Individual Details

Christopher Williams Brooks

(11 Sep 1781 - 31 Aug 1840)



There is some question about Christopher's middle name. It is often abbreviated in records as "Wm" but in at least one instance, his name was recorded as Christopher Williams Brooks. Since Williams was his mother's maiden name, that is definitely a possibility.

NC Land Grants in TN [Listed by Grant Number, different from Warrant Number]
p.83 #90 Christopher Wm Brooks 1000 acres South side Cumberland River
p.125 [Appendex A] BROOKES, Christopher William. Military Grant 90. Heir of George Brooks, Sgt.

TN Land Entries
#3989 25 Nov 1783 Warrant 312 Cr.William Brooks, heir of Sgt. George Brooks, 1,000 acres delivered to Henry Williams; 84 months; file #13. Grant to Christopher William Brooks. [Vol 3, p.336] [for grant see file #104 in Davidson Co; warrant not mentioned in Glasgow land fraud]
[Christopher William Brooks is believed to be the son of Christopher Brooks who died in 1781 and his wife Susannah Williams, daughter of the above Henry. We know from the records of Christopher Brooks that Henry Williams was administrator of his estate. The logical explanation is that Sgt George Brooks, his uncle, had also died during the Revolution - under the laws of Primogeniture still in effect during the War, if George had no issue, any bounty land would revert to his eldest brother, and if he were also deceased but had sons, the brother's eldest son would then inherit.]

#10382. Warrant 312; location 253 Jul. 10. Christopher W. Brooks, heir of Go. Brooks, 1000 acres about 6 miles SW from Stoners Lick; includes a spring and white oak tree marked "D W I E" and runs as law directs; removed.
Earliest Tennessee Land Records, Griffey:
Chris.Wm.Brooks, heir of George. File 104. Davidson Co. 1000 acres. Grant 90 dated 14 Mar 1786. Entry 312, book 63, p.37. South side Cumberland River. Military
[non-commissioned officers received 1000 acres from North Carolina]

These entries - apparently all for the same 429 acres involve a Thomas Brooks - probably father of George.
TN Land Entires.
#3988 25 Nov 1783 Warrant 311. Sgt. Andrew Haddock, 429 acres delivered to Henry William; 36 months; file #3. Grant to Thomas Brooks. [see frant file #108 in Davidson Co; warrant not mentioned in Glasgow land fraud]
#10383. Warrant 311; Location 667 Jul 10 Thomas Brooks assignee of Andw Haddock, 429 acres about 7 miles E of Stoners Lick; includes Indian Camp Spring and a shugar tree marked "A T" and a poplar "M R" and runs as the law directs; removed. [Part 6, p.1037]
#10714 Warrant 311. Location 476. Thomas Brooks, heir of Geo. Brooks, 429 acres on S side of Cumberland R about a mile above Wells Cr; border; begins 200 yards above a pond and runs up the river. May 2, 1785 removed & continued by Saml. Martin; Aug 11, 1785 discontinued by Saml. Martin
#10911 Warrant 311. Location 667. Mar 4 1785. Thomas Brooks to Andw Haddock, transfer 429 ac on S side of Cumberland R; border; begins at the first bluff above mouth of Red R, runs down the river, & W; John Eliot. [Part 6, p.1075]

Caswell Co Wills 1777-1814, p.57
Oct Court 1797, p.262
Christopher Williams Brooks, orphan in account with William H. Rice, guardian [his stepfather]. Cash paid to George Somers, William Holderness. Tax paid for 1796, 1797.


Caswell DB O, p.249
Oct 1803 Christopher Brooks & C. Harris were witnesses to a deed from Robert Goodloe to Marmaduke Williams. 157 1/2 acres on Horsley Crk both sides Dix's Ferry Road adj Pepper. Another tract of 7 acres, part of tract granted to Timothy White adj John Dill.
Christopher Brooks was a witness to the will of Thomas Rice dated 20 Mar 1804 and recorded in Caswell Co Will Book 3, p.13.

Caswell WB E, p.150
Sale of estate of Thomas Rice, dec'd, 15 Nov 1804. Thomas was Christopher's stepfather's father. Christopher Brooks & Wm. H. Rice both made purchases at the sale.

Caswell DB Q, p.233
15 Jul 1808 Nathan Williams to Christopher Wm Brooks for 200£, between 185 & 200 acres purchased of Howell Massey where Massey lives adj Benjamin Lane, Cuthbert King, Jeremiah Bush, David Hart, legatees. Wit: Henry Williams, Jesse Payne.

Caswell DB Q, p.316
6 Dec 1810 Robert G. Parks to Christopher W. Brooks for 410.4.6, two tracts on Blue Fork Cr. a branch of a fork of Country Line Dr; 116 1/2 acres on wagon rd adj John Anthony, Solomon Parks, being the tract conveyed by Col. Robert Parks; 118 acres conveyed by Col Robert Parks adj this tract, Hiram Parks and Solomon Parks. Wit: Solomon Parks, Sol. Debow.

Marriage date is Date of Bond [