Abraham Drake
Encyclopedia
Abraham Drake was an officer in the New Hampshire
militia that served with the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
to Abraham Drake and his wife, Theodate Roby. Abraham Drake married Abigail Weare, the sister of future New Hampshire "president" Meshech Weare
, on January 13, 1738. They had two children before her death in 1740. On November 25, 1742, Abraham Drake remarried to Abigail Dearborn and together they would have thirteen children.
During the French and Indian War
, he served as a Lieutenant
and, later, as a Captain in the Dragoon
company of Maj. Tash's battalion of the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment
.
With the start of the American Revolutionary War
in 1775 and 1776, Abraham Drake was Lt. Col. in Jonathan Moulton's
3rd New Hampshire Militia Regiment
that guarded the New Hampshire
seacoast from British
attack. In 1777, he was promoted to Colonel
of the 2nd New Hampshire Militia Regiment
and commanded them during the Saratoga Campaign
, serving in Ebenezer Learned's
brigade.
Later, he served as a delegate to the New Hampshire Provincial Congress
. Col. Abraham Drake died on August 1, 1781.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
militia that served with the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Biography
Drake was born in Hampton, New HampshireHampton, New Hampshire
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination....
to Abraham Drake and his wife, Theodate Roby. Abraham Drake married Abigail Weare, the sister of future New Hampshire "president" Meshech Weare
Meshech Weare
Meshech Weare was an American farmer, lawyer and revolutionary statesman from Seabrook, New Hampshire. He served as the first President of New Hampshire from 1776 to 1785.-Family life:...
, on January 13, 1738. They had two children before her death in 1740. On November 25, 1742, Abraham Drake remarried to Abigail Dearborn and together they would have thirteen children.
During the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, he served as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and, later, as a Captain in the Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
company of Maj. Tash's battalion of the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment
New Hampshire Provincial Regiment
The New Hampshire Provincial Regiment was a composite regiment made up of units of the New Hampshire Militia during the French and Indian War for service with the British Army in North America. It was first formed in 1754 with the start of hostilities with France.-1755:In 1755 Col...
.
With the start of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
in 1775 and 1776, Abraham Drake was Lt. Col. in Jonathan Moulton's
Jonathan Moulton
General Jonathan Moulton played an important role in the early history of New Hampshire, and many tales of his adventures would become legendary.-Early life and King George's War:...
3rd New Hampshire Militia Regiment
Moulton's Regiment of Militia
Moulton's Regiment of Militia also known as the 3rd Regiment of New Hampshire Militia was first called up in April of 1775 at Hampton, New Hampshire under the command of Col. Jonathan Moulton. The regiment garrisoned the New Hampshire seacoast after the British burned the town of Falmouth, Maine...
that guarded the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
seacoast from British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
attack. In 1777, he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 2nd New Hampshire Militia Regiment
Drake's Regiment of Militia
Drake's Regiment of Militia also known as the 2nd New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on September 8, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio...
and commanded them during the Saratoga Campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
, serving in Ebenezer Learned's
Ebenezer Learned
Ebenezer Learned was a brigadier general in the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.-Early life and career:...
brigade.
Later, he served as a delegate to the New Hampshire Provincial Congress
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
. Col. Abraham Drake died on August 1, 1781.