Dear Listers, Never been here before. One of Culpeper's citizens in 1770 was a James Francis Drake. He had two children. One was Thomas Drake, and the other was Betsy Bruce Drake. BBD was born at Culpeper Courthouse. JFD's wife was Anne Bruce. Betsy's first cousin was Henry Bruce. Quite possibly, John Drake, father of James Francis Drake, was with the family. John and James Francis were born in England. John about 1724 and JFD about 1750. Anne Bruce died about 1775, and JFD married a woman named Winnifred _____, probably of the same area. In 1778, John, James and Winnifred and Thomas made some kind of a deal with Alexander Spotswood, Esq. in Spotsylvania, but I don't know if that meant they had taken a Sunday drive and bought something or if they had moved to Spotsylvania. By 1785, this Drake family was in what is now Scott Co, KY, near Lexington. Tax records seem to be non-existent, but they may have been kept at the State level. If anyone has suggestions or help on the Drake crew or on tax records I would love to hear them. Tom the bewildered