Where it all started is still a matter of conjecture. The John Brooks of Henry Co, TN branch believed the Brooks came from Maryland (although I think they may have confused that with his wife, Mary Polk's family). My grandfather believed it to be Culpeper Co, VA and erected it in stone… literally! Margie Brooks Baucom (a wonderful researcher!) believes we came from England by way of Virginia. My grandfather, Rev. E. M. Brooks also believed that we may be related to the Brooks of Chatham Co, NC, who descend from John and Susan Brooks barely arrived in America due to shipwreck. Many have heard the story of Susan's trunk, the initials "S.B." inscribed thereon and how it became an heirloom for the family.

There are many possibilities. Settlement from England was heavy at the time and Virginia was "filling up!" Although, the Brooks may have come from Maryland or Massachusetts, settled briefly in what would later become Culpeper Co, VA and then on to North Carolina to "the headwaters of the Yadkin River," following the Pennsylvania - Carolina Road (aka "The Great Wagon Road" or "Great Valley Road") laid down originally by native Americans and developed further by white settlers. Another link for Migration Routes from Pa to Va.

Book: The Way We Lived in North Carolina

Most of the early Scotch-Irish arrivals in America landed at Philadelphia and set up farms in Pennsylvania and Maryland. As these lands filled, some had to take up land in Virginia. In addition, the Scotch-Irish soon encountered competition from German immigrants (who, coming from "Deutschland," were incorrectly labeled as "Pennsylvania Dutch"). Indeed, wrote one English observer, the Scotch-Irish, "not succeeding so well in Pennsylvania as the more frugal and industrious Germans, sell their lands in that province to the latter, and take up new ground in the remote counties in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina." Many of the Scotch-Irish who moved to North Carolina were actually the younger children of immigrants who had settled land in Pennsylvania in earlier years. By the 1730s there was simply not enough land to go around; by 1735 the Scotch-Irish had begun entering North Carolina in significant numbers. They would continue to do so until the American Revolution.

One of the best descriptions of the early settlement of Anson Co, NC comes from George Thomas’ website on Benjamin Thomas. Mr. Thomas spent time and great effort on his research at the NC State Archives in Raleigh (et al). From the archives, he discovered the earliest known surveys done for (specifically) the Rocky River region. These surveys detail the lands owned by George Augustus Selwyn and sold to settlers through his agent, Henry McCullough. William and John Brooks are mentioned on these surveys. Since these surveys were done in 1794, the first two John Brookses would have died, leaving John Brooks III and William’s son, John. William’s son was about a generation older (b.c1758) than his cousin, so I would assume that he would be the one owning land about this time. The younger John III was about 20 yrs. Old.

Anyway, Mr. Thomas’ website can be found here: www.angelfire.com/nc/benjthomasofansonnc/stanly.html

Thank you, George Thomas for all that you have done… so superbly!

So, when did the Brooks come to North Carolina? The first people to enter the “headwaters of the Yadkin” territory of NC did so about 1747/8. This area was slightly north of Anson Co, NC. It is assumed that Anson wasn’t really open to settlers until about 1748-50. This is the earliest time, I think that John Brooks could have brought his family to the area. Remember that the Brooks likely came in a wagon and had to have some kind of rudimentary road to travel upon. The Georgia Road branch of the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania led directly to Charlotte, but access to these eastern Anson lands must have been more remote. It is possible that the Pee Dee River may have afforded a more direct route to this area from northern territories in NC. In fact, if the Brooks came here first to Chatham Co, NC as my grandfather suggested, it is more likely that they would have come down the Pee Dee. He may have had something, there.

In 1757…

(from Margie Baucom's book The Brooks Bridge of History) "Governor Dobbs reported to the Board of Trade that Tract I only had 18 persons settled on it. The French and Indian Wars had driven even the most daring back to the more heavily settled centers of civilization. When Henry Eustace McCulloch tried to fix his lines for smaller tracts, he found much difficulty doing this as North Carolina and South Carolina were both claiming Anson County lands. There were surveyors from both Carolinas there, surveying for grants to settlers.

