Ephraim Brooks of Anson Co, NC

Ephraim Brooks was born circa 1765 and is probably NOT the son of John Brooks of Va as originally believed. He is found consistently on 1800, 1810 and 1820 (Cash's District… Wadesboro area) census records for Anson Co, NC and then disappears from the census. It has been difficult to find his place in the Brooks family because he doesn't appear on 1790 census for the Anson County area (may have come late to Anson). Both John and William show males in their households that are old enough to be Ephraim, however, the children born to him should also appear in those enumerations and they do not. Normally, one would assume that Ephraim’s family weren't in the area by 1790. It has been proposed, therefore that Ephraim may have been a late arrival to Anson Co, NC. Whether or not he’s from the same Brooks family is still a matter of conjecture. Perhaps a DNA study will reveal their relation or lack thereof to our branch of Brooks (DNA for Abraham’s descendants have shown a Pitt Co, NC connection). One piece of consequential information is that Ephraim is the only Brooks in Anson Co, NC of unknown origins. Even James Brooks is tied to John Brooks through deeds. And James and Ephraim lived in similar areas; they even shared deed transactions. Nothing, however that would indicate them to be related. Incidentally, James and many other Brooks were somehow “missed” through the years on the census records. So, Ephraim not showing up in 1790 may just mean that he was more distant from the rest of us… as was James.

Suzanne Brooks Carpenter, a researcher from Texas is a descendant of an Abraham Brooks (the one who married Dorcas Meeks) and sent this email in regard to my belief that Abraham was Eli’s son. She leaves a rather logical viewpoint that there is undeniably TWO Abraham’s:

I see where you are putting Abraham as Eli's son.  I don't think that that is possible.  I found Eli's enlistment papers and his birthdate would have made him be about 10 or 11 when Abraham was born.  He may have been a brother or cousin to my Abraham.  Also, my cousin Thelma found a census and information that Eli's heirs, Ruthy and Abraham were his children and this Abraham is much younger than our Abraham.  They are found living with a Peggy Brooks.  The enlistment papers were found on Ancesty.com.

I am still undecided about where our Abraham was born.  Many researchers say Pitt County, I still believe Anson County.  Brittain Meeks, Darcus' father was in Anson County during the mid 1790-s.  I found court documents to that effect.  Darcus was born in Anson County.  Brittain lived in Anson County for over 20 years.  I still want to believe that Abraham's father was Jesse, son of William.  However, tonight I found the 1810 census shows that Ephraim Brooks and Brittain Meeks were living next door to each other.  Ephraim was Asa Brooks father and there is some kind of connection between Asa and Abraham (Asa witnessed the deed when Abraham bought his land from Pleasant May).  If Ephraim and Brittain were living next door to each other - young love between Abraham and Darcus could have evolved between neighbors. 

When Abraham sold his land in Dec. 1816 he left Anson County.  He is next found in Jones County, Georgia marrying Darcus on Jan 12, 1817 - a mere 2 weeks later!  Darcus died shortly after the 1850 census because Abraham married again in 1851 (going from memory ? there).  Nancy is gone by 1860 census where Abraham is living with his son Archibald in Talledega, Alabama.  The 1870 census shows Abraham with wife Lucinda in Clay County, Alabama.  There is a record for a civil war pension for a Lucinda Brooks, widow of Abraham Brooks who died in 1871.  Abraham was probably not a soldier but provided other service to the CSA.  I still need to order a copy of that pension record to see if it is our Abraham.

Suzanne led me to this enlistment record:

Shows grey eyes, dark hair & dark complexion.

This email combined with my own recent research into the Brooks of Pitt Co, NC leaves me to believe rather firmly that this Ephraim Brooks belongs to the Pitt Co, NC bunch and NOT to ours. The names fit rather more comfortably with Pitt County Brooks’ named trends and there was a Stephen & Ephraim Brooks living there in 1780 (apparently heirs to James & William “Corbin” or “Cording” who died in the Revolution), not to mention that Ephraim in Anson Co, NC lived very close to Brittain Meeks, also from Pitt Co, NC.

No records indicate Ephraim's death. It is assumed that he died after 1820. If his birth is ascertained correctly, then he would have been about 55 years old.

