David Brooks of Stanly Co, NC

David Brooks was born 1780-90 Anson Co, NC to William Brooks I and his wife.  He lived in Big Lick, Stanly Co, NC and married a woman named Mary Tucker who was also born about 1790-1800.  She had been married before and it is not yet known if Tucker was her maiden name or the name of her first husband.  She had two daughters by her first husband.  Lydia is the only one mentioned in David's will and apparently, she had taken the name of "Brooks" for she is found in the marriage records in Stanly County, NC listed as such, marrying to William R. Huneycutt in 1851.

David Brooks dies most likely in August of 1842.  Mary is found in the 1850 census living next door to Andrew Huneycutt.  His will (found in Stanly County, NC Will Book I, page 12) is dated 25 Jul 1842 and reads as follows:

"In the name of God Amen I David Brooks of Stanly Co. and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory, blessed by God, do this 25th day of July 1842 I make and publish this my last will and testament in full.  That is to say - 1st I want all my just debts paid - I give and bequeath to my loving wife Polly all my lands and all of my stock of horses and all my stock of cattle and all of my stock of hogs and wagons and gears and all my farming utensils and all of household and kitchen furniture as long as she keeps up my name and if she marries then to come in for an equal part with all my children and after paying my just debts if my executor sees there is more property than will answer my family to sell the same and make an equal division of it unto my wife and children Lydia the daughter of my wife not being an heir-in-law I give and bequeath to her an equal part with my wife and children in the above devised property and I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend, Andrew Honeycutt my executor to this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I the said David Brooks have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written, signed, sealed and published and delivered by the said David the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us -

A. Ledbetter                 David   x  Brooks

John F. Tucker                  his mark

North Carolina

Stanly County             August session 1842  Then the foregoing last will of David Brooks was brought into open Court and proven by the oath of A. Ledbetter & John F. Tucker the subscribing witnesses Thereto, The said Will & Testament was admitted to probate and ordered To be recorded

          D. Hearne, clk

Children of Mary Tucker:

(daughter)   b. 1815-20 Montgomery Co, NC

Lydia Brooks b. 1826 Montgomery Co, NC

Lydia took the name "Brooks."  She married William R. Huneycutt on 14 May 1851 Stanly Co, NC  b. 1829 NC.  They lived in Big Lick, Stanly Co, NC.  Lydia had a daughter before she married William named Mary "Polly" Brooks born c1846 who later married James "Jim" Harris.

Children of David & Mary Brooks:

Thomas Joshua Brooks b. 4 Mar 1829 Stanly Co, NC

d. 24 Jul 1863 in Civil War of "febris typhoides"

m. Mary Perlina Huneycutt m. 25 Apr 1852 Stanly Co, NC to Mary Perlina  "Polly" Honeycutt, born Jan. 6, 1834, daughter ofAndrew Honeycutt and Mary Ann Crayton.  Mary Ann was a midwife, and the daughter of William Crayton and Fanny Reed.   Fanny Reed is the daughter of

John Reed (Reed Gold Mine, Cabarrus County) and Sarah Kaiser born in Germany. Joshua and Perlina  had 6 children before  Joshua left home to fight and die in the Civil War.  Perlina  and her father, Andrew Honeycutt, went to Salisbury, N.C. to get  his body  and bring it back to be buried in the Brooks Family Cemetery alongside his father, grandfather, grandmother and other

relatives.   

William R. Brooks had children by Perlina Huneycutt, widow of William's brother, Thomas Joshua Brooks.  William and Perlina never married but had three children.  Two of the children were James Elexander Brooks and Eva Brooks.  They were twins.  Eva died as a teenager from a heat stroke.  James Elexander married Margaret Drye (daughter of Lydia Brooks and Charles Albert Drye).  Apparently, it was customary to “help out the widow” in those days.  Hard times brought on measures that might seem questionable in today’s world.  The loss of your husband in a war meant that you had very few hands to help on the farm.  This was a natural solution to that problem.

Alexander W. Brooks b. 1833 Stanly Co, NC d. 1879

m. Tempy Caroline Ledbetter m. 24 Jun 1862 Stanly Co, NC  b. 8 May 1838  Montgomery Co, NC d. 11 Feb 1920 Stanly Co, NC

Alexander is found living next to William R. Brooks (his brother) in Stanly Co, NC in 1880.  Alexander W. Brooks enl. as Lieut. in Co.H, 42nd Reg NC Inf. CSA "later joined Conf. Navy", resigned comm. prior to 30 June, 1862

Jane Brooks b. 1835 Stanly Co, NC

King David Brooks b. 1836 Stanly Co, NC d. c1875

m. Martha Elander Brooks (daughter of John C. “Coffee John” Brooks) m. 18 Apr 1861 Stanly Co, NC  b. 1838 

Montgomery Co, NC d. c1882

King David Brooks was killed when a Bull gore him. His friends and neighbors acting from the scripture tried to stone the Bull to death… on the assumption that a bull was most like an ox. (Read the article…)  When this failed they shot and killed the Animal.  See Newpaper Article.

A great website, including genealogy & a great deal of photos can be found on a son of King David Brooks on Family Tree Maker. Adam F. Brooks 1864-1922 m. Bedie R. Griffin. Click here to see them, their children and their in-laws.

William R. Brooks b. Apr 1837 Stanly Co, NC

m. Nancy Emeline Nance m. 19 Mar 1885 Stanly Co, NC  b. Feb 1847

Nancy was first married to Archibald C. Ledbetter who died in 1876.  Nancy was William’s first and only marriage.  William and Nancy lived in Big Lick, Stanly Co, NC (BCBNOTE:  it seems that Brooks men tend to get married late in life… also, we have to understand that William’s early life was spent helping out Perlina on her farm after her husband died in the war as well as looking after his own)

James Brooks

b. 1841 Stanly Co, NC d. 15 Feb 1863 Weldon Hospital of "amputated arm"

Photos are available for many of  David's descendants…

CLICK HERE!

Records concerning this family:

20 Sept 1816 – David Brooks signed Petition Concerning the Site of Montgomery Co. Courthouse

25 Jul 1842 - David Brooks will in Stanly Co, NC (Book 1, page 12)

August, 1842 - will probate

25 Mar 1862 – Alexander W. Brooks enl. as Lieut. in Co.H, 42nd Reg NC Inf. CSA "later joined Conf. Navy", resigned comm. prior to 30 June, 1862

25 Mar 1862 - James Brooks enlisted Co.H, 42nd Reg NC Inf, CSA

19 Dec 1862 -     “    deserted

15 Feb 1863 -     “     died of complications due to "amputated arm" in Weldon Hosp.

28 Feb 1863 – Thomas Joshua Brooks enlisted as priv. Co. H, 42nd Reg. NC Inf. CSA 24 July 1863 - died of "febris typhoides" 1860 Stanly Co.- 21 July 1860

1864 Alexander W. Brooks on Stanly Co, NC Tax List --- Dist. 7, p.152

103/257/////103/154/2.57

1864 William R. Brooks on Stanly Co, NC Tax List -- Dist. 7, p.152... all columns blank

1875 King David Brooks Estate records on file at NC State Archives

1882 Martha Ellender Brooks Estate records on file at NC State Archives

1883 Alexander W. Brooks is found in the W. A. Cagle store customer Ledger Book

Stanly Co. Research Guide

Facts and Myths about Indians in Stanly Co.

Stanly Co. Death Certificates

1850 Stanly Co. Census