Slaves of Thomas T. Brooke, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Hampshire, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: Brooke Slavery Black_heritage

Thomas Taylor Brooke was born about 1821 in Hampshire, Virginia to Thomas D. Brooke and Nancy Taylor Brooke. He died about 27 May 1862, following the battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia.

Thomas T. Brooks was named in the 1847 will of his grandfather, Simon Taylor. The will was proved 25 Jun 1851. Thomas T. Brooks and his two sisters, Elizabeth Ann Taylor and Mary Ellen Price, were to receive 6 enslaved people:

• Rachel
• Viney
• Charles
• Sarah
• John
• Harriett^[1]

The 1850 Slave Schedule did not show any slaves for Thomas T. Brooke, but did report 17 slaves for his father.

On 19 Oct 1860, Thomas T. Brooks, 38 white farmer b. VA, was living at Forks of the Potomac, Western District, Hampshire VA with Lewis Edminson, 36 mulatto laborer b. VA.^[2] The 1860 Slave Schedule reported eleven slaves owned by Thomas T. Brooke:

• Lavinia 28 F B
• Susan 19 F B
• Daniel 9 M B
• Charity 8 F B
• Ellen 7 F B
• Jacob 6 M B
• Jacob 5 M B
• John 4 M B
• Mary 4 F B
• Charles 1 M B
• Richard 1 M B^[3]

Some time in 1861, before his 18 May enlistment, Thomas T. Brooke wrote a will in preparation for going "to the area of the war by divine permission." The will named cousin Mary Beall, daughter of Nelson & Caroline Beall to receive any slaves he might own.^[4]

Research Note

• Lavinia 28 F B in 1860 could be the same person as Viney in 1847.

Sources

1. ↑ Grandfather's will: "West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985" Wills; Author: Hampshire County (West Virginia). Clerk of the County Court; Probate Place: Hampshire Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9087 #1317046 (accessed 31 March 2022). Hampshire Wills #644
2. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1860; Census Place: Western District, Hampshire, Virginia; Roll: M653_1350; Page: 222; Family History Library Film: 805350
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #34287380 (accessed 5 April 2022)
3. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archives in Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Eighth Census of the United States 1860; Series Number: M653; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7668 #1094959 (accessed 5 April 2022)
4. ↑ Will: "West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985"
   Wills; Author: West Virginia. County Court (Hampshire County); Probate Place: Hampshire, West Virginia Wills v. 22 p. 7 (image 35)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9087 #407631 (accessed 5 April 2022)