Simon Drake married Patience Gregory, 1817 in Wake Co., NC. He fathered 6
children and they were found on the 1830 Rowan Co., NC federal census as slash
marks.
In 1840, Patience Drake was head of household in Greene Co., IN. Sometime
between 1830 and 1840, another child was born and she believed her birthplace
was TN. By 1850, Patience could not be found and she was not listed in the
marriage records.
The marriages of the Drake children were listed in a publication as
southerners who married in Greene Co., IN.
My great grandfather was the youngest of two sons, Thomas M. Drake, who
married about 1851 Sarah A. Smith. Two children were found with them in 1860,
William Joe Drake and Mary Drake. Mary apparently died young for my
grandfather Joe Drake knew nothing of her.
They left between the 1860 and the 1870 censuses and pregnant Sarah died
enroute to Texas. The twin sons also died. Tom married and had another child
born in Indian Territory, Five Civilized Tribes, Choctaw Nation, in 1871.
From then on, I have their data, but for nearly 20 years, I have little on the
family in Greene Co.
Is there a SMITH researcher who might know of a Sarah who had 3 children
(the last named Worthy died young, as well) and then died enroute to Texas? The
Drake family was aware of it, so perhaps the Smith family of Greene Co. knew
as well.
BTW, Anderson Smith is not a likely candidate as her father, since the Sarah
found with him was much too young and was still with him after 1870.
Shirley Maynard
Hampton, VA