William Brooks II of Union County, NC

 

William Brooks II was born in 1779 in Anson Co, NC (probably the part later known as Stanly Co, NC) son of William Brooks I, and died in Union Co, NC 13 July 1846.  William Brooks II married around 1800 to Mary Burleson, daughter of David Burleson. She was born c1785 in Anson Co, NC and died in 1852 while living with her son in her home, Culpeper (Cullen) P. Brooks in Union Co, NC.  Mary wrote a letter to her parents in TN dated 17 Sep 1818.  She gives the exact date of death for William Brooks I and for a newborn son in this letter, Culpeper (or Cullen)  Cullen Brooks was also the administrator of William's estate in 1846.  Estate papers for William Brooks II are abstracted in Brooks Family Documents.

Margie Williams Baucom lived in this area and has known many of these Brooks all her life.  Her descriptions are those of great color and extraordinary detail.  She supplies them in her book, Brooks Bridge of History, a telling of our Brooks family published in 1980.  It was the first publication since Rev. E.M. Brooks’ Brooks of Union Co, NC to portray the family in such detail.  It is fitting and proper that I should allow her to introduce my great-great grandfather and grandmother to you:

            William James Brooks I (BCBNOTE: caution should be applied when using the middle name of “James”… it is recorded nowhere that I’m aware of, apart from genealogical works such as these and is purely anecdotal in its usage) and wife’s son, William James Brooks II (1779 – 7/13/1846), m. Mary (Polly) Burleyson (1780 – 6/6/1852), daughter of David Burleyson and Mrs. Ursula Brooks (Ursula Weatherford).  Burleysons lived near Albemarle, North Carolina.  William and Mary settled on land his father gave him on the south side of Rocky River, a few hundred yards below where the mill (known later as Morgan’s Mill) was located, exactly opposite the new steel bridge in use in the early 1900’s on the Albemarle-Monroe Highway.

            Their home in later years was a big, two story house, with a big porch, stone chimneys and several high gables.  I have found no one who remembers how it was built.  I do remember seeing it and it looked as though it had never been painted.

            William and Mary Brooks were baptized at High Hill Church in the year 1823.  William J. Brooks II and Mary Brooks were members of High Hill Primitive Baptist Church, near Monroe.  In 1837, they asked for letters of dismissal, along with 22 other members, to establish a church on Watson Creek named Watson Primitive Baptist Church.  Enoch Williams (son of Henry Williams) gave the land for the church.  Daniel Jenkins was church clerk at High Hill.  The following members made up the number going to Watson:  BRETHREN – William Brooks II, Nathan B. Jenkins, Daniel Jenkins, Enoch Williams, Marley Chestnut, Robert Jones, James Coburn, Benjamin Thomas.  SISTERS – Rhody Jenkins, Eady Stancill, Elizabeth Coburn, Mary Brooks, Minnie Coburn, Mary Jenkins, Patsy Sharp, Nancy Jenkins, Rebecca Thomas, Eady Mullis, Eliza Chestnut, Jane Tomberlin, Jinsee Carelock, Rachel Mullis, Patience Smith, Elizabeth Jenkins.  (Allen Broom, C. clerk, Watson Church).  Watson Church was constituted by Elder George Little, Pastor and William Hamilton, Deacon of Grove Spring Church betwixt April and August of 1837.  Nathan Jenkins, Enoch Williams, William Brooks II carried a letter to Bear Creek Association in August 1837.

            William J. Brooks II and Mary Burleyson Brooks were buried beside his father, William J. Brooks I, one hundred yards east of the original homesite.  The third home on the site still stands.  The two Williams’ graves were marked with slate rocks and hand inscribed.  Many years later in 1941, a tall, impressive marble monument was erected to mark the two graves.  There was an unveiling service in August 1941, with a large number of descendants present. (Rev. E.M. Brooks erected this marble stone and officiated at the ceremony.  Honoring the memory of his grandfather and great-grandfather in stone was one of the last acts of his life, which ended in 1943.  It was his legacy.  He was such a devoted Brooks family researcher and served us all admirably in our endeavors to understand our beginnings.) These and other interested relatives paid for the monument.  Lawyer Huneycutt from Albemarle made a talk at the service.  During this, he told the legend of how William happened to settle at Rocky River. 

