Thomas Back and Elizabeth Mary Horn

Plymouth: Morice Square
cc-by-sa/2.0- © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/688016

Thomas Back (b. 15 Oct 1850 in Stoke Damerel), Stoker RN, of 40, Cannon Street, Devonport, son of Thomas Back and Mary Drake, married Elizabeth Mary Horn (b. 1859 in Okehampton, Devon), daughter of James Horn and Elizabeth Bolt, on 23 Oct 1884 at St Paul's Church, Devonport. (Saint Paul the Apostle was on the east side of Morice Square in Devonport.)

Thomas Back, DOB 15 Oct 1850 (agrees with the quarter of his birth registration), enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1865, volunteering at HMS Implacable (1805) - former Duguay-Trouin, turned training ship (exactly the same ship, on exactly the same day as my great-grandfather, David Jones). Thomas Back's naval career does not appear to progress at this point, there being no entries beyond enlistment. 

There is then a record of a Thomas Back from Devonport, with date of birth given as 14 Oct 1849 (one year and one day of difference and this time the year does NOT agree with his birth registration), but we know this is our man from other records (marriage, census), who [re]joined the Royal Navy on 9 Jan 1873 and served for 21 years, until 27 Apr 1894. He began as a Stoker 2nd Class, moved up to Stoker, Leading Stoker and Leading Stoker 1st Class.

Both naval records list Thomas as having Black hair and Hazel eyes. He was 4 ft 10 in at 14 and grew to 5 ft 6 in as an adult, gaining a bunch of tattoos.

From May 1873 to Aug 1875, Thomas was with HMS Agincourt (1865) at Portland, Dorset and, during that time, spent 28 days in Dorchester Gaol (HM Prison Dorchester) - Pure Victorian detention in all it’s glory.

At the time of the census of 1881, Thomas Back (30) Stoker, was moored in Hong Kong aboard HMS Victor Emmanuel (1855), which ship he was assigned to from Jun 1880 to Jan 1882, Feb 1882 to Jan 1883 and again from Feb to Apr 1883 (transferring to HMS Pegasus (1878) for the month in 1882, also in China and HMS Albatross (1873) in Jan 1883).

Two days before his marriage, Thomas joined HMS Tamar (1863), commissioned at Devonport on 21 Oct 1884 and then, from 15 Jan 1885 until 22 Jan 1889, was with HMS Nelson (1876). She sailed for the Australia Station after commissioning and became the flagship there in 1885. She was in Sydney and Brisbane and at the Woolloomooloo Bay Regatta on 18 Apr 1885, remaining on station until returning home in January 1889.

Thomas and Elizabeth's only child was born later that year:

1. Lilian Mary Back b. 4 Nov 1889 D Q in STOKE DAMEREL 05B 340

Thomas spent time with HMS Magicienne (1888) in Portsmouth in 1890; HMS Goshawk (1872) took him to Gibraltar from May 1890 to Jun 1892 and while he was away, Elizabeth M Back (31) Wife Of A Stoker RN and Lilian M Back (1) were living in St Levan Road, Devonport. Thomas finished his career, from Dec 1892 to Apr 1894, at HMS Vivid II, the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School in Devonport, before being pensioned.

In 1901, Thomas Back (50) Naval Pensioner was living in Avondale Terrace, Devonport with wife, Elizabeth M Back (41), daughter, Lilian M Back (11) and John Cornhill (29) General Labourer from Ireland, Boarder.

Thomas Back died in 1906 D Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 220. His age was estimated as 58 (he was 56), having gained yet another year on top of the one he added the second time he enlisted in the Navy.

In 1911, Elizabeth Back (51) Widow from Okehampton, Devonshire, was living in East Stonehouse. Living with her were recently married, son-in-law and daughter, Charles and Lilian Renshaw.

In 1921, Elizabeth Mary Back was still living with Charles and Lilian Renshaw (and their two daughters), at 7 Duckworth Street, Devonport.

Elizabeth Mary Back died, at 66, in 1926 M Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 457.

