William Francis DRAKE [11492]

  General Notes:

William Francis Drake came to NZ on the Lord Worsley from Sydney 28 Nov 1860, he titled himself Dr Drake throughout the 1860s, in Greymouth 1865/66, Wellington 1868, Onehunga 1868, Auckland area 1869. However when his first 2 sons were born in 1871 & 72, he was recorded as Mr, and again in 1875 when the 2nd son died. He continued to move about the country frequently, including living in Thames 1871/72, Wellington 1872, Southland 1873, Awhitu 1876, and is reported below as working as a Mine manager in Thames in the mid 1870's

Family researchers believe, he is the William Drake, widely reported in NZ Papers Past, over some questional financial activities, and who, was supposed at the time, to have died at sea in 1877, enroute to America. However in 2014 family researcher, Lorraine Wilson discovered William Francis Drake in California remarried living as a Dr of medicine

Australia.
F. M. Laidman, Esq., District Coroner, held an inquest at the New Rush, at Lamplough Vic. William Drake was a witness
"William Drake, being sworn, deposed, I am a surgeon, living at Lamplough . . . . ."
Ref: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 11 January 1860.

From the New Zealand Media:
THE CITIZENS' BALL TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE MARQUIS AND MARCHIONESS OF NORMANBY.
. . . . . The following is a list of the names of the ladies and gentlemen who attended the ball: . . . . . Mr. W. Drake, . . . . .
Ref: New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4078, 8 December 1874, Page 2.

Mr. William Drake, of Awhitu, in this province, has been appointed a public vaccinator, to perform gratuitous vaccination in that district.
Ref: New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4624, 8 September 1876, Page 2

Mrs Crispe, the lady appointed at Waiuku Auckland, as public vaccinator is, according to the Star, giving great satisfaction. It says The ladies greatly prefer her style to that of the late Dr Drake. . . . .
West Coast Times , Issue 2490, 23 March 1877, Page 2

Thames Past and Present.
Reminiscenses of 1867.
. . . . . The Queen of Sheba returns . . . . . Subsequently, Dr. Drake was manager, . . . . .
Ref: Thames Star, 23 July 1908

MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS MIDDLE STAR GOLD MINING COMPANY.
A meeting of the Middle Star Gold Mining Company (Registered), was held at the Mechanics Institute at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Stephen E. Hughes, Esq., in the chair when the directors report and the balance-sheet for the half-year ending December 31st, 1874, were brought up and adopted. From the report it appeared that the receipts of the company for the period included in the report, were L27 17s 3d, while the expenses were L91 10s 0d. The report of the mine manager, Mr. William Drake, was also read and received. It was not encouraging. The retiring directors, Messrs. S. E. Hughes, A. Nathan, and B. Levy, were re-elected. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was accorded, and the meeting separated.
Ref: Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5438, 27 January 1875, Page 3

Mr Drake, well known on the Thames as a mine manager, who was ordinarily known as Dr Drake, has, it appears, been making himself unpleasant in the district of.Mauku, The local correspondent of the "Cross'", sends an account of an indignation meeting which was held in consequence of his conduct, It appears that, in addition to practising as a medical man, he lately contracted with the Government to supply sleepers. Upon receiving the money he filed his schedule, leaving unpaid his workmen and the storekeepers. The Chairman, a creditor, in opening the meeting, described how some time ago he had occasion to call Mr Drake in (believing at the time that he was & professional man) he attend his wife in her illness. A few days after he received a bill for five guineas, and was greatly surprised to find it above L2, and with a threat that if it was not paid by the following Wednesday he would surely be summoned for the amount. The consequence was, he had to take his milking cow to the sale to get the money in time. Another creditor related how he had denied his own nag the few oats he had grown; Drake's horse got the oats, and he never received a farthing. (Loud laughter, and cries of "Quack, quack, quack.") Another creditor related how Drake, who, not satisfied with owing him a considerable amount, had just a few days before he filed given him an order for various sacks of bran, oats, potatoes, and especially as that kerosene of his was better and cheaper than any he could get in town, he would take a case of it. This elicited loud laughter, and more cries of "Quack, quack." After various, speeches from a long line of creditors and others couched in a similar strain, the following resolutions were proposed and adopted unanimously.
1. That this meeting views vaccination a simple yet a critical operation, greatly depending on the moral character of the operator, who if occasion required it might use any kind instead of the proper lymph, and that the Government be requested by petition, to be signed by the chairman on behalf of this meeting, to cancel the appointment of William Drake as; public vaccinator of this district, as this meeting has no faith in him.
2. That this meeting pledges itself to take every legitimate means to oust William Drake from the district. After a few minor propositions, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up amidst roars of "Quack, quack, quack,"
Ref: Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2425, 21 September 1876, Page 2

