FAMILY OF PARKER BROOKS Parker Brooks
was born sometime between 1790 and 1800 to Larkin and Catherine Brooks (daughter of Thomas Brooks jr. and Martha Temple). The Rives Chapel Baptist Church minutes show that he was a member there in 1832 and 1835 (from Brooks and Kindred Families by Ida Brooks Kellam.).The 1830 census shows Parker with six children and ten slaves in Chatham County, North Carolina. This is the first census record we have of him. Listed in his household are 3 males 5-10 years of age, one male 15-20, one male 30-40, two females under 5, and one female 20-30.
Parker had eight brothers and sisters, some of which we have no further information about other than their names. All information is from the above mentioned book by Ida Kellam: (1) Joab Brooks had left Chatham County when his father made his will in 1837. (2) John M. Brooks was born 19 August 1800. He married first, Cynthia Moffitt 25 June 1823 in Randolph County, North Carolina and second Martha Welsh on 15 March 1854. They lived about two miles from the Randolph County line near Brush Creek, in Chatam County, North Carolina. (3) Thomas Brooks was born 1804 and married Margaret Lane. (4) Larkin Brooks Jr. was born 1813. His wife�s name was Caroline. (5) Mary Brooks birthdate unknown, married William Culberson 11 Aug 1821. (6) Margaret Brooks birthdate unknown, married Joseph Headen. (7) Martha Brooks birthdate unknown, married Culberson. (8) Catherine B Brooks birthdate unknown married Elias N. McIntosh.
The following was copied from the will of Larkin Brooks, Sr. proved in Chatham County, North Carolina, August 1837:
�I give and bequeath the tract of land whereon I live to my three sons, John M., Thomas and Larkin Brooks, said land to be equally divided between them.
�It is my desire that these three brothers shall pay to their brother Joab Brooks, 100 dollars each. I leave my wife Catherine Brooks, the house and all outhouses, all lands she may be able to cultivate, two horses, one cow, one calf, two feather beds and furniture, my sideboard, desk, and cupboard, with all it generally contains, and all kitchen furniture, for her lifetime. At her death to be divided as surplus estate.
�I give my daughter, Patsy T. Culberson, one Negro girl. I give my daughter Kitty B McIntosh, one Negro girl, one cow, one calf and one horse. The rest of the estate to be equally divided between all my children, Thomas, Parker, Joab, John M., Larkin, Polly Culberson, Peggy Headen, Patsy T. Culberson and Kitty B. McIntosh. All but my son Parker, who must pay his brother, Joab Brooks, 100 dollars. �Larkin Brooks (SEAL0�
In 1840 Parker Brooks is found in Sevier County, Arkansas on the federal census. From the information in the Rives Chapel Baptist Church minutes and the Arkansas tax lists we can figure out when Parker Brooks came to Arkansas. The last year he was listed as a member was 1835 and the Tax Lists first show him to pay taxes for 1837. Probable he settled in Arkansas in 1836 (the year of Arkansas� statehood). Also, William B (William Bunker in Parker�s will) Brooks is shown to have been born in 1837 in Arkansas on the 1850 census.
The 1840 census shows Parker Brooks� household to have 2 males under 5, 2 males 5-10, 2 males 10-15, one male 15-20 and one male 40-50, then two females 10-15 and one female 15-20. Sevier county marriage records show that Parker had married Jane Stone on 26 March 1839, so we know that Parker�s first wife had died either on the way to Arkansas or shortly thereafter. More evidence of the presumed date will be presented later. The name of Parker�s first wife is unknown at this time. The facts of this marriage that can be deduced is found in the following: James A. Brooks was the oldest child we know of and he was born about 1824. Therefore Parker was married first about 1822 or �23. This was about the same time that his brother John M. married Cynthia Moffitt in Randolph County, North Carolina. Perhaps Parker married in Randolph County also. One of his daughters was named Elizabeth Flowers Brooks and this middle name might have been an indication of what her mother�s maiden name might have been.
Parker became active in community affairs shortly after moving to Arkansas. He was on the Grand Jury in April 1838 and served as Justice of the Peace for Jefferson Township in 1840 and 1842. In October 1842 he was one of the six JP�s called to levy a tax to raise money for a new courthouse. In the book �Genealogy of John M. Coulter� a transaction between Parker Brooks and Pleasant Burton is recorded where Parker sold a negro girl, Sarah, and her child Ann for $800 on July 10,1840. In this same book, among John Coulter�s transactions is recorded � Parker Brooks owes me 5 year beef loin and an umbrella and he also has my hone.�
Apparently Parker Brooks was in failing health about 1841 because it was at this time that he wrote his last will and testament on 2 Oct 1841. In it he states he is sick of body but of sound mind and memory. The will provided for his wife Jane, three eldest sons, James A., Robert G., and Edward A., two eldest daughters Louisa Jane and Elizabeth Flowers, and three minor children Thomas Jefferson, Joseph John, and William B. and his children by his second wife, Jane.
About the time of Parker�s failing health or death, his brother-in-law and sister, Elias N. McIntosh and Catherine B. (Kitty) McIntosh, migrated from Mississippi where they had lived for some four or five years to Sevier county, Arkansas. Elias was also active in county affairs but more importantly he later served in 1851 with Daniel Gentry and Fredrick Reddy as securities bonded to Thomas J., Joseph J. and William B. Brooks and later was appointed administrator of Parker Brooks� estate. Firstly, James Turrentine and John Robinson were appointed administrators of Parker Brooks estate but in 1849 James A. Brooks was appointed administrator of his father�s estate. He married Amazella Gentry 11 July 1850 and died September 26 of the same year. It was at this time Elias McIntosh was appointed as guardian.
