James Brooks of
James Brooks was born c1800 in Montgomery
Co, NC.
He was born in the part of
The family documents have much on this son of William Brooks I. In 1820, John
Brooks gives up his rights to a fishery belonging to both himself and James
Brooks between the north bank of the
This John Brooks was the older brother of James Brooks. He is likely the John Brooks that left for
Henry Co, TN around 1826.
Probate of the "fishery"
deed was made in Oct 1831, John was apparently not around (in Paris, Henry Co, TN) and James had passed away… unfortunately, so had
their witness, Mary Gurley. James
Brooks' brother, Alexander Brooks had to appear in court to testify as to the
handwriting of his eldest brother, John:
State of
The Within Deed from John Brooks to James Brooks was offered for probate
to the Court, and it appearing to the Court that Mary Gourly
was the Subscribing Witness thereto and it further appearing by Evidence that
the said Mary Gourly is dead and she having made her
mark as a witness to said Deed, which would admit of no proof - and it being in proof by the Evidence of
Alexander Brooks that the name of John B. such appears to said Deed was in the
proper handwriting of the said John Brooks, and that he executed said Deed from
himself to said James Brooks - It is therefore Ordered by the Court that said
Deed be admitted to Registration.
Fees paid Octr 20th W. Dermut Clk
State of
M. Cammond Regr.
On
Hester Leah Brooks b.18 Feb 1822 Montgomery Co, NC d. 1 Feb 1899 Pope Co, AR
married
William H. Brooks b.
married
James Henry Brooks b. 1825
married
John Henry "Rabbit
John" Brooks b.
d.
Estate
of James Brooks, son of
William Brooks I
Tempy remarried after James' death in 1829. The following
year, in 1830 she married Alford T. Ledbetter and had seven children with him.
John “Rabbit John” Brooks lived with his mother and step-father, working their
farm, until his marriage to Margaret M. ____ about 1857.
Temperance Jane Brooks Ledbetter’s Will:
Know all men by these presents
that I, Temperance Ledbetter, of the
County of Stanly and the State of
uncertainties of life and being of sound mind and memory do make
and
declare and publish this my last will and testament.
First- I will that all my just
debts be paid, if any.
Second - I will that all my
property of all descriptions, at my death be
sold for cash; also all my notes be collected and the
proceeds of all be
equally divided among certain of my children to wit: Hester
Shinn, John
Brooks, Malinda
Yow, Lyda A. Underwood, Tempy
C. Brooks, and
Nancy L. Whitley.
Third - I will to my son Calvin T.
Ledbetter, one dollar.
Fourth - I will to the heirs of my
deceased son Archy Ledbetter one
dollar.
Fifth - I do nominate and appoint
my son John Brooks to the executor
of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have to my
last will and testament here
subscribed my name and affixed my seal this the 29 day of July
in the
year of our Lord one Thousand and eight hundred and eighty
seven.
Temperance Ledbetter (her mark)
Witnesses: Stephen McIntyre, N. W.
Noah Webster Hathcock.
William, James and Hester hit the
Arkansas Trail
General William Clark negotiated a treaty
with the Osage Indians in 1808, giving the United States the territory east of
a line from Fort Clark at Fire Prairie on the Missouri River, near Kansas City,
south to the Arkansas River at the mouth of Frog Bayou, at Alma, AR.
Pope
County, AR was created on 2 November, 1829 mostly from Conway
County, seven years before the
When James Brooks died in July of 1829, he left at least three sons and four daughters orphans. His brothers, William and Alexander were
executors of his will in which he left everything to his wife, Tempy. One of these sons, John, would remain behind in
