Drake Family of Blenheim

• Subject: Drake Family of Blenheim
• Date: c1913
• Photographer: Irvin, Tua Marina, NZ
• Found: South Island, NZ

As to whether I have the right family is a complete guess on my part - the words written on the back 'Drake Family Blenheim' is all I had to go on.

First I searched in Papers Past for any mention of Drake & Blenheim and came up with an F Drake of Blenheim taking part in the Caledonian Sports Day in Wellington on the 1 Jan 1892, that seemed like a good place to start.

In the NZ Births there were a few named Francis and one Frank who would fit so after looking for marriages, children and death dates for them all I narrowed it down to just one family who had enough children for the above photo.

Frank Drake was born in NZ in 1868, there are no parents listed for him in the index. He may be either the son or grandson of this Mrs Drake:-

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11504, 4 December 1905, Page 3
Another old settler, Mrs Drake, has died at Picton, aged 79 years. She came out with the late Captain Dalton. She was for many years the trusty servant of Mrs J. E. Chaytor, of "Marshlands," Marlborougb, and was much esteemed by all who knew her. (1905/7762 Drake  Eva Ann  79Y)

Why I think there is a connection is because of these other death notices:-

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 280, 17 December 1888, Page 2
DEATH. Drake.— On December 15, at Marshlands, William Francis Drake, aged 70.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIII, Issue 92, 20 April 1898, Page 2
DEATH. Drake—On the 18th, at Marshlands, Nellie Victoria, beloved daughter of Frank and Minnie Drake; aged 11 months.

Here we have a map showing Blenheim, Marshlands and Tuamarina where the photo was taken:-

View Larger Map

If Frank is the son of William Francis & Eva Ann Drake then his mother would have been aged 42 when she had him. I haven't been able to determine if Wm Francis & Eva had any other children - the records in NZ don't start until 1840 and for the first 20 years or so they are in a mess!

1893/2591 Edith Minnie  Talbot  Frank  Drake

Frank Drake married Edith Minnie Talbot in 1893, Edith was variously referred to as Edith Minnie or Minnie Edith on the registrations of their children:-

1894/18014 Drake  Agnes Annie  Minnie Edith Frank
1895/1481 Drake  Edith Myrtle  Minnie Edith Frank
1897/6100 Drake  Nellie Victoria  Edith Minnie Frank
1898/11686 Drake  Francis Talbot  Edith Minnie Frank
1900/18797 Drake  Willis Alvin  Edith Minnie Frank
1903/15242 Drake  Florence Minnie  Edith Minnie Frank
1905/10989 Drake  John Maurice  Edith Minnie Frank
1908/2272 Drake  Isabel Marian  Edith Minnie Frank

and another girl about 1910. This is who I think they are in the photo:-

 

One last note - the father, William Francis Drake, is most likely this one I found on the IGI:-

WILLIAM FRANCIS DRAKE
Birth:  18 NOV 1818
Christening:  18 NOV 1821   Saint Savior, Dartmouth, Devon, England
Parents:
  Father:  WILLIAM DRAKE
  Mother:  AGNES 

References:
NZ BDM Records
Papers Past
IGI

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If anyone has any other ideas I'd be very pleased to hear from you. With such a large family I'm sure there are a few descendants out there who would love to have this photo.

Dawn Scotting
pandora@kc.net.nz