The Drakes of Crowndale
An interactive exploration of the true ancestry of Sir Francis Drake, separating the yeoman farmer of Crowndale from the gentry of Ashe.
Begin ExplorationUntangling the Two Drake Families
The name "John Drake" was common in 16th-century Devon, leading to persistent confusion. The primary goal of this analysis is to clearly distinguish between Sir Francis Drake's ancestors—the prosperous yeoman farmers of Crowndale—and the landed gentry of Ashe. Below is a direct comparison of the key figures and facts for each family line.
Drakes of Crowndale (Yeoman Line)
Patriarch
John Drake (c. 1490-1566)
Location
Crowndale Farm, Tavistock
Patriarch's Spouse
Margery Hawkins
Social Status
Prosperous Tenant Farmer (Yeoman)
Key Grandson
Sir Francis Drake
Drakes of Ashe (Gentry Line)
Patriarch
John Drake (d. 1558)
Location
Ashe House, Musbury
Patriarch's Mother
Margaret Cole
Social Status
Landed Gentry (Armigerous)
Key Son
Sir Bernard Drake
Interactive Family Trees
Visualize the two distinct lineages. Click on a name to see more details about the individual, based on the historical record. This helps to solidify the separation between the two family lines.
The Crowndale Lineage
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Simon Drake
fl. 1481-
John Drake
c.1490-1566-
Edmund Drake
c.1518-1566- Sir Francis Drake
c.1540-1596
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Robert Drake
d. 1573 -
John Drake Jr.
d. 1567
-
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The Ashe Lineage
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John Cole
of Rill-
Margaret Cole
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John Drake
d. 1558- Sir Bernard Drake
d. 1586
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Visualizing the Evidence
The distinction between the families is not speculation; it's based on documentary evidence. Here we visualize key data points from lease agreements, tax records, and the famous dispute over the family coat of arms.
Yeoman Wealth: 1544-45 Lay Subsidy
This chart shows the combined tax assessment of the Drake family of Crowndale on their goods, compared to the average assessment in Tavistock. Their prosperity is clear.
The Dispute Over Arms
When Sir Francis Drake adopted the arms of the Ashe family, Sir Bernard Drake's outrage proved they were not of the same immediate line. Queen Elizabeth I settled the matter by granting Francis his own, unique arms, celebrating his global circumnavigation.
Drakes of Ashe Arms
A silver shield with a red wyvern (a two-legged dragon).
Argent, a wyvern gules.
Sir Francis Drake's Awarded Arms
A black shield with a wavy band between the North and South Pole stars.
Sable, a fess wavy between two pole-stars.
The Path to a Legend
Sir Francis Drake's rise was not an accident. It was the result of a unique confluence of circumstances rooted in the life of his grandfather, John Drake of Crowndale. This flowchart illustrates the key steps that transformed a farmer's grandson into a national hero.
1. Yeoman Prosperity
John Drake builds wealth at Crowndale Farm.
2. The Hawkins Marriage
John marries Margery Hawkins, linking to a powerful seafaring family.
3. Religious Flight
Son Edmund (a Protestant) flees Devon for Kent.
4. A Seafaring Career
Francis is apprenticed to his Hawkins kinsmen, launching his destiny.