Sarah Brooks Polk
Sarah Brooks was born 10 Sep 1805 Union
Co, NC to William Brooks II and Mary Burleson.
Sometime around 1824, she married Thomas Polk, Jr. (25 Sep 1802 - 16 Nov 1856), son of Col. Thomas Polk Sr. and Mary Shelby of Clear Creek, Mecklenburg
Co, NC and later of Union Co, NC. Thomas Polk Jr. inherited his father's homeplace in Union Co, NC and settled there. According to the following Polk family history, Thomas
and Sarah’s home was called “Little Mountain”, then “Polk Mountain” and later, “Gibraltar.” Obviously, there’s some kind of
mountain there! J
Reference to this family from a
family history book on the Polks:
"The Polks of North
Carolina and Tennessee,"
by Emma Angellotti, (1984 reprint of the original
genealogy published in the New England
Historic Genealogical Society, 1923-1924), pg. 6, shows the children of Capt.
Charles Polk and his wife Mary Clark of Mecklenburg Co., NC. The fourth child of
the couple is shown: "iv. Thomas, b. 28 Feb. 1771;
m. Keziah Prior, b. 18 Feb. 1768;
d. in 1842. He migrated to Hardeman Co., Tenn."
Pages 5 and 6 of this same genealogy show William Polk as the eldest child of William
Polk and Margaret (Taylor) Polk. Said William
was married twice, "but the names of his wives and the number of his
children are unknown." Three known children are listed, birth order
uncertain: i. "Thomas, b. probably in North
Carolina; d. at what is now Gibraltar, N. C. in 1842; m. Mary Shelby of the
Chesterfield (S.C.) district, sister of Rees and Thomas Shelby. He lived first
on Watson's Creek, but later removed to Richardson' Creek, settling at
the place called Little Mountain. Afterwards the settlement
became known as Polk's Mountain, and, in 1880, as Gibraltar. Children: 1. Shelby, d. in 1847; m.
Winifred Colburn; emigrated to Tennessee in 1813; seven
children. 2. Andrew. 3. Thomas. 4. Job. 5. Hannah. 6. Dicy.
7. Patsy. 8. Mary. 9. Elizabeth. ii.
John, lived on Crooked Creek, in that part of Anson Co., N. C., which is now
Union Co. Later he moved to South Carolina. iii.
Ezekiel, of North Carolina, d. in 1791. He was ensign in a regiment of United States Infantry 3 June 1790........ Perhaps other children."
1.
Thomas Polk Jr. died 16 Nov 1856
in Union Co, NC and his wife, Sarah Brooks Polk followed sometime after 1870.
An interesting sidenote: Thomas Polk Sr.'s second wife, Keziah Melinda Tarlton married Davidson
Brooks (Sarah's brother) after the death
of Thomas Polk, Sr.
Children of Thomas Polk, Jr.
and Sarah Brooks:
Luisa Caroline Polk b: 9 DEC 1825
in NC
Andrew H. Polk b: 15 OCT 1826 in Mecklenberg County, NC
Jane Emalene Polk b: 29 MAY 1828 in NC
William H. Polk b: 6 AUG 1830
in NC
Shelby Polk b: 2 APR 1833 in NC
Thomas James Polk b: 23 AUG 1835 in Union County, NC
Mary (Polly E.) Polk b: 16 AUG 1836 in Union County, NC
Marshall Polk b: 12 JUL 1839
in NC
Sarah Polk b: 15 FEB 1841 in NC
James K. Polk (not the president) b: 1 SEP 1845 in NC
Martha Polk b: 26 MAR 1848
in Union County, NC
Margaret Polk b: 13 FEB 1850
in Union County, NC