CFHS code : AG186
Parish : St Andrew the Great
Inscription : In Loving Memory of GEORGE ROBERT DRAKE d Dec 14th 1917 aged 30 also of GEORGE ROBERT DRAKE d Jan 27th 1927 aged 78 also his wife ELEANOR JANE DRAKE d Sept 7th 1939 aged 91
Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.20277737, 0.13659949 – click here for location
Monument
This headstone, in the parish area of St Andrew the Great, is located two rows east of the western path, opposite the monument to Robert Sayle.
Inscription
In Loving Memory of GEORGE ROBERT DRAKE died Dec. 14th 1917 aged 30.
“Peace Perfect Peace”
Also of GEORGE ROBERT DRAKE died Jan. 27th 1927. Aged 78.
Also his wife ELEANOR JANE DRAKE died Sept. 7th 1939. Aged 91
George Robert Drake (1887 – 1917)
George Robert Drake was born in Littleport on 17 October 1887 to George Robert and Eleanor J. Drake. He was baptised there on 4 December 1887 and grew up on Station Road, Littleport. He moved to Willesdon between 1901 and 1911, where he worked as a commercial traveller in a silk drapers. On on 16 November 1915 he enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment under the Derby Scheme, whereby men attested their willingness to serve when needed. He then resumed civilian life until called up on 1 March 1916, but was discharged three months later on 1 June as unfit for war service. The doctor who examined him to recommend the discharge stated that ‘patient is quite unfit to perform the full duties of a soldier’, and gave the cause as rheumatic fever ten years ago, leading to heart trouble aggravated by war service. George appears to have then gone to stay with his parents, on Collier Road, until his death on 14 December 1917.
The newspaper report of his funeral follows;
Cambridge Daily News 21/12/1917
FUNERAL OF MR. G. R. DRAKE.
Death from Heart Failure After Discharge From Army.
The funeral of the late Mr. G. R. Drake, second son of Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Drake, of 1 Collier-road, late of Littleport and Ely, took place at Mill-road Cemetery on Monday last. Mr. Drake joined the colours in March, 1916, but owing to heart weakness he was invalided out in September and was obliged to return home, where he died on Dec. 14th. The body was enclosed in a plain English oak coffin, with brass fittings. The plate bore the following inscription: “George Robert Drake, born October 17th, 1887, died December 14th, 1917.” The service was conducted by the Rev. Jas. Morgan, vicar of St. Andrew’s-the-Great. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Drake (father and mother), Mr. J. Drake (brother), Mrs G. Ellis (sister), Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Evans, Miss Drake, Miss A. Drake (sisters), Mrs. J Drake (sister-in-law), Mr. G. R. Ellis, Ely (brother-in-law), Lieut. A. G. Evans and Mr J. E. Lane (brothers-in-law). There were many beautiful wreaths.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Robert Sayle and Co.
George Robert Drake (1847 – 27 January 1927)
George was born in Marham, Norfolk and baptised there on 7 November 1847. He was the only child of James Main Drake and Mary (née Brighton) and grew up in Marham where his father was the village blacksmith. George worked as a carpenter/joiner and aged 24 was lodging in Littleport, Ely. He married Eleanor (Nell) Farrant in Littleport on 12 September 1871 and they had nine children: Florence Amelia (1874-1967), Jonathan (1875-1949), Jane (1875-1969), Mary Eleanor (1881-1958), Mary Ann (1885-1977), George Robert, Amy Eliza (1890-1963) and a further two children who died as infants. They lived at Wellington Street, Littleport, and George ran and building and undertaking company. George and Nell then moved to 1 Collier Road, Cambridge (at least 1911 onwards) George had worked with his son Jonathan, and after Jonathan married in 1907 he appears to have taken over the family home in Wellington Street, and the running of the family business. In 1911 George was recorded as being a retired builder. He died at home after a ‘short illness’ and his funeral was held on 29 January at Mill Road Cemetery. Local newspapers reported that ‘all his children and grandchildren able to attend were present’.
Eleanor Jane Drake (née Farrant) (1848 – 7 September 1939)
Eleanor was known as Nell and was the daughter of William and Jane Farrant. She was born in Chatteris, where her father was a blacksmith and inn keeper. Aged 12 she was living in LIttleport with her aunt and uncle, and was documented as being a scholar (1861). Immediately prior to her marraige to George Drake, she was living at Crown Street, Littleport with her maternal grandmother Ann Harlock who ran a grocery store.
After she was widowed Nell continued to live at Collier Road until at least 1937, and then moved to Prickwillow Road, Ely with daughter Mary Eleanor. She died in Ely and her funeral was held on 9 September.
Sources
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Emma Easterbrook, Jo Costain and Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information further about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]