Individual Details

William BROOKS

(Bet 1787 and 1795 - 25 Apr 1874)

William Brooks was married three times. He was married to his first wife whose last name was Winkleman according to their son John W. Brooks' death certificate. She died prior to 1840 since there is no adult female living with him in the 1840 census and he has children ages 10 thru 19 living with him. He married his second wife Phoebe between 1840 and 1842 based on their oldest son James' birthdate. She is listed with him in the 1850 census. She must have died prior to the 1860 census since he is only listed with his children in that census. His third wife Martha is living with him in the 1870 census. She is named as his wife in his will.

The ages of the children are probably not correct in the 1850 census. The 1860 census appears more accurate based on known birthdates for 4 children: James, William, Martha J. and Mary.

There was a William B. Brooks (1811-1894) and Alpha I. Brooks (1814-1888) with children in Gaskill Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in the 1850 through the 1880 censuses. I have seen this couple's children erroneously assigned to the William Brooks living in Armstrong County. There is no known relationship between these two families.

There was a William Brooks of Huntingdon Borough, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania that died on 26 December 1874. He wrote his will on 4 September 1869 leaving his property to his daughter "Margaret Smith intermarried with William Smith, now deceased, and Ann Brooks, daughter by my present wife"... His executor was George Jackson. There is no known relationship between them.

Events

BirthBet 1787 and 1795New Jersey
MarriageBef 1815WINKLEMAN
Census1820Barree Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Census1830Barree Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Property27 Dec 1838200 acres for $300 from William Hamilton - Redbank Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Census1840Redbank Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
MarriageBet 1840 and 1842Phoebe SMITH
Census1850Redbank Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Census1860Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
MarriageBet 1860 and 1870Martha
Census1870Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Death25 Apr 1874Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Probate7 Dec 1874Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

Families

SpousePhoebe SMITH (1800 - 1850)
ChildJames BROOKS (1843 - 1862)
ChildWilliam BROOKS (1846 - 1921)
ChildSusana BROOKS (1848 - )
ChildMartha J. BROOKS (1850 - 1937)
ChildMary BROOKS (1850 - 1924)
SpouseWINKLEMAN ( - )
ChildJohn W. BROOKS (1815 - 1906)
ChildJacob BROOKS (1818 - 1885)
ChildElizabeth BROOKS (1826 - 1850)
SpouseMartha ( - 1880)
FatherJohn BROOKS ( - )
SiblingJohn Brooks BROOKS Jr. ( - )

Notes

Birth

His estimated birthdate is based on the ages given in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses. His place of birth differs in each census but the 1860 census gives New Jersey as his place of birth. His sons John W. Brooks and Jacob Brooks give their father's place of birth as New Jersey in the 1880 census. His son John W. Brooks death certificate also gives New Jersey as his father's place of birth.

His father may be John Brooks since there was a John Brooks in the 1800 septennial census for Barree Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. A J. Brooks also appears in the 1810 census for Barree Township with a male 45 and over. There is a John Brooks, a John Brooks, Jr., and a William Brooks in the 1821 septennial census for Barree Township. A John Brooks 26 thru 44 appears in the 1820 census for Barree Township (this is probably John Brook, Jr.). William Brooks is 16 thru 25 in the 1820 census for Barre Township.

Marriage

John W. Brooks was the oldest son of William Brooks and his first wife. His death certificate gives his mother's maiden name as Winkleman.

Census

Where are his wife and children? Had his wife died and were his children living with another relative or someone else? His sons John W. and Jacob from his first marriage remained in Huntingdon County and did not move with him to Armstrong County.

Probate

His will names his wife Martha; his sons, William, John, and Jacob; and his daughters Martha and Mary. It also directs that his son William is to "pay the Harmon children" $100. His daughter Elizabeth married John Harman so the Harmon children are his grandchildren. It does not mention them by name.
He named his wife Martha and Eli Kunselman as executors of his will but they renounced their right to serve as executors on 22 June 1875.

Endnotes

1. 1820 U.S. census, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Barree Township, page 60, William Brooks; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2014); from National Archives microfilm M33, roll 104.

2. 1830 U.S. census, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Barree Township, page 6, William Brooks; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2014); from National Archives microfilm M19, roll 166.

3. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County Deed Records, Instrument number 185200256 from https://www.landex.com, William Hamilton and Margaret his wife to William Brooks, 7 December 1838; recorded 20 September 1852; Armstrong County Courthouse, Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

4. 1840 census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Redbank Township, page 74, William Brooke; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 August 2014); from National Archives microfilm M704, roll 442.

5. 1850 census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Redbank Township, page 290, dwelling 336, family 341, William Brooks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 August 2014); from National Archives microfilm M432, roll 749.

6. 1860 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Mahoning Township, Putneyville Post Office, page 399 (stamped), page 109 (penned), dwelling 709, family 709, William Brooks; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 August 2014); from National Archives microfilm M653, roll 1069.

7. 1870 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Mahoning Township, Oakland Post Office, page 208B (stamped), page 14 (penned), dwelling 87, family 90, William Brooks; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 August 2014); from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 1300.

8. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Probate records, William Brooks, Sr. (7 December 1874), Will of William Brooks, Sr., 1 March 1874; Armstrong County Courthouse, Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

9. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Probate records, William Brooks, Sr. (7 December 1874), Will of William Brooks, Sr., 1 March 1874; Armstrong County Courthouse, Kittanning, Pennsylvania.