Our Yorkshire Ancestors

The Draper Story

Some of the information detailing our Draper ancestors in England is unsubstantiated by independent sources, but, gives a reasonable time line and history of our branch of the Draper Family.

Thanks to Daniel D. Draper II author of "FAMILY HISTORY - DRAPER AND CARPENDER [Vol. 1 - 1963] [Vol. 2 - 1989] and his son Dan Draper Jr., who provided some of the material used in these pages. They are continuing their research in an effort to solve the mystery of our Draper ancestors in England.

The following few pages are presented only as a starting point for interested researchers. We agree Generations 1 through 5 gives a reasonable account but the accuracy cannot be verified at this point. Generations 6 and 7 are speculative. We believe that it will eventually be proved, that Thomas Draper, son of Thomas and Susan (Horsfall) Draper, (Generation 8) is the Clergyman referred to as Samuel Draper's father.

The information related to the family of Samuel Draper and his descendants in America is substantiated. James "the Puritan" Draper's relationship to Captain Samuel is uncertain. Under the scenario noted in the following pages he would probably be a great uncle.

The Originals

Research points to three Drapour brothers as the line from which all Drapers of this line are descended. Heptonstall, Halifax Parish, West Yorkshire England is the common ancestral home.

William le Drapour, John le Drapour , and Henry le Drapour, (first known spelling of the name) were brothers living in the Netherlands, Normandy, or Brittany, A.D. 1400. They left their home and settled in Yorkshire, England, sometime during the early part of the fifteenth century. English records make mention of Drapours living in Yorkshire in 1415. These men were weavers of cloth by trade. "William Drapour, Chaplain, granted to John Drapour, his brother, certain lands near Yorkshire, England, 1415." The English records also indicates that the Drapours Brothers came from the "Low Country" across the English Channel. And that John Drapour was the only one of the brothers known to rear a family. "English Church Records -- Son, John Rawlyn, born to John Drapour, 1429.