Joseph Brooks (abt. 1682 - 1759)

Born about 1682 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Goulding) Brooks — married 29 Jul 1725 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Died 17 Sep 1759 at about age 77 in Lincoln, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Joseph Brooks was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in July, August or Early September, 1682. He was the son of Gershom Brooks and Hannah Eckles, and the grandson of Thomas Brooks, the first American ancestor of the Brooks family (See also, Research Notes). This is evidenced by a guardianship document dated June 30, 1701, in which Joseph, the minor son of Gershom, deceased, is referenced:^[1][2]

Know all men by these presents that we Joseph Brooks Senr of Concord, Edward Bridge of Roxbury in ye county of Essex, and Daniel Brooks junr in said Concord in ye county of Midex stand firmly bound and obliged unto James Russell Esq. Judge of Probate for ye county ... date the 30th day of June Anno Dom 1701 in ye 13th year of his Majesties Reign. The condition of this psent obligation is such that if ye above bounden Joseph Brooks Senr of Concord guardian to his cousin Joseph Brooks son of Gershom Brooks late of sd Concord yeoman deces., a minor of eighteen years of age ... [Edward Bridge was brother-in-law and Daniel Brooks was older brother of young Joseph Brooks.]^[1]

According to the reasoning of The American Genealogist: "Being 18 at the time means he was born between 1 July 1682 and 29 July 1683. He died 17 Sept. 1759 in his 78th year per gravestone in Lincoln, Accordingly, he was born between 18 Sept. 1681 and 16 Sept. 1682. Thus he must have been born in July, August or the first half of September 1682."^[1]

Joseph, then of Weston, Massachusetts, married Mrs. Jane Jennison, widow of Peter Jennison, late of Sudbury, Massachusetts. The marriage was performed at Sudbury on July 29, 1725, by Mr. William Cook. They had one son, Joseph Brooks, Jr,, born in Weston, June 14, 1726; died September 7, 1749, "in 24th y."^{[1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

His wife Jane died in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on November 16, 1753, "in 70th y."^[1][10]

Joseph Brooks died in Lincoln on September 17, 1759, "in ye 78th Year of His Age" (Gravestone). He had acquired a respectable estate, as a farmer, and while living was known to be a generous donor. He left the bulk of his estate to the church and to the Town of Lincoln for, among other things, a meeting-house bell and a school fund.^{[1][3][4][11]}

He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Lincoln, where his gravestone reads:

💀

Here lyes Interr'd

the Body of M^r.

JOSEPH BROOKS of Lincoln

Who Departed this Life

Sept^r the 17^th 1759 in yͤ

78^th Year of His Age.

In His Life time he was a Liberal

Benefactor to yͤ Town of Lincoln

Manifefted by His Generous Donations.

Will

In his will of March 19, 1757, he bequeathed to his "sons-in-law" Peter Jeneson, Israel Jeneson, Robert Jeneson and Samuel Jeneson, to his "daughters-in-law" Sarah Severen, Jane How, and his three "grandchildren" born of his "daughter-in-law" Eunice Richardson deceased. These were his step-children. He also bequeathed to his kinsmen David, Timothy, Daniel and Josiah Brooks and Anna Hoar, who were the five children of his brother Daniel. Then he bequested to the two children of his kinsman Eben Miriam, deceased. This Ebenezer Merriam was apparently his nephew by his sister Elizabeth (Brooks) Merriam (Middlesex Probate 2858).^[1]

