Person Page - 1744

John/1c Brooks, said to be of Cheshire, England, in voluminous family records, removed to New England, date unascertained [Holmes, by 1649; Yale, ca. 1660], perhaps with his brother Henry.^1,2,3 He is likely the Brooks male whom Torrey says married, probably in Connecticut by 1654, Mary Griggs, daughter of George Griggs, of Boston, with whom he had 7 daughters.⁴ Jn^o Brookes had a church seat at New Haven, 7 Feb 1668.⁵ A list compiled at New Haven on 22 Dec 1712 records both John and Henry Brooks as New Haven proprietors in 1685.⁶
     At a New Haven town meeting, 15 Mar 1691/92, John Brooks moved that Concidering his old age, low Condicion and present Incapacity, that the towne would remitt his towne Rates for this yeare and for the future the towne by theire vote graunted his Request. From 1700 through 1708, Townsmen's Records show sums paid for his care, mainly to his son-in-law Daniel Abbot.⁷ At a town meeting 16 Sep 1701, The Townes men informed the town that John Brooks and his wife by Reason of their age and impotency were Like to be at the towne charge wholly before Long.⁸ In May 1711 the Townsmen agreed with Abbot to keep and provide all things sutably for his Mother Brooks soe long as she shall live if he And his wife shall live so long …" Therefore John's death, recorded in First Church records as 17__, occurred sometime between 1708 and May 1711.⁷
     John Brooks, says Holmes, "removed to Wallingford with his brother in 1685."⁹ Says Yale, "From 1685 down to 1704, John and Henry Brooks were on the list of the proprietors of Wallingford."² Given the New Haven records previously cited, however, it is unlikely that John resided at Wallingford long, if at all, and then only between the years 1686–1691.
     Yale confuses John/1c Brooks of New Haven with John/1f Brooks of Stratford, Fairfield County, when he adds, "[I]t is supposed that he and his family removed to Fairfield county." The Stratford man's will and inventory are dated Mar 1694/5, while the New Haven man was receiving town assistance as late as 1708.²

Beriah/3p Brooks, father unrecorded, was born to Deborah Brooks 20 Mar 1673/74 at Scituate, Massachusetts.¹ As Evelyn Beran notes, "The concordance says 'Beriah' means 'unfortunate' — the type of name that might well be given an illegitimate child in those days."² He appears to have been taken into his grandparents' home. The will of Deborah's father William Brooks, proved 6 Mar 1682/83, directs that "My grandchild Beriah shall be at my wife's dispose."³
     Without a patrimony, he removed to marry, 6 Apr 1698 at Stonington, Connecticut, Mary York.^4,5,6 Two subsequent children were recorded at Lynn, Massachusetts.
     There is a modern-day [2003] Beriah Brooks Road in Harwich, Massachusetts.

In the earliest record we have of him, 15 Jun 1643, John/1g Brooks, evidently of Windsor, Connecticut, plaintiff, represented by "Henry Woolcott, Attorny," prevailed in an action against Thomas/1 Marshfield, and was awarded damages of "xil" (probably pounds, or £59). This appears to be one of a dozen land lawsuits at that court session against Marshfield, a former resident who had left town precipitously. Hinman erroneously reports the record as one of jury service.^3,4
     John Brooks contracted, 1 Jan 1650, "to attend the Rivulet Ferry, the town agreeing to make him a cellar (10x15 ft.) for to dwell in before the 25 Dec. His wages were to be bro't in before 8 Jan., and if it fall out that the cellar is not ready by the time aforesaid, the town shall provide a house to put his corn in. He is to attend two days to receive his wages in wheat, pease, and Ind. corn."⁵⁶
     He married (1), 25 May 1652 at Windsor (both of W., also rec. Springfield, Massachusetts), Susanna Hanmore, with whom he had 8 children.^7,8 "He bo't the N. part of the Hubbard lot on Backer Row, abt. 1655, built and was res. there 1668…."^6,9 In 1667 and 1669 Dr. John Winthrop treated Susan Brooks, wife of John of Winsor.¹⁰ John was a head of household at Windsor, 1670.¹¹
     12 May 1668, "Nicholas Wilton, for wounding the wife of John Brooks, and Mary Wilton, the wife of Nicholas Wilton, for contemptuous and reproachful terms by her put upon one of the Assistants, and adjudged, she to be whipt 6 stripes upon the naked body, next training day at Windsor; and the said Nicholas is hereby disfranchised of his privilege of freedom in this Corporation, and is to pay for the Horse and Man that came with him to the Court this day, and for what damage he hath done to the said Brooks his wife, and sit in the stocks the same day his wife is to receive her punishment. The Constables of Windsor to see this attended."¹²
     John's wife Susanna died at Windsor 7 Nov 1676.^13,14 He removed to Simsbury, and married a second time, perhaps to Elizabeth Hayden.^15,16 John Brooks, inhabitant of Simsbury, was complained of for ill-treating this 2nd wife. After the selectmen intervened to remove her from his home, he applied to the Governor and Magistrates in the County Court. 11 Mar 1681/82, Gov. William Leete and Magistrates Major John Talcott and Capt. John Allyn ordered:


