James Brooks of Morven, Anson Co, NC
1767 a gift deed to
land from John Brooks to James Brooks was granted 450 acres of land in
The above mentioned deed is the
only definitive connection we have for James Brooks to our Brooks family in
Anson Co, NC. This son of John
Brooks of Va.is the least well known. He was
born before c1747, probably in VA. The
area of Anson Co, NC in which he lived is very near the Pee Dee River (off
Jones Creek of that river) and in the southern part of Anson Co, NC that was
often confused with northern SC.
Consequently, many early records for this family can probably be found
in SC.
An Anson Co, NC land grant was
issued for him (#2790.. on Leverett’s
Creek) however no date was on this grant and Leverett’s
Creek doesn’t exist by that name.
We know that James is probably
John’s son because of a 1762 deed gift of 450 acres in Anson Co, NC. This gift of land was probably a piece of
land further south in Anson Co, NC that the other Brooks moved farther from (to
west, closer to present day Union Co, NC), explaining why we sort of lost track
of James.
So, what happened to him? When did he die? Or, where did he go? He likely died there in Anson Co, NC owing to
the fact that so much of his family is found there in later years. Morven is a town
very close to present day Richmond Co, NC (across the Pee Dee river) to the
east and South Carolina’s Cheraw Dist. (Chesterfield Co.) To
the south. Many of James’ records
and those of his immediate family are possibly found in the records collections
of those localities.
This deed tells us something:
From
Page 31--
Another grant for William Vaughn
can tell us more:
24 Oct 1782 - William Vaughn Anson
grant #4275 - adj. Jas. Brooks (BCB NOTE: this William Vaughn
may have been the son of Stephen Vaughn who left a will in Anson dated 5 March 1785 )
So, James was near Vaughn in 1782,
anyway. William Vaughn was b. 1 Jan 1752
in Southhampton, VA d. 1845 Anson Co, NC. Known children were Anderson, James, Hannah
& Benjamin.
James’ son, James is found in
Anson Co, NC around 1821 when he buys land from James Swanno
on Child’s Branch of Jones Creek. The
survey was stated in full and has been transcribed onto a topographic map:
Child's Branch of the south fork of Jones Creek is very near to the
towns of Bethel (NE), Cason Old Field (SE) and Deep Creek (SW) and 5-6 miles
almost directly west of Morven. If any socialization occurred for this
family, it was probably there… probably sold crops there, bought supplies, etc.
There was one deed witnessed by an Aaron Brooks nearby… probably a son
of the elder James Brooks:
O-447: 5 Oct. 1807, John Duncan of Anson Co. NC to Thomas Gaddy of same, $300, 150 acre grant to Thomas Huntley by
patent 21 July 1774, on SW side Peedee River on
branch of Jones Creek; and 50 acres adj.; and 50 acres adj. Merewith
Johnson and Elijah Duncan's corner and persimmon at John Duncan's corner; and
50 acres; total 300 acres. Wit. Aa. Brooks, Jas. Lanier, Jer. Gaddy. (FHL film 18,149)
Possible Family for James Brooks of Anson
Co, NC:
Aaron Brooks b. 1774-84 Anson Co, NC
Found in 1810 Anson County, NC census records and may have gone in the
direction of Alabama, through the "Creek Nation," as hinted at by
this:
Permission to Travel into Creek Nation, Aaron Brooks from Anson County
North Carolina,Thursday,January 24,1811. The Source:
Passports Issued By Governors of Georgia.1785-1820,By
Mary Jane Bryan and William H. DuMont.
A "Peggy Brooks" in 1820 Anson (May's District) census records
shows 3 young sons and a young dau…. Daughter-in-law of James?
Married to Aaron, perhaps who never returned from Creek territory?
John Brooks
b.1775-94
found on 1820 Anson Co, NC census in May's District with a wife
(b.1775-94) and a son (b.1810-20)
James Brooks b. c1785 Anson Co, NC d. >1830?
m. unknown c1806-7 Anson Co, NC b.
1784-94 found in 1820 Anson Co, NC
census in May's District
Roster of NC Soldiers in the War of 1812 lists James Brooks, 9th Co, 4th
On census for Anson Co, NC in 1810, 1820 & 1830. He either dies
at 45/50 yrs. or moves off. He has a
large family, none of which seems to have stayed in NC. I found a James Brooks in Habersham Co, GA
who was born c1777 who is from NC and seems to be the only James Brooks in 1840
GA who is not already adequately accounted for on ancestry.com. The only problem is that he’s there on 1830
census. I can conceive that he may be on
two different censuses for the same year… assuming that they were lax in taking
them… and they usually were. So, the
book is open and I’m still reading. Take
a look for yourself and let
me know what ya think.
It’s not unusual for ex-soldiers in this time to take their payment for
services to the nation and head off for pioneering in
Did James Brooks b.c1785 go with his cousin
Jesse Bradford Brooks south into SC in 1831, splitting off while James went to
GA? They could easily maintain
communication with one another.