Research Notes

• Parents: According to Bond and Shattuck, he is the Joseph Brooks, son of Joshua Brooks and Hannah Mason, and grandson of Thomas Brooks, who died in Lincoln September 17, 1759, "in ye 78th Year of His Age," and who was "distinguished for his liberality."^[3][4] However, the FindAGrave memorial for this Joseph Brooks cites his parents as: "Gershom brooks & hanna Eccles." Also, the Joseph Brooks currently listed on WikiTree as the son of Joshua Brooks and Hannah Mason, was born 1671 and died 1746. Therefore, it appears that the information cited by The American Genealogist, that he is son of Gershom Brooks and Hannah Eckles, is correct.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} The American Genealogist: Pages 99-100. Citing: "8. Joseph Brooks (Gershom, Thomas) was born about July, August or Early September, 1682. ... married 29 July 1725, Jane Jennison of Sudbury, widow of Peter Jennison. ... In his will of 19 March 1757, he bequeathed to his "sons-in-law" Peter Jeneson, Israel Jeneson, Robert Jeneson and Samuel Jeneson, to his "daughters-in-law" Sarah Severen, Jane How, and his three "grandchildren" born of his "daughter-in-law" Eunice Richardson deceased. These were his step-children. He also bequeathed to his kinsmen David, Timothy, Daniel and Josiah Brooks and Anna Hoar, who were the five children of his brother Daniel. Then he bequested to the two children of his kinsman Eben Miriam, deceased. This Ebenezer Merriam was apparently his nephew by his sister Elizabeth (Brooks) Merriam (Middlesex Probate 2858).
2. ↑ The American Genealogist: Page 96. Citing: "3. Gershom Brooks (Thomas) ... married Hannah Eckles ... Children: all born in Concord ... vii. Joseph, b. in July, Aug. or Sept. 1682.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Early Settlers of Watertown: Page 356. Citing: "1. Joshua, m. Hannah Mason ... Chil., ... 7. Joseph, d. Sept. 17, 1759, aged 78; distinguished by his liberality. He m., 1706, Rebecca Blodgett. (?) He m. (2d), June 14, 1725, wid. Jane Jennison. Chil., 1. Mary. 2. Rebecca. 3. Joseph. 4. Hathan. 5. Amos. 6. Jonas. 7. Isaac. 8. James.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} History of Concord: Page 317. Citing: "Joseph Brooks."
5. ↑ Giles Memorial: Page 242. Citing: "13. Peter Jennison ... m. Jane ____. ... she married Joseph Brooks of Weston."
6. ↑ Sudbury Records: Marriages. Page 224. Citing: "Jenison, Jane and Joseph Brooks, July 29, 1725. [Jennison, M.R.]"
7. ↑ Weston Town Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, Etc. Page 263. Citing: "Sudbury. Joseph Brooks of Weston and Jane Jenison of Sudbury were married at Sudbury by Mr. William Cook, July 29, 1725."
8. ↑ Weston Town Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, Etc. Page 18. "B Joseph Brooks the Son of Joseph Brooks and of Jean his Wife was Born in Weston June the 14th. 1726."
9. ↑ Lincoln Records: Deaths. Page 156. Citing: "Brooks, Joseph Jr., only s. Joseph and Jane, Sept. 7, 1749, in 24th y. G.R.3."
10. ↑ Lincoln Records: Deaths. Page 155. Citing: "Brooks, Jane, w. Joseph, Nov. 16, 1753, in 70th y. G.R.3."
11. ↑ Lincoln Records: Deaths. Page 156. Citing: "Brooks, Joseph, Sept. 17, 1759. [[h. Jane] in 78th y., G.R.3.]

See also:

• Threlfall, John Brooks. Thomas Brooks of Watertown and Concord. The American Genealogist (The American Genealogist, Barrington, RI, 1977) Volume 53.

• Bond, Henry. Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. (Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1855).

• Vital Records of Lincoln, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1908).

• Shattuck, Lemuel A History of the Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. (Russell, Odiorne & Co., Concord, 1835).

• Vital Records of Sudbury Massachusetts to the Year 1850. (New-England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1903).

• Vinton, John. The Giles Memorial. (Boston, 1864).

• Town of Weston. Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1707-1850. 1703-Gravestones-1900. Church records, 1709-1825. (McIndoe Bros., Boston, 1901).
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 29 May 2020), memorial page for Joseph Brooks (1681–17 Sep 1759), Find A Grave: Memorial #52451470, citing Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Bill Boyington (contributor 46800933).