George Hinckle Drake (1795 - abt. 1862)

Born 1795 in Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Catharine Ann (Combs) Drake — married 3 May 1821 (to about 1862) in Allegany County, Maryland

Died about 1862 at about age 67 in Eden Township, Seneca, Ohio

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Biography

George Hinckle Drake was born 1795, Cumberland, Allengany Co. Maryland or Bedford Co. Pennsylvania the son of William Drake Sr. and Elizabeth Hinckle whose brother was George Hinkle and his younger brother was Edward Drake, decendants of both live in Allegany to this present day.

George married Catherine Combs on May 3, 1821, Ralphael Drake their eldest son was born the next year, Catherine born 1798 the daughter of Cuthbert Combs & Abigail Trimble of Bedford Co. PA, their eldest son John Combs married Bathsheba Drake 1816, was the sister of George, they moved to Stark Co. OH & begot eight children, Bathsheba died 1834, later their eldest son John Combs was living in Gurnesey Co. OH next to his uncle William Drake Jr.

George was hunting with Benedict Athey, fall of 1825, when an argument over a rifle resulted in the death of Mr. Athey, George was indicted for man-slaughter by a grand jury, arrested, jailed and escaped before the trail started. George 34 years on a visit to relatives in Allegany, MD was arrested and stood trail.

Quote: (Cumberland Democratic Alleganian, MD) Oct. 1,1859 an old man named George H. Drake, was arrested in Mt. Savage on Friday last week & committed to the jail of this county upon the charge of murder committed 34 years ago. We avail ourselves the following facts therewith, that Drake was indeed at the Oct. term of the Allegany Circuit Court in Oct. 1825 for killing a man named Benedict M. Athey. He broke jail soon after his arrest & was at liberty until his recent arrest by George McKenzie. Hope or dreaming perhaps that a lapse of 34 years had obliterated all memory of the event, but he ventured back to a county a few days ago, but his presence awakened the recollection of the crime.

At the time of his escape the Governor (Joseph Kent) & Council ordered a reward of 300 dollars for his arrest, but for 34 years his whereabouts remained unknown, but 3 of the 25 of the 1825 Grand Jury by who he was indicted are now living. (all names omitted) Mr. Drake was put on trail in Circuit Court for the murder of Mr. Benedict M. Athey and resulted in an acquittal. Source: Rootsweb.com - google George Hinckle Drake.

The misfortune of our distant uncle George Drake makes for a great story and metaphor of our 21st century information age of mass communication implements or gadgets that devides our culture & our lust for tech items kills the (mind, body, soul) for the demons of stress & the god of debt. The poet and song writer Harry Chapin with his anthem song (Cats in a Cradle) nails the feeling our empty void versus the world of George Drake who would travel hundreds of miles and risk arrest to renew old ties with friends & relatives.

George and Catherine moved to Canada for several years where their daughter Frances Victoria Drake was born August 25, 1828, Ontario, Canada, her parents educated Frances, Ralphael & John in private schools.

George moved his family to Grosse Point Wayne CO, Michigan where his youngest son John was born 1837, he purchased a large farm, education his sons & worked as an account clerk. The 1850 US Census states that Ralphael Drake age 28, bn PA; wife Catharine age 22, bn OH; Soloman Drake age 5; Melinda age 2; Catherine age 55, bn MD and John Drake age 13, bn MI.

George Oct. 1859 found not guilty for murder and the US 1860 Census states George H P Drake age 65 resident of Eden Twp. Seneca County, Ohio; Catherine age 62, bn MD and John age 25, bn MI. George died before 1870.

Sources

• "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X828-MVL : 9 March 2018), John Marion Drake, 11 May 1919; citing Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, reference fn 31932; FHL microfilm 1,984,694.