Daniel Brooks (1731 - 1773)

Born 12 May 1731 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Caroline (Prescott) Brooks — married after 19 Feb 1757 in Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 30 Jan 1773 at age 41 in Acton, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chris Hoyt [send private message]

Biography

Daniel Brooks was at Concord, Massachusetts on May 12, 1731, the son of Job Brooks and Elizabeth Flagg. ^[1]

He married Caroline Prescott, daughter of Amos and Ruth Prescott, intentions published at Acton, Massachusetts on February 19, 1757. She was born at Acton on February 12, 1735/6 at Acton. ^{[2] [3]}

He died at age 41 on January 30, 1773 ^[2] and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton with sons Frederick Charles and Paul. His inscription reads: Memento mori: Here lyes ye body of Mr. Daniel Brooks who departed this life on January 30, 1773 in the 42d year of his age... ^[4]

Daniel died intestate. On February 9,1773, widow Catherine(sic) Brooks petitioned the court to have Eleazer Brooks of Lincoln and Francis Faulkner of Acton be appointed administrators of the estate of her late husband Daniel Brooks, trader of Acton. ^[5]

His estate inventory, presented on April 13, 1773 was assessed at L1258 6s 5d, with several pieces of property, 3 listed as 'under mortgage.' His administrators indicated that the Daniel was insolvent and requested the court appoint a commission to settle the estate. The commission set of one third of the estate to the widow as her dower right, during her natural life. The remainder of the real estate was to be sold at auction to pay outstanding debts. ^[5]

On May 13, 1789, the court agreed to a 'reversion of the widow's one third dower', which would then also be sold, in an effort to pay the numerous debts. The final accounting did not occur until November 11, 1791. Although appointed in 1773, during the Revolution the Courts were not open, and the administrators had great difficulty in the interim, locating many of the related documents, many of which apparently were never found, in settling the estate. Additionally noted was the devaluation of 'paper money' during the intervening years. ^[5]

The debts owed amounted to L1010 4s 8d and the creditors, numbering over 140 individuals, were to be paid by the administrators at the rate of 8s for every 20s owed, as ordered by the court. ^[5]

His widow Caroline/Catherine died April 2, 1806, age 69. ^[2]

Children

1. Paul born on November 12, 1759; died on April 27, 1767. ^[2]
2. Eleazer born August 6, 1761. ^[2]
3. Jerusha born June 3, 1763; married John Dexter at Acton on November 16, 1779 and died aged 17 on March 17, 1780 at Acton. ^{[2] [6]}
4. Fredrick Charles (twin) born February 25, 1765; died November 18, 1768. ^[2]
5. Job Fredrick (twin) born February 25, 1765 ^[2]; died September 8, 1822; married Polly Babcock on April 28, 1799. Resided in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. ^[7]
6. Caroline born March 29, 1769; married Augustus Emerson on April 13,1797. ^{[2] [7]}
7. Daniel born April 5, 1767 ^[2]; died in Vermont on January 31, 1818; married first ___; married second Cynthia Powers. ^[7]
8. Paul born August 30, 1771 ^[2]; died on June 9, 1818; married Betsey/Elizabeth ___. ^[7]

Research notes

Concord Births

BROOKS, Daniel, s. Job and Elisebeth, May 12, 1731. (p. 127)

Acton Marriages

BROOKS, Daniel and Caroline Prescott, int. Feb. 19, 1757. (p. 138)

Brooks, Jerusha and John Dexter, Nov.16,1779. (p. 138)

Acton Births

PRESCOTT, Caroline, d. Amos and Ruth, Feb. 12, 1735-6. (p. 91)

Brooks, Paul, s. Daniel and Caroline, Nov. 12, 1759. (p. 20)

Brooks, Eleazer, s. Daniel and Caroline, Aug. 6, 1761. (p. 20)

Brooks, Jerusha, d. Daniel and Caroline, June 3, 1763. (p. 20)

Brooks, Fradrick Charles twin s. Daniel and Caroline, Feb. 25, 1765. (p. 20)

Brooks, Job Fradrick, twin s. Daniel and Caroline, Feb. 25, 1765. (p. 20)

Brooks, Caroline, d. Daniel and Caroli[worn], Mar. 29, 1769. (p. 19)

Brooks, Daniel, s. Daniel and Caroline, Apr. 5, 1767. (p. 20)

Brooks, Paul, s. Daniel and Caroline, Aug. 30, 1771. (p. 20)

Acton Deaths

BROOKS,Daniel, Jan. 30, 1773, in 42d y., [in lot with Paul and Fredrick Charles] GR1 (p. 254)

BROOK, Caroline [dup. Catharine], wid. Daniel, Apr. 2, 1806, a. 69. [Caroline Brooks. CR1] (p. 254)

Brooks, Fradrick Charles, s. Daniel and Caroline, Nov. 18, 1768. [Fredrick Charles, s. Daniel and Carrolin, a. 3 y. 8 m. 24 d. GR1] (p. 255)

Brooks, Paul, s. Daniel and Caroline, Apr. 27, 1767. [s. Daniel and Carrolin, a. 7 y. 5 m. 15 d. GR1] (p. 255)

Dexter, Jerusha, w. John, Mar. 17, 1780, in 17th y. GR1 (p. 263) ^[2]

Entered by Chris Hoyt, Monday, April 20, 2015.

Sources

1. ↑ Tolman, George. Concord Massachusetts, Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1635-1850, Printed by the Town
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11} Vital Records of Acton Massachusetts to the Year 1850, NEHGS, Boston, 1923
3. ↑ Prescott, William. The Prescott memorial: or, A genealogical memoir of the Prescott families in America: In two parts, Printed by H. W. Dutton & son, 1870
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 March 2021), memorial page for Daniel Brooks (12 May 1731–30 Jan 1773), Find a Grave Memorial no. 73491092, citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Irene Dowling (contributor 47305632) .
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Case 2810: p. 1-64: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org)
6. ↑ Dexter, O. P. 1854-1903; Mills, Henry L., ed; Dexter, John Haven, 1791-1876. Dexter genealogy, 1642-1904; being a history of the descendants of Richard Dexter of Malden, Massachusetts, from the notes of John Haven Dexter and original researches, Press of J.J. Little & Co., New York, New York, 1904, p. 82
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Westmoreland History Committee, History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire: 1741-1970, and Genealogical Data, Westmoreland, New Hampshire, 1976, p. 356-7