Re: William Thomas Darke-England
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In reply to:
Re: William Thomas Darke-England
Connie Hargroder 10/31/07
I doubt that the name was just "mispelled."IF, John Drake was the father of William Thomas Darke, it may be that William and others deliberately changed the spelling to reflect their new difference in religion--a religion that would have caused great consternation among the parents.William Thomas Darke became a Quaker, and the Drakes were NOT Quakers.However, there is a problem with even this theory.
I found an on-line transcription of "parish registers in Devonshire" that has the name "Darke" existing in 1610 when Barnard Tucker married Joan Darke--not Drake.In 1665, John Moore married Katherine Darke.
Also, on the ship's records, "The Content" for 1680, William Thomas Dark was listed as "about 58 years of age, making him born in about 1622.His wife Allis when she travelled to America in 1684 was listed as "about 63" at that time, thus born about 1621.I'd like to see some records of the time that link the two names "Drake" and Darke" if anyone ever finds some.Right now, I'd say the likelihood that the two are actually one is questionable.
Cecilia L. Fabos-Becker
(A Dark descendant through Micajah Dark 1800-74 and his second wife, Nancy Ellen Dunlap-Guinn-Dark 1836-1912).