Drake baronets

The baronets' seat was originally Buckland Abbey, Sir Francis Drake's home, but upon their inheritance of Nutwell Court, near Exeter, the Drakes ceased to live year-round at Buckland.

A daughter of the fourth baronet was the wife of George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, the defender of Gibraltar, and their descendants ultimately inherited both Buckland Abbey and Nutwell Court.

These arms were: Argent, a wyvern wings displayed and tail nowed gules.

Queen Elizabeth, in order to assuage matters, awarded Sir Francis his own coat of arms, blazoned as follows: Sable a fess wavy between two pole-stars [Arctic and Antarctic] argent, and for his crest, a ship on a globe under ruff, held by a cable with a hand out of the clouds; over it this motto, Auxilio Divino; underneath, Sic Parvis Magna; in the rigging whereof is hung up by the heels a wivern, gules, which was the arms of Sir Bernard Drake."

The first Baronet's sister, Elizabeth, married Sir Winston Churchill; they were the parents of the first Duke of Marlborough, who was probably born at the Drakes' seat, Ashe House, Musbury, Devon.

Arms of Drake Baronets of Buckland Abbey and Nutwell: Sable, a fess wavy between two pole-stars Arctic and Antarctic argent . These were the arms granted to the 1st Baronet's uncle, Admiral Sir Francis Drake (d.1596). [ 1 ] As visible at Nutwell Court and in its parish church of Woodbury
Arms of Drake of Ash: Argent, a wyvern wings displayed and tail nowed gules . [ 2 ] [ 3 ]
1577 engraving of Admiral Sir Francis Drake showing both Drake of Buckland and Drake of Ash Coat of arms quartered together