John Drake, Rev.
  b: ~1655 - Dover Twp., Strafford Co., New Hampshire Prov.
  d: Aug-Sep/1741 - Essex Co., NJ - bur: Stelton Baptist Church Cem., Middlesex Co.

Father: Francis Drake
Mother: Mary Walker?

Spouse-1: Rebecca Trotter - b: 5/Jul/1655 - Newbury, Essex Co., Mass. Bay Col.
  d: ~1700 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov. - bur: Stelton Baptist Church Cem.
  m: 7/Jul/1677 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.

Child-1: John - b: 2/Jun/1678 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                        d: Apr-May/1751 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
                       m: Sarah Compton - 9/Dec/1687 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                       m: Ann ***** - ~1704 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
          2: Francis - b: 23/Dec/1679 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                            d: 17/Apr/1733 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
                           m: Patience Walker - 10/Nov/1698 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
          3: Samuel - b: 1680 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                           m: Elizabeth Hull - 19/Sep/1700 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
          4: Joseph - b: 21/Oct/1681 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                           d: 1740 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
                          m: Annie Walker - ~1703 - Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
          5: Benjamin - b: 3/Jul/1683 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
                              d: Aug-Sep/1763 - Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ
                             m: Mary Runyon - ~1705 - Elizabethtown, Essex Co., NJ
                             m: Hannah Seabrook - 1748
          6: Abraham - b: 16/Apr/1685 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                              d: Apr-May/1763 - Newton Twp., Sussex Co., NJ
                             m: Deliverance Wooden - ~1704 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
          7: Sarah - b: ~1686 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                         d: May/1749
                        m: Benjamin Hull - ~1704 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
                        m: Edward Dunham - 1735 - m: Israel Folson - 1739
          8: Isaac - b: 12/Jan/1687(1688) - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                        d: Dec/1758-Jan/1759 - Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ
                       m: Hannah Blackford - 1710
          9: Jacob - b: 10/May/1690 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                         m: Christian Molleson - ~1709
        10: Ebenezer - b: 19/Jul/1693 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                              m: Anna Dunn - 10/Nov/1723 - Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
        11: Ephraim - b: ~1695 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                            m: Mercy Piatt - ~1725 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
        12: Rebecca - b: 21/Nov/1697 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                              d: 1749
                             m: Joseph FitzRandolph - 22/May/1712 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ
        13: Abigail - b: 29/May/1699 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov. - nra: 1700
        14: Mary - b: 1700 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
                         d: 1740
                        m: Thomas Davis

Spouse-2: Elizabeth Bonham
  m: : ~1705 - Middlesex Co., NJ

Spouse-3: *****

Biographical Details:

John Drake was the son of Francis and Mary Drake who were early settlers of Dover Township in the Province of New Hampshire.  John was probably born about 1655 in Dover Township, but no exact date is known.1  In any case, he moved with his father and mother and siblings to New Jersey about 1670 or, perhaps, a few years earlier.  As noted elsewhere, the members of the Drake family were devout Baptists and likely suffered persecution in New England; hence, it is a plausible presumption that they were attracted to New Jersey by the policy of religious tolerance promised by the propietors.  John Drake and Rebecca Trotter were married July 7, 1677, in Piscataway Township in East Jersey.  They were the parents of fourteen children of which all but one appear to have survived into adulthood.  This is supported by published sources as well as extracts of wills published as the New Jersey Archives.2,3,4  John was evidentally a prominent inhabitant of Piscataway Township and, consequently, is mentioned in a number of civil records.5,6  More importantly, he became a prominent Baptist preacher during early settlement of Piscataway Township.7  Indeed, it is believed that John along with Hugh Dunn and Edmund Dunham started holding meetings for religious teaching in Piscataway about 1669 and in 1689, he was one of the six original members, viz., Hugh Dunn, Edmund Dunham, John Smalley, John Drake, Nicholas Bonham, and John Randolph, of the First Baptist Society of Piscataway.  Concomitantly, Reverend John Drake became the first minister of this congregation until he retired forty years later in 1729.  It is further reported that in 1695, 1696, and 1698, he was an Overseer of the Poor and, in addition, performed the first recorded marriages in Piscataway Township (presumably before his own in 1677).  Within this context, it seems that he remained active in the ministry after retirement, since a modern history asserts that he served for fifty years.  In 1731, the Baptist congregation purchased 4.6 acres of land in Piscataway Township to erect a building, but construction did not take place until 1748.  The First Baptist Society was reorganized as the First Baptist Church in 1776 and retained this name until 1875 when it was renamed Stelton Baptist Church and due to subsequent modifications of township boundaries, it is presently located in the municipality of Edison, New Jersey.  The original building was replaced by a new and larger building in 1825, which was destroyed by fire on January 1, 1851.  A new structure was rebuilt the same year, only to be destroyed by fire once again in 1924.  Another building was constructed in 1925 and 1926 and presently occupies the orignal site presently located at 334 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08817.8

