Jesse Brooks of Anson Co, NC
Jesse
Brooks was probably a son of William Brooks I of
Montgomery Co, NC. He was likely the second son of William’s second
wife. He is found in the 1800 Anson Co, NC census. Here is where
the data begins to confuse me… yeah, from
the very beginning. He is the male listed in the third column, age
16-26. His wife is listed as a little older, in the next column,
26-44. At first, I thought that he was older and the census simply
miss-recorded his age. I assumed that he was brother to John Brooks b.1758, a presumed son of William Brooks I and his
first wife. He had three young sons in the first column. Obviously,
this is a newly wed couple and their early family is living in Northern Anson
Co, NC very close to William Brooks I. In fact, his land borders John Brooks’ land to whom he
sells two tracts of land by 1815. After this, there is no trace of him…
at all! Where did he go? Why can’t we find his kids? Maybe we
already have…
There
is a Jesse Bradford Brooks that left Ansonville in 1831 for Grassy Pond, SC. Jim S. Brooks
of
Just
for fun, let’s assume that Jesse Bradford Brooks is
the Jesse (William’s son) from the 1800 census record. His birthdate would now be nearly correct with the census
data. Still, he could be older.
Jesse Bradford Brooks was b.c1786… or was he? According to 1830
Anson Co, NC census data, he could be born as early as 1780.
Extrapolation from this record seems to be the only source for this 1786
date. 1800 census data would have him born as early as 1774. Would
a 16 year old be recorded as having a wife and a family? Even if they are
young, there are three of them. It takes time to give birth to three
boys, unless they are triplets. Still, he could be married by then… not
as likely, but possible. It’s the fact that he was recorded in 1800 that
constrains his birthdate… he could be younger, but
that would make him less likely to appear in 1800.
Let’s
see what we know about Jesse Bradford Brooks.
There’s his wife, Annie Phillips. Who were her parents and where did they
live? Where would Jesse have met her?
Well,
for the 1800 census records Jesse Brooks was living next to Willis Gurley,
William Gurley and… Alexander Phillips!
Could he and Annie have lived next to her family? Well, sure. Happens more often than not. So, let’s see what this
Phillips guy’s family consists of… and if it could be possible that Annie is
his daughter:
Alexander Philips – 1800 census… over 44
years of age (b. before 1756), living alone.
No other mention for Alexander in any census… or any record period.
Deposition of Exodus Whitley
in 1825 refers to a island called “Brooks island”
where Jonas Phillips lived and left
some improvement. This is the island that John and James work together
with a fish trap. John actually gives up his rights to the fish trap (also, probate) to James Brooks
before leaving in 1824/5 for Henry Co, TN. John also owns this island,
having sold it in 1825:
Deed from Jno. Brooks to Charles Dry
dated 14th of Septr. 1825 - Course as follows - Begining at a Stake amongst Hickories on the Bank of said
Rocky River and runs So.55 Est. 155 poles to a pine - then NO.75 Est.106 poles
to an ash two Black Oaks Pointer on the Bank of Rocky River - Then No.35 West
up the River to the lawn end of an Island - Then to the north Bank of Said
River - Then with the River up opposite to the Beginning - Then So.55 Est.
roping to the first Station including Philips Improvement. and a
copied from the
deed
(On outside of paper:)
3. Hawks - 21- (1824) Charles
Dry &
Where did John get this land whereon Jonas Phillips
lived? Sometime earlier, Jesse sold it to him:
Jesse Brooks sold to John Brooks 150 acres lying in the county of
Anson, N.C. on
This deed is not for the 150 acres in question, but it
does refer to it… and to the fact
that it once belonged to Jesse and now (1815) belongs to John. Jonas Phillips used to live on this
land. No records of Jonas Phillips exist
in the census records. However, the Alexander Phillips living next to
Jesse in 1800 (while he still owns the 150 acre plot containing the island) is
living alone and apparently dies after 1800. He was born before
1756. Jonas Phillips was born 1759 and was the son of a Reuben Phillips
who died 1800. Reuben Alexander
Phillips? Jonas is known to have two sons, Reuben b.
1785 and Aaron b. 1793. This is the same age range as our Anne
Phillips, b1790-1800. Incidentally, Jonas’ wife was Pherebee Gurley, daughter of another neighbor of Jesse
Brooks, William Gurley who died 1804. William’s wife, Mary Gurley would
witness the rights deed for the fish trap.
Jesse
had 15 years from the 1800 census until 1815 when he sold his Rocky River land
and headed south into southern Anson Co, NC. In another 16 years, he
would leave for Grassy Pond, SC with Anne Phillips and a number of children in
tow.
Now,
if Jesse owned this island land first, as opposed to John and Charles Dry, then
he might have gotten it from his father, who lived on the other side of the
river and was listed once as having 100 acres in Anson on a tax list.
Also, Jesse rec’d a grant in 1812 for land in Anson:
1812 - Jesse Brooks land grant (#2182) 100 acres in
Anson, adjoining his own land, 50 shillings per 100 acres - recorded in Anson
County. BCBNOTE: it is believed that this land joins William Brooks'
land.
This
may have been a part of the land sold to John in 1815. Jesse’s land holdings were once as much as
300 acres according to the 1815 deed to John Brooks.
What
startled me so about all of this was that it began to look like Jesse Brooks
was not nearly as old as I previously assumed. He would most certainly
have been younger than William Brooks II b.
1779. So, Jesse would have been a son of William’s 2nd
wife. If he was William’s son at all. He
could have been a young son of William’s brother, John Brooks
II who died prematurely in 1792. Jesse was no older than 12.
William might have raised him after 1792 until he married c 1795 (the first
time) and had his three boys. No historical evidence yet exists for this,
so I’m going to leave things as they are until proven otherwise.
But, I
am fairly certain that evidence does exist, albeit circumstantial, for Jesse Bradford Brooks as being the Jesse of 1800 on the
Records for Jesse Brooks
1800 Anson Co, NC census:
between Alexander Philips and Willis
& William Gurley
30100-00010-01 BCBNOTE:
I believe the "1" in the males listing should have been one slot
to the right… Jesse was probably older than this census suggests.
1812 - Jesse Brooks land grant (#2182) 100 acres in Anson, adjoining his
own land, 50 shillings per 100 acres - recorded in Anson County. BCBNOTE: it is believed that this land joins William
Brooks' land.
1815 March 10
Jesse Brooks sold to John Brooks 150 acres lying in
the county of Anson, N.C. on