It mentioned that Ann Drake was resident of Cambridge Street, Newton Abbot. When the Will was proved it mentioned Ann Drake was a widow and mother of the said William Drake (under oath).
There lies my problem:
1) Is (was) there a Cambridge Street in Newton Abbot 1795? Can anyone confirm? I can't seem to find it.
2) I can't seemingly identify this Ann Drake. All the Ann Drake's I know residing in Newton Abbot at the time was not a widow.
i.e. Anne Drake (nee Smerdon) (2nd Nov 1750 Wolborough - 7th Sep 1821 Wolborough) who married William Drake (20th Jan 1743 Wolborough - 3rd Jan 1815 Wolborough)
and my 5th ggrandparents Anne Drake (nee Prowse) (12th Jan 1753 Highweek - 28th Jan 1831 Wolborough) who married Francis Drake (3rd Mar 1748 Wolborough - 10th Jul 1823). This pairing had a son called William Drake baptised Wolborough 21st Jan 1782 who I thought could be the William Drake of the Will but his mother Anne was not a widower at the time the Will was proven...so it must be someone else...but who?
I have all the Drakes of Wolborough mapped out. Could there have been another Drake family in Newton Abbot but in the parish of Highweek? (the one parish record I have not seen yet myself).
There is no suggestion where this William Drake was from (it may not even be Devon) but since his mother was mentioned as resident of Newton Abbot, I thought he must be one of the Newton Abbot Drakes...
If anyone can enlighten me I would be soooo grateful.
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