Reverend John Drake reportedly served as Magistrate and Town Clerk at Piscataway and as a Deputy in the General Assembly in 1693.  Obviously, this is evidence of his high social status in the Province of East Jersey.9  Rebecca Trotter Drake died about 1700, probably following the birth of Mary, her last child.  John Drake apparently married, the widow, Elizabeth Bonham Slater about 1705.  They had no children of their own, but both had large families from previous marriages and at the time of their marriage there would have been as many as fifteen under age children living with their parent and step-parent in the Drake household.  Within this context, Monnette asserts that John Drake married a third wife, but does not name her.  Presumably, this would have been after the death of Elizabeth Bonham Slater Drake.  (As is well known, Monnette often includes notoriously inaccurate assumptions in his genealogical works.)  Nevertheless, other researchers have further perpetuated the existence of a third wife and, furthermore, have identified her with Barbara Scott who purportedly married John Drake in the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia on July 8, 1707.  This presents a serious chronological discrepancy since there is good evidence in civil records that Elizabeth Bonham Slater Drake remained alive until at least 1715.  Since divorce would be unthinkable for Rev. John Drake and, moreover, there is no evidence of this (Barbara nor any associated step-children are mentioned in John's will, although Elizabeth's children are mentioned).  Consequently, it seems likely that Barbara Scott married someone else and that attribution of her as the third wife of Rev. John Drake of Piscataway is spurious.  (Concomitantly, the location of the marriage in Philadelphia and in a Presbyterian church seems unlikely geographically, as well as breaching long-standing denominal differences between Presbyterians and Baptists.)  Nevertheless, it is possible that John did marry for a third time after the death of his second wife, Elizabeth, about 1718, but if this is true, her name is unkown to history beyond the putative assertions of Monnette and others.  Reverend John Drake made is will on April 7, 1740, which was proved September 29, 1741, suggesting that he died in the late summer of that year.10,11  It is reported with reasonable confidence that he and his first wife Rebecca Trotter Drake, were buried in the cemetery associated with the First Baptist Society in Piscataway; however, this cemetery is presently known as the Stelton Baptist Church Cemetery.  However, no stone marker seems to remain.

