Nash-Edgecombe County NcArchives Obituaries.....Drake, John H. , Major December 11, 1859
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Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com September 12, 2007, 11:27 am

Raleigh Standard  22 Feb. 1860
     DEATH OF MAJOR JOHN H. DRAKE
   MAJOR JOHN HODGES DRAKE died in Auburn, Ala., on Sunday, 11th day of 
December, A. D. 1859, in the 93rd year of his age. 
   The deceased retained his health and physical powers in an uncommon degree 
till December, 1858, when by a fall, he suffered great bodily injury, which 
for a considerable time powerfully afflicted him, and rendered him helpless 
for the residue of his life. In the long confinement which succeeded this 
accident, he was, however, occasionally blessed with a prospect of recovery 
which inspired his friends with a hope that he would live to count his century 
of years; and it was not until a few weeks before his end that nature began to 
yield the struggle.
   MAJOR DRAKE was born in Edgecombe, (now Nash) County, N. C., Jan. 26, 1767.
Although too young to take part in the war for Independence, he was reared 
in "the day that tried men's souls," and with the example before him of a 
father and of brothers who periled their lives in the cause, he imbibed as he 
grew that ardor of patriotism and love of justice which characterized the 
sentiments and conduct of his life. His memory constantly reverted to those 
times. The writer has often heard him recount many times, which, though local, 
were full of peril and interest.
   One incident, especially, of which he was an eye witness, seemed to warm 
his whole soul with fire. It was the attack on his father's house in 1781 by a 
Captain Beard and his band of Tories, briefly alluded to in Wheeler's History 
of North Carolina. The defence was made by his father, a brother, and two 
neighbors, against a force more than treble their number. The assailants, 
after a fierce struggle, were routed and overwhelmed.
   MAJOR DRAKE resided in his native County upwards of 75 years, and for more 
than 50 years was in the discharge of some honorable public trust. He was a 
member of the House of Commons from 1792-1796 inclusive, and in the Senate in 
the years 1800 and 1805. For more than 30 years he was Clerk of the Superior 
Court and performed also the duties of Clerk and Master of the Court of 
Equity. He was a Justice of the Peace from an early age, and in every 
employmenht he discharged its duties with integrity, firmness and capacity.
   Beginning his political career as a representative of the people so early 
as 1792, and ending it in 1805, he was, of course coeval with the stormy 
excitements of that interesting period of history and necessarily partook of 
the feeling of the times; but on whatever side ranged in the mutations of 
party triumph, he always bore an honest and patriotic heart and a hand every 
ready to defend the flag of his country.   

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