ireland), Section Foreman, and Mary A Deavarex (b. England)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XX69-14N

[Maiden Stone]

Must be pointed out that there are anglican baptisms of some of the Dawson children in Aberystwyth.

Were they pre-1874/5? That's when the Catholic church in Aberystwyth was built. Our Lady and the Angels and St. Winifride. Closed 2012 and put up for sale this year.
I attended the church during a short stay in the town. 2 altar servers had the same surname as me - a surname from the west of Ireland. 

[jonw65]

Hi
They go on right up to John Austin, bap 16 June 1886
Parents Albert Edward (plasterer) and Mary Jane Dawson. Moor Lane.

So nothing so far for Mary Jane to say she was a catholic. It could be the influence of one or other parent perhaps.
Sorry to have gone off on a tangent with Daniel. It was in the hope there might be a relative around somewhere!
John

[Dundee]

Two births with mother's maiden name Drake have come up, Kate Wood, Sep qtr 1866, and Mary Spooner, June qtr 1871. No idea who they are. Can't see them at all.

I couldn't find them later either and they both seem to be stand alone births.  Might be interesting to see who their mothers were.

Debra 

[bethanjane]

Hi
They go on right up to John Austin, bap 16 June 1886
Parents Albert Edward (plasterer) and Mary Jane Dawson. Moor Lane.

So nothing so far for Mary Jane to say she was a catholic. It could be the influence of one or other parent perhaps.
Sorry to have gone off on a tangent with Daniel. It was in the hope there might be a relative around somewhere!
John

Daniel was brilliant.
I find myself often all over the world following leads, am glad to know its "normal"

I keep finding myself looking at a glassmaker called Michael who was born in Ireland, had a daughter Mary Jane. A glass maker I think is something you're trained for and a labourer is just something you did back in those days, like heavy lifting rather than a skill so it seems unlikely that he wouldn't have put glassmaker on the banns.