This guy is probably the son of William Brooks I:
Jesse Bradford Brooks b.1786 Anson Co, NC d. Dora, Walker Co, AL
M. Anne Phillips, Anson Co, NC - Resided after 1831 in Grassy Pond,
Cherokee Co, SC. (BCBNOTE: This
man is probably another son of William Brooks I… Jim, most likely you were
right all along!)
William Brooks b.1774-84 Anson Co, NC
m. Elizabeth Hinson
father of Thomas Hinson Brooks, b.Oct 1806 (only
known son)
3 daughters
lived in Morven Dist, Anson Co, NC
Eli Brooks
b. c1780-95 d. June 1814 "service to country" War of 1812
Married Ruthy ? and had son, Abraham Brooks. This information all comes from a pension
applied for by his wife, Ruthy:
Eli Brooks;
Allowance; $240.00 Amount Received;
June 1814 In Service; Heirs: Abraham
Brooks; Ruthy Brooks
Records for James Brooks of Anson Co, NC
Early Land Grants in Anson Co, NC:
1767 a gift deed to land from John Brooks to James Brooks
was granted 450 acres of land in
No date – Brooks, James #2790, Leverett’s Creek
1815 Anson Co, NC Tax List - Capt
Williams Dist
Brooks James 120
$250 / /
Brooks Forcham 75
100 / / (probably “Abraham” with 75 acres he
had 1813-1816)
Brooks
Jesse
/ /
This Indenture
made this 12th day of January in the year of our Lord 1813.
Between
Pleasant May, Esqr. Of the one part and Abraham Brooks of
the other part
Both
of the
Witnesseth that the said Pleasant May for & in
consideration of Twenty five dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is
hereby acknowledged, and by these presents give grant bargain sell alien enfeoff? Confirm and deliver unto the said Abraham Brooks
his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the
County of Anson Beginning on a black gum Shadrach Densons
corner and runs with his line So. 30 Wt. 135 poles to a black jack Vivions corner then with his line So.
71 Wt. about sixty poles so as to equal divide the tract by the line of which
this is to enclude one half then No. a dividing to Jowers line then with Jowers line
No. 81 Et. To said Densons corner then with his line
to the beginning. Including
seventy five acres be the same more or less, with all singular the right hereditaments thereunto belonging or in any wise
appertaining. To have and to hold
the said bargained premises to the only proper use & behoof
of him the said Abraham Brooks assigns covenant & agree to warrant and
forever defend the sd. Bargained premises from
himself his heirs and assigns forever, but, no further, In witness whereof he
hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written.
Signed
Sealed & delivered
In the
presence of us
Richard
C. Pattinshall Plt.
May (seal)
Asa Brooks
April Session, 1817
This
same land was sold by
Abraham
Brooks to James Brooks in 1816:
(paraphrased)
For
$100 paid by James Brooks to Abraham Brooks
For 75
acres of the same dimensions as in 1813 above…
Signed
sealed & delivered
In the
presence of us
his
Danl.
May
Abraham x Brooks
mark
William
May
April
session 1817
BCB NOTE: an attempt to locate Leverett’s Creek was unsuccessful; however, finding early Leveritts in Anson Co, NC was not… they were there early
(1760) and owned land near where we find James Brooks in 1821:
JAMES SWANNO TO JAMES BROOKS (James Brooks II, grandson of John Brooks “of VA”)
THIS INDENTURE made this 20th day
of February in the year of our Lord
1821. Between
James Swanno of the
aforesd. of the other part. Witnesseth that
the said Swanno for the sum
of three hundred and fifty dollars to him in hand paid
the receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged and himself fully satisfied
and by these
presents do hereby give grant bargain sell alien confirm &
deliver unto
the said James Brooks his heair
and assigns forever one certain tract
or parcel of land lying on the Midale
prong of Jones’es Creek.
Beginning on a maple and sassafras
standing on the north bank of the
said Creek and runs No. 141/2 West 146 poles a dividing
line to a stake
in
to a red oak in
to his corner stake then with sd.
Line So. 31 Et. 50 poles to a post
oak Huntleys corner then with
his line West 30 poles to a white oak on
the bank of
gum on the bank of Jones’s Creek as it meanders to the
beginning
containing ninety acres more or less with all and singular the
rights
hereditaments there
unto belonging or in any wise appertaining To have
and to hold the sd. Bargained
premises to the only proper use of him
the sd. James Brooks his heirs
and assigns forever and that he the sd.
James Swanno
his heirs and assigns do hereby covenant and agree to
warrant & forever defend the said land and premises
against the lawfull
claim or claims of any person or persons whomsoever. In
Witness Whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and
seal the day and date above written.
James Swanno
- his mark and seal
Signed sealed & delivd. In the presence of
Danl. May
Alx. A. McRae
No. CAROLINA ANSON COUNTY April Term 1821.
Then this deed was proved in open
Court by the oath of Daniel May and
ordered to be registered.
W. Dismukes, C.C.C.
Anson County, NC, Deed Book
"T", page 197