Edward Charles Drake and Emma Jane Gloyne

Former entrance to Roath Basin, Cardiff
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/6404417

Edward Charles Drake (b. 1861 in Plymouth, Devon), Iron Founder, of 9 Inverness Place, Roath, Cardiff, son of Edmund Drake, Naval Pensioner, and Esther Elizabeth Palmer, married Emma Jane Gloyne (b. 28 Jul 1858 in Plymouth, Devon), Spinster, of 12 Inverness Place, Roath, Cardiff, daughter of Samuel Pascoe Gloyne, Mariner, and Emma Jane Coombes, on 12 Jul 1886 at St Margaret's Church, the parish church of Roath, Glamorgan, Wales. Witnesses were Edward Oxford Palmer and James Henry Harmer.

Edward Charles Drake's mother, Esther Elizabeth Palmer, was the older sister of Edward Oxford Palmer, who was married to Emma Jane's older sister, Charlotte Emma Gloyne. So, Charlotte's husband was Emma's husband's uncle - or Emma's husband was Charlotte's husband's nephew. The two couples' respective children will have been double-cousins, once removed and once not, I think. Working out family relationships just got very complicated!

Edward and Emma had eight children:

1. Esther Kathleen Drake b. GRO Reference: 1887 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 330
2. Gladys Emma Drake b. GRO Reference: 1889 S Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 334
3. John Gloyne Drake b. 6 May 1891, GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 342. Died 4 Jul 1915 (see below).
4. Francis Oxford Drake b. GRO Reference: 1892 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 396
5. Helen Palmer Drake b. 7 Feb 1895 in Plymouth. (No GRO record.)
6. Fred Silby Drake b. GRO Reference: 1895 D Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 16. Died, aged 4, in GRO Reference: 1900 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 253
7. Constance Edith Drake b. GRO Reference: 1899 J Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 8
8. Florence May Drake b. GRO Reference: 1902 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 255

In 1891, Edward Drake (28) Iron Moulder, Emma Drake (29) and their first two daughters, Esther (3) and Gladys (1) were living in the household of Edward's parents, Edmund and Esther Drake in Moira Street, Cardiff.

In 1901, Edward C Drake (39) Iron & Brass Founder, was resident in Durnford Street, East Stonehouse, with wife Emma J Drake (40), Gladys E Drake (11), John G Drake (9), Francis O Drake (8), Helen P Drake (6) and Constance E Drake (2). Eldest daughter, Esther Drake (13) was staying with her grandparents, Edmund and Esther Drake, in Seymour Street, Roath.

In 1911, Edward Drake (49) Iron and Brass Founder, was living at 7 Hollywood Terrace, Stonehouse, Plymouth with Emma Drake (50) and Gladys Drake (21), Helen Drake (17), Constance Drake (12) and Florence (9). Esther Kathleen, who had married in 1906, was living at 124 Toronto Road, Buckland, Portsmouth; John Drake (19) Stoker, was in Chatham, Kent.

Emma Drake died, in 1912, age given as 51 - she was 54 (GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 276).

Son John Drake died at HMS Vivid (shore establishment 1890), the Royal Navy barracks at Devonport. John Drake had joined the Royal Navy, at 18, on 9 July 1909, at which time he was 5 ft 3½ in with a 33¾ inch chest, light brown hair, light brown eyes and a fair complexion. At the time of his death he was assigned to Vivid II, the Stokers and Engine Room Artificers School in Devonport. The note on his naval record states that he was DD (Discharged Dead) on 4 July 1915 in Sick Quarters, Devonport Depot as result of cycle accident. Inquest verdict:- Accidental death through cycle accident. This was only weeks after his cousin, Charles Edward Palmer, Engine Fitter at the Government Dockyard, Devonport, also died, on 17 Apr 1915.

Edward Charles Drake (55) married Helen or Ellen Saull (48) on 23 Dec 1916, in Roath, Glamorganshire, Wales. 

In 1921, Edward Drake (59) Iron Moulder and wife listed as Norah Drake (54) from Plymouth, Devon, were living at 41, Harold Street, Roath, Cardiff.

Edward Charles Drake died, at 74, in 1935 (GRO Reference: 1935 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B  Page 403).

Thomas Back and Mary Drake

Photo © Stephen Craven (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Plymouth Minster: nave, Friday, 30 June, 2023

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

The Minster Church of St Andrew, also known as St Andrew's Church, Plymouth

Thomas Back (39), Labourer, listing himself as a Bachelor and misnaming his father as Thomas Back, Shipwright, married Mary Drake (42) (b. 20 Apr 1810 and baptised in Stoke Damerel on 15 Dec 1812), daughter of Thomas Drake, Shipwright and Frances Poad, at the Chapel of East Stonehouse (St George, which was badly damaged during World War II in 1941, and demolished in 1957) on 22 Jun 1852. Both gave their address as 20 George Street, which is in Devonport, so a marriage in Stonehouse definitely seemed an odd choice. Thomas Back undoubtedly thought he was committing bigamy and these anomalies certainly make it look like he was actively trying to hide it.

