SIXTEENTH GENERATION

61568. Thomas DRAKE ⁽³²²⁾ was born before 1477. He died on Nov 24 1541 in White Notley, England.⁽³¹²⁾

As Thomas Drakes, he was presented for not being in tithing and aged 12 years and more at the Court held on May 29, 1477. He apparently was not living in the manor when his father died in 1510, for two years passed before he claimed his inheritance. It is interesting that he is only the second generation in which the son was not living in his father's manor. Up until this time apparently each generation had been born, raised, worked, and died on the same piece of land at Great Waltham. As the financial and social status of the family improved, their freedom to move about was less restricted and they ventured from the manor--eventually moving out of the area of Great Waltham altogether.

The record of his admission to the lands and woods lately held by his father are described in detail on the Court Rolls and is of interest in demonstrating this continuity of tenure in the family: "To this Court comes Thomas Drake the son and heir of William Drake late of Lytelhy and is admitted by himself (i.e. in person) to nine acres of land, parcell of a half virgate of land called Eldefeldys, one acre and a half of land, parcell of a half virgate of land called Symon Jeffreys' one grove of woods and pasture containing two acres and a half called Grovecroft; parcell of a half virgate alled Eldefeldes as his (words illegible) and inheritance." "Eldefeldys" is almost certain to be identified with "Eldo land" held by Nicholas Drake who also held "Granger land" and a parcel of "symon Geffray land" ca. 1328.

Thomas Drake was elected to serve as Constable at the Court held on June 15, 1512, and appears in the Court Rolls as a juror several times between 1512 and 1522. He also acquired a croft containing two acres called Arnelles or Arngelles in the Rectory Manor of Great Waltham for which he paid a yearly rent of 18d. At the court held on February 5, 1515, he did homage for a cotland containing 5 acres with three houses called saches, which he held in the right of his wife, Agnes Butler. Agnes was the widow of a William Butler when she married Thomas Drake.

At the Court held at Great Waltham on June 1, 1542, the death of Thomas Drake was reported and his will (which has not survived) mentioned. At sometime before his death, Thomas Drake had settled at Slamsey in White Notley, and he was buried there on November 27, 1541. His move may seem insignificant to you and I as White Notley is only 12-15 miles from Great Waltham, but since for at least six generations the Drake's had lived at Great Waltham, Thomas' move to White Notley was quite an accomplishment.

In the Lay subsidy of 1543-44, Agnes Drake paid 4d. for her lands in White Notley and she was buried there, a widow, on September 30, 1550.

(4 children of Thomas and Agnes Drake: Thomas, William, Clemmence, and John.)

61569. Agnes BUTLER ⁽³²²⁾ died in 1550. Children were:

30784 i. William DRAKE.