Source Notes and Citations:
1. Howard Eugene Bonham and Jean Allin, Bonham and Related Family Lines, Bonham Book(s), 5104 Bridlington Ln., Raleigh, NC, 27612, printed by Genie Plus, Bradenton, FL, 1996: pgs. 460-.
      "Rev. John Drake , son of Captain Francis & Mary (Walker) Drake, was born ca 1655 in NH and died in Essex Co., NJ in 1741.  He married (1) Rebecca Trotter, 7 Jul 1677; married (2) ca 1703/4, Elizabeth (Bonham) Slater, widow of Edward Slater, and daughter of Nicholas & Hannah (Fuller) Bonham; married (3) Barbara Scott at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1707/8.
      The Reverend John Drake was the famous ordained minister of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., NJ until his retirement in 1729.
      Rebecca Trotter, daughter of William & Cutbury (Gibbs) Trotter, was born 5 Jul 1655 at Newbury, MA.  Although Rev. Drake married twice more, Rebecca Trotter was the mother of his fourteen children.  She died shortly after the birth of their fourteenth child ca 1700."
      "In 1702/3 the combined households of Rev. John Drake and (2) wife, Elizabeth (Bonham) Slater Drake numbered 15 children of various ages - from Benjamin Drake, the eldest at ca age 20, to Alathea Slater, the youngest child at age ca 1 year old."
      "Rev. John Drake did not have issue by either his second or third wife.  He did mention four of the second [Elizabeth (Bonham) Slater Drake] wife's four children in his will: Edward Slater, Allizhia Skebow, Elizabeth Hull, and Fillratea Martin.  He named only four of his sons and one daughter living and one daughter deceased.  He named two daughters-in-law: Patience, who was the wife of deceased son Francis Drake; Christian Bebout, wife of deceased son Jacob, who later married Peter Bebout.  He made one daughter-in-law, Hannah, wife of Isaac, executor, which she renounced 'on account of age and other inability.'"
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2. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. II: 1730-1750), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1913: Vol. 30, pgs. 150-1.
     Apr. 1, 1733.  "Drake, Francis, Sen'r, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of.   Wife, Patience. Children---Rachel Runion, Martha, Betty, Francis, Benjamin, James, Henry and Joseph (all minors).  Grandson, Ephriam Drake.  Real and personal estate.   Executors---brother-in-law, Joseph FitzRandolph, kinsmen Edmund Dunham, Jun'r, and Moses Martin.   Witnesses---Henry Skibbow, Isaac Drake, Moses Burges.   Proved April 27, 1733."
     Apr. 26, 1733.  "Inventory, £48.3.2; made by Andrew Drake and William Hooles."
     Sep. 11, 1749.  "Joseph Fitzrandolph and Moses Martin, two of the executors, with the consent of Patience Drake, the widow, made choice of Azariah Dunham as exector in room of Edmund Dunham, deceased,"
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3a. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. III: 1751-1760), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1924: Vol. 32, pgs. 97-8.
     Dec. 12, 1744.  "Drake, John, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co.; will of.  Wife, Ann, sole heiress.  Brother-in-law, Joseph Fitzrandolph and cousin, Joseph Fitzrandolph, Jr., Executors.   Witnesses---Jeremiah Drake, Joseph Fitz Randolph, Jr., Marcy Dannis.  Proved May 30, 1751."
     May 29, 1751.  "Inventory, £69.11.6, incl. books, 5s; made by John Hepburn and George Marlett."

b. ibid.: Vol. 32, pg. 97.
     Jan. 3, 1756.  "Drake, Isaac, of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co.; will of.  Children---Samuel, Daniel, Nathaniel and Hannah (wife of George Lang).  Grandchildren---Martha (daughter of Samuel), Isaac, Nathaniel and Sarah (children of dec'd son, Isaac).  Legacies to Thomas Johnson and to the Baptist Church in Piscataway.  Real and personal estate, incl. negro slaves.  Executors---sons Samuel and Daniel.   Witnesses---Jeremiah Manning, James Manning, Reune Runyon.  Proved Jan. 29, 1759."
     Jan. 25, 1759.  "Inventory, £456.8.10, by James Manning and John Blackford."
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4a. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. IV: 1761-1770), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1928: Vol. 33, pg. 121.
     Feb. 21, 1759.  "Drake, Patience, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co, widow; will of.   Grandson, Ephraim Drake, son of Ephraim Drake, deceased, 4 shillings.  Daughter, Rachel Runyon, a set of curtains.  Daughters, Martha Joans, Rachel Runyon and Elizabeth Burges, my apparel, sheets, etc.  Grandson, Joseph Drake, son of Joseph, deceased, Bible.  Grandson, Reuben Drake, son of said Joseph, silver headed cane.  Grandson, Ephraim Drake, son of said Joseph, books.  Grandson, Embly Drake, son of said Joseph, books.  Grandson, Hezekiah Dunham, son of Hez: Dunham, deceased, 40 shillings.  Grandchildren, Patience and Francis Drake, daughter and son of Henry Drake, deceased, £10 and 10 shillings, which my son, Henry borrowed of me.  Grandchildren, the sons and daughters of my 3 sons, deceased, to wit, James, Henry and Joseph Drake, the rest of estate.   Executors---friends, Benjamin Stelle and Phinehas Dunn.  Witnesses---Henry Sharp, Denah Furgerson, Joseph Davis.  Proved April 7, 1762."   Wife of Francis Drake, son of John Drake.