Thomas Back (bap. 24 Oct 1813 in Stoke Damerel), actually the son of John Back, Shipwright and Martha Norton, had previously married Eliza Stafford (bap. 28 Jul 1814 in Stoke Damerel), 'Spinster', daughter of Samuel Stafford, said to have been a Sergeant in the 43rd Regiment of Foot, on 7 Aug 1837 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth. On this marriage certificate, Thomas Back was (correctly) listed as a Mariner (Thomas Back b. 1813 is listed among Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857), son of John Back, Shipwright.

However, George Wright, Seaman, and Elizabeth Stafford, Spinster, had married at Stoke Damerel Church on 7 Aug 1832. Witnesses to this marriage were John Williams and Geo[rge] Nettle. Oh and just to double-check, I have researched and Samuel Stafford didn't have another daughter called Elizabeth, so this had to have been Eliza. As she didn't call herself a widow - and was again marrying under her maiden name of Stafford - when she married in 1837, we have to assume that Eliza was committing bigamy, so actually Thomas Back's marriage to her would have been automatically void. 

(Under English common law in that period, a bigamous marriage was classified as void from the very beginning and needed no decree of annulment.)

We know this is her, because George and Eliza Wright had a son: 

1. Samuel George Stafford Wright, bap. 11 Apr 1834 at Stoke Damerel Church, son of George Wright, Mariner, and Eliza.

And we know this because, in 1841, listed as Samuel Stafford, aged 8, this child was living with his grandparents, Samuel and Mary Stafford. (Thomas Back may have been led to believe he was Eliza's illegitimate son.) In 1851, he was listed as Samuel Wright, then 18, and was living with Eliza's father. 

So what did happen to George Wright? Sadly, I don't have the answer. I did find a George Wright (~25) on the Stirling Castle, Convict Hulk, in Stoke Damerel in 1841, but no means of knowing if he was the right George Wright. If he was a seaman, he could have sailed off into the sunset, or have had wives in every port. That would change things, but I can see no way of tracking him down, nor isolating the correct records from so many with that name.

Thomas and Eliza Back had two daughters:

1. Mary Ann Elizabeth Back b. 1838 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 418 (mother's maiden name Stafford), bap. 25 Jul 1839 at Stoke Damerel Church, daughter of Thomas Back, Mariner and Eliza.
2. Eliza Ann Beck (sic) b. 1840 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 395. Died, aged 1y 11mts, on 26 Aug 1842 (1842 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 332), and buried on 30 Aug 1842 in Stoke Damerel. The address on the burial record was 26, Clowance Lane, Devonport. (Eliza's father lived in Clowance Lane in 1841).

In 1841, Thomas Back (25) occupation 'Navy'; Eliza Back (20), Eliza Back (2) and Mary Back (0) were among a long list of people in Pembroke Street, one of Devonport's principal streets, with a great number of retailers and public houses. In fact, the names of the their daughters were transposed, so I suspect either they or the enumerator had visited one of those pubs.  

Thomas and Eliza must have parted ways in the early 1840's, because in the second quarter of 1844 William Hill and Eliza Stafford married in Stoke Damerel. (Awaiting certificate for confirmation, but I believe him to have been William Hill bap. 28 May 1826 in Stoke Damerel, son of John Hill, Mariner and Sarah Staton). Eliza's marriage to Thomas Back was void, but George Wright would need to have died, otherwise she was committing bigamy again, and we can tell that she absolutely knew she was, because if she'd been a widow, she wouldn't be marrying for a third time as Eliza Stafford. 

So Eliza's marriage to William Hill was technically invalid too. And what was she telling her dad, that these mariners kept getting lost at sea?

