Matilda Jane (Lowe) Brooking (abt. 1805 - abt. 1876)

Born about 1805 in Georgia, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died about 8 Aug 1876 at about age 71 in Lawrence, Indiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Clinton Slayton [send private message]

Biography

Matilda was born about 1805, probably in Georgia to Isaac Lowe and Elizabeth (Walker) Lowe.

A marriage date of 15 Dec 1819 given in a private correspondence is unconfirmed for John L Brooking b abt 1795 and wife Matilda b abt 1805, both born in GA, who are clearly in Harrison County, Kentucky in 1850 and 1870.^{[1] [2]} This date would make her about 14-15 years old at time of marriage.

A letter cited below reports "[she] had three [children] when she moved to Kentucky." Indiana death and marriage records make it clear that some of John and Matilda Brooking's issue were in Lawrence County, Indiana. This needs to be researched further.

A family bible is reported as showing her as dead by 8 Aug 1876, but a gravestone shows 8 March 1882, ^[3] making an 1880 census record a likely clue.^[4]

Apparently, Matilda was Isaac's youngest child, an infant at the death of her father, and his will seen below allows her an equal proportion when either his wife dies or Matilda comes of age.

unlinked son of Matilda for future expansion

Lawrence County Indiana marriage records show a Henry Brooking, b Georgia approximately 1820, as a shoemaker, bonded for marriage, listing John Brooking and Matilda Lowe as parents, but the record is physically garbled so this is an unclear image, where he is marrying Ruth Foster. ^[5]

Excerpted will of father Isaac Lowe

Seen in full at Isaac Lowe
17 March 1806, Columbia County Georgia,^[6] abstracted and edited:
I, Isaac Lowe, being sick & weak but perfect mind & memory. I give unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth, ... [and last among the list of his unmarried daughters:] [daughter] Matilda ... [he gives slaves, a horse, bridle and saddle, and a bed "and an equal proportion of the rest of my estate on the Death of my Wife or when my youngest Child comes of age."]

Research Needs

1860 census

Contradiction or coincidence?

Letters from Pearl Baker and Bernice Martin to Moneta Thorpe Allison, all deceased, state that Elizabeth Walker Lowe Slaton died abt 1820 in Indiana in the household of either daughter Matilda Jane Lowe who had married John L. Brooking, 15 Dec 1819 ^{[citation needed]}or a granddaughter from that marriage. Indiana death and marriage records make it clear that some of John and Matilda (Lowe) Brooking's issue were in Lawrence County, Indiana. ^[7] but not proven as early as 1820.
Matilda Brooking b in GA abt 1804 is in 1880 census, and her parents are reported as Pennsylvania-born. ^[4] Pearl Baker and/or Bernice Martin state that, according to the John L Brooking Bible: "Elizabeth Slaton Departed this life the 7 of February in the year of our Lord 1820 ... Matilda Jane Brooking Departed this life the 8 day of August 1876."
This Matilda obviously could not appear in an 1880 census as 76-year-old, so is the bible incorrect, mistranscribed, or is this a coincidence?

An Executor's Bond in 1837 Scott County (borders with Harrison) mentions the death of a John Brooking, but as John and Matilda continue to appear in Harrison census in 1850, this is only recorded here to avoid confusion. ^[8]

1829 Letter from later generation Isaac Lowe

COMMENT: Compare with the will of Isaac Lowe. Because this letter-writer mentions Esther/Hester Willis, it can be assumed that aunt Esther Green is of the previous generation, but it is not clear if this Isaac is writing about his cousins or siblings:
State of Ohio, Preble County, ? October 1829,
Isaac Lowe To Esther Green, politeness [in care of] Mr Jones State of Georgia, Columbia County, near Wrightsboro
"Respected Aunt, your letter came to hand the fifth of October [1829? ] Curtis Low has lost two sons Wm and Thomas, Eldest and fourth he has four living two grown all single. Polly Slaton has twelve living one married and two children She is doing very well [skip] Elizabeth Slaten has lost three and has three or four living. Esther Willis had six all living. Martha Embrey lost four and three living Matilda the youngest married Brooking had three when she moved to Kentucky. I hope [torn] that some of my Cousins will write [torn] a in and let me know where to direct a letter it has been so long since we received a letter stating what Post Office I have forgot her direct let us awake up and write more frequent. I add no more but your loving Neiphew [sic] till Death. Isaac Lowe

COMMENT: The Polly mentioned is certainly Mary (Lowe) Slaton who married Joseph Slaton, about 14 Jan 1804 in Columbus County, Georgia.
The Elizabeth Slaten mentioned is almost certainly the woman who married Arthur Slaton, 8 June 1815, in Jones County, Georgia.^[9] Arthur is not clearly identified for his lineage because of a plethora of Arthurs.
Matilda is the woman at this profile.
Martha Slaton Low married Hezekiah Embry. ^[10]
Esther Lowe Willis' husband was Moses P. Willis ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M657-GRM : 19 December 2020), Matilda Brooking in household of John Brooking, Harrison, Kentucky, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXW4-S8S : 29 May 2021), John L Brooking, page 18, Buena Vista, Harrison, Kentucky
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137689873/matilda-a.-brooking : accessed 22 June 2021), memorial page for Matilda A. Lowe Brooking (Feb 1805–8 Apr 1882), Find a Grave Memorial ID 137689873, citing Tunnelton Cemetery, Tunnelton, Lawrence County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by mrkvrbl (contributor 46921144).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH9V-LFK : 19 February 2021), Matilda Brooking in household of He[n]ry Brooking, Flinn, Lawrence, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 2, sheet 377A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,292.
5. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPXG-7R5?cc=1410397&wc=Q83F-4WL%3A962986501%2C963063501 : 21 January 2016), Henry Brooking to Ruth Foster> Indiana> Lawrence > 1887-1892 Volume 1 > image 145 of 161; Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis.
6. ↑ "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89QM-FVX8?cc=1999178&wc=9SBF-YWY%3A267650701%2C267714901 : 20 May 2014), Columbia > Wills 1789-1939 Hunt, W.-Pearre > Isaac Lowe > image 265 of 660; citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia, citing Wills, 1789-1939 (Alphabetically Arranged); Author: Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Columbia County); Probate Place: Columbia, Georgia.
7. ↑ Death certificate of James Curtis Brooking, father: John L Brooking, mother: Matilda Lowe, death date Jan 16, 1910, (online) Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, citing Indiana State Board of Health. Death Certificates, 1900–2011. Microfilm. Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana. (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60716/images/44494_350204-01912?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=754473891)
8. ↑ "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P3W-99RH?cc=1875188&wc=37RL-3TP%3A173765401%2C174155501 : 20 May 2014), Scott > Executor bonds, 1837-1845 > image 10 of 50; county courthouses, Kentucky.
9. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVJ-2KP : 7 February 2020), Arthur Slaton and Elizabeth Lowe, 8 Jun 1815; citing Marriage, Jones, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 454,228.
10. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVG-D1T : 7 February 2020), Hezekiah L. Embrey and Martha Low, 4 Jun 1816; citing Marriage, Columbia, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 598,994.
11. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVG-8HH : 7 February 2020), Moses P. Willis and Hester A. Low, 13 Nov 1817; citing Marriage, Columbia, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 598,994.