Edmond’s last will and testament dated December 25th 1566 was written the day before he died in Upchurch. He opens the will with the words that he is redeemed by the blood of Christ and commits his soul into the hands of God. He then states that he wishes to be buried in Upchurch churchyard next to his son Edward who died in infancy and next to the graves of the Blechenden family. A marked grave does not exist in the churchyard today so the original location remains a mystery.
With regard to Edmond’s immediate family the will only mentions Thomas who was the youngest of several surviving brothers. There were twelve children in total but some died in infancy while others were away at sea like Francis, John and Joseph. Thomas was probably the only son still living nearby during Edmond Drake’s last days. Because of the bequests given to him Edmond may have wanted Thomas to follow him into the clergy.
In the will a wide range of items are bequeathed to Thomas including two chests of books, a new basin, an old platter, a collection of pewter dishes, a French pewter pot, Edmond’s best bible, four of his best candlesticks, his best kettles, his best feather bed, two pillows and five shirts. Edmond’s friend Mr Baker who is named overseer of the will is bequeathed one cock and seven hens while Richard Mylwaye is left Edmond’s chair and best cushion. All other items are left to Edmond’s nurse which indicates she had been looking after him for some time.
While Thomas Drake is designated the sole executor of the will, Clemente Mylwaye, a relative and Richard Sawell, a contemporary Upchurch resident witness it. Mr Baker who is mentioned is an old friend who lived in London and served as Clerk and Keeper of the Stores to the Admiralty and was looking after Edmond’s son Thomas.
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David Wood. |
Although Francis is not mentioned in the will, the date of Edmond Drake’s death indicates that he was a teenager at the time and was probably already away at sea. Concrete evidence is not available about whether Francis went to sea while residing in Upchurch or whether he went before Edmond became vicar of the village. Information that has passed down the generations in Upchurch by word of mouth is that Francis did learn seamanship on a small vessel based at the small village port of Otterham Quay and regularly sailed to the coast of Belgium while living in Upchurch but this cannot be proven with hard written evidence.
The Drake family accept that their ancestor is buried in the village churchyard and have had an association with Upchurch since Edmond’s death. This is shown in a letter dated November 4th 1935 sent to Reverend Lightburne, vicar of Upchurch from the Drake home at Buckland Abbey in Devon. The letter was written by Mrs. Seaton, daughter of Lady Eliot Drake, presenting her mother’s book ‘The Family and Heirs of Sir Francis Drake’ to the people of Upchurch.
About David:
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
price £12 + p+p £2.
David Wood.
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