John Brooks of Henry Co, TN
This John Brooks was born c1758 in Anson Co, NC and
was probably the son of William Brooks I and his first wife.
He married about 1794 to Mary “Polly” Polk (b.
John and Mary Polk Brooks lived near William Brooks,
owning land both in Montgomery Co. and Anson Co. (later, Union Co, NC). John and his half-brothers William Brooks II & Jesse Bradford
Brooks all lived in Anson Co, NC around 1800 - 1815. They lived practically on the border with what
was then the Mecklenburg Co, NC line.
Later, in 1841 parts of Mecklenburg and Anson became Union Co, NC, with
the Brooks land right smack in the middle of it.
Jesse Bradford Brooks for awhile owned John’s Anson
Co, NC holdings:
1815 March 10
Jesse Brooks sold to John Brooks 150 acres lying in the county of
Anson, N.C. on
Late in 1825, John and his family left North Carolina
for Henry Co, TN. Prior to his leaving NC, he prepared for the move:
8 Feb 1820 -
State of N. Carolina, Montgomery County... February 8th 1820 - I John
Brooks of said county and state aforesaid do hereby Relinquish my Rights title
& interest in a fishery belonging at this time between me and James Brooks
of the same county and state aforesaid
To the said James Brooks To him and his heirs & assigns and do here
by defend the title of said trap lying about 2 hundred yards Eastward from the
mouth of Island Creek said fishery lying on the northern side of the current of
Rocky River opposite to the Island lying in Anson County. The dam of said fishery on the South side of
the river joining of the Island on the North side the bank of the River Against
my own claims or the claims of my heirs or anyone claiming under them As
witness my hand and Seale the day Date above written. Attest:
Mary Gurley (her mark) John
Brooks (seal)
See original signature of John Brooks
---------- >
pg. 56 - 31 March 1824 - John Brooks to
Tobias Klutts of Cabarrus County, N.C. - $200.00 -
three parcels of land - One on the West tract of land lying in the fork of land
(Island Ck.) - - - it being the land which the sd.
John Brooks accumulated by virtue of his Father's Will - - Wit: Peter C. Boyn, Levi Klutts... Signed: John
Brooks
pg. 57 - 31 March 1824 - John Brooks to
Tobias Klutts of Cabarrus County, N.C. - $500.00 -
three parcels of land - Lower fork of Island Creek - 100 acres - one tract on
the waters of Camp Branch - joining William Brooks - 50 acres - A 3rd tract -
on both sides of Camp Branch - joining Andrew Bird - 50 acres. -- Wit:
Peter C. Boyn, Levi Klutts...
Signed: John Brooks
In 1825, the heirs of Charles Polk sold
two small tracts of land in
14 Sep 1825 - Deed from Jno. Brooks to Charles Dry (from Brooks Family
Documents):
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 &
That John Brooks leaves NC prior to his half-brother
James Brooks’ death in 1829 is proven in this transaction, also from Brooks Family Documents:
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.
This deed proof was part of James Brooks’ Estate settlement
and neither John Brooks nor Mary Gurley were still
around to provide its proof. Alexander,
another of John’s half brothers, testifies as to the handwriting of John
Brooks. This is incontrovertible proof
that the John Brooks who owned the property shown above is the same John Brooks
that is no longer around in 1831 and gave up his rights to the fishery upon the
very island belonging to him at the time, i.e. the island pictured above. The property of John Brooks is directly
across the river from the property of James Brooks (to east and adjacent to the
island) and their father, William Brooks I (before 8 May, 1818 – thereafter the
lands of Ezekiel Brooks).
This John Brooks is also made
joint guardian in 1819 (with John/Jehu Gilbert “John Hale Gilbert?”) over his half-brother,
Ezekiel, whom the courts find unfit to conduct his own affairs due to them
finding him an “idiot” or otherwise incapacitated. The year prior to this, in 1818, William Brooks
I had left his son Ezekiel Brooks the plantation lands in his will. This was the beginning of quite a story!
This leads one to suspect that Ezekiel’s
mal-contrived affairs involving the land and his newlywed wife (1822) Sinthia “Siddy” Green (known as a
woman of “ill repute” and possibly also his first cousin) may have had some
influence over John’s family moving to
Thus, we find him purchasing land in Henry Co, TN on
No record of the family is yet found in the 1830 TN
census or the 1840 TN census. However, a woman 60-70 years old is listed in the
household of Culpepper Brooks in the 1840 Weakley County Census. This may be
John Brooks wrote the following will 7/13/1843:
"I, John Brooks of the County of Henry and State
of Tennessee, calling to mind the uncertainty of life and certainty of death
and being weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby
make, ordain, and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all
former wills or codicils by me at any time heretofore made or published.
