Agnes Cowie Thomson Drake of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Hi! Looking for my grandmother's family tree on my father's side. I don't have a great deal of useful information.
Her name was Agnes Cowie Thomson Drake from Toronto,Ontario. I don't know where she was born but she died in Jacksonville,Florida about 1957 (from memory). She was a milner in Atlanta,Georgia and in Toronto having her own hat shop.
I never met her family but my father spoke of them. A large family from stories he told, to include an uncle who was shell shocked from the war; a circus geek who ate glass and screws; and an etymologist who may have been a favorite aunt. There was some family association with Newfoundland. Word was she had barrels of family china stolen from her in West Palm Beach, Florida probably around 1926 that was of the house of the Duke of Northumberland.
She married John Edwin Drake in Toronto who's birth certificate was in a church registry that was lost in a fire or "he would have inherited a castle in England" (I was told that someone came from England to 'find' him to produce proof of birth for that purpose but he could not). If you knew my father you would know the story was likely true as he was a man of strong character and Victorian in his carriage. John Edwin Drake was a land developer also involved in a traveling museum in train boxcars. He died in Jacksonville, Florida before 1955.
She had three children; Reginald (born in Toronto before 1906-married Enid and had no children-died in Toronto about 1982 ); Kennith Ivan (my father)born in Toronto February 17, 1906-died 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida (still a Canadian); and Virtue Agnes Drake who never married born in Toronto May 19,1912-died Jacksonville,Florida about 1993.
The whole family were members of Peeples Baptist Church of Toronto. I met a cousin once when I was small on a farm in Georgia but all I recall is the farm...lol...and I never met my father's father (gone before I was born).
My father was very patriotic claiming Scottish, English, and Canadian heritage (God save the Queen!). He was a commercial artist (graduated Myers Both School of Art) and a trained singer where my Uncle Reg also taught voice and had a rubber stamp business. They once had a business together in Atlanta called 'The Birthplace of Ideas'. Aunt Virtue was a bookkeeper who sang in a church choir all her life. She also played piano. They remained very close all their lives.
I am her only grandchild. I don't have anymore information than this. My Aunt Virtue noted she was unable to produce birth certificates for either of her parents so she guessed at their birth dates when arranging for headstones at the cemetery as she was the last to go and the one who made sure they had them. She did not know her parent's families...I asked. I think she was small when they moved south and the distance separated them then her mother died, an unfortunate circumstance that may make this impossible.
I have four children and five grandchildren so far who one day will want to know about their family...any help would be appreciated.
I spoke to the people I remember here as this may be all my children find unless I am successful.
Thanks!
More Replies:
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Re: Agnes Cowie Thomson Drake of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Carolyn La Porte 10/30/10
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Re: Agnes Cowie Thomson Drake of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Alex Dow 10/30/10