     7 May 1682, 22 men of Simsbury, among them John Brooks, petitioned the general court for permission to gather a church and settle a pastor of their own. The Court granted their petition the following May, but by then John Brooks was dead.¹⁸
     He died at Simsbury 3 Sep 1682.^19,20 The inventory of his estate, taken by John Case, Thomas Barber and Peter Buell and presented the same month, was £199-08-09. His living children were named²¹, and administration was granted to son-in-law John Peirce, who presented the inventory, and Thomas Barber.^19,22 6 Mar 1684, "the administrator of John Brookes estate being departed, & the estate being in a wasteing state, none to look after it," the court granted administration to John Higley.¹⁹

Exhibit(s).
     • Probate file of John Brooks of Simsbury.²⁰

Susanna Hanmore, perhaps born 1632 (Torrey)¹, of Windsor, Connecticut, there married, as his 1st wife, 25 May 1652 (also rec. Springfield, Massachusetts), John/1g Brooks of Windsor, with whom she had 8 children.^2,3 In 1667 and 1669 Dr. John Winthrop treated Susan Brooks, wife of John of Winsor.⁴ She died at Windsor 7 Nov 1676.^5,6

Thomas/1r Brooks was probably born well before 1620, as he was old enough to serve as a military officer in 1644. At a General Court of Election held at Nuport [Newport, Rhode Island] on the 13th of the first month, 1644, military officers elected for Portsmouth included "Tho Brookes, Rich:".¹ 27 May of that year, Portsmouth granted to Thomas Brookes an addition of land at y^e upper end of their lotts.² List of Portsmouth freemen, 1655.^3,4 At a meeting of the Governor and Magistrates of Newport, 30 Jan 1670, "There is allowed to Thomas Brookes, for five days service, fifteen shillings."⁵ He married, perhaps (2), by 1672 (Torrey) at Portsmouth or Newport, Hannah (–?–).⁶ The birth of their daughter Hannah, 1672, is found in Newport Friends records, indicating that the parents were then Quakers. 4 Sep 1694, Thomas Brooks of Newport, Rhode Island, probably the same, gives receipt for a legacy his daughter Elisabeth Brooks has received, paid by Thomas Way from the estate of John Green, witnesses John Pocock and Arnold Collins.⁷

Abraham/1 Jaquith, of Huguenot extraction, and resident at Charlestown, Massachusetts, married, as her 1st husband, by 1643, Annis Jordan, daughter of James Jordan, of Dedham, with whom he had at least six children.^1,2 He was admitted to the church at Charlestown 9 Dec 1643, and admitted a freeman of the colony 14 May 1656.³ Abr. Jaques was a juror, 3 Jan 1653/54.⁴ In 1659, "Abram Jaquis of Woburn presented to the court his inability to (take part in) military exercise by reason of his bodily infirmity, as also the same certified to under the hand of Capt. Edward Johnson, is dismissed from all ordinary training. He is paying five shillings per annum to the use of the military company in the town wherein he dwells."^5,6
     His will, dated 16 (9) 1675, probated 19 Dec 1676, bequeaths to wife Hannah or Anna, son Abram and daughters Lydia, Sarah and Deborah.⁷ His widow married (2), 1682, Henry/1w Brooks of Woburn.^8,9