First, I give to my beloved wife Mary Brooks the use
of my plantation during her life or widowhood an also give to her my slaves
Isaac I., Nance and her two children Kary and Courneile Ann during her natural life and at her death them
and their increase to be equally divided between my children or their heirs in
case anyone is dead. The children of such child as may then be dead to
represent their deceased parents. I also give to my said wife on the same terms
I have given the said Negroes all my household and kitchen furniture, farming
tools and stock of every kind and such portion of the grain and other
provisions on hand and also the growing crop as shall be necessary for her use
the _____ years.
I give to my daughter Naomi Crittendon,
she not having received as much heretofore as my other children, Three Hundred
Dollars in money to be raised out of my estate by my executors and paid to her
whenever the same can conveniently be done over and above her equal share in
the future division of my estate.
I give to my daughter Sarah Hutcherson
Five Hundred and Fifty dollars to be paid her by my executors out of my estate
and the balance of two hundred dollars to be paid her by my son Thomas as the
excess in value of the division hereinafter made to the said Thomas over and
above his equal share. To William H. Brooks, Harris Brooks, James N. Brooks,
Lucy Naomi Brooks, and Pleasant Hampton Brooks, the children of my dead son,
Jesse Brooks, I give and bequeath in equal share that portion of my estate
which would have belonged to my son Jesse if he were living which is an equal
share with my other children and should any of the aforesaid children of the
said Jesse Brooks die before receiving his or her share in my estate then and
in that case it is my will that the shares of the child so doing shall be
equally divided between the survivors of them.
To Clinton Brooks, Dillard Brooks, Ann Brooks, and
Mary Brooks, the children of my deceased son, William Brooks, I give the share
to which the father would have been entitled to that being fifty dollars less
than an equal share with the balance of my children to be equally divided
between my said grandchildren.
To my son John Brooks I give and bequeath an equal
share in my estate with my other children. My executors to pay of the said John
part of my estate the principal and interest which may then be due to John Crittendon on a note in which I gave my son security which
not was due I think some time in the month of December 1841.
To my sons Culpepper and Thomas Brooks I divide the
land where on I now live in equal undivided mortus
they paying their sister Betsy Phillips three hundred dollars. To the said
Culpepper I give the negro man Adam now in his
possession. To my son Thomas I give my negro boy Moses
also a feather bed and furniture. To my daughter Elizabeth Phillips I give my
negro woman Rebecca and her child Harriett and their future increase to her the
said Elizabeth Philips during her natural lifetime and at her death to her
children lawfully begotten and equal proportion.
I give to my son Michael Brooks One Hundred Dollars
besides an equal share of my estate with my other children in a final division.
It is my will that the money legacies herein mentioned and chargeable upon my
estate shall be paid by my executors upon a final settlement of the same as far
as practicable and in equal proportion according to the amount of each legacy
and the balance if any of said legacies shall be paid out of the property given
to my beloved wife Mary at her death.
It is my will that my old servant Esthel
if she shall survive my wife shall have her liberty of living the remainder of
her life with such of my children as she may prefer living with and it is my
particular wish that such child shall provide for and maintain her.
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint
my beloved sons Michael and Thomas Brooks executors to this my last will and
testament with full powers to make sale without an order of Court for that
purpose of any property necessary to execute the directions and provision in
this Will in Testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed my seal
to this will written on one sheet of paper this 13th day of July A.D.
1843."
Signed sealed and executed in presence of:
B. T. Bowden
T. Bowden
Family of John Brooks of Henry Co,
TN:
Naomi “Neomma”
Brooks b.
m. John William Crittendon (b.<1815 d.
1840-50) No Census data yet found for these
folks for any year prior to 1850. Naomi
is found living with her children, Shelby Crittendon
(b.1834), Ellen Crittendon (b. 1836) and James K.
Polk Crittendon (b.1840) in Henry Co, TN. Apparently, her husband died before
1850. Naomi is again found in 1860 Obion
Co, TN living with her son, Shelby.
Charles “Charley” Brooks b. 20 May 1795
d. 1871/81
From information received from Leo D. Brooks
(descended from Charles Brooks), Charles (Charley) Brooks (b-1795
Charles Brooks wrote a will naming Lucy W. as his wife and the names of
his children. The will was written on
William Brooks b.
William
Brooks (born
William
Brooks wrote a will on
Elizabeth
B. Atkins Brooks married John Hutcheson (1808 in VA) on
James Brooks b.
James Brooks was the fourth child born to John and
Jesse M. Brooks b.
Jesse Brooks (born
1. William
Henry Brooks (1825)
2. Hartwell
Harris Brooks (1827 in TN)
3. James Newton Brooks (1829 in NC)
4. Lucy Naomi
Brooks (1831)
5. Pleasant Hampton Brooks
(1835)
After the death of Jesse Brooks, Ann Mary Lee Brooks (born
John
“Jack” P. Brooks was the sixth child born to John and
Michael Brooks
b. 1807
Michael Brooks was the seventh child of John and
1. John A. Brooks (1833-34)
2. Pleasant Brooks
(1835-36)
3. Mary Ann Brooks (1838-42)
4. Emily Moriah Brooks (1840-42)
5. Josephine Brooks (1842-44)
6. James K. Polk
Brooks (1844-46)
7. Thomas Jefferson Brooks
(1848-49)
Michael Brooks was
living with his family in
Michael
and Mary Brooks and all seven known children were living in Weakley Co., TN in
1850. Michael Brooks’ occupation was Magistrate.
By 1860, Michael Brooks
had died. His wife, Mary J. Brooks was living with 6 children in Weakley Co.,
TN. The oldest son, John A., had married by this time.
In 1870, Mary J. Brooks
was living with her two daughters, Mary Ann and Emily, in
In 1880, Mary J. Brooks
was living in
Mary J. Brooks died in 1890 and is buried at
Sarah
Brooks (born
1. Amanda
Hutchinson (1836)
2. Richard Hutchinson (1838)
3. Mary
Hutchinson (1840)
4. Hellen Hutchinson (1842)
5. William
Hutchinson (1843)
6. Calvin
Hutchinson (1845)
7. John
Miles Hutchinson (1847)
8. T. Lewis Hutchinson (1849)
Sarah
Brooks Hutchinson and her children were living in Obion Co., TN in 1850.
Sarah
Brooks Hutchinson was living in Obion Co., TN in 1860 with her mother, Mary
“Polly” Polk Brooks (age 85) and two children, John (14) and T. H. (11). Her
real estate value was $1200 and her personal value was $1500.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Brooks
Ancestry.Com
indicates that James Robert and Elizabeth Brooks Philips had the following
children:
Thomas
Phillips (1843)
William Phillips (1845)
James Phillips (1848)
Culpepper P. “Cully” Brooks b.1814
Culpepper P.
Brooks was the 10th child born to John and
1. William Calvin Brooks (1835 in TN)
2. Eliza Anna Brooks (1837 in TN)
3.
4. Elmyra
Brooks (1840 in TN)
5. Isabella Brooks (1842 in TN)
6. Laura A. Brooks (1844 in TN)
7. Bitha
Eugenia Brooks (1848 in TN)
8.
9. Charles C.
Brooks (1852)
10. Frances Brooks (1852)
The
Culpepper Brooks family are recorded in the 1840
The 1850
The 1860
The 1870
Thomas Brooks b.1816
Thomas Brooks was the eleventh child of John and
Records for John Brooks of Henry Co, TN:
1800 Montgomery Co, NC census: 1
male 26-44, 3 males under 10, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 10-15, 1 female under
10. And 4 slaves. (BCBNOTE: listed on same page with William Brooks,
John, David and Mary Burleyson, etc… and appears next
to William Brooks)
pg. 56 - 31 March 1824 - John Brooks to Tobias Klutts
of Cabarrus County, N.C. - $200.00 - three parcels of land - One on the West
tract of land lying in the fork of land - - - it being the land which the sd. John Brooks accumulated by virtue of his Father's Will
- - Wit: Peter C. Boyn, Levi Klutts...
Signed: John Brooks
pg. 57 - 31 March 1824 - John Brooks to Tobias Klutts
of Cabarrus County, N.C. - $500.00 - three parcels of land - Lower fork of
Island Creek - 100 acres - one tract on the waters of Camp Branch - joining
William Brooks - 50 acres - A 3rd tract - on both sides of Camp Branch - joining
Andrew Bird - 50 acres. -- Wit: Peter C. Boyn, Levi
Klutts... Signed:
John Brooks (BCBNOTE: Please note here that John's father is
deceased in 1824. William Brooks I died
in 1818 and this land lies smack dead in the middle of his former holdings bordering
on and northeast of the Brooks-Hill homestead as we know it today and northwest
of lands held by James Brooks, son of William Brooks I)
In 1825, the heirs of Charles Polk
sold two small tracts of land in
********************************
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 &
(BCBNOTE: This land was granted
to William Brooks in 1790, deeded to John Brooks in
1810 and then sold by him to Charles Dry in 1825. After this date, John Brooks is not heard of
again in NC… further proof that this is the man who landed in Henry Co, TN)
********************************
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.
(BCBNOTE: please note here also that John Brooks, the
partner of James Brooks is no longer around in 1831 to prove this deed. So, he's either deceased or moved away and
John Brooks of Henry Co, TN moved away from this area c1825).
********************************
BCBNOTE: Information on the family of John Brooks of Henry Co, TN comes
from a very capable researcher, Walter Brooks who descended from William Brooks
(