 

William Brooks II served for an undisclosed time as deputy sheriff for Anson County, NC.  Deposition papers for the suit of his brother, Ezekiel Brooks through his guardian, Alexander Brooks (another brother) state that William Brooks II and his family were the only family to attend the wedding of Ezekiel Brooks to Sinthia (Siddy) Green about 1820.  It is interesting to see that so many of these legal documents contain references to William and his family attending the wedding; and, yet there is no deposition for William himself.  Seems to me he was a good witness for the defendant, Siddy Brooks.  It may be that he steered clear of these proceedings to avoid harming his relationship with Alexander and the Green family.  There were many documents concerning land transactions between William Brooks II and the "heirs of Jacob Green" (see abstracts below).

Abstract:  Surveyed for William Brooks & Deeded

To him by the heirs of Jacob Greene Decd

Feby 16th 1832

Of which the above is a true plot     (paper torn)????

Mary (paper torn)????

Children of William and Mary Burleson Brooks:

John C. "Coffee John" Brooks b. 2 Mar 1802  d.25 Jul 1875
Sarah Brooks b. 10 Sep 1805
Martha Jane Brooks b. 26 Nov 1807 d. 1840
William Brooks III b. 5 Feb 1812 d.15 July 1887
Davidson Brooks b. 28 May 1815 d. 1898
Culpeper (Cullen) Paul Brooks b. 28 July 1818
Calvin Brooks b. 19 Dec 1825
Lydia Adeline Brooks b. 1826  d. ?
Lucy Brooks b. 1828  d.1904


When William Brooks II died in 1846, many surviving records show his estate settlement.  Most of these come from the Brooks Family Documents, held in Rev. E.M. Brooks’ possession until his death in 1943.  Since that time, they were kept by his oldest son, Cullen Paul Brooks until his death and passed to a surviving member of the family after 1993.  Other documents were abstracted by Margie Williams Baucom.  The dower of Mary Burleson Brooks is one of them:

North Carolina

Union County                 I, Darling Rushing Sheriff of Union County, proceeded on the 22nd day of June 1848 attended by the following jury of good and lawful men viz – Jacob Mullis, John T. Austin, Thomas T. Griffin, Enoch Williams, William L. Williams, Cullen Curlee, Benjamin Simpson, Thomas Simpson, Charles Drye, Elijah Simpson, Dan C. Moyer and Bryant A. Austin – who after being duly sworn according to law proceded on to lay off and allot to Mary Brooks, late widow of William Brooks dec’d. her dower and third in the lands belonging to Wm. Brooks at the time of his death.  Viz – beginning on a sweet gum on the bank of Reason’s branch, People’s Hasty’s corner thence No 37 E 29 chains to his other corner.  Thence So 45 E 24 chains to 50 links to the beginning containing two hundred and five and two-thirds acres and put her in possession of the same given under our hands and seals this the 22nd day of June 1846.

 

Signed by the jury of men

Court of sessions July term 1848

For six years, Mary Burleson Brooks would continue to survive in Union Co, NC.  Her son, Culpeper “Cullen” P. Brooks and his wife, Louisa Lowery Allen Brooks moved in with her to take care of her and her farm.  Cullen Brooks was a very careful and articulate man, very good at keeping her affairs.  He likely organized the many documents and family papers that Rev. E.M. Brooks would use to begin his genealogical quest.  Rev. Brooks would be born nine years after his grandmother, Mary’s death.  One of the last duties that Cullen was to perform was as executor to her will and the settlement of her estate in 1852:

 

In the name of God, Amen, I Mary Brooks of the county of Union and state of North Carolina Being of sound mind.  Thanks be to God and calling to mind my mortality do make and ordain this instrument of writing to be my last will and testament.  In manner form following: 

Item 1 – It is my will and give and bequeath unto my son, John Brooks, one dollar.

Item 2 – It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sary Polk, one dollar.

Item 3 – It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren, my daughter Jane Carelock children one dollar to be divided among them equally.

Item 4 – It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my son William Brooks one dollar.

Item 5 – It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my two daughters Lydia and Lucy all my wearing apparel at my death.

Item 6 - It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my son Calvin Brooks one bed and stead and furniture.

Item 7 – After all my just debts are paid and the portions willed above taken out with all expenses – it is then my will that the balance of my property both real and personal be put into five equal lots and valued so as to make them equal in valuation which shall be done by two disinterested men, selected by my executor and drawn for by my five youngest children.  To wit – Davidson Brooks, Cullen Brooks, Lydia Brooks, Lucy Brooks, Calvin Brooks.  I give and bequeath the above property to my above named five youngest children as above directed.