Nevertheless, William and Eliza Hill had six more children together:

1. Caroline Hill b. 23 Sep 1844 (1844 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 437), bap. 11 May 1845 at Stoke Damerel
2. Sarah Maria Hill b. 1846 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 445 (No baptism record found)
3. Lavinia Hill b. 22 Jul 1849 (1849 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 464), bap. 3 Oct 1855 at St Mary's Church, Devonport
4. John William Hill b. 2 Jun 1852 (1852 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 300), bap. 3 Oct 1855 at St Mary's Church, Devonport
5. Eliza Ann Hill b. 16 Sep 1855 (1855 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 268), bap. 3 Oct 1855 at St Mary's Church, Devonport
6. Elizabeth Jane Hill b. 1858 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 286 (No baptism record found)

The mother's maiden name on all six birth registrations was Stafford.

In 1851, William Hill (the curly writing had been miss-transcribed as Still) (32) Waterman from Devonport was living at 6, Pembroke Street, Stoke Damerel, Devon, with Eliza Hill (36) Wife, Charwoman; Caroline (~12), Sarah (6) and Lavinia (4) and Mary A Back (12) described as his Daughter-In-Law - often used interchangeably, as here, to mean Step-Daughter. Both Caroline and Lavinia were also names of Eliza's sisters, which is how I found them and the correct surname, searching for anybody with those given names, whose mother was Stafford. Also living at 6, Pembroke Street, Stoke Damerel, in 1851, in a separate household, was Eliza's father, Samuel Stafford (59) Widower, Chelsea Pensioner; with his son William Stafford (22) Waterman (same occupation as William Hill) and grandson, Samuel Wright (18). 

In 1861, at 4, Canterbury Street, Stoke Damerel, were William Hill (35) Waterman from Devonport; Eliza Hill (~45) Wife; Caroline Hill (17), Sarah Hill (15), Lavinia Hill (12), John Hill (9), Eliza Hill (7) and Elizabeth Hill (3).

In 1871, at 5, Prospect Row, Stoke Damerel, Devon, were William Hill (46) Waterman; Eliza Hill (56), Eliza Hill (16) and Elizabeth (12). (Next door were William Eustes (26) Seaman RN and wife Sarah (24) (née Sarah Maria Hill).

Eliza Hill, wife of William Hill, a Labourer, died on 28 Jan 1881 (1881 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 241), at 5, Prospect Row, Stoke Damerel, with her age under-estimated to 63. The informant was Caroline Langmead, daughter, in attendance, of 4, Prospect Row, Stoke Damerel. (Source: Andrews Newspaper Index Cards.)

In 1881, William Hill (54) Widower, General Labourer was a 'Boarder' in the household of Eliza Felwick (26) Seaman's Wife at 18, Monument Street, Devonport. (Eliza Ann Hill had married Arthur Felwick in 1876.)

In 1891, William Hill (with his age over-estimated to 69) Widower, appears to have been living alone at 15, Pembroke Street, Devonport.

William Hill died, aged 67, in 1893 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 228. He was buried on 16 May 1893, in Milehouse Cemetery.

43rd Regiment of Foot 1810

Eliza's parents: Bans were read on the 1st, 8th and 15th of August 1813 for the marriage between Samuel Stafford and Mary Winn, Widow, both then of the parish of St Andrew, Plymouth. Presumably they married there, however, I've not yet found the record of the actual marriage. As Mary was a widow, obviously, Winn was not her maiden name, but I've not yet been able to confirm what her maiden name was, nor when or to whom she was previously married (or indeed what happened to her previous husband - for all we know, there could be a pattern here). 

When I read on the marriage certificate of the (bigamous) marriage of Eliza to Thomas Back in 1837, that her father was allegedly of the 43rd Regiment of Foot, my first search was to see if that regiment had been in Plymouth at the relevant time and indeed, "The 1st Battalion of the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot arrived in England from overseas in July 1814 and was quartered at Plymouth, Devon."

Clearly, Samuel Stafford had arrived before the rest of the regiment and his service records provide the rest of the story: Samuel Stafford, born ~1789 (well, he said he was 16) from Lambeth, Surrey, service number 121034976, had joined the army on 14 Mar 1805. His rank was Private, so (no surprise), his daughter had given him a couple of promotions. Samuel Stafford was discharged from the army on 15 Apr 1813, "in consequence of a gunshot wound to the hip at Badajoz on 27 Mar 1812". This will have been sustained taking part in the Siege of Badajoz (1812), during the Peninsular War.