Of the Anson County Brooks that may have been his children, we have:

daughter b. 1774-84 Anson Co, NC

Eli Brooks

b. c1789 (from enlistment records at age 24 on June 12, 1813) & d. January 13, 1815 "service to country" War of 1812

Married possibly Peggy? (from census records & the fact that Eli’s children were living with her after his death) and had one known son, Abraham Brooks (apparently not the Abraham who married Dorcas Meeks) and daughter Ruthy. This information all comes from a pension applied for by his wife, Ruthy:

Eli Brooks; Anson County; Private; 10Th Regiment Infantry; $48.00 Annual

Allowance; $240.00 Amount Received; February 17, 1815 Pension Started; Died

June 1814 (pension states Jan 13, 1815) In Service; Heirs: Abraham Brooks; Ruthy Brooks

daughter b. 1784-90 Anson Co, NC

Asa Brooks

b. 18 Jun 1787 Anson Co, NC d. 14 Nov 1881 Monroe, Union Co, NC

married before 1820 (they had one child by 1820 as recorded in Anson Co, NC 1820 census in Cash's District) to Lucretia Jane Pope b. 1805 d. 1860 Anson Co, NC…. and afterward married Sarah Jane Pope in Anson Co, NC. He lived in Anson Co, NC in 1850 - in the Diamond Hill Dist. and is found in 1880 in Union Co, NC - Monroe...

living with dau. Martha Williams.. He is 102 years old and listed as blind. Researcher for Asa Brooks is Barbara P. Parsons, email: bparsons@worldnet.att.com. It is still not known who the families of Lucretia Jane Pope and Sarah Jane Pope were.. believed to be either Micajah Pope or Elijah Pope of Anson Co, NC. Micajah, originally from Nash Co, NC, in Anson Co, NC 1800 and 1810 is later found in Hickman Co, TN by 1820. Apparently, he died there. Asa was the grandfather of Andrew Jackson "Andra" Brooks:

Notes on Andrew Jackson Brooks:

Attended Bethel Academy

In 1880, he became postmaster of Paris, in Gulledge Township.

1881-1886 he was postmaster at Madra, later called Bethel.

In 1902, Andra purchased land in McFarlan from C. E. Brasweil and built a home.

Andra was a carpenter. He built houses in McFarlan, Bennettsville and Laurinburg... also helped to build the Sneedsboro Ferry. he was postmaster at McFarlan for ten years. Later in life, Andra developed Diabetes causing him to lose both legs below the knees. This handicap did not stifle his spirit, he learned to walk on shortened legs remaining mobile until late in life.

Andra enjoyed living in McFarlan. Sitting on his front porch, he greeted every passerby. Neighbors inquired of his health if he was not manning his beloved post. His closest friends were Bill Duncan, Marsh Jones, Ross Jones and May Teal. Andra, adept with a fiddle, and his friends met at Andra's home and provided the evening entertainment. Andra, a vivid storyteller, enjoyed reciting "Rastus and Remus" stories long before Walt Disney made them famous.

son b. 1790-1800

Abraham Brooks b. 1794-1800

William Brooks

b. 1790-1800 Anson Co, NC d. c1829 Anson Co, NC

m. Elizabeth Hinson

Son: Thomas Hinson Brooks b. Oct, 1806 Anson Co, NC

Married c1824 to Sarah Pratt Anson Co, NC b. c1808 NC. The book, "Some Descendents of William Sellers who was in Tarboro, NC in 1750," compiled by Clark and Elizabeth Watters in 1974, contains information on this family… Sarah was the daughter of Samuel Pratt and Clarinda Ann Teal. After Thomas’ death, she remarried to Roland Sellars and lived in SC. Samuel PRATT had written his will in 1843, and it was probated in Jan. 1845. Sarah was still Sarah BROOKS then; so she probably married Roland between 1843 and 1847. During her short family life with Thomas Brooks, they had four children:

1.Martha PRATT b. 1830 m. Phillip A. SELLERS

2.Winnie BROOKS m. ____CURTIS

3.Mary "Polly" BROOKS, who married William B. SELLERS.

4.Elizabeth BROOKS who m. Jacob LAMPLEY.

son b. 1800-10

Records for Ephraim Brooks:

1800 Anson Co, NC - p.229 - 3-2-0-0-1 / 0-1-1-0-1 / 0-0

1810 Anson Co, NC - p.29 - 1-1-1-0-1 / 0-0-0-0-1 / 0-0

1820 Anson Co, NC - p.14 Cash's Dist. 0-0-0-0-0-1 / 0-0-1-0-1