During the January 1851 term James M Coulter and Fredrick Reddy were appointed commissioners and trustees of the estate of Parker Brooks. They took into their possession and distributed the estate as they saw fit by the will of Parker Brooks. Jane Brooks received 80 acres, the houses and gin, livestock, a set of blacksmith tools, 1000 pounds of pork, all corn on hand except 150 bushels, all kitchen and household furniture, and half of the cotton crop except for $25 deducted for the support of Elizabeth Brooks. Thomas, Joseph and William Brooks received their portion mostly of the slaves and half of the cotton crop holding out $25 for Elizabeth. Elizabeth received one negro girl, Mary, one feather bec, and $50 to be taken out of the cotton crop. The trustees also commented �And we find on the premises one mule which did belong to Robert Brooks, deceased - and no person claiming it, we recommended to the court that said mule be given to Elizabeth as her condition is nearly as destitute as possible.� It was nearly two years later, January 12, 1853, when she married Duncan McKellar, but these hard lean years certainly hardened and prepared her for the years ahead, The War Years. To three sons, James A., Edward and Robert, who were originally willed 80 acres each, the commissioners reported that all three were dead and the land would be disposed of properly. According to their judgment, they could not ascertain which of the said debts incurred to the estate were properly chargeable to James A Brooks� estate. Therefore, there was not any legal action taken against the James Brooks estate to recover the money lost from his unfortunate demise at the age of 26.
To make matters even worse, Elias McIntosh died that same year on 8 September 1851. Jane Brooks, the widow of Parker Brooks, remarried 23 January 1851 to Josee Johnson of Paraclifta who was noted as being a whitesmith (a smith of white metals such as tin). It is not known how this affected Tom, Joe, Elizabeth and William Brooks, but their half brothers Henry and Richard and half sister Catherine definitely did benefit after their mother remarried. Jane Brooks Johnson married again to Tyler Polk a resident of Pike County, Arkansas 26 October 1866. Jane was 44 years old at the time and Mr. Polk was 60 years old.
The first of the Brooks children to marry then was Elizabeth who married Duncan McKellar on 12 January 1853. Tom Brooks married Edith Petty on 22 February 1854 and Joe Brooks married Sally Petty, a sister to Edith Petty, but the date is not known.
Catherine B Brooks McIntosh
remarried secondly John W. Bowen on 22 August 1852. They are found living in Paraclifta Town in 1860. Also living in their household are William McIntosh, age 20, Elizabeth C McIntosh, age 14, Lelitha Petty, age 22, and Ellen Petty, age 1. William McIntosh�s family is found in Polk County, Arkansas in 1870 and also living in his household is Ellen Petty, age 10. It is not known if the McIntosh family was related in some way to the Petty family, but does seem possible at this point.A few personal sketches of Parker Brooks� family members are in order:
Robert G. Brooks
was born in 1824 or �25 in North Carolina. At the start of the Mexican War he enlisted in Captain Hunter�s Company (G), Mounted Regiment Arkansas Infantry in Washington, Arkansas on ! July 1846 for a period of twelve months. He was a non-commissioned Seargent. Along with him, his brother-in-law Samuel Mayfield enlisted and saw action in Texas and Mexico. Both were mustered out in Carmarzo, Mexico, 20 June 1847. He was assessed for taxes in 1849 but was not on the 1850 census in Sevier County. Further, as has been stated earlier, he was listed as dead in probate records of the Parker Brooks estate in 1851.James A. Brooks
was born 1823 or �24 in North Carolina. It is believed that he was the eldest because he was appointed assistant administrator by his father. James married Amazella D. Gentry, the daughter of Sarah Gentry, on 11 July 1850. On the 1850 census they are found in the household of Daniel J. Gentry, 25 years old, of Virginia. Also in the household are listed Rebecca E., 14 years old, and Sarah, 55 years old, all of Virginia. Evidently Sarah is the mother of Daniel, Rebecca and Amazella. On this census, James Brooks is shown to be 26 years old and his wife as 17. The next record of James is the reference to his estate in Bond Book C of the Sevier County, Arkansas records. The settlement of his estate records his date of death as 26 September 1850. In the January 1851 term of probate court, as was noted earlier, the commissioners report stated they were unable to determine which debts of the Parker Brooks estate was accountable to the James A. Brooks estate and the recommendation was made that legal action not be taken against the James Brooks estate to recover debts to the former estate. This seems to show tat the economic situation of the family and perhaps those associated with the county at this time was poor to say the least.Louisa Jane Brooks
was close to the same age of Elizabeth. Louisa was the first of the Brooks children to marry after Parker died. She married very shortly after her father died. In fact, she married Samuel M Mayfield one day before Parker Brooks� will was recorded and proved, March 8, 1844. Her age is recorded as being 16 at the time, so we can figure that she was probably born in 1827 or late in 1828. Her husband served in the same regiment as Robert G. No record is found of either her or her husband on the 1850 census.Henry Clay Brooks
was the youngest child of Parker Brooks and Jane Stone Brooks. He had one brother, Richard Larkin Brooks and one sister, Catherine R. Brooks. Both his brother and sister died at an early age according to the information available. and neither were ever married. I do not know the exact date of Henry�s birth except that it was in 1843. A year after he was born his father died. Jane, his mother, remarried to Josee Johnson, but on the 1860 census only Jane and her three children are listed, namely Richard Brooks, age 20, Henry Brooks, age 17, and Josey Johnson, age 8. Henry Brooks was married to Celeste Bell on 10 March 1870.Amazella Gentry Brooks
remarried to Wilson A Branton on 2 June 1852 and they lived in Brownstown, Sevier County, Arkansas during the 1860�s. Their children on the 1860 census are Sarah, age 7, and Richard, age 4.