b. ibid.: Vol. 33, pg. 120.
     Jul. 28, 1759.  "Drake, Abraham, of Roxbury Twsp., Morris Co.; will of.   Grandsons, Abraham and Jacob, the sons of my son Abraham, all my lands and grist mill; and they are to pay my eldest son, Nathaniel, 20 shillings, and to my son, Jacob, 10 shillings, and to my son, Elisha, £40.   Executors---my said grandsons.  Witnesses---William Boyd, Thomas Throckmorton, John Van Tuyl.  Proved May 6, 1763."

c. ibid.: Vol. 33, pg. 120.
     Jun. 22, 1763.  "Drake, Benjamin, of Hopewell Twsp., Hunterdon Co.; will of.   'Being aged."  Wife, Hannah, all the goods she brought when I married her; also £50.  Daughter, Rebecca £40.  Son. Zachariah, £40.  Daughter, Hannah, £40.  Grandson, William Drake, the son of William Drake, £5.  To Isaac Eaton, minister of the Baptist Church of Hopewell, £2.  Son, Edmond, my plantation where I live.   Executors---my sons, Edmond and Zachariah Drake.  Witnesses---John Lamburt, Daniel Gano, John Drake.  Proved Aug. 30, 1763."
     Sep. 26, 1763.  "Inventory, £231.19.11, made by Reuben Armitage and William Bryant."
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5a. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. Part I: East Jersey Records. Part II: West Jersey Records), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1899: Vol. 21, pg. 165.
     Nov. 10, 1688.  "'An account of severall men's bills of Quite Rent.   John Havens, Isaac Onger, Edward Williams, Nathaniel Cammock, William Case, Francis Jeffery, Charles Dennes, Hannaniah Gilford, John Morford, Eliezer Cotterell, John Wilsone, Jonathan Stoutt, Franck Herbert, William Binglae, William Broadwell, Benjamin Trotter, William Camp, John Lambert, Major John Berry, Robert Wright, Symon Rouse, John Drake, John Gillman, Edmond Dunhame, Charles Gillman, Samuel Hull, Thomas Ingham, Sarah Reape, Restore Leppencott, Nathaniel Slocume, Samuel White."

b. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 159.
     Nov. 2, 1692.  "Do. Do.  with return of John Barclay and John Craige for Perth Amboy, John Pike and Thomas Thorpe for Woodbridge, John Drake and Hopewell Hull for Piscataway, John White for Somerset Co., dated October 12, 1693, John Carrington, Sheriff."

c. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 194.
     Mar. 26, 1693.  "Will of Hopewell Hull of Piscataway.   Wife, Mary, sons Hopewell, Joseph, daughters mentioned, but not by name.  Real and personal estate.  The wife executrix with brother Benjamin Hull and friend John Drake as overseers.   Witnesses  Edward Slater, Benjamin Hull, Edmond Dunham.   Proved May 8, 1693."

d. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 235.
     Sep. 4, 1694.  "Patent to John Langstaffe of Piscataway, for a lot, E. the Bound Brook, N. Robert Burnet, S. Benjamin Martine, W. unsurveyed; also a lot, S. W. Ambrose Brook, S. John Martine and John Drake, W. and N. E. unsurveyed land, in all 100 acres.  (Middlesex Co.)"

e. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 239.
     Oct. 3, 1695.  "Do.  to John Drake of Piscataway, for land in Middlesex Co., vizt: 1, a lot, S. and E. Hugh Dunn and unsurveyed land, W. grantee and Thomas ffairneworth, N. a road; 2, a lot adjoining his houselot on the North; in all 80 acres."

f. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 282.
     Mar. 10, 1697 (1698 N. S.).  "Confirmation to John Royse, Thomas Higgens, Edward Slater, John Drake, Edmund Dunham, John Smallie, Wm. Sutton, Thomas Sutten, Judah Sutten, Capt. Geo. Drake, Benjamen Corle, Justinian Hall, Benjamen Hull, Capt. Samuel Walker, Hugh Dun, John Molleson, Walter Robison, Joseph Rendolph, Charles Sallier, Isaac Smallie and Jedidiah Higgens, all of Piscataway, for a small tract of meadow there, on the Northside of Rariton R., West of the lower landing."
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6a. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills. Vol. I: 1670-1730), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1901: Vol. 23, pg. 247.
     Mar. 26, 1698.  "Hull, Hopewell, of Piscataway, yeoman; will of.   Wife Mary.  Sons---Hopewell, Joseph, both under age; daughters mentioned, but not by name.  Farm on Rariton R. next to Symon Brinsleys, land bought of Josuah Bradly, do. at Shingle Hill, do. in Piscataway Meadows.  Personal property.  The wife executrix with brother Benjamin Hull and John Drake as overseers.   Witnesses---Edward Slater, Benia Hull and Edmond Downham.   Proved May 8, 1693."
    Apr. 27, 1693.  "Inventory of the personal estate of, £90.1.6; incl. books 15s., 6 bushels of rye 15s., 26 of Indian corn 4s., four cows £10.-, for oxen £15, a 4 year old heifer £2.10; made by Benjamin Hull and Edward Slater."
    Jul. 13, 1693.  "Bond of his widow Mary Hull as executrix of his will.  Benjamin Hull of the same place fellow bondsman."

b. ibid.: Vol. 23, pg. 357.
     Oct. 16, 1705.  "Peatt, Reyneer (Regnier), alias Le Flure,1 of Piscataway.   Letters of administration on the estate of, granted to his widow Elizabeth Peatt."
     Oct. 18, 1705.  "Inventory of the personal estate (£156.1, incl. an Indian man and woman, one negro and two children, £70); made by Thomas Grub.  Sworn to by his widow Elizabeth Peatt."
     Oct. 24, 1705.  "Bond of widow Elizabeth Peatt as administratrix of the estate.  John Drake and Josyas Merlet fellow bondsmen."
     "1Usually designated in deeds, etc., as Reune Piatt, alias La Flower."

