James Noal Brooks (1837 - 1918)

Born 10 May 1837 in North Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Catherine (Cravens) Brooks — married 11 Aug 1858 (to before 9 May 1866) in Franklin County, IL

Husband of Sarah Jane (Dye) Brooks — married 9 May 1866 in Perry County, IL

Descendants

Died 10 Nov 1918 at age 81 in Perry County, IL

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Tim Brooks [send private message]

Biography

Birthplace is listed as 3 different places on different records, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

• Possible explanation for moving from TN to IL

James Brooks lived in Anderson County, Tennessee in 1850 in the house of Thomas Brooks (uncle maybe?), and one of the neighboring families were the Cravens. One of the daughters of that family Cravens, Margaret Catherine (Cravens-232) seems to have become pregnant out of wedlock. The child's name is listed as George Gentry Brooks (Brooks-7909). Shortly after his birth in Knox County, TN the Cravens family along with James Brooks moved to Franklin county, IL where James and Margaret were married. I am speculating that having a child out of wedlock may have initiated the move to Illinois, but I can't be sure.

Sometime between 1860 and 1866 something happened to the family. James, Margaret, and their two children are listed together in the census, but then in 1866 James marries Sarah Jane Dye (Dye-1376). In the 1870 Census the two children George and Evelyn are living with their Cravens grandparents and changed their last name to Cravens. There is no record of Margaret anywhere.

Buried in the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Perry County, Illinois according to his death certificate, however there is no grave marker that has been found there. It could be covered since many of the stones are broken and half buried throughout the cemetery.

Sources

Name/Death/Location Brooks, James Noal, 10 NOV 1918, Perry County, Illinois Certificate #0042267

• Marriage to Cravens, Margaret Catherine (Cravens-232) Illinois Statewide Marriage Index: 11 AUG 1858: Volume 003 Page 0127, Franklin County
• Marriage to Dye, Sarah Jane (Dye-1376) Illinois Statewide Marriage Index: 9 May 1866: Volume 4 Page 381, Perry County
• 1850; Census Place: Subdivision 16, Anderson, Tennessee; Roll: M432_869; Page: 35B; Image: 80
• 1860; Census Place: Township 5 S Range 1 E, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: M653_177; Page: 483; Image: 483; Family History Library Film: 803177
• 1880; Census Place: Goode, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: 207; Family History Film: 1254207; Page: 451C; Enumeration District: 11; Image: 0025.
• 1900; Census Place: Du Quoin, Perry, Illinois; Roll: T623_335; Page: 27B; Enumeration District: 51.
• 1910; Census Place: Du Quoin Ward 3, Perry, Illinois
• James Brooks in entry for Nancy Jane Cook, "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947"
• James N. Brooks in entry for Thomas R. Brooke, "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947"
• James Brooks in entry for Margrett Evelyn Lewis, "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947"
• James M. Brooks in entry for Sarah Jane Brooks, "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947"