Richard Brooks (1774 - 1853)

Born 12 Feb 1774 in Fauquier, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Clancy) Brooks — married 9 Jul 1795 in Washington County, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1853 at age 79 in Wyoming, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Richard Brooks was a Virginia colonist.

Richard was a farmer and a teacher and married Peggy (Margaret) Clancy, who was Irish Catholic, on July 9, 1795 in Washington County, Virginia. Richard was early identified with the Methodist Church. They established a home in Clinch Valley, Virginia, and raised a large family. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812 as a non-commissioned officer in Capt. William Gillespie's company, 112th Virginia militia. (Natl. Archives Roll Box 81, Extract 602)

The exact time when Richard and Margaret moved from Tazewell County, Virginia to what is now known as Wyoming County, West Virginia is unknown, but it was probably around 1820 when the area was still part of Giles County. According to the R.T. Brooks book, The Brooks Family, Richard was unfortunate in his financial dealings and lost his farm and all that he owned to pay off a debt through some "trickery of a creditor". Soon after the loss is when they moved. There appears to be no record that he ever owned a home again, according to R.T. Brooks.

After the death of his wife, in the 1840's, he and his invalid daughter, Peggy, moved into the home of his son William in Logan County, Virginia, now in West Virginia. Here Richard supported himself by teaching subscription schools. He was also authorized by the county courts to celebrate the rites of matrimony and though an aged man, he often rode horseback across the county to marry people. His son William was appointed one of five members of the Board of Education. The small log school house was built on William's land and known as "Old Schoolhouse Hollow". Richard was hired to teach in this school. The Wyoming County, Virginia census of 1850 lists 41 pupils who attended school within the year and having Richard Brooks, age 74, as their teacher. The students ranged in age from 6 to 22 years. Richard's salary for a term of three months was $12.50 per month. Seven of the Cooke family children attended school there. It appears it was near Oceana, the oldest settlement in Wyoming County, West Virginia.

Sources

• Bible of William Brooks lists Richard's birth as 12 Feb 1774.
• County History by Bowman and R.T. Brooks book, The Brooks Family
• "Wyoming County Heritage" WGS, Page 87.
• "Reference Book of Wyoming Co", Bowman, page 385.
• "Archives of Tazewell...", Yantis, page 238. Information on Richard's parents
• 1824 First tax list of Logan County, Virginia (WV)
• 1830 and 1840 Logan County, Virginia (WV) U.S. Federal Census
• 1850 Wyoming County, Virginia (WV) U.S. Federal Census