c ibid.: Vol. 23, pg. 520.
     Apr. 4, 1720.  "Wooden, Woding, Wooding, Josiah, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of.   Wife Martha, 'five younger children,' names not given.  Real and personal estate.   Executors---the wife with brothers Benjamin Martin junior and Jonathan Compton.   Witnesses---John Drake, Thomas Fitzrandolph, Jno. Burrows.   Proved April 21, 1720."
     Apr. 19, 1720.  "Inventory of personal estate, £76.4.10½; incl. a Bible and Testament 6s.; made by Edmund Dunham and Henry Poter (Potter).  Sworn to by Benjamin Martin junior and Jonathan Compton, executors."
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7. Oliver B. Leonard, History of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway, Pakenham & Dowling, Steam Printers, New York, NY, Stelton, NJ, 1889: pg. 112.
      "JOHN DRAKE, the most distinguished son of Francis, became a lay preacher in the early days of the settlement, and in after years, as is generally known, was the regular pastor of this Church.  He married, in 1677, Rebecca Trotter, his first wife, daughter of one of the original associates of Elizabethtown, who came from Newbury, Mass.  Pastor Drake had, by this and two other marriages, thirteen children, whose names are recorded as John, Francis, Samuel, Joseph, Benjamin, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Ebenezer and Ephraim.  These and the children of George and Francis Drake have left numerous and worthy descendants whose many virtues of mind and heart have always endeared the name of this and every locality where they have taken up a home.  Time will not permit even an allusion to the honorable and eminent positions of usefulness attained by them in the different professions, and the progress made in the arts and sciences through the influence of those who have borne the name."
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8. "STELTON BAPTIST CHURCH  founded in 1689 as the First Baptist Society of Piscataway, this congregation was formed by six of the area's earliest European settlers: John Drake, Edmund Dunham, Nicholas Bonham, John Smalley, Hugh Dunn and John Randolph.  John Drake, a nephew of Sir Francis Drake, became the first pastor of the congregation and served in that capacity for fifty years.  The congregation was officially incorporated as the First Baptist Church in 1776.  The church became known as the Stelton Baptist Church in 1875.  In 1731 the congregation purchased 4.6 acres of land to erect a building.  Construction took place in 1748.  A new and larger church was constructed in 1825.  This structure was destroyed by fire in 1851 and was rebuilt the same year, only to suffer another fire in 1924.  The structure on this site today was built in the years 1925-1926 with a social room & gymnasium, Sunday school rooms, kitchen and offices.  The Stelton Baptist Church is the oldest Baptist Church in Middlesex County, the second oldest in the State of New Jersey, and the tenth oldest in the country.  The first woman deacon in the history of the church, Nellie Potts, was elected in 1943.  Stelton Baptist Chrch counts six area churches as daughter churches.  The current and 25th pastor of this congregation, Kathleen Cardy Tice, is the first woman pastor.  Steleton Baptist Church continues to serve as a unique and irreplaceable piece of the township's architectural, cultural and civic past.    Dedicated September, 2002    Edison Historic Preservation Commision    George A. Spadoro  Mayor"  Bronze plaque on site.  (Stelton Baptist Church Cemetery, Middlesex County, New Jersey (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1971785&CScn=Stelton&CScntry=4&CSst=33&CScnty=1918&, continuously updated).)
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9. William A. Whitehead (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. III: 1703-1709), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, Daily Advertiser Printing House, Newark, NJ, 1881: Vol. 3, pgs. 206 & 217.
     "To the Honble House of Representatives of Her Majesties' Province of New Jersey the Petition of JOHN LANGSTAFF of Piscataway in the County of Middlesec in the Eastern Divison of sd Province.  Humbly Sheweth"
     "JOHN DRAKE Aged about fifty years being sworn saith that some time in March anno domini 1703/4 being in company with Richard Salter at the house of Benjamn Hull of Piscataway   He sd Salter said to this depont now was the time to raise money for the publick good and to be freed of their Quitrents he this depont answer'd what way was the money to be imploy'd for if it was to be disposed of here he thought it wou'd do little good but of it were to be Imploy'd at Home against the Proprietors to be freed of their Quitrents he said the depont wou;d freely contribute to which said Salter reply'd that the way of disposing of the money must not be spoken of but to be sure the Person intrusted with the money wou'd take care it shou'd be disposed of for the Publick good by means of which fair promoses he this depont was prevail'd upom to sign an Obligation (several of which Salter had ready writ blank) for Payment of four pounds to Capt John Browne.
     Sworn as above Apr. 29th 1707.   /s/Lewis Morris chairman"
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10. "In the Name God Amen the Seventh Day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty, I John Drake sener of the County of Essex and Province of New Jersey yeoman being in perfect health and memory thanks be to almighty God therefore and knowing the certainty of Death therefore Do make and orDain this my Last will and Testament and firs of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave itt and I Recommend my body to the earth to be Buried Decently by my Executors and as touching such good as God hath blest me with I give and Dispose of the same In manner and form as following and first of all I orDain and appoint that all my Lawfull debts be paid by my Executors afternamed,
