Drake

   "Drake" is English, Dutch and German in origin, from the Old English byname Draca, meaning ‘snake’ or ‘dragon’, the Middle English Drake, or sometimes from the Old Norse cognate Draki. Both the Old English and the Old Norse forms are from Latin draco (‘snake’, ‘monster’). The English and Dutch lines are also derived from the Middle English drake, Middle Dutch drake ‘male duck’ (from Middle Low German andrake), hence it was a nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a drake, or perhaps a habitational name for someone who lived at a house distinguished by the sign of a drake (hopefully the latter). In Northern Germany, where our line probably descends from, it was the nickname from the Low German drake (‘dragon’).
   The Coat of Arms is a silver shield with a red Wyvern, wings displayed. The Wyvern is a dragon-like beasts or monster of heraldry. It has only two legs and a body that tapers into a tail. The Crest over the helmet features a right arm couped at elbow holding a black battle axe. The Family Motto, "Aquila non captat muscas," translates to: "The eagle is no fly-catcher."
   The family name was first found in Hampshire, England, where they were seated from ancient times. (A seat or family seat was the principal manor of a medieval lord, which was normally an elegant country mansion and usually denoted that the family held political and economic influences in the area.)
   The first known Drake in America was Thomas Drake, who landed in Massachusetts in 1620, then settled at Hingham Massachusetts in 1635. His family spread out through most of the New England states by the late 17th century.
   The lineage of our family traces back to the 17th Century in Orange County, New York. Although relatively small in geographical area, Orange County was populated by a number of unrelated families named Drake (there were at least seven different Drake families in the Goshen census of 1790.¹), which makes tracing particular lines difficult, especially since all of the lines use common given names, such as John, William, Samuel, Benjamin, Mary, Martha, Esther, Polly, etc. Because of this the different Drake families of Orange County have been confused by researchers over the years.
   Our connection to the Drake family can be traced to a woman named POLLY DRAKE, who was born in Warwick, Rockland County, New York. We have no record of Polly's particular ancestors, although through DNA matches it appears that she was the daughter of BENJAMIN DRAKE (1734-1812) and SARAH SMITH (1737-1775), who were married on 12 July 1753 in Orange, New York. (Our DNA is a match with descendants of their son, Benjamin, Jr.) Benjamin could be the son of JOSIAS JANSZEN DRATZ (1687-1779), whose descendants adopted the surname Drake... but it's not confirmed that his son Benjamin is our ancestor, Benjamin. Anyway, Polly was born on 8 Oct 1762 in Warwick. Many years later, a brother named JOSHUA DRAKE was listed when she applied for a military pension, but he was already deceased.²

Ketcham

   On the 28th of May, 1773, Polly married NATHANIEL KETCHAM (1750 - 1827), in Goshen, Orange County, New York, by Reverend Nathan Ker (Kerr) at the First Presbyterian Church of Goshen. Nathaniel was a carpenter and an officer in the militia during the Revolutionary War, while his brothers ran a mill nearby. They are mentioned here: "To begin with the Village of Warwick consisted of only a few houses . . . Next was Nathan Reed, who came in 1804 from Darien, Conn. This was the stone house built by Francis Baird. Next was a store kept by Edmund Raymond. Next was a small house standing where John Cowdrey now lives. On the opposite of where Mrs. Pierson is; was Lewis Randolph who kept a tavern. Next was the house where June's Hotel is, occupied by Thomas Geraghty as a store and tavern. Next was NATHANIEL KETCHUM, a carpenter. Next was John Mabee a black-smith. Next was Rev. Lebbeuns Lathrop in the old stone house lately demolished by Mr. Bradner. Next was Wlm. Benedict the father of William L. Bendedict. Next was James Benedict, Esq. Next was Capt. James Benedict, his son, where John Blain now lives. Next was the TWO KETCHUM BROTHERS—SAMUEL AND PHILIP; they had a little mill and a pond from the spring on the west side of the road. (From "PELTON FAMILY OF WARWICK" by Henry Pelton, Warwick Historical Papers, 1933.)
   Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Polly had five children, all born during the Revolution. So while he enlisted as a Minute Man and was promoted to Captain, Polly was the unsung hero who tended the farm and raised newborn children, all the while wondering if her husband would ever return home... not that home was any safer. Gangs of Loyalists terrorized the countryside, and there is at least one report of Nathaniel in a posse, chasing and battling a Tory gang who attacked the silversmith.³ But they were still able to raise five children in those troubling times, and they are listed here:

CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL KETCHAM AND POLLY DRAKE

TEMPERENCE KETCHAM was born in 1774 in Warwick, Orange, New York. She married George Dill, Jr. (1770-1844), and they had the following children: Robert (1814-1873), Norman Leslie Dill (b. 1838). Temperance died in 1874 in Florida, Orange, New York. See them listed in the SAR application at right (SAR Membership: 91635; Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.)