McCulloch met with a committee, headed by Thomas Polk, and came to an understanding with them. Compromises were made and McCulloch and associates surrendered most of their grants to the king. McCulloch still held on to 64,000 acres of land and continued to sell to settlers. Then the land was opened up to settlers in a manner so that they could pay for the land. This meant for those already settled there that they must be “re-granted” the land. In 1762, John Brooks "of Va" received 500 acres of land and William, 100 acres at John Lee's ford on Richardson's Creek "where Brooks now lives." This is the first year recorded for our Brooks in Anson Co, NC. Subsequent land records were dated 1767. John Brooks “of VA” and William Brooks had bought/granted considerable property, all listed 1767. It is a certainty that most settlers were simply “legalizing” their claim to these lands when in actuality; they had been there for a while.

Brooks from Virginia

on the

Great Wagon Road

Who exactly did the family consist of? Well, John Brooks “of VA” was most likely the oldest man and head of the family. He is the only one styled “of Va” in any records, notating his place of origin, as opposed to being from NC. So, the Brooks likely came down the Great Wagon Road from Virginia. Whether they stopped over first in the Orange/Chatham Co. area first is a matter of conjecture. Still, they came from Virginia. John’s son, William came with him. William Brooks I was born in 1736 VA. This, we know also. So, two Brooks men at least, came to Anson. If they came around 1750, then William would have been a teenager and probably came as part of a family unit, consisting of a mother, father… perhaps a brother or sister or two.

So, now we have John Brooks, his wife and family in a wagon from Virginia. This sounds like much the typical pioneer. John Brooks II seems to have been older than William, so let’s add him to the model. That’s a married couple with their two sons… both of a good, strong age to be helpful in pioneering new territory and in fighting off whatever Indians they might encounter. This couldn’t be more typical as far as pioneers go… what with the abilities and muscle they needed. Where in Virginia they came from is hard to guess, but from Virginia they came, irregardless.

Land records researched and abstracted by Ms. Baucom:

1. 1767 - George A. Selwyn to William Brooks for "quit-rent" and 15 pounds sterling - to be paid in yearly installments as rent until paid in full. (If payment was not made as contracted, the land went back to the owner). 130 acres (Book H, page 141, Anson County).

2. 1767 - George A. Selwyn to John Brooks, 220 acres, below and joining William Brooks' plantation. (Book H, page 144, Anson County)

3. 1767 - G. A. Selwyn to William Brooks, 108 acres (Book H, page 114, Anson County)

4. 1767 - G. A Selwyn to William Brooks, 120 acres (Book H, page 88, Anson County)

5. 1767 - G. A. Selwyn to William Brooks, 69 acres (Book H, page 101, Anson County)

. The land surveyed and recorded in 1767 were further purchases made afterward. Other settlers nearby included William and John Lee, John Culpeper and Anne Trull, as stated in The History of Anson County, North Carolina. The deeds from 1767 amount to an added 427 acres for William Brooks to his previous 100 for a total of 527 acres and for an added 220 acres to John Brooks 500 original grant for a total of 720 acres.

History records very little, however on the family of John Brooks "of Va" as he was styled in the tax records for Montgomery Co, NC. The 1763 tax record for Anson Co, NC records two John Brooks (Sr. & Jr.) and William Brooks. We know that William was born in 1736 and was a land owner in Anson Co, NC at this time. But, who were the other two John Brooks? In order to be recorded on this list, you had to own land. If they were both old enough to do that, then both of them must have been born prior to 1745! That means that one of them very likely could be William's brother… but, who was the other one? Well… the records say "Sr. & Jr." so it's probably their father, John Brooks "of Va" as he appears 19 years later in the 1782 Montgomery Co, NC tax lists. Here, we find three John Brooks… John Brooks "of Va," John Brooks Sr, John Brooks Jr. … and William Brooks of course. John Brooks "Jr." from 1763 has apparently had a son named John who now owns his own property and is listed in the tax records. So, he's now known as John Brooks "Sr." and his father is distinguished from son and grandson by "of Va." This is the best explanation I can offer for these records and for what we now understand about the family thus far.

