Reuben Drake (1745 - 1793)

Born 23 Apr 1745 in Scarsdale, Westchester Co., New York

Descendants

Died 27 Jan 1793 at age 47 in Ulster Co., New York

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Biography

Reuben Drake was born in New York.

Reuben Drakes Parents were William Drake and Sarah Lyon of Pleasant Valley, near Newburgh, New York.

Reuben Drake was a Baptist Minister.

From a letter, dated November 27 1886 to Mrs. James Kidd (nee Pumpelly), of Albany. N. Y., from Mrs. Harriet G. Tinkham (1805 -1902 & eldest daughter of Hon. John R. Drake, of Owego) We went to Pleasant Valley, a lovely place, and rightly named, but now called Plattekill (the vandals!). Visited the cemetery where our grandparents are buried. My grandfather (your great-grandfather) gave the ground for a cemetery, built a church at his own expense on a corner of the ground and preached in it until his death. A pleasant country school house stands on a piece of the ground, built entirely from the timbers, boards, etc., of the old church. It made me sad to think my eyes were looking on the very spot where he, the good man, had spent his time for the happiness of his neighbors. Sarah went to searching for a spot where she could get a piece of clapboard grandfather's eyes had rested on, and to see her tugging and pulling at it, determined to have a piece of that old church if she pulled the school house down, set us laughing, and all my moralizing went in saying: 'Such is life; this is the road to the beginning of another.' I gathered some leaves from their graves. The inscriptions are as clear cut and the stones as perfect as if just erected. ^[1]

Burial Plattekill, Ulster, New York, United States of America.^[2]

Inscriptions on the Tombstones - - In Memory of Elder Reuben Drake Who departed this life January the 27th, 1793 Aged 47 years. All you that do this tomb view, Remember I was once as you. Prepare to meet thy God and be Laid in the earth along with me. - In Memory of Pheise, wife of the late Rev. Reuben Drake, Who departed this life September 3d, 1797. Aged 51 years and six days.

The children of Reuben Drake and Phebe Sherwood were - ^[3]

Cornelius 1765 -1822.

Charity 1767

William 1769

Joseph 1772 -1826.

Moses 1774

Rachel 1776

Reuben 1778 -1818

John R. 1782 -1857

Joshua 1786

• NOTE
• The Rev. Reuben Drake's parents are clearly named William Drake and Sarah Lyon in 'Rossiana' a family history by Harmon Pumpelly Read, a descendant.
• The Find a Grave Memorial listing incorrectly names Samuel Drake and Mary Fowler as the parents of Reuben Drake (1745-1793) -- Noted in Drake Genealogy Data Base Reuben Drake is stated to be a son of Samuel Drake of Fox Meadow, Westchester County, New York by Floyd Nelson Drake (1963). His account of the earliest generations of the family, however, contain errors.
• an old clipping attached to the same Find a Grave Memorial lists a Mayflower descent for the Rev. Reuben Drake - Abraham / Robert Drake / Robert / Reuben Drake. The family story is that Reuben's father, William Drake came from New Rochelle, New York. -- Noted in Drake Genealogy Data Base Owego: Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y. (page 191) claims that Reuben is a son of Robert Drake, grandson of Robert Drake (1664-1743, Hampton, Conn. sic), gr-grandson of Abraham Drake who "came on the Mayflower and settled at Hampton, Conn. (should be New Hampshire), gr-gr-grandson of Robert Drake of Devonshire.

His Will - from transcription on the Drake Genealogy Database^[4]

Dated on 8 December 1792 -- Reuben Drake of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, elder.

To my wife Phebe one tract of land or farm in Pleasant Valley whereon Joseph Drake now lives bounded by Hopkins Dolittle and Justis Cooledge land north by Joseph S. Sherwoods land west by Andrew Jamisons land and on south by Uriah Drakes land containing 130 acres.

To my son Cornelius Drake the farm where he now lives.

To my son William the farm where he lives bounded by on south by Abraham Stricklands land east by Andrew Jamisons land north by Henry Lockwoods land. William and Rachel his sister also piece of land at corner of said farm that which containing 200 acres land.

To my son Joseph 100 shillings.

To my son Moses a tract of land running to north line of lot norther to Henry Lockwoods land, eastwood to John Bodines land, westward by Daniel Hasbrooks land containing 150 acres.

To my dau. Charity one tract of land bounded by Andrew Garrisons land, Wiliam Drakes, sd Garrisons land containing near 70 acres.

To my daughter Rachel a tract of land on the west end of lotts 8 & 9 bounded by Abraham Stricklands land containing near 25 acres and 5 acres timber land. :To my above Phebe my wife and my chn. namely Cornelius, William, Moses, Charity & Rachel, to wife Phebe household furniture for house: after to youngest son Joshua comes 21 years of age. Also 1/3 of profits from farm until Joshua comes of age.

To my sons Reuben, John and Joshua my sd farm and lands adjoining not given to my children except what already given to Moses and Rachel, when Reuben comes of 21 years age, when Joshua comes of age divide farm in 2 but part of lot no. 11 where Lelhamis(?) now lives. Other piece of land of lot no. 11 bounded by Ebenezer Rayments land and Uriah Drakes land containing near 3 acres.

Ordain my wife Phebe, Cornelius, William & Moses my sons executors to do their best to obtain a tract of land in Cortlands Manor in Westchester County, N.Y. being parts of lot no. 7 in West Range formerly belonging to Joseph Sherwood of near 180 acres where Robert Crawford now lives.

Witnessed by Jonathan Baily, James Clark, Sarah Lyons. Codicil dated 7 Jan 1793, revokes land given to daughter Charity Drake and gives to her 100 pounds out of Reuben, John & Joshuas estate that I gave them, the farm where Abraham Dekker now lives.

Proved 15 Apr 1793

Sources

1. ↑ see family stories from p: 366 in - Rossiana; papers and documents relating to the history and genealogy of the ancient and noble house of Ross ..... by Read, Harmon Pumpelly, 1860 Pub. Albany, N.Y. [Press of the Argus co.] pdf in Open Library [1] The Library of Congress call no:10092427
2. ↑ (incorrect parent connected) Find A Grave Memorial ID: 80050642 - Reuben Drake
3. ↑ as noted in 'Rossiana' -- there is a similar list in Drake Genealogy Database / Samuel Drake of Eastchester, NY showing a descent from Samuel Drake 1697-1774 & Mary Fowler
4. ↑ "Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835."New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006), (From material originally compiled by William A. D. Eardeley, now held by the Brooklyn Historical Society.). Online www.americanancestors.org., Retrieved Sept. 2009. Drake in Ulster County. Hereinafter cited as Abstracts of Wills, etc. in NY 1787-1835.

• 1800 Census - "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5T-F29 : accessed 16 July 2023), Reuben Dratae, Plattekill, Ulster, New York, United States; citing p. 255, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 21; FHL microfilm 193,709.