MAUKU.
An indignation meeting of the settlers of Mauku and Patumahoe was held in the Public Hall on Saturday last, to censure the conduct of a settler who arrived amongst us some few months ago, and whose conduct has been anything but pleasing to the inhabitants of this district. He was until lately, by all appearance, making a living as a medical man, to which recently he added that of supplying the Government with railway sleepers. It is more on account of the means he took of doing the latter that the people are indignant at him. He employed poor, hardworking men who have large families dependent on them for support, to split, dress, cart and boat those sleepers to their destination, while he himself rode about on a Horse the price of which is said to be still owing and at the same time living on the fat of the land supplied by the local storekeepers, who, I believe, are let in for it to a considerable extent.
All those people have been these two months anxiously awaiting their money through the inability of Mr. Drake to pay them, until he himself had been paid by the Government, who did not pay for the sleepers until two months after their delivery. However, when the money was available, Mr. Drake coolly goes to town, draws the total amount for the sleepers, files his schedule, and returns to Mauku all within the space of five days, and has not paid any of the abovenamed creditors, with the exception of his brother-in-law, who he paid L20 just immediately before he filed. This sort of a little game is something quite new to us up here, and by the major portion of the community is not easily understood. At the time appointed for the meeting a goodly crowd had assembled, when Mr. W. J. Costello was voted to the chair. The Chairman, who is a creditor, in opening the meeting, described how some time ago, he had occasion to call Mr Drake in (believing at the time that he was a professional man) to attend his wife in her illness. A few days after he received a bill for five guineas, and was greatly surprised to find it above L2, and with a threat that if it was not paid by the following Wednesday, he would surely be summoned for the amount. The consequence was, he had to take his milking cow to the sale to get the money in time. Another creditor related how he had denied his own nag the few oats he had grown; Drake's horse got the oats, and he never received a farthing. (Loud laughter and cries of "Quack, quack, quack") Another creditor related how Drake who, not satisfied with owing him a considerable amount, had just a few days before he filed given him an order for various sacks of bran, oats, potatoes, and especially as that kerosene of his was better and cheaper than any he could get in town, he would take a case of it. This elicited loud laughter, and more cries of "quack, quack." After various speeches from a long line of creditors and others couched in a similar strain, the following resolutions were proposed and adopted unanimously.
1. "That this meeting views vaccination a simple yet a critical operation, greatly depending on the moral character of the operator, who if occasion required it might use any kind instead of the proper lymph, and that the Government be requested by petition to be signed by the chairman on behalf of this meeting, to cancel the appointment of William Drake as Public Vaccinator of this district, as this, meeting has no faith in him.
2. That this meeting pledges itself to take every legitimate means to oust William Drake from the district."
After a few minor propositions, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up amidst roars of "Quack, quack, quack." [A correspondent,]
Ref: Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5284, 19 September 1876, Page 2

IN THE MATTER OF THE DEBTORS AND CREDITORS. ACT, 1875 and in the matter of the Liquidation of the Estate of "WILLIAM DRAKE,, of the Maukn, In the Province of Auckland, New Zealand, Settler, a Debtor. It is hereby notified that at a First Meeting of Creditors of the, said William Drake, held at the Resident Magistrate's Court-house, at Papakura, on Wednesday, the thirteenth day of September instant, it was resolved that the affairs of the said William Drake should be liquidated under the said Act; and that Charles Henrv Green, of the Mauku aforesaid, Farmer, was appointed Trustee of the said Estate and further, that the said Resolution and the Declaration by the said Charles Henry Green, of his acceptance of the office of Trustee have been duly filed. All proof of debts in the said Estate shall hereafter be forwarded to the Trustee. Dated the fourteenth day of September 1876.
(L.S.) EDWARD S WILLCOCKS, Registrar. Hughes and George, Solicitors, Shortland-street, Auckland.
Ref: New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4630, 15 September 1876, Page 1

Gazette in Bankruptcy. LIQUIDATION OF ESTATE UNDER "THE DEBTORS AND CREDITORS ACT 1875." In the Matter of "The Debtors and Credit Act, 1875" and in the Matter of the Liquidation of the Estate of WILLIAM DRAKE, of the Mauku, in the Suburbs of Auckland, Settler, a Debtor
It is hereby notified, that at a Meeting of Creditors of the said WILLIAM DRAKE, held at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Papakura, on Saturday, the 4th day of November instant, the following special resolution was passed "That the Creditors in the Estate being satisfied that the whole of the property of the Debtor has been realised for the benefit of the Creditors, hereby declare that the liquidation has closed." And it is hereby further notified that at the said Meeting, the said Creditors and the said William Drake, on the application of the said William Drake, did by special resolution grant to the said William Drake, the Debtor, an Order of Discharge, releasing him from all Debts provable under this liquidation.
Dated this 4th day of November, 1876, HUGHES & GEORGE, Solicitors for the said William Drake.
Ref: New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4675, 7 November 1876, Page 1

A William Drake has been located in Tuolumne, Sonora, California married to Kate or Catherine who declares on a Census form she emmigrated to the USA in 1877 and is an Australian. William is described as a surgeon (later a physician in a Voter Register) born in England. They have two children.
An inconsistancy exists in the 1900 Census of California where the Drakes declare they have been married 29 years which places William back in NZ, however other circumstantial evidence is considerable

Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, 31 Mar 1879. Articles of Incorporation of the Central Star Gold Mining Company were filed . . . . . Trustees were . . . . . William F Drake. . . . .
Ref: Lorraine Wilson 2014

A headstone in Tuolumne Sonora California reads:
Drake
Florence Ethel
Aug 1971

Dr William Francis
May 1907

Kathlyn Beatrice
Dec 1921

Ref: Lorraine Wilson

  Research Notes:

Image Courtesy Lorraine Wilson.

Other reports of a Dr Drake

Clearances Aug 26th
KATE.barque 341 ton, Sherlock, for Auckland. . . . . . Dr Drake, . . . . . and 80 voluntee for the New Zealand War
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) Thursday 27 August 1863.

ARRIVAL OF VOLUNTEERS.
Yesterday will be memorable for the arrival of the first instalment of Australian Military Settlers. Whether it be a good omen or not of a prosperous campaign, the winds blew fair, and brought the good ship "Kate", Captain Sherlock, into her desired haven, after a remarkably quick run of six days and a half from Sydney.
. . . . . and Dr. Drake is their medical superintendent. . . . . .
Ref: Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 580, 12 September 1863, Page 3

MAUNGATAUTARI GARRISON RACES. (From a Correspondent)
November 5. Under the patronage of the officers of the garrison. Stewards . . . . . Dr Drake Defence Force . . . . .
Third race, 230 p.m. Maiden Plate . . . . . Dr Drake's . . . . . 3yr bay gelding Potentate
Ref: Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2283, 14 November 1864, Page 5

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Bilboa House Park Rd Mells SOM. William is recorded as a son unmarried aged 16 an apprentice to his father born Mells SOM

2. Census: California, 15 Jun 1880, Sonora Tuolumne California. William is recorded as (head of house) a married white male aged 45 a surgeon born in England as were his parents

3. Census: California, 22 Jun 1900, Browns Flat Tuolumne California. William is recorded as head of house a married white male born Oct 1835 aged 64 married 29 yrs born in England as were his parents.

4. California Voter Register: Tuolumne California. No 2004 Drake William F Physician aged 60, 5ft 7ins height, light complexion, blue eyes, grey hair born England, naturalized Jan 11 1884 Tuolumne co in the Superior Court Cal. address Sonora, able to read and write and complete a ballot paper.

William married Mary Catherine Agnes MOORE [11494] [MRIN: 3860], daughter of Andrew Daniel MOORE [11820] and Catherine McDONALD [11821], on 30 Oct 1865 in St Patricks Cathedral Auckland. (Mary Catherine Agnes MOORE [11494] was born in 1848 in Tasmania Aust. and died on 21 Aug 1899 in Thames NZ.)

William next married Catherine Beatrice HUGHES [19095] [MRIN: 6868]. (Catherine Beatrice HUGHES [19095] was born in Nov 1856 in Australia, died in Dec 1921 and was buried in Tuolumne Sonora California.)