At the time of his discharge, Samuel was 24 years old, 5ft 3in tall, with dark hair, grey eyes and a pale complexion. He was granted a pension from 6 May 1813. This fits in neatly just before the date the banns were read. 

Samuel and Mary Stafford had these six children:

1. Eliza Stafford bap. 28 Jul 1814 at Stoke Damerel Church
2. Lavinia Luke Stafford bap. 29 Jul 1818 at St Andrew's, Plymouth
3. Mary Ann Luke Stafford b. 18 Feb 1818, bap. 27 Jan 1819 at St Andrew's, Plymouth
4. Samuel James Stafford bap. 25 Dec 1820 at St Andrew's, Plymouth. Died aged 3yrs 4mts and was buried on 8 Jun 1824 at Stoke Damerel 
5. Caroline Stafford b. 30 Sep 1822, bap. 3 Feb 1823 Wesleyan Methodist
6. William Daniel Stafford bap. 26 Dec 1825 at Stoke Damerel Church

The family's address was Plymouth Dock (Devonport). With two of the girls being given the name Luke as a middle name, could this have been Mary's maiden name? I've not found a marriage of a Winn and a Luke to confirm it. 

In 1841, living in Clowance Lane, Stoke Damerel, Devon, were Samuel Stafford (55) Army P[ensioner] (Samuel Stafford is marked as NOT being born in Devon); Mary Stafford (55), Caroline Stafford (15), William Stafford (14) and Samuel Stafford (8). There are no indications of relationships on this census, but we now know this boy was their grandson, Eliza's son.

Mary Stafford died, with her age listed as 67, in 1849 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 09 Page 459, suggesting a year of birth of 1782. 

In 1851, as listed above, Samuel Stafford (59) Widower, Chelsea Pensioner; was living at 6, Pembroke Street, Stoke Damerel, with his son William Stafford (22) Waterman and grandson, Samuel Wright (18). Curiously, on this census, Samuel Stafford lists his place of birth as St Peters, Worcester. That's a bit too specific to be some random error, but is a long way from Lambeth that's on his army records. I cannot find a baptism for him at either.

Samuel Stafford, Pensioner, died on 29 Dec 1852 (1853 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 225) and his cause of death was "An accidental fall". He was buried at Stoke Damerel Church on 3 Jan 1853. Mentioned in The Western Courier of 5 Jan 1853. His army records erroneously killed him off on 28 Dec, then corrected it to the 29 Dec. His age was given as 69, which would compute back to a year of birth of 1783, which is a few years older than on his army records. In this case, I think the reason for that was because his wife was older than him and his children would probably have thought, or been led to believe, their parents were around the same age. 

Research for a future date: Eliza's son Samuel George Stafford Wright married and all six of Eliza's children with William Hill lived to adulthood and married too. The only one of Eliza's children who I can't locate is her daughter with Thomas Back, Mary Ann Elizabeth Back, not yet confirmed after 1851. Well, there are some potential options, but only as either Mary or Mary Ann, but none that can be absolutely proven with corroborating evidence.

So, finally back to our original protagonists ...

In 1841, Mary Drake (30) had been residing in Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, along with her widowed mother, Frances Drake (75), and children Edward Drake (9) and Mary Drake (5). There is a baptism for this latter child, in St Helier, Jersey on 25 Jun 1837, illegitimate daughter of Mary Drake.

(As an aside, Mary Drake's father, Thomas Drake, was reputed to have been descended from Sir Francis Drake. This I doubt, but cannot actually rule out some sort of distant familial link. Mary's brother, John Poad Drake (1794–1883), inventor and artist, enjoyed some fame and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich has a collection of his manuscript volumes.)

Mary Drake actually had 4 illegitimate children:

