Grace (Wheeler) Brooks (abt. 1600 - abt. 1664)

Born about 1600 in England [uncertain]

Died about 2 May 1664 at about age 64 in Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

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Disputed Origins

Grace Wheeler is not the wife of Thomas Brooks. The only source found for a surname of "Wheeler" so far is a 1948 vanity publication of Dakin Genealogy which states, without source, that her name was Wheeler.^[1] Clarence Torrey in "New England Marriages prior to 1700" then included this as one of his sources when listing the surname as "Wheeler" although in brackets and with a question mark meaning not from a marriage record and uncertain.^[2][3]

An alternative wife for Thomas Brooks, Grace Cunliffe is supported by a "most probably" statement by John Threlfall which is hardly conclusive, but is at least supported by a baptism and a marriage to Thomas "Bruckes" in Manchester, Lancashire, England as listed on her profile.

There is also some confusion over whether Henry Brooks of Manchester, England and Woburn, Mass married a Wheeler which probably adds to the confusion of Thomas Brooks' wife. No evidence has been found to support such a marriage.

Biography

This profile was originally intended is to represent the wife of Thomas Brooks, early immigrant to New England. She is thought by some experts to be Grace Cundclif (see her profile for additional sources, as well as the Disputed Origins section above).

Birth & Baptism

This profile was created through a gedcom import, never had any valid sources, and the linked ancestry trees do not exist anymore. Birth dates of 1592, 1594 and 1609 were all stated, some in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, (an area from which many Wheelers came); an unsourced marriage date of 1621 was also shown in the profile.

Death & Estate

Grace Brooks (not the same as this person) passed away on 2 May 1664 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[4] (An original town record image at familysearch transcribes the date as 2 May, it could easily be read as 20 May.)

Note that there is a FindAGrave profile for the wife of Thomas Brooks which lists her as "Wheeler", again without sources for any facts (see "See Also" section).

Sources

1. ↑ Descendants of Thomas Dakin of Concord, Mass. / compiled by Albert H. Dakin. 1866-1945 Publication date 1948 pg. 12
2. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700 (Torrey) $subscription
3. ↑ Torrey on familysearch handwritten page images https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSM4-8F93?i=765&cat=290345
4. ↑ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC9N-HF3 :Grace Brooke, 2 May 1664; citing Death, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966

• Christopher Hapgood Brooks, Tributaries: Genealogies of the Brooks Families of New England: https://www.tributaries.info/p163.htm#c1621.4
• Find A Grave: Memorial #32743931