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John & William Brooks of Culpeper Co, Va.

Sometime around 1760, John Brooks I "of Va" and his family, including son William Brooks I left Culpeper Co, VA for a new home in Anson Co, NC along the Rocky River. Other sons of John Brooks I were: Ephraim Brooks, Ezekiel B. Brooks, James Brooks and Joshua Brooks. They obtained land by 1762, sold to them by George Augustus Selwyn through his agent, Henry McCullough. The reference to Culpeper Co, VA is purely due to the handed-down traditions recorded by my grandfather, Rev. Edgar Marcelus Brooks in his Brooks of Union Co, NC in 1925. The search is still on for any solid reference to John & William anywhere in Va, including Culpeper County. One very promising possibility, especially in light of the fact that Rev. E. M. Brooks believed our branch to be closely related with Brooks in Chatham (Orange) Co, NC, is a lineage for Matthew Brooks, who could easily be a brother of our John Brooks I. He was in the right place and his kids have extraordinarily familiar names!

According to the original telling of the family history in 1925, this was William Brooks I and it also tells of his brothers, John and Joshua who came with him. We now understand that the John and Joshua referred to were not brothers to William Brooks I. The John Brooks who is said to have gone to Tennessee is probably the son of John Brooks II, who did in fact, come with his brother William Brooks I from Virginia. John’s son, John Brooks III married Mary Polk and moved to Paris, Henry Co, TN in 1826. And the Joshua referred to is probably the son of William Brooks I. This Joshua James Brooks married Sarah Smith and left for Attalla Co, MS c.1837 for new lands opened by the “Dancing Rabbit Treaty” with the Choctaw Indians dating to 1830.

On the 24^th of April, 1762, John Brooks receives 500 acres and William gets 100 acres, both of them adjoining the other at the mouth of Richardson’s Creek on the Rocky River (see map for approximate locations).

The Brooks family would live adjacent to one another, William at John Lee’s Ford on Richardson’s Creek (land sold by John Brooks to John Culpeper in 1763, who in turn sold the land back to William Brooks for a hefty profit in 1765!). This was probably collateral for a loan to pay taxes in 1763 (tax list came out that year). William had apparently given John the right to sell his property (through deed?) and John then sold it to Culpeper (perhaps John borrowed the money from Culpeper?). Then, William in turn had to buy it back? The little black dot in the green (100 acres to William) is, according to the deeds, where William was living (perhaps in a small cabin of sorts). It states "where Brooks now lives at John Lee's ford."

Do you have information on Brooks in Culpeper Co, Va? If you know of a possible connection to John and William in Anson Co, NC, please send it to bcbrooks@delabrooke.com

(Note that most connections should be prior to 1760)

Early Land Grants in Anson Co, NC:

3 Sep 1779 -- Brooks, Eliz. #4117, S.W. Peedee

No date – Brooks, James #2790, Leverett’s Creek

24 Apr. 1762 – Brooks, John #1559

24 Apr. 1762 – Brooks, William #1558 – Rocky River

BCB NOTE: It would seem that John and William listed here obtained their grants at the same time and in the same location (very likely bordering each other on the Rocky River)… in 1763, John Brooks sold land on Rocky River (near Richardson’s Creek) to John Culpeper. So, it seems to fit.

24 Apr 1762 - grant #1559 – John Brooks receives 500 a both sides Rocky R. near Cooper's Crk, both sides Richardson's Crk. near Crib's Crk.

24 Apr 1762 - NC Land Grant #1558 – William Brooks receives 100 acres in Anson Co. on the S. side of Rocky River below Richardson’s Creek, joining both sides of the Spring Branch of the sd. creek.

24 Jan 1763 - JOHN BROOKS of Anson, to JOHN CULPEPPER of same, for L10 NC money... land on S. side Rocky R., beginning at a branch, near the ford, between JOHN BROOKES & JOHN LEE... Richardson's Creek... JOHN BROOKS (B) (seal), Wit: HENRY STOKES, AARON BURLISON, W. BROOKS

1763 Anson Co. Tax List... William Brooks as taxpayer with the following slaves: Sharper, Cesor, Quuan, Mol & David Snead (total of 6 taxables) (further BCB NOTE: may indicate that he was still unmarried) (the date of this tax list may also indicate a reason as to the strange land transfers of 1763 and 1765 above and below... perhaps John had to sell 100 acres to pay his taxes, then William was able to buy the land back <at a much higher price> from Culpeper to repay his "loan")

25 Apr 1765, JOHN CULPEPPER of Anson, to WILLIAM BROOKS of same, for L25... 100 Acres on S. side Rocky River, where BROOKS now lives at JOHN LEE's ford, Richardson's Cre... JOHN CULPEPPER (seal), Wit: HENRY STOKES, THOS. DENARD, JACOB DENARD (x). Recorded according to law. THOS. FROHOCK. Clk.

Dec 1770 - NC Milita - Rocky River Company – Capt. John Culpeper, Lieut. John Brooks & Ens. William Brooks, all officers.

BCB NOTE FOR ROCKY RIVER COMPANY: from the service record of James Arnett b. 20 Jun 1760, While resident of Anson Co, NC he enlisted July 1776 or 1777 serving 3 monthes in Capt. John Culpepper's Co. in Colonel David Love's NC Reg.... stated in 1833 that he was drafted in Anson Co. under Capt. Culpepper, was marched against the Cherokee Indians, served 3 mos. and dis. at Pleasant Gardens, NC..... Tour of Duty: thru NC to Cherokee Nation, crossed Catawba R. at Beaty's Ford, Crossed Blue Ridge at what was then called the Narrow Passage. Knew Gen. in command - Gen. Rutherford & Capt. Hawthorn, Capt. Speed, Capt. Robertson, Capt Hay of Col. Love's Regiment which he served 3 mos. in the Cherokee expedition, was at Hiwasee towns, which was burnt and the corn destroyed - was also at the Valley towns and destroyed them.

12 Jul 1774 - William Brooks to Griffin Hogan, deed, pr. by James Hogan Jr. (click for lineage of James Hogan)

13 Jul 1774 - Wm. Brooks to Jesse Gilbert, deed, pr. by John Colson

Deed (K-479, Anson NC) 24 Sep 1777. Wm. Brooks to Joackim Hudson. Being 69 acres lying on both sides of Richardsons Creek, being a tract granted to George Augustus Shelvin (Selwyn) 6 Mar 1767 (1762?) BCB NOTE: This is part of the 100 acres sold by John Brooks to John Culpeper in 1763, then from John Culpeper to William Brooks in 1765. It is a part of John Brooks original deed of 1762.

BCB NOTE: These three deeds for 1774 and 1777 may indicate William’s initial move down river to the Island Creek area, still along the Rocky River, near present-day Stanfield, NC in Stanly County. This land would become known as the William Brooks homestead. A graveyard with many Brookses, including William Brooks I can be found there.