1. Edmund Drake b. 5 Oct 1831, bap. 22 Jan 1849 in Stoke Damerel, Devon, son of Mary Drake, Single Woman. Mary's eldest illegitimate child was listed, in 1841, as Edward Drake, born around 1832 on the Isle of Jersey. On both of his marriages, Edmund named his father as Edmund Drake (often correct, but also common is saying the same as one's own name when the father is not known). He also lists his father as a Tailor. Mary was a Tailoress and again, when people make stuff up for the records, there's usually a grain of truth in it, as we can see here.
2. Mary Drake (bap. 25 Jun 1837 in St Helier, Jersey) died on 3 Jun 1878 (1878 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 261) with age estimated as 38 (she was 40). She was buried on 7 Jun 1878, with her abode on the burial record as 40, Cannon Street, Devonport.
3. George Drake b. 23 Jun 1843, bap. 30 Jul 1843, illegitimate son of Mary Drake with abode given as Workhouse. George Drake from Devonport, Devon, with his date of birth listed as 23 Jun 1843 joined the Royal Navy at the Royal William Yard on 31 Jul 1857 as a Boy 2nd Class, service number 34047. At that time, the 14 year old was 4ft 9in tall, with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He was at the Royal William Yard until Oct 1857; from Jan-Dec 1859 with HMS Impregnable (1810); from Dec 1859 to Aug 182 with HMS Hydra (1838) on the North America and West Indies Station; In 1861, at 17, George was with the "Royal Navy At Sea And In Ports Abroad", with HMS Hydra in Havana, Cuba; from Aug 1862 to Feb 1864 with HMS Trafalgar (1841); then six months at HMS Wellesley; his last ship was the armoured frigate, HMS Achilles (1863) with the Channel Fleet, from 30 Sep 1864, until his date of discharge, 13 Feb 1868, when his record states that he was invalided. (He wasn't with the Navy in 1871 and he was NOT the George Drake who died at sea in 1878, as he'd left the Navy a decade earlier.) Our George Drake, from Devonport, Devon, next turns up, in 1881, aged 39, as a Boarder in the household of Cornwallis Johnson from Shelford, Cambridgeshire at 19, Pitt Street, Stansfield, Todmorden, Yorkshire, employed as Cellarman at cotton mill. Not found him again.
4. Thomas Drake, later known as Thomas Back b. 15 Oct 1850 in Stoke Damerel Workhouse, bap. 17 Nov 1850 at Stoke Damerel Parish Church of St Andrew with St Luke, son of Mary Drake, Single Woman. 

In 1851, we still find Mary Drake (44) Unmarried, Tayloress (sic) living in Stoke Damerel Workhouse, accompanied by Mary Drake (14) born in St Helier, Jersey; George Drake (8) and Thomas Drake (0). 

(In 1851, there is a record of a Thomas Beck (also transcribed as Bick) (37), by occupation a Sail Maker born in Devonport, Unmarried, living at 7, Mount Street, Stoke Damerel, Devon, listed as being Deaf. While this is the only record of someone who is about the right age, about the right name and in about the right place, I am certain this is NOT him. Sail maker is a skill that this Mariner or Labourer hasn't otherwise used and the disability of deafness is not mentioned on any of the subsequent census records that we can identify as Thomas Back, who appears to have evaded this census.)

After their marriage in 1852, Thomas and Mary added a daughter:

1. Eliza Back b. 21 Aug 1853 (1853 S Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 266), bap. 12 Jan 1855 at St Mary's Church, Devonport, daughter of Thomas, Labourer, and Mary of 5 Trafalgar Court, Devonport

In 1861, living at 19, Dockwall Street, Stoke Damerel, Devon, were Thomas Back (42) Town Commissioner's Labourer; Mary Back (49), Mary Drake (22) Domestic Servant born in Jersey, Chanel Islands; Thomas Back (9) and Eliza Back (6). The jury's still out on whether Thomas was the biological son of Thomas Back, however, this census gives us the strongest evidence to suggest that he was, because they've made the distinction that Mary's daughter had the surname Drake and could have done the same for Thomas.

In 1871, at 17, Dockwall Street, Stoke Damerel, were Thomas Back (~57) Labourer; Mary Back (59) Tailoress; Mary Back (sic) (30) Servant born in Jersey; Thomas Back (20) Tailor and Eliza Back (17) Tailoress.

In 1881, Thomas Back (~70) Labourer and Mary Back (72) Tailoress, were at 40, Cannon Street, Devonport, in a separate household, but the same address as their daughter, Eliza and her husband, Samuel Eastabrook.

Mary Back of 40, Cannon Street, Devonport died on 20 Apr 1883 (1883 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 226), with her age over-estimated to 75. As Mary Beck (sic) she was buried at Milehouse Cemetery in Devonport, on 24 Apr 1883. Thomas Back, then of Chapel Street, died five years later, on 12 Nov 1888 (1888 D Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 217), with his age over-estimated to 78. He was buried (again miss-transcribed as Thomas Beck) on 16 Nov 1888 also at Milehouse Cemetery. On the cemetery records, M Back and T Back and the relevant dates are written next to each other on the page, so it it may be that they were reunited for a time. Sadly, in 1967, the cemetery was closed and cleared.

