Individual Details
Isabella Kerr
(12 Jun 1790 - 4 Feb 1851)
Isabell, age 60, widow, in 1850 Caswell Census. James and Sarah Isbel both at home. Also Martha Boswell, age 10, probably granddaughter born in Mississippi, daughter of Mary Graves who married a Boswell and a Mary ??? age 35. This Mary would be the right age to be Mary Graves Brooks Boswell - her surname is unreadable but definitely not Boswell, possibly begins with an O. She was born in Caswell Co.
Spring Term 1851. Court of Equity
Robert H. Brooks, James M. Brooks of full age, Sarah J. Brooks an infant by her Guardian James M. Brooks. John K. Brooks & Eliza I Brooks, infants by their Guardian John Kerr. Alex. G. Brooks, all of the State of North Carolina. Iverson L. Brooks of Tennessee. James Boswell of State of Mississippi, Catherine ____, James J. Boswell, Martha Boswell, the last three infants by their guardian James M. Brooks. Christopher Brooks died in 1840 seized of considerable real estate adjoining the lands of John Walker, Alexander Brannock and others, published his last will which was admitted to Probate in the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Caswell Co. in 1840. The said testate devised to his wife Isabella Brooks all of his real estate for life or widowhood and then to his children: John K. Brooks, Robt H. Brooks, James M. Brooks, Sarah I. Brooks. Alex. G. Brooks, Iverson L. Brooks and Mary Boswell who had married James Boswell. Copy is annexed. Sometime in February of 1851, Isabella Brooks departed this life and the petitioners entered upon said real estate.
After the death of Christopher Brooks, his widow purchased a tract of about 170 acres adjoining the lands of Ranson Boswell, Alex. Brannock and others. She died intestate. The land descended to Robert H. Brooks, James M. Brooks, Iverson L, Brooks, Alex G. Brooks, Sarah Isabella Brooks, her children and also to John K. Brooks & Eliza J. Brooks, infant children of the intestate's son John K. Brooks who departed this life sometime in 1850, and also to Catherine Boswell, James Jno Boswell, & Martha A. Boswell, children of intestate's daughter Mary Boswell who departed this life in 1841. The children are entitled to one seventh of the estate. John K. Brooks & Eliza J. Brooks to one half of one seventh in right of their father. James Boswell is entitled to one seventh of the 590 acres devised by Christopher Brooks to his daughter Mary Boswell, to be passed to his three children after the expiration of his life estate. The Boswell children are further entitled to one third each of one seventh of the 160 acres purchased by Isabella Brooks after the death of her husband Christopher Brooks. As some of the heirs reside out of state it would be to their best interest to have the property sold. Request sale of the two tracts of land mentioned.
There is a note that the land was sold.
R. H. Brookes Sold the personal property of C. W. Brookes, 21 Oct 1851. Purchasers included Iverson L. Brookes, Anza Boswell, Jas M. Brookes, Jas. Boswell, Ransom Boswell, A. G. Brooks, S. I. Brooks. The inventory is not dated and says Inventory of the estate of C. W. Brookes taken by R. H. Brookes, surviving executor at the time of the Testator's death. The following slaves were specifically bequeathed and handed over to the legatees, to wit: Anderson, Jenny & her child Lina, Tiller, Willis, Wiatt, Isaac, Smith, David, Emily & Edy. The following slaves were given to the widow life: Wiatt, Judy, Nervy, Sindy, Anthony, Nancy, Rena, Caroline, Armstead, Jerry, Harriet, Huldah, Sam, Riah, Sarah, Rachel.
7 head of horses, 15 head of cattle, 30 hogs, 25 sheep, 7 beds & clothing, cllock, 15 chairs, etc. Provisions on hand included 200 barrels of corn, 150 bushels of wheat, 300 #'s bacon, and plantation tools.
The slaves bequeathed by Christopher Brooks to his wife to be divided into seven equal lots. Commissioners were appointed.
John K. Brooks' heirs. John K. & Eliza J. drew Lot #6: Sarah, $550, Jane $475, Judy $125, Obidiah $150, Hannah $450 - total $1750 and their father had rec'd $2315. They had to pay small sums to each of the other heirs.
James Boswell in right of his wife Mary drew Lot #3. Blake $600, Linda & child Ned $450, and he had rec'd advancements of $1105. Total $2155.
Robert H. Brooks drew Lot #1. Armstead $650, Samuel $750, Mary $300, and advancements of $465. Total $2165.
James M. Brooks drew Lot #5: Hannah & child, $700. Julia $650. Azariah $200. Aderline, $225. Wyatt, old and infirm at $1. Advancements of $415. Total $2191.
Alexander G. Brooks drew Lot #4: Rena & child Emerline, $725. Chistley $300. George an infirm boy $72.50. Simon $550. Advancements of $415. Total $2062.50.
Iverson L. Brooks drew Lot #2: Lewis, very infirm boy $50. Patience $300. Liner $350. Jeremiah $800, Mima $225. Advancements of $415. Total $2142.00
Sarah I. Brooks drew Lot #7. Albert $600. Moriah and child Henry $500. Elva $475. Violett $175. Advancements of $515. Total $2265.
Each lot was $2185.07
7 Oct 1857. Thos W. Graves, Thomas Bigelow, Abner Walker, Harvy W. Cooper, Jos. Aldridge
Events
Birth | 12 Jun 1790 | ||||
Marriage | 28 Nov 1812 | Caswell County, North Carolina - Christopher Williams Brooks | |||
Death | 4 Feb 1851 | Caswell County, North Carolina |
Families
Spouse | Christopher Williams Brooks (1781 - 1840) |
Child | John Kerr Brooks (1813 - 1852) |
Child | Mary Graves Brooks (1815 - 1841) |
Child | Robert Holderness Brooks (1817 - 1860) |
Child | James Malone Brooks (1821 - ) |
Child | Christopher W. Brooks (1824 - 1851) |
Child | Alexander Graves\George Brooks (1826 - 1892) |
Child | Iverson Lee Brooks (1829 - 1876) |
Child | Sarah Isabel Brooks (1832 - ) |
Father | John Kerr (1754 - 1816) |
Mother | Mary Graves (1756 - 1831) |
Sibling | Nancy Kerr (1774 - 1854) |
Sibling | William Kerr (1776 - 1803) |
Sibling | Mary "Polly" Kerr (1779 - ) |
Sibling | Rev. John Kerr Jr. (1782 - 1842) |
Sibling | Barzillai Kerr (1784 - 1828) |
Sibling | Alexander Kerr (1786 - 1816) |
Sibling | Maj. James Kerr (1788 - 1848) |
Sibling | Elizabeth "Betsy" Kerr (1793 - ) |
Sibling | Solomon Kerr (1796 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Compiler, W. Leigh Brookes., Correspondence, documents, family group sheets., Information re Christopher William Brooks..
2. Compiler, W. Leigh Brookes., Correspondence, documents, family group sheets., Information re Christopher William Brooks..
3. Ancestral File, version 4.19 (2002), Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah. Available online at http://www.familysearch.org. .
4. F. A. Maloney, Correspondence with Kerr family researcher who had submitted to Ancestral File., Letter dated 12 Oct 1998..
5. WorldConnect database at Rootsweb.