Item 8 – I hereby nominate my trusty son Cullen Brooks the executor of this my last will and testament and hereby set aside and revoke all wills heretofore by me made and hereby establish this only proper true last will and testament.

In witness thereof, I, Mary Brooks have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of June 1847.

 

Mary Brooks                             Wit: Geo. Little, J.W. Smith, Recorded July 1852

 

 

The Brooks Family Documents kept by Cullen Brooks and passed down through the family include the estate sales for both William and for Mary Brooks.  They both contain many names of early to late 19th century Stanly, Union and Anson County and are valuable resources for many researchers.

 

Records for William Brooks II:

The following is a bill of sale for a slave from David “Burlingson” to William Brooks, dated 10 Aug 1814:

Abstract: Know all men by these presents that I David Burlingson for the Consideration of fifty pounds to me in hand rec’d hast bargined and sold and delivered unto William Brooks of anson County one Negro boy name Woods.  I the David Burlingson doth warrant and forever defend the said Negro boy As to the right unto the said William Brooks his heirs and assigns from any person or persons laying and just Cause writ or title to the same in Witness where of I set my hand and seal this 10 Day August 1814.   Test: Sharod Rowland  Signed:  David Burlingson (his mark)

BCB NOTE:  The reason for the change in location of deed (from NC to TN) was because David Burleson had just moved to Rutherford Co, TN.. the document must have been written just prior to the move and then the deal finished afterward.  The young boy, Woods was also mentioned later in 1846 in estate sale papers for Mary Burleson Brooks.

 

20 Sept 1816 - Petition Concerning the Site of Montgomery Co. Courthouse

20 Apr 1821 – Bill of Sale for a slave… Abstract:  Know all men by these presents that I parrot Willims and Joshuway Williams and briant Williams anny Williams for the Consideration of three hundred and forty Dollars to me in hand Paid hath bargined and Sold and delivered unto William Brooks of Anson County one Negro gal named Miley  I the --- Parrot Williams and Joshuway Williams and briant Williams and anny Doth warrant and for Ever defend The Said Negro gal As to the rigt unto the said William Brooks his heirs and assigns from any --- person or persons laying any Just Claims write or title to the same and that she is sound and well in Witness our Where of We set our hands and seals un this 20 Day of April 1821.  Test: John Brooks… Signed:  Parrott (his mark) Williams, Joshua Williams, Bryant Williams, Anny Williams (their marks).

23 Apr 1821 – Bill of Sale for a slave… Abstract:  Know all men by these Preasants that I Gabriel Libby hath this day bargained Sold and Delivered unto William Brooks a Negro Girl named Fanny for the some of four Hundred and Twenty five Dollars & I this Libby do bind my self my heirs and assigns For Ever unto the Said Wm Brooks him His heirs and assigns for Ever to have and to hold from any claim or claims whatsoever Also do warrant This said Negro to be sound and well at this time clear of all impediments Given under my hand and seal this 23 of April 1821.. Test: Isaac Howell, David W. Howell… Signed:  Gabriel Libby (seal)

23 Jan 1832 – William Brooks’ Receipt to (David)? Green.. Abstract:  on or by the first day of January noted I promise to pay or cause to be paid unto (David)? Green the Just sum of Thirty Dollars bearing interest from the date it being for Value Recd of him as Witness my hand and seal January 23the 1832.  Witness: Allert (Albert?) A. Ledbetter… Signed:  Wm Brooks (seal)

13 Feb 1832 – William Brooks’ Receipt to Sary Green.. Abstract:  On the First Day of January 1833 I promise to pay Sary Green the just Sum of forty Eight Dollars for value Recd with interest from the Date February the 13 1832.  Atest Wm Brooks.

Deed (Z-586 Anson NC) 15 Feb 1832. Sarah Greene, Siddy Brooks, James Mullis and Sarah his wife, James Hinson and Sussanah his wife, Jacob Pherby, Howell Gideon and Noah Green of Anson to William Brooks. Being 310 acres lying on the south east side of Rocky River at the mouth of Austin's Mill race then to Reason's Branch to Ramsey's field. The witnesses were ___Cutherbertson and ___Brooks.

BCB’s NOTE:  This document came after the death of Jacob Greene.  Brooks Family Documents contain a survey done for William Brooks II on Feb 16th 1832.  The Green family lived next to the Brooks and Ezekiel Brooks married Sinthia Greene, probably the daughter of Jacob Greene.  The following survey is for the 310 acres mentioned above: