Thomas Hampton Brooks of Lee Co, GA

Thomas Hampton Brooks was born 20 Aug 1831, a son of Alexander and Cornelia Boggan Brooks in Anson Co, NC, near Wadesboro. This land was on Richardson's Creek, probably land once owned by William Brooks I. Thomas marries Lucy Ellen Snuggs 12 Apr 1854 at Randall Church, Stanly Co, NC. She was born 18 Sep 1837 in Norwood, Montgomery Co, NC (later Stanly Co, NC) to Richmond Gates Snuggs and Wincy Freeman Smith. Her father's family (John Robert Snuggs) donated land for the first Methodist Church, Randall Church. It is said that Bishop Asbury traveled from England to inspect the Methodist churches in America and stayed with them for a couple of weeks.

The picture to left is Lucy Ellen Snuggs Brooks after the family moved to Leake Co, MS in the 1870's. The entire photograph can be seen below.

By 1860, Thomas and Lucy had moved to Lee Co, GA along with her brother, William Asbury Snuggs (found on 1860 census there) (BCBNOTE: interestingly, William Asbury Snuggs married Lucy A. Brooks, dau. of William II and Mary Burleson Brooks) and Thomas' brother, William Alexander Brooks. There were possibly others in the family that moved as well. Thomas' brother William winds up in Chattooga Co, GA and seems to be the only brother who survives the Civil War. William Asbury and Lucy Brooks Snuggs eventually wind up in Cullman Co, AL after a brief stopover in Paulding Co, GA just a few miles from Carroll Co, GA where William Brooks III and his family were.

When the Civil War broke out, these four Brooks brothers, all sons of Alexander Brooks, would join various outfits, either in North Carolina or in Georgia and fight for their family and country. Thomas Hampton Brooks joined Company G of the 2nd Georgia Cavalry upon its formation in April of 1862. They organized at Griffin, Georgia. One of the officers was "R. A. Snuggs," a 2nd Sergeant from Lee Co, GA and Thomas Brooks is listed as one of the privates on the muster roll. BCBNOTE: John Ussery states that this man was Robert Smith Snuggs, named after his mother's family… he survived the war to become an ordained Methodist Minister.)

A descendant of Thomas Hampton Brooks researched and compiled his military service records.

From the Dancing Rabbit Genealogical Society newsletter Vol. VI, Dec. 2001, #11 there's an enumeration of all Civil War soldiers and their widows still alive in Leake Co, MS and filed by 6 July 1909. One "Mrs. Ellen Brooks from GA" is listed on it as age 67 and widowed.

BCBNOTE: I received this email from Judy Callender, a gg-granddaughter of Thomas and Lucy Brooks (it was a most fascinating account of his life):

While visiting your web site on the Brooks' of Stanley Co. I found an error in the information you have posted concerning Thomas Hampton Brooks. Thomas was my gggrandfather. Thomas and Lucy had moved to GA by the time the war broke out, where my ggrandfather was born.

Thomas died July 20, 1864 during the battle for Peachtree Creek, Atlanta. His brother-in-law (brother of Lucy) was beside him during the battle and at the time of his death. He returned to his sister, my gggrandmother, Thomas' personal posessions, including his pocket watch ( which I now have).

Thomas was in the 2nd GA Cavalry, under General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was wounded twice, first at Stones River, Mufreesboro, TN, while the 2nd Cavalry was under the command of General Joe Wheeler. Then, again during the Battle of Kolb's Farm on June 23, 1864. He was sent to a hospital, before he returned home. His son and my ggrandfather remembered seeing his father riding onto the farm with his arm bandaged. Thomas returned to active duty before his leave was up, because of the urgent need for men due to the enemies' advance on Atlanta.

Thomas' uniform is on display at the Battle of Atanta Musuem. (link to Atlanta History Museum)

Lucy and all their children moved to Leake Co., MS and she is buried at New Hope Cem. in Leake Co., MS.

Judy Callender

So, it would appear that Thomas had not survived the Civil War as previously thought. The Thomas H. Brookses in our family are confusing and I want to thank Ms. Callender for helping to clear this up for us. It now appears that the Thomas H. Brooks who died in Anson Co, NC in 1905 was probably Thomas "Henry" Brooks, a son of Asa Brooks. He was born c1833 and made a real mess of things J. Thanks again!

