John Henry "Rabbit John" Brooks
of Stanly Co, NC
"Rabbit John" was born on 28 Dec 1828 in Montgomery Co, NC, in the part
of Montgomery that, in 1841, became Stanly County, NC. He was the son of James Brooks (c1800 -
1829) and Temperance Jane Tucker and grandson of William Brooks I. After the early death of his father, John
lived with his mother and step-father, Alford T. Ledbetter just east of Island
Creek on the Rocky River in Stanly Co, NC.
On 29 Jan 1852, John married his father's first cousin.. or his first
cousin, once removed, Margaret Matilda Brooks (19 Dec 1834 - 22 Dec 1899),
daughter of John C. "Coffee John Brooks and "Patsy" Elizabeth
Cuthbertson. "Rabbit John"
and his family lived on the Rocky River, near the mouth of Bear Creek in the
old town of Ford, just southeast of Oakboro.
Today, Ford no longer exists. He
lived a long and prosperous life, had many children and died 2 Sep 1903 in
Stanly Co, NC.
BCBNOTE: Many thanks to Nita Sloop Brooks for her
help in the family of Adam A. Brooks and other children of John Henry
"Rabbit John" Brooks! Her
husband, Jerry Johnson Brooks is the grandson of Adam Fred Brooks, a son of
Adam A. Brooks.
BCBNOTE: Also, many thanks to Lori Love, who has scanned
and submitted letters (as well as some photos) written by
"Rabbit John" Brooks to his brother's family in Arkansas:
Will of John Henry "Rabbit John" Brooks in
Stanly Co, NC:
pp. 405-408 --- Will of John Brooks
Will Date: August 28, 1900
Probate Date: September 9, 1903
"I John Brook . . . well stricen
in years . . . unto my son Carley M. Brooks and his bodily heirs 50 acres of
land on the east side of the public road wheron my dwelling house stands, also
66 acres on the west side of said road, known as the Jo Hartsel tract also 8
3/4 acres on the west side of the road whereon my granery and barn stands, also
a small strip of the mill land, commencing at the dich . . . also two good
beads and steads, also all of my household and kichen furniture, 1 milch cow, all
of my stock of hogs, also one third of my farming tools . . . my graiedaughter
Evey Hartsell twenty five dollars in money . . . my mill and all of my other
lands not willed, also all of my other property not willed to be put to sale
for money unless other-wise satisfactory arraigned between the heirs con-cerned
and the money appropriated to bring all of my heirs hereinafter mentioned even,
to - wit: My daughter Evy Hathcock 42 1/2 acres of land at 4 dollars per acer,
also my son A. A. Brooks 50 acers of land 4 dollars per acer, also my son J. H.
Brooks 106 acers at 4 dollars per acer, also my son W. F. Brooks 54 1/2 acers
of land 4 dollars per acer . . . If there should be any money left after there
all coming even I will it to be equally divided between the four above
mentioned heirs Charley M. Brooks and Evey Hartsel having bin willed all I
expected them to have . . ."
John Brooks (signed)
Executor: my son Adam A. Brooks and
James H. Brooks
Witnesses: J. F. Huneycutt and J. F.
Hathcock
Codicil: (July 11, 1902) " . . .
I want in addition to my will for Charley to have all the present wheat crop,
also corn enough from this fall crop to doo him till he can make another
crop."
Witnesses (codicil): None; J. F.
Huneycutt testified that "said addition or codicil to said will was found
among the valuable papers and effects of the said John Brooks, deceased, and in
fact the same was attached to his original Will, which was kept among his
valuable papers". J. F. Huneycutt, J. F. Hathcock, and A. N. Dry testified
that "they are acquainted with the hand-writing of the said John Brooks,
having often seen him write, and verily believe that the name of ^said^ John
Brooks subscribed to the said addition or codicil . . . is in the hand- writing
of the said John Brooks". [probate]
Children of John Henry "Rabbit John" Brooks and
Margaret Matilda Brooks:
Eva Anna "Evy" Brooks b. c1856 Stanly Co, NC
married Noah Webster Hathcock
23 Feb 1871 in Stanly Co, NC, son of Lloyd and Mary Margaret Hathcock.
Adam A. Brooks b. 13 Jan 1858 Stanly Co, NC d.
11 Jun 1909 Stanly Co, NC
Adam's middle name is probably
"Alexander." He married Sarah
"Sallie" M. Hatley (18 Jun 1856 - 18 Feb 1925), daughter of Joseph "Joe"
Hatley and Lavinia Hartsell, on 19 Sep 1878 Stanly Co, NC by S.A. Morton.
1883 - W. A. Cagle store
customer (from Ledger Book)
6 Oct 1902 - Big Lick TS
registered voter (son of John, Sr.)
1909 Estate records on file at
NC State Archives
Martha Ellender Brooks b. 1860 Stanly Co, NC
d. c1880 Stanly Co, NC
married Doctor Wiley Hatley 16
Dec 1875 in Stanly Co, NC. D. Wiley
Hatley is the son of Wiley H. Hatley and Margaret M. Teater [widow of a son of
Andrew Bird (b.c1772)], daughter of George Teater, Sr. and Katherine
DeBerry. In 1850, Margaret was living
with her three children, Catherine, Jonathan M. and Andrew Bird. Three doors down is Andrew Bird (b.c1772)
and next door to him is George Teater, Jr. (b.c1801). Martha dies about 20 years young c1880 and D. W. Hatley marries
again to Susan Carver 19 May 1881 in Stanly Co, NC.
James Henry Brooks b. 17 Jul 1868
NC d. 5 Oct 1951 Stanly Co, NC
married Rebecca L. Austin (15
Apr 1871 - 17 Jun 1934), daughter of Riley H. Austin and Elizabeth
"Betsy" Thomas on 5 Apr 1889 Stanly Co, NC b. 15 Apr 1871 NC d. 17 Jun 1934 Stanly Co, NC
25 Oct 1902 - Big Lick TS
registered voter
witnessed grandmother's (Tempy
Ledbetter) will
William Ford Brooks b. 23 Jan 1871
Stanly Co, NC d. 18 Dec 1918 Stanly Co, NC
married Rosanna Huneycutt
(b.1876) on 12 Nov 1896 Stanly Co, NC, daughter of Josiah F. Huneycutt and
Margaret A. Hinson.
11 Oct 1902 - Big Lick TS
registered voter
Charlie M. Brooks b. 1 Sep 1874 d. 28 Feb 1913
Oakboro, Stanly Co, NC
married Ida Bell Osborne (b.
1880) on 22 Oct 1899 Stanly Co, NC, daughter of Joshua and Jensie Osborne.
listed in 1880 census as
"Deaf and Dumb"
1900 Stanly Co, NC ... living
with father Jno. Brooks, Sr. (Jno: 70, widowed
farmer; farm #169)
17 Oct 1908 - Big Lick TS
registered voter
1913 Estate records on file at
NC State Archives
