Mark Brooks (abt. 1730 - abt. 1821)

Born about 1730 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Frances (Harris) Brooks — married 1749 in Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1821 at about age 91 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Mark was the fourth son of John and Susan Brooks. Marcus may have been another name used for him by the family, but Mark is probably the most correct as the family names all tend to be Biblical.

MARK BROOKS, traditionally, came with his parents and brothers from England about 1735, son of John and Susan Brooks, the immigrants. Records show that he did not go to Cumberland County with his parents. He does not seem to have settled in Chatham County until about 1775. He is said to have lived in Granville County, N. C., where he married Fannie Harris, but there are no records of him in that county, evidence that he was there only a short time. It seems more likely that he married in Virginia and lived there until about 1775. From 1777 until his death about 1821 he has continuous records, serving on juries, acting as Road Overseer, and as Execr. of at least two estates. The 1790 census shows him with 2 males over 16 and 4 under 16, and 7 females, indicating a very large family, or possibly grandchildren in the family. The same census shows his son, Abner, in Halifax County, N. C., as was one John Brooks, both single. Mark Brooks bought land from his brother, John Brooks, Jr., on the head waters of Ephraim's Creek, joining his brother, Joab Brooks, and here he built his home. He gave his homeplace to his son, Abner Brooks, in 1816, but reserved a life right to the plantation. The deed was proved in 1821, thus indicating that Mark Brooks lived until 1821. The Federal census shows that his wife was probably living in 1810. They do not show up in the 1820 census.

August 1794—Mark Brooks gave his daughter, Elizabeth Brooks, all of his land on Efron's Creek, 5 horses, 17 cattle, 35 hogs, 10 sheep, 6 feather beds and all the crop of corn. Wit: Richard Brooks and Mary Brooks.

1795-Elizabeth Brooks sold Mark Brooks a parcel of land granted to John Brooks, Jr., on Efron's Creek. Wit-Richard Brooks and Mark Brooks, Jr.

1816-Mark Brooks, Sr., of Chatham County, N. C., sold Abner Brooks a part of a tract of land, 640 acres in original grant to John Brooks, Jr., on the head waters of Ephraims Creek and Rocky River. By John Brooks, Jr., conveyed to Mark Brooks, Sr., land joining Joab Brooks line. Including dwelling house in which said Mark Brooks, Sr., resides, but said Mark Brooks, Sr., to have the privilege to reside on during his natural life and shall have the privilege to till any part as he may be able. Wit: Joab Brooks and Richard Brooks. Proved in open Court in 1821.

The known children of Mark and Fannie (Harris) Brooks were:

1. Mark Brooks, Jr., b. about 1750. He is not found on record in Chatham County, N. C., except in 1795, so he probably did not move to this section with his father. The Census of 1800 shows him in Caswell County, over 45 years of age. Along with him in Caswell County in this census, were Isaac Brooks, 16 to 26 years old, and Larkin and John Brooks, 26 to 45 years of age. This is evidently father and sons. Dr. Benjamin Brooks of Roanoke, Va., said he descended from the Brooks family that moved to Chatham and Caswell Counties, N. C., but returned to Virginia, and this is evidently the family. This seems to be the same Larkin Brooks that moved to Caswell and Person County from Pittsylvania County, Va., and left many descendants in Person County.
2. Margaret Brooks, (Peggy), m. William Bray and lived and died in Chatham County, N. C.
3. One daughter, name not known, m. Nathan Edwards.Edwards-38368
4. David Brooks, Revolutionary soldier, died in South Carolina, New- berry County, in 1799 and named his sister, Elizabeth Gentry, and brother, Richard Brooks, both in North Carolina, in his will. He seems to have died single.
5. Abner Brooks, b. 4-24-1768 in Chatham County, N. C., died Snow Creek, Maury County, Tenn., 10-27-1851, m. Ann. of Halifax County, N. C., b. 7-22-1778, d. 8-23-1858. He was in Halifax County in 1790.
6. Elizabeth Brooks, deeded property by her father in 1794. When David Brooks died he called her Elizabeth Gentry, in his will in 1799. She probably married Hezekiah Gentry of South Carolina.
7. Fannie Brooks, m. about 1795, James Murray. They left Chatham County about 1817 and spent the year of 1818 in Maury County, Tenn., and from there they went to southern Illinois. Their children were: a. Frances Murray, m. Baker. Hammonds. b. Annice Murray, m. c. Sarah Murray (Sally), m. Hammonds. d. James Murray, to whom Abner Brooks wrote a letter in 1848. The letter included at end of this record. e. Mark Murray, d. 1884 in Smithland, Ky. f. Abner Murray. g. Margaret Murray, m. Davis. h. William R. Murray, b. 1812, youngest child in this family.
8. Richard Brooks, b. 1778, d. 1852, m. 7-16-1809 Nancy Self, daughter of Parish Self. They lived in Chatham County, N. C.
9. Thomas Jefferson Brooks, b. 5-14-1782, d. 12-1-1841, m. 12-29-1803 Nancy Jones, b. 1-25-1788, d. 2-20-1868, granddaughter of Joseph Brantley of Chatham County, N. C., and named in his will in 1807. A daughter of Joseph Brantley seems to have married Edmund Jones, as John Brantley, father of Joseph, named his grandson, Edmund Jones, and Nancy (Jones) Brooks is evidently a daughter of Edmund Jones. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Kellam, Ida Brooks, 1950; Brooks and Kindred Families, pg 106 available at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062872569&view=1up&seq=17&skin=2021

• "United States Census, 1790", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKB-TFB : Thu Oct 05 16:35:39 UTC 2023), Entry for Mark Brooks, 1790.
• "United States Census, 1800", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR7-VNQ : Fri Oct 06 15:45:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Marke Brooks, 1800.
• "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH26-VD5 : Tue Oct 03 18:16:39 UTC 2023), Entry for Mark Brooks, 1810.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Brooks-2262 created through the import of Skolyak-Homer Family Tree(3).ged on Mar 4, 2012 by Michelle Skolyak.
• Family records