It's not certain where Thomas and Lucy were during the 1860 census.. they may have been "in transit" from NC (BCBNOTE: a note from John Ussery states they left Stanly Co, NC c1858/9 which supports this… Thanks John!)… William Alexander Brooks had already moved to Lee Co, GA with his inlaws, the Thomas Griffin family and William Asbury Snuggs is also there living only a couple of farmsteads away. So, it's likely that Thomas was already there in 1860, having come with Richmond Gates Snuggs, Sr. and all of his family.

Children of Thomas Hampton and Lucy Ellen Snuggs Brooks:

Zacheus Byron Brooks was born January 13, 1862 in Smithville, Lee Co., GA, and died December 23, 1933. He married Mary Ann Elizabeth Ellis August 24, 1882, daughter of John Calvin Ellis (a son of William Ellis, brother of James Lake Ellis). She was born August 19, 1860 in Leake Co., MS. Click here for a photo of this family.

Interesting note from Judy Callender about a son of Zacheus, Burwick Bunyan Brooks:

Burwick played professional baseball. He started his baseball career while attending Mississippi College. He gained fame in striking out 24 of 27 men while pitching against the University of Alabama. Later he went into professional baseball, pitching in the Georgia-Alabama League. He later joined the Cotton States League. In 1923, he was player-manager of the Jackson Senators. He then pitched for the South Atlantic Association for three years, and then for the Southern Association. The unusual thing about his career is that he was missing the thumb on his right hand, his pitching hand.

Thomas Hampton Brooks

b. 30 Nov 1861 Lee Co, GA d. 10 Jul 1919 Leake Co, MS “Rest is thine & sweet remembrance ours”

m. Eliza Matheny b.25 Jun 1855 d. 18 Jul 1908 “Her life an ideal, Her memory an inspiration”

Buried in Freeny Family Cemetery, Leake Co, MS

Children:

ANNIE BROOKS b. c1879

ROSE E. BROOKS b.c1886

JIM BROOKS b.c1891

THOMAS HAMPTON BROOKS b.1 Oct 1887 in Freeny, Leake Co, MS

MARY ELLEN BROOKS b.c1896

Wincey Ann Brooks was born December 18, 1857 in N.C., and died August 02, 1930 in Leake Co, MS. She married Robert Thomas Ellis, son of James Lake Ellis October 21, 1875 in Leake County MS. He was born October 17, 1850 in Tallapoosa Co, Al, and died October 18, 1929 in Hinds Co, MS.

Thomas Hampton Brooks died 20 July 1864 during the Battle of Peachtree Creek, defending Atlanta from Sherman's attack. Lucy Ellen and her children would soon move to Leake Co, MS, probably in the 1870's. The move originally was led by John Alsey Snuggs, another son of Richmond Gates Snuggs. Along for the ride was Elijah Cleveland and wife Martha Ann Snuggs, John's sister… and also Ervin Cameron and wife Wincey Adeline Snuggs (another sister of John's). They settled around the Carthage, Walnut Grove area and left descendants there still today! BCBNOTE: Thanks John Ussery for all your help!

The photo below was taken there:

Front row: Robert Thomas Ellis, Wincey Ann Brooks Ellis, Lucy Ellen Snuggs Brooks and Robert Lafayette Ellis. Back row from left to right: George Whitfield Ellis, Wade Hampton Ellis, Thomas Lake Ellis, Herschel Carlton Ellis and Lucy Woodard Ellis. Young Children: Ora Adna Ellis (seated in her father's lap) Jennie Bell Ellis (seated in her mother's lap)

Lucy Ellen Snuggs Brooks and family after move to Leake Co, MS

Many thanks to Judy Callender and her sister Anne Butler for the information and photos!

Lucy Ellen Snuggs Brooks died 16 October 1911 in Leake Co, MS and is buried in New Hope Cemetery located just north of the town of Walnut Grove, MS. Interestingly enough is the fact that Leake Co, MS borders Attala Co, MS where Joshua James Brooks and wife, Sarah Smith settled earlier.