(My interest is because I'm VERY distantly related to Mary Drake, by marriage, through her eldest son, Edmund Drake. His son, Edward Charles Drake, married Emma Jane Gloyne. Her sister, Maria Gloyne probably met my dad, when he was 3 weeks old, at her daughter, Kathleen Mullarkey's wedding to Frederick Thomas Stone on 4 Aug 1923. My grandfather, Charley Stone was his 1st cousin and was best man at that wedding.)

Thomas Drake and Frances Poad

Ancient Dockyard
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © jeff collins - geograph.org.uk/p/1204244
This was the first Dockyard built at Devonport at a point just west of Mutton Cove.

Thomas Drake (allegedly bap. 24 Jul 1757 in Stoke Damerel, Devon), Shipwright, son of William Drake Jnr and Patience Coad, married Frances Poad (bap. 15 Jul 1764), daughter of John Poad and Honor Joll, in Stoke Damerel (Stoke Damerel Church, a.k.a. the Church of St Andrew with St Luke) on 25 May 1784. Record shows John Poad gave his permission for his daughter to marry, presumably as she was then a minor (under 21). 

Thomas and Frances Drake appear to have had 11 children:

1. Thomas Drake bap. 2 Jan 1785
2. Frances Drake bap. 14 Oct 1787
3. George Drake bap. 7 Apr 1790
4. Elizabeth Drake bap. 29 Jan 1792
5. John Poad Drake bap. 20 Jul 1794 [1]
6. Francis William Drake bap. 6 Mar 1796
7. James Drake bap. 10 Dec 1797. (Buried at 2 y 8 m on 19 Jul 1800.)
8. Hannah Drake b. 1799, bap. 3 Feb 1800 *
9. James Drake bap. 28 Dec 1801 *
10. Charles Drake b. 10 Oct 1802, bap. 15 Dec 1812
11. Mary Drake b. 20 Apr 1810, bap. 15 Dec 1812

* All were all baptised in Stoke Damerel, however, the venue for the baptisms of Hannah and James in 1800 and 1801 was listed as Princes Street Independent, presumably the Princes Street Congregational Chapel.

"Thomas Drake was for some time an official in the navy yard at Plymouth, and showed great independence of character, injuring his prospects by refusing to connive at malpractices, and consequently dying in obscurity in Jersey 20 May 1835." [Source] Thomas Drake, aged 76y 6m, was buried at the Parish Church of St Helier on 26 May 1835. [Source]

In 1841, Frances Drake (75) Ind [of Independent Means], was at 31 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, with daughter, Mary Drake (30) Tailoress and two of Mary's illegitimate children: Edward Drake (9) and Mary Drake (5). 

Frances Drake is said to have died in 1848, presumably also in Jersey.

[1] John Poad Drake (1794–1883) [he inserted the Poad], inventor and artist [this confirms], baptised 20 July 1794 at Stoke Damerel, Devonshire, was the son of Thomas Drake, by his wife, Frances Poad. Both the Wikipedia entry for John Poad Drake, as well as that for him at the Royal Museums Greenwich, claim that John Poad Drake was a descendant of Sir Francis Drake. 

The entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, however, calls that into question, saying that "Thomas Drake was fourth in descent from one John Drake (1564–1640), a farmer, who has been wrongly identified with a cousin of the admiral." This is the burial of that John Drake, who may or may not have been a page to Sir Francis (I'm reading that those duties were probably carried out by the cousin he was confused with). But as there always are with famous people though, there are so many hopeful, but plain wrong records cited, it's now impossible to completely separate the facts from the fiction.

What I can categorically say is that this isn't the Thomas Drake, bap. 1751, cited on one website, when it was even clearly stated on the baptism that the child had died within days. Still, when you're wishfully attempting to claim descent from the infamous Sir Francis, why allow such minor inconvenience (or pesky genealogical standards) get in the way? So what, if any, link is there between this Drake family and the famous Devon-born slaver, pirate / privateer, bowls player and trouncer of the Armada? Still absolutely no idea, but I can't disprove one [yet] either. What I did discover is that Drake is a surprisingly common name around Devon. Reckon he had a bike!

