Re: South Carolina descendant from Columbia
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In reply to:
Re: South Carolina descendant from Columbia
3/19/01
30.3.2001
Dear Holly,
I have in front of me a copy of the biographical sketch of Brigadier General Thomas Fenwick Drayton, taken from the following website: www.researchonline.net/sccw/bios/d635.htm
I would be very interested in receiving any information you may have to link the Draytons of Barbados and the Carolinas.
I have some information concerning some Draytons of London in the mid 17th century. One of them, a John Dreaton (notice the spelling!) made out a P.C.C. will on 25th May 1643, in which hs is described as being about to go on a voyage to "the Barbadoes". I am wondering whether he is the same John Drayton mentioned in the Virginia Land Grants - Patent Book 1 Part 11 - in which a certain John Benton, on October 13th 1642, was granted 400 acres by assignment from Samuel Davis and the residue for the transportation of various persons, including John Dreaton (same spelling as the P.C.C. will of 1643), and Thomas Hughes who co-signed the will. Interesting! I also have a copy of the P.C.C. will of Roger Drayton dated 1670 where mention is made of his kinsman John Drayton who at the time was in Virginia.
I am also interested in finding out whether there is a connection between the Henry Drayton mentioned in the Directory of Ancestral Heads of New England Families (1620-1700), complied by Frank R.Holmes through the Boston Genealogical Society Publishing Company in 1964, as "being able to bear arms at Marshfield, Massachusetts in 1643", and also in the records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, edited by Nathaniel B.Shurtleff and David Pulsifer (Boston 1855-1861 - Volume 111), where we see that on 2nd March 1651-2, Governor Bradford granted letters of administration to Captain Standish, Treasurer, to administer upon the estate of Henry Dreaton, decd. (Notice the same spelling of the surname as with John Dreaton's P.C.C. will of 1643!). I believe that this Henry served as Master Gunner on various of His Majesty's ships, as mentioned in the Calendar of State Papers - April 23rd 1623, the Phoenix; 30th November petition to be transferred from the Phoenix to the Triumph; and on24th November 1630 we see William Heley recommending to Sir Kenelm Digby that Henry Drayton be given a gunner's place on the Defiance. The Henry of Marshfield, Massachusetts, died as a result of going out hunting in inclement weather, and is described as a young man. Intriguing!
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Let us hope that a proven connection between the Draytons of both sides of the Atlantic can be found.
Best wishes,
Bill Drayton.