I give unto my son Benjamin Drake sixteen pound
- Isaac Drake nineteen pound
- Abraham Drake sixteen pound
- Sammuel Drake Twenty pound- daughter Sarah Fullsom seaven shilling
- grandson Abraham Drake seaven pound
- grandson John Drake six pound
- grandson Phillip Drake seven pound
- grandson Gersham Drake seven pound
I give unto Samul Davis and Thomas Davises Children he had by my daughter Mary Davis five pound Each of them.
- I give unto Mary Davis Daughter of the said Mary Davis Deceased £3.
- I give unto Edward Slater six pound
- I give unto Allizhiah Skibbo Eight pound
- I give unto Elizabeth Hull Wife of Benjaman Hull Esqr. three pound
- I give unto Filibrates Martain the wife of Benjaman Martain £3.
- I give unto my daughter in Law Patience Drake  -------
- I give unto my daughter Sarah Drake three pound (Widow of son John)
- I give unto Moses Fitz Randolph Thirty Pound
- I give unto Christian bebout five pounds
- I give unto the poor of Piscataqua five pounds.
I will that if any of the above mentioned Legatorys shall be uneasy turbulent or trouble to my Executors that he or they shall forfit their Respect Leagaies there of which said Leagaies shall be disposed of as the rest of my Estate there after mentioned
     I will that the remainder of my Estate if any there be to be Devided Equilly amongstt my own Children onely my Daughter Sarah Fulson which I give nothing by the seven shilling and I do hearby make apoint Constitute and Ordain my well beloved Gransons Sammuel Drake and Jonas Drake And Hannah Drake there (sic - their) mother to be my only and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Revising Disannulling all other testaments or wills heretofore By me made in word or writing and this one to be taken for my Last Will and Testament and no other.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the (Day)mAnd the year first above written.  /s/John Drake L.S.
     Dealed and Delivered and published by the said John Drake to be his Last will and Testament in the presents of us.   /s/James Manning   /s/Grace Manning   /s/David Drake"   (Lib. C, Essex County, NJ, pg. 442.   (Wills and Inventories, 1670-1900, Middlesex Co., NJ, Secretary of State - Genealogical and Colonial Records, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, NJ.))"
     I H(a)nnh Drake wife of Isaac Drake in the Co. of Essex and Province of East New Jersey being nomanated and appointed for to be an Excexectrix in the Last Will ad Testament of John Drake late of Piscatwa and Co. of Mdx Together with my two Sons, Sam and Jonas Drake Excexetors with me of the sd will and Testament above sd and finding myself by age and other inabilities not capable of Performing the offices of an Executor.  I hereby resigne all my power up to the Exectors above sd to act and Do in the Offices as well with out me as if I was not appointed:  As witness Myhand and seal this 30th day of September 1741.   /s/Hanah herXmark Drake (Seal)   Witnesses: /s/John Blackford Juner    /s/Jacob Thorp
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11. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. II: 1730-1750), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1913: Vol. 30, pg. 151.
     Apr. 7, 1740.  "Drake, John, Sen'r, of Essex Co., yeoman; will of.   Children---Benjamin, Isaac, Abraham, Samuel and Sarah Fulson.  Grandchildren--Abraham, John, Philip, and Gershom Drake; Samuel, Thomas and Mary Davis, children of daughter Mary, deceased.  Daughter-in-law, Patience Drake. Edward Slater, Allizhiah Skebbo, Elizabeth (wife of Benjamin Hull, Esq), Filiratea (wife of Benjamin Martain), Moses FitzRandolph, Christian Rebout, the poor of Piscataqua.   Executors---grandsons, Samuel and Jonas Drake, and their mother, Hannah Drake.   Witnesses---James Manning, Grace Manning, David Drake.   Proved Sept. 29, 1741."
     Sep. 30, 1741.  "Hannah Drake, wife of Isaac Drake, renounces the executorship on account of age and other inability.   Witnesses---John Blackford, Jun'r, Jacob Thorp."
     ---, --, ----.  "Inventory, £5.03; made by David Sutton."
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Additional Citations:

12. Samuel Smith, History of Nova Caesarea, William S. Sharp, pub., Trenton, NJ, 1890: pg. unk.  (reprint of the original 1765 version)

13. Frank W. Gardner, MD, "National Genealogical Society Quarterly", Vol. 32, pg. 32.

14. Walter Wilson Sebring and John Cletus Sebring, Sebring Collections; the Genealogy and History of the Family, Yearbook House, Inc., Kansas City, MO, 1975. pg. 437.

15. Orra Eugene Monnette, First Settlers of ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge, olde East New Jersey, 1664-1714, a period of fifty years, The Leroy Carman Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1930-35: Part 4, pgs. 601-2.

16. New Jersey Birth Town Hall Records, Piscataway Township, Middlesex County.

17. Anonymous, Pennsylvania. Magazine, Vol II, pg 20.

18. Cass Knight Shelby, The Beginnings of Three New Jersey Family Lines, Runyon Dunn Drake, privately published, Hollidaysburg, PA, pgs. 16 & 25-6.

19. Anonymous, Register of the New Jersey Society of The Colonial Dames of America 1892-1928, published by the New Jersey Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Trenton, NJ,  1928, pg. 343.

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