Edmund Drake and Eliza Dixon

Plymouth : Plymouth Gin Distillery
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1185248
The Plymouth Gin Distillery (the Black Friars Distillery) is the only gin distillery located in Plymouth in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431 and opens on to what is now Southside Street. It has been in operation since 1793.

Edmund Drake (b. 5 Oct 1831) Seaman, upon marriage, listed his father as Edmund Drake, Tailor (he was the illegitimate son of Mary Drake, Tailoress), married Eliza Dixon at the Parish church, Stoke Damerel on 17 Nov 1857. 

Their only son:

1. Edmund George Drake b. 21 Jan 1858 (1858 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 285), bap. 4 Feb 1858 in Stoke Damerel

However, Eliza Drake died in the same quarter as the birth, aged just 22 (GRO Ref: 1858 M Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 231).

Edmund Drake, Widower, Seaman, then married Esther Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Charles Palmer and Mary Amelia Oxford at Holy Trinity Church, Plymouth on 7 Dec 1860. (The Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity was in Southside Street/Friars Lane, The Barbican, Plymouth. It no longer exists.) Edmund Drake gave his address at this time as HMS Jason (1859).

Edmund and Esther Drake had a further six children:

1. Edward Charles Drake b. 1861 S Qtr in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 239
2. Florence Esther Drake b. 1867 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 252. Died, aged 1, in 1869 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 181. Buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.
3. Mary Amelia Drake b. 1869 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 247
4. Edith Esther Drake b. 1873 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Vol 05B Page 239
5. Annie Eliza Drake b. 1875 J Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 342
6. Eliza Ellen Drake b. 1876 S Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 329. Died, aged 1, in 1877 S Qtr in STOKE DAMEREL Vol 05B Page 200

In 1861, Edmund and Esther Drake don't seem to be listed anywhere, but Edmund Drake (3), Edmund's son from his first marriage, was boarding with Charles and Mary Palmer, Esther's parents, in Vauxhall Street, Plymouth.

In 1865, there is a record of Shipping agreements and crew lists, suggesting that Edmund Drake (32), birthplace Jersey, was serving on a Merchant ship named Hantoon that departed from Wexford, Ireland.

In 1871, Esther Drake (35) was in Vauxhall Street, Charles, Plymouth, with [Edmund] George Drake (13), Edward Drake (9), Mary Drake (1) and her brother, James Palmer (31) Porter. Edmund was presumably at sea.

In 1881, Edmund Drake (48) Coal Tipper was a boarder in the household of William Brooks (31) Railway Guard at 6, Inchmarnock Street, Roath, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Edmund Drake was listed as being from Plymouth, Devon, which is probably, simply, what his landlord assumed. Meanwhile, Esther Drake (44) Sailor's Wife, was then residing at 27, Rendle Street, Plymouth with her son Edward Drake (19) Iron Moulder; Mary Drake (11), Edith Drake (7), Annie Drake (5) and Alfred Nelson (1) Boarder.

In 1891, Edmund Drake (59) Pensioner from Jersey, Channel Islands, was living at 10, Moira Street, Cardiff with Esther Drake (56), Edward Drake (28) Iron Moulder; Mary Drake (21); Edith Drake (19); Annie Drake (16); Emma Drake (29) and granddaughters, Esther Drake (3) and Gladys Drake (1).

In 1901, Edmund Drake (69) Boxman Coal Tipper from St Helier, Jersey, was living at 12, Seymour Street, Roath, Cardiff, with wife Esther Drake (65) and granddaughter, Esther Drake (13).

Esther Elizabeth Drake died at 72 in 1907 S Qtr in CARDIFF Vol 11A 149.

In 1911, Edmund Drake (80) Widowed, Father-in-law from St Helier, Jersey, was living in the household of Fred and Annie Silby at 30 Romilly Road, Cardiff. (Annie Silby, of course, being Annie Eliza Drake, as was.)

In 1921, Edmund Drake (90) Widower, Father-in-law, Able Seaman Retired HM Navy, from Jersey, Channel Islands, was still living with his daughter and son-in-law, Fred and Annie Silby, at 67, Forrest Road, Cardiff.

Edmund Drake died at 91 in 1922 M Qtr in CARDIFF Vol 11A Page 707.