Lydia Adeline Brooks of Union Co, NC

"The History of The Brooks Family of Union County" by E. M. Brooks in 1925 states that Lydia Brooks married Edmond Almond and left no issue. But, he also states that he may not be accurate as to information on his aunts as opposed to his uncles.

Lydia Adeline Brooks was born 1826 in Mecklenburg Co, NC, the part that became Union County, NC, a daughter of William and Mary Burleson Brooks. 1850 Union Co, NC census shows a 65 year old Mary Brooks with her son, Cullen and his wife, Louisa living with her and taking care of her (she dies 2 years later). Also in the house are Mary’s daughters, Lydia 24 yrs and Lucy 22 yrs and a 1 yr old girl named Eliza J. Eliza is known to be Cullen (Culpeper) and Louisa’s daughter, so no hanky panky is yet apparent.

It appears from tradition that Lydia had two children out of wedlock to Joseph Hatley. 1850 Stanly Co, NC census does not show a “Joseph Hatley”. There is a “Josiah Hatley” living 2 doors from old man Wiley Hatley. This Josiah is 27 yrs old with wife Susan, aged 28 and four children. But, this couple shows up later in the census and cannot be our Joseph. So, he just doesn’t appear on the 1850 census. But, why not when there are so many of his supposed family present?

From Coy S. Hatley's book "Hatley Connections From All Across The U. S. A." published in 1992. He lists Joseph Hatley born 1820 died in 1896, son of Wiley and Patty Harwood Hatley of Stanly Co. He married Louvina Hartsell and on page 442, they are shown with the following children (1870 census): Ramsom b. 1848, Abner b.1849, Mary b. 1852, Sarah b. 1856, Martha b 1857, Jacob b. 1862, Phillip b. 1868, and Litha Jane b. 1870.

Page 566 lists Mary Brooks daughter of Joseph Hatley and Lydia Brooks (unwed) married James Harris son of James and Ginny Harris of Stanly County. Their two children are John S. Harris b. 1870 and Lemuel L. Harris.

"Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session of Stanly County 1841-1850" which is edited by Helen Lefler Garner, shows on page 65 in the May term 1848 that Joseph Hatley was charged with 'Bastardy' and was ordered to pay to the benefit of Keziah Lowder.

Stanly County, NC Marriage records show exactly what page 566 above shows… Mary Brooks, Joseph’s daughter with Lydia Brooks, marrying James P. Harris. Is this Mary the one that appears in the 1860 census information shown above (she marries by 1869 – not in 1870 info for Joseph)? Sarah Hatley (in this census) supposedly is the daughter of Lydia Brooks as well. I don’t know any historical proof for this, though. But, obviously, Joseph Hatley had done something similar with Kesiah Lowder above.

Afterward, Lydia married Edmond A. Almond (22 Jun 1818 - 28 Jun 1886) c1856… according to tradition. Edmond was living single with young Solomon Morgan (age 14) as a farmhand in 1850 in Stanly Co, NC. She then gave him two children before she either died or divorced Edmond c1860. This is the tradition so far. Since these events occurred between 1850 and 1860, there is no census data to back it up. And, the tradition continues:

Edmond then married Adeline Hathcock, daughter of Solomon Andrew Hathcock and Lavinia Rummage, b. 4 Mar 1834, d. 6 Feb 1908 Norwood, Stanly Co, NC. Edmond and Adeline lived in Stanly Co, NC and were found in 1860 next door to Sarah "Sallie" Almond, age 66. Edmond A. Almond was the son of Achilles Calvin Almond Sr. and Sarah "Sallie" Melchor of Stanly Co, NC.

Some researchers have stated that the wife of Edmond A. Almond has always been Adeline Hathcock. So, it may be that Lydia Adeline Brooks never married Edmond A. Almond. And so, my grandfather may have been right… that she had no “legitimate” issue. If so, then it's difficult to say what had happened to her. It might also be that they were married, but an attempt was made to cover up Lydia's past. Skeletons in the closet? Every family has them… It’s somewhat coincidental that Edmond’s children, Lydia & Lucy are the names of William Brooks II’s last two children. Maybe I watch too much CSI…

Regardless of what happened here, there was obviously some flim-flammery concerning Lydia A. Brooks. Whether she died, divorced or just breezed in… I don’t know. Where she went after 1860 is still unknown. Or, we may have seen her already as “Adeline” in the census records of Center township in Stanly Co, NC playing “Guess my age!”

Children of Lydia Adeline Brooks and Joseph Hatley:

Mary Brooks

married James P. Harris (30 May 1850 - 1879), son of James & Jinsa Harris on 27 Feb 1870 in Stanly Co, NC.

Stanly Co, NC marriage records state that Mary Brooks was the daughter of Joseph Hatley & Lydia A. Brooks. John Brooks, JP performed the service.

Stanly Co, NC marriages also record a marriage for Mary Hatley, daughter of Joseph & Lavina Hatley to James C. Little, son of Tilmon & Mary Little, dated 19 Aug 1869. John Brooks, JP also performed this marriage. Did Joseph Hatley have two daughters named Mary? Both born in 1852? They apparently married at about the same time, to different men. If the numbers are accurate, then Joseph has to have two daughters named Mary. Joseph Hatley is known to have fathered Sarah M. Hatley in 1856. 1860 census shows him with Mary Hatley, age 8 and Sarah Hatley, age 4. The only problem with this theory is that the 1860 census doesn’t show the other Mary Brooks. Another mystery for this family!

Sarah M. Hatley b. 18 Jun 1856 Stanly Co, NC d. 18 Feb 1925 Stanly Co, NC

married Adam A. Brooks (13 Jan 1858 - 11 Jun 1909), son of John Henry "Rabbit John" Brooks of Stanly Co, NC.

Children of Lydia Adeline Brooks and Edmond A. Almond (If married):

Lydia L. Almond b. c1857

Lucy Ann Almond b. c1860

She is listed in Edmond’s household in 1870, but listed last after her four younger siblings, as though she were not part of the main family group… perhaps Adeline Hathcock Almond was “put off” with her being there? Her age is also given as “Ann ‘’ 16 F W”. This would put her b.c1856.

Children of Edmond Almond and Adeline Hathcock?:

Josephus O. Almond b. c1863 d. 27 Aug 1941

Seraphy “Eddy” Almond b. c1865

Achilles “Killis” Almond b. c1866

Edmond Nichodemus Almond b. c1868

The question still remains…

what happened to Lydia Adeline Brooks?