Some people claim that this new John Brooks in 1782 is William Brooks' son. The 1784-1787 NC census show William Brooks had three males in his household under the age of 21. William Brooks II was born in 1779, so he's one of them. But, who were the other two? Well… the 1790 census shows the same two males, but closer to a birthdate of about 1774. So, neither of these men would appear on a 1782 tax list. Although one of these sons of William is probably named John, it isn't the one listed in 1782. The other one is probably Jesse Brooks.

If these people are all of the same family, then John Brooks "of Va" is very likely the father, with sons John Brooks and William Brooks (and prob. others) and grandson John Brooks who was born prior to circa 1765. We'll attempt to fit the other family together in the remaining pages of this website.

Below are some of the surveys abstracted by Marjorie Baucom and drawn by yours truly and placed on a USGS map. These surveys cover those from the area where Richardson's creek comes into the Rocky River on its way to the Pee Dee. I've tried to indicate other points of historical interest pertinent to the family research as well.

What the history books don't tell us is that John Brooks “of VA” was probably the father of this clan and was actually the most prominent figure in the early Brooks family history from this region, at this time… now, after William moves down the river to the Island Creek area, the more modern Brooks family saga begins! He had many children who were as fruitful as he and produced many Brooks descendants.

Undoubtedly, so did John’s descendants… it’s just that they didn’t stay in the area. They probably went off to Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and the like. In fact, the John Brooks b.1758 is probably the son of John Brooks Sr., son of John Brooks "of Va" rather than the reputed William Brooks. There is much to weed out here. This is, without doubt the root cause of the history books giving so much credit to William Brooks I. Although, I'm sure he deserves it.. after all, he did perpetuate the Brooks name quite well in the Anson Co, NC area, with descendants in Stanly, Union, Anson and many other states. However, history is written by the living. And the living in Anson, Stanly and Union Co's, NC don't remember John… just William.

The Brooks are said to have come from Culpeper Co, VA and settled on the Rocky River. Many early records would tend to agree… however, just how the other early Anson Brooks fit into this family is still a matter of conjecture. I have endeavored to make such “hunches” and have presented them here as well. All “conjectured” data presented in this set of webpages will be clearly noted with “BCB NOTE:” for clarity's sake.

The Hardships of Research

Anson Hotel Fire

1868 - July Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Anson County:

It is ordered by the Court for the information of those who succeed us and the living present alike that the following be made a part of the records of this Court:
On Thursday morning, April 2, 1868, between twelve and one o’clock, a fire occurred in the town breaking out near the store house of J. R. Hargrave, then unoccupied except as a depot for some cotton, which rapidly extended to the store houses occupied by Morton’s Brewery and the Anson Hotel, destroying them; thence communicating northward burning the store houses of S.W. Cole, A. E. Bennett and Jesse Edwards, involving the Court House, the entire records of the Superior Court, the most part of those of the County and Equity Courts, and the line of buildings extending thence eastward to and including the jail and kitchen, where by great efforts and the blessings of Our Heavenly Father, it was stopped. About 32 buildings were destroyed. In consequence of the loss of the Court House, the Court met at the Baptist Church within the corporate lands of the Town of Wadesborough.

Remarks from the memory of Risden F. Bennett recorded Sept. 13, 1912. Minute Docket N./79 -NCA

This fire and the Montgomery County courthouse fire of 1843 undoubtedly destroyed many records pertinent to our searches… what we have today has been pieced together from remnants and copies that have survived mostly due to hard-working historians and genealogists and family members that kept their memoires and heirlooms, which often included family papers. We owe all of these folks our thanks for their efforts!

Some things should be mentioned before viewing the information in this website. There are familial connections that are only eluded to and those that are pretty certain. It should be remembered that when one person is mentioned as "probably the son/daughter of " or "probably the father/mother of" it is only that I consider it to be the most highly probable connection to date. That's not to say that new information wouldn't change around the tree. It very likely could and has, on numerous occasions. Please refrain from quoting this information as conclusive. And do check back to this site often in case of changes. I also welcome any new information that might change the conclusions that I have made… this will always be a "work in progress."

Also, there are many Brooks Photos that have no names… just faces. If you might know any of these folks, please let us know! Thanks.

Now, on to the good stuff….