Drew Family History

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My Drew Links





My Drew ancestors are proving quite a challenge to trace, the 10 year snapshots of the census records allow me to follow a path from Nantwich in Cheshire, back to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, and probably back to Everton in Lancashire, and finally to Kingsbridge in Devon.

My links start with Annie Drew (my Great, Grandmother) who was born 28th April 1862 in Beam Street, Nantwich, Cheshire. In 1884, she married Richard Heaton at the Register Office in Chorlton, Lancashire (see detail below)

When MarriedName and SurnameAgeConditionRank or ProfessionResidenceFathers Name and SurnameRank or Profession of Father
November 29th 1884Richard Heaton32 yearsBatchelorCommercial TravellerGreen Hill, PrestwichRichard HeatonCommercial Traveller
Annie Drew22 yearsSpinsterFarmside, FallowfieldHenry DrewJoiner

Witnesses : George Webb, Sarah Ann Webb


More details on my Heaton links are available here




Picture of Annie Heaton nee Drew



Annie Heaton nee Drew (above) died on the 28th March 1948, at 163 Welch Row, Nantwich, aged 85 (cause Cardiac Failure & Hypertension).


Henry Drew Annie's Father (my Great, Great, Grandfather) was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, c.1828-1829. In 1861, he married Eliza Bowyer nee Dutton at Nantwich, at the Parish Church (see detail below)

When MarriedName and SurnameAgeConditionRank or ProfessionResidenceFathers Name and SurnameRank or Profession of Father
September 12th 1861Henry DrewFullBatchelorJoinerNantwichHenry DrewJoiner
Eliza BowyerFullWidowNantwichSamuel DuttonJoiner

Witnesses : Edwin Dutton, Emma Blackburn (x)


More details on my Dutton links are available here





The family of Henry Drew can be found in the England and Wales Census for 1871 at Dog Lane [?], Thomas Row, Nantwich, Cheshire (RG10 3713 Folio 18 Page 28)



Name and SurnameRelation to HeadConditionMaleFemRank, Profession,Where Born
of FamilyAgeAgeor Occupation
Henry DrewHeadMar43House JoinerGloucestershire, Cheltenham
Eliza DrewWifeMar42Stay & DressmakerCheshire, Nantwich
Annie DrewDaur8ScholarCheshire, Nantwich
Edwin S DrewSon4 " "Cheshire, Nantwich
Harry DrewSon1Cheshire, Nantwich



By the 1881 Census, Annie has left home, and the family has moved to 28, Mill Street, Nantwich (RG11 3548 Fol 63 Page 25). Though there is some "discrepency" in Henry's age.

Name and SurnameRelation to HeadConditionMaleFemRank, Profession,Where Born
of FamilyAgeAgeor Occupation
Henry DrewHeadMar56House JoinerGlos Cheltenham
Elizabeth DrewWifeMar53Dress & StaymakerCheshire, Nantwich
Edwin DrewSon14UnemployedCheshire, Nantwich
Harry DrewSon11ScholarCheshire, Nantwich






Annie's brother Edwin Drew married twice, first to Sarah Hankey (see below)at the Parish Church of Wybunbury, Cheshire.

When MarriedName and SurnameAgeConditionRank or ProfessionResidenceFathers Name and SurnameRank or Profession of Father
November 26th 1890Edwin Samuel DrewFullBatchelorGroomStapeleyHenry DrewJoiner
Sarah HankeyFullSpinsterHathertonJoseph HankeyLabourer


Witnesses : Geo. Hankey, Eliza Hankey


And after the death of Sarah, re-married within two years, to Elizabeth Harris (see below) at St.Mary's, Parish of Nantwich, Cheshire.

When MarriedName and SurnameAgeConditionRank or ProfessionResidenceFathers Name and SurnameRank or Profession of Father
November 26th 1890Edwin Samuel Drew26WidowerGroomStapeley House WybunburyHenry DrewJoiner
Elizabeth Drew23Spinster22 High townRichard HarrisLabourer


Witnesses : Richard Harris, Annie Harris





Edwin and Elizabeth (above) can be found in the 1901 Census for Nantwich, St.Mary St. Nicholas, at 46 Welsh Row (RG13/3362 Pg16)


Name and SurnameRelation to HeadConditionMaleFemProfessionWhere Born
of FamilyAgeAgeOccupation
Edwin DrewHeadM33GroomCheshire, Nantwich
Elizabeth DrewWifeM32Salop, Hungry Hatton
Edwin DrewSon8Cheshire Nantwich
Ella DrewDaur7 " "
William DrewSon4 " "




Henry Drew (Annie's father) died at 1 Cross Wood Street, Nantwich, of Senile decay, on the 4th of February 1907, followed two years later, on the 21st of January 1909, at 2 Heathside, The Bowny [?], Nantwich, by his wife (Annie's mother) Eliza Drew nee Dutton, of Heart failure.


I believe Henry and family appear on the 1851 at Hygeia Street, Everton, Liverpool, Lancashire (H0107 2190 Folio 270 Page 5)



Name and SurnameRelation to HeadConditionMaleFemRank, Profession,Where Born
of FamilyAgeAgeor Occupation
Henry DrewHeadMar59JoinerDevon, Kingsbridge
Mary A DrewWifeMar58Gloucester
Mary DrewDaur29Shoe Binder " "
Henry DrewSon26JoinerGloucestershire



Henry Drew (above) died at Hygeia Street on the 6th April 1860, of Chronic Bronchitis, aged 68. And Mary Ann Drew (above) died two months later, also at Hygeia Street, of an Inflammation of the Lungs (presumably caught from her husband Henry) who is described as Henry Bragg Drew. The informant to Mary Ann's death, was Mary Drew, presumably Mary the daughter of Henry and Mary Ann, (above).

Finally, stepping back to the England and Wales Census for 1841, I believe it possible that the family above, headed by Henry Drew, might be (as later census's might indicate) living at Cheltenham. The family below is living at Grove House in the Parish of St.Mary. Cheltenham (HO 107/353/11 1)- its certainly not an ideal fit (especially the occupation of surveyor) and more work needs to be done

NameMaleFemale ProfessionBorn inForeign
AgeAgesame CountyParts
Henry Drew45SurveyorN
Henry Drew18CarpenterY
Mary Ann Drew46Y
Mary Drew19Y



There is a possible baptism at Kingsbridge, Devon, 18th March 1792 for Henry Drew son of Richard and Elizabeth Drew - which needs further investigation.

Until then this is all the information I have for my Drew ancestry.