ABNER KETCHAM was born on 24 Mar 1778 in Warwick, Orange County, New York. He married Hannah Sayre (1782-1848) and had the following children: Ann Eliza, Nancy, Mariah Ketcham (b. 1794). He was in the Seneca County Militia in 1805 (see record at right from Military minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, compiled and edited by Hugh Hastings, State Historian, and Henry Harmon Noble, Chief Clerk. N.Y.: State of New York, 1901-1902, p. 769), and died on 2 May 1823 in Ovid, Seneca County, New York. Abner is buried at Ovid Cemetary, Ovid, Seneca County, New York.

ESTHER KETCHAM was born on 05 Sep 1779, in Warwick. She married JOHN HAUSE, whose family is on the next page of the 1790 census, on 06 Nov 1796. They had thirteen children, listed below. She died on 21 Sep 1853 in Fayette, Seneca County, New York.

ABIJAH KETCHAM was born between 1774 and 1784 in Warwick. (Age estimated by 1790 census.)

AZUBAH KETCHAM was born on 28 Feb 1790 in Warwick, Orange County, New York, and was baptized in 1845 at the Old School Baptist Church in Warwick. Azubah died on 14 Aug 1850 ("Burials at Warwick, NY, lists, Ketchum, Azubah, 14 Aug 1840 Source: "Early Settlers of New York State," by Janet Wehty Folet, Vol. ll, reprinted by Genealogical Publ. Co. 1993.) She is buried at the Saint Stephens Cemetery in Warwick, Orange County, New York.

Personal Information Pensioner Name: Polly Ketcham (widow) Pensioner: Nathl Ketcham Office: New York City State: New York Year Range: 1848-1868 View image SOURCE INFORMATION: Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury, 1818-1872; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T718, 23 rolls).

   Polly died on the 11th of September in 1839, in Warwick, according to War Dept. Rev. Claim dated 13 Jan 1843) stating at that time that she was Nathaniel's widow and the date of her decease. Debts to Polly were payable to "Temperance Dill Ketcham, Esther (Ketcham is crossed out) Haize (Ketcham is crossed out) and Abijah Ketcham, only surviving children of Polly Ketcham, deceased." She is buried at the Saint Stephens Cemetery in Warwick, Orange County, New York, near her daughter Azubah.
   Meanwhile, her eldest daughter, ESTHER KETCHAM (1779-1853), married JOHN HAUSE and moved west to the fingerlakes in Fayette, Seneca County, New York, where they prospered and raised a large family on the shores of Lake Cayuga at Hause Point. Like her mother, she became a wartime bride when he was a sergeant in the Cavalry during the War of 1812. John was captured by the British at the battle of Lundy's Lane and Esther had to take care of their farm and eight children alone, just like her mother Polly had, worrying every minute about his safety as a combatant, and the future of her family when her husband became a POW in Canada. After the war ended and John returned home, they had another four children and prospered in Fayette, Seneca, New York. She and John (and many of their children) are buried at the Hause Point (Canoga) Cemetery. You can read their story here.

GENEALOGY POLLY DRAKE (1753 - 1839) married NATHANIEL KETCHAM (1750 - 1827) and begat... ESTHER KETCHAM (1779 - 1853) who married JOHN HAUSE (1773 - 1844) and begat... AUGUSTUS HAUSE (1804 - 1875) who married JANE JONES (1802 - 1850) and begat... LABAN HAUSE (1831 - 1906) who married MELISSA SANDERSON (1839 - 1921) and begat... FRANK HAUSE (1867 - 1951) who married FLADELLA RAYMOND (1869 - 1961) and begat... CARLISLE HAUSE (1891 - 1972) who married MARJORIE MARCHANT (1892 - 1939) who begat... CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, SR. (1917 - 1983) who married JEANNE BRUNNER (1918 - 2000) and begat... CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, JR. (b. 1939) who married MARTHA WENK (b. 1940) and begat... JEFF (who married LORI ANN DOTSON), KATHY (who married HAL LARSEN), ERIC (who married MARY MOONSAMMY), and MICHELE HAUSE (who married JOHN SCOTT HOUSTON).

TOP PHOTO: The grave of Polly Drake Ketcham (8 Oct 1762 - 11 Sep 1839) at Saint Stephens Cemetery in Warwick, Orange County, New York. Inscription: "Wife of Nathaniel Ketchum. Age 76.10.27." She is buried near her daughter, Azubah.

NOTES:

¹—Drakes of Orange County, New York and Related Families is a manuscript collection of notes compiled by Imogene H. Lane in 1970. Imogene H. Lane was born Imogene Thetis Hawks in Nebraska in 1913 and is a descendant of Samuel Drake and Eunice Carpenter of Orange County, New York. Her work is available on microfilm from the Family History Library (FHL film #872801, item 4). More details can be found at the Rootsweb Drake Genealogy Database website (although it's no longer updated).

²—In the book An outline history of Orange County : with an enumeration of the names of its towns, villages, rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, mountains, hills and other known localities and their etymologies or historical reasons therefor ; together with local traditions and short biographical sketches of early settlers, etc. (1846) by Samuel W.Eager, four men by the name of Drake signed the pledge in Orange County in 1775: Joseph Drake (p. 499), and Ensign Daniel Drake, Zepheniah Drake (p. 500), and Joshua Drake (p. 501). William and James Drake were listed as exempt. If this Joshua is Polly's brother, it pinpoints him at Goshen on June 8, 1775. A Joshua Drake was enlisted in the Fourth Regiment in Orange County during the Revolution, according to New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol. II, (1897). A Joshua Drake was still living in Goshen in 1790 and 1800, according to tax and census lists (1790: Goshen, Orange, New York; Series: M637; Roll: 6; Page: 375; Image: 335; Family History Library Film: 0568146; 1800: 1800; Census Place: Goshen, Orange, New York; Series: M32; Roll: 21; Page: 363; Image: 370; Family History Library Film: 193709). Goshen is about 11 miles from Warwick.

³—From the book, Pure Necessity: Revolution at Warwick: The life and times of General John Hathorn, his militia, and the community of Warwick, New York in the late 18th Century, by Sue Gardner; Published by Wickham Thicket, Warwick NY (October 8, 2019), page 160: "Polly Ketchum and her children—Another pension application file with a great deal of detail is that of Polly Ketchum, widow of Nathaniel. Her husband was related (likely a cousin) of Azariah. Nathaniel's brother Samuel testified for her pension. The brothers lived at Bellvale along Rt. 17A, later the Wheeler farm and today the property is part of the 'Peach Grove Inn' lands. Ketchum Road is named after them.
   "She made her application on May 28, 1838, at age 84. Her maiden name was Drake. She and Nathaniel were married by the Rev. Kerr at Goshen on May 28, 1773. Sadly, she did not live long after applying for her pension, passing on September 4, 1839.
   "We know of her sruggle mostly by what is implied: that she had to take care of their farm and four children alone while he served, worrying every minute about his safety and the future of her family. Without Polly and her witnesses, we would never know that Nathaniel enlisted early in 1776 and his company gathered at New Windsor. They were moved by water down to New York City. After a month or so they were taken over to Brooklyn and participated in the battle of Brooklyn. Since their captain was 'took sick' (it was alleged that he was faking illness) Nathaniel as 1st Lieut. was in command of their company as they and the rest of the American army fell back to Manhattan.
   "Later, his company was assigned to guard a large wagon train of arms and supplies which arrived at New Windsor from Boston at about the same time Burgoyne was taken (1778); they escorted the essential supplies to Easton, PA, taking about three weeks. Col. John Hathorn was in command of them as they moved.
   "Nathaniel was one of the men accompanying James Burt chasing the Tory gang who attacked the silversmith, mentioned earlier, that same year. This places them as living in the Village at that time, possibly the same location shown ... on the 1805 map.
   "In later years the children of a Revolutionary veteran could also recieve his pension funds. If Polly had not applied, two of their children would not have received this benefit.
   "William Benjamin Sayer in his notebook recorded that Nathaniel and his family after the war lived at the north side of Colonial Avenue, a few houses away from the corner of Maple Ave. Henry Pelton remembered it from his arrival in town in 1805. He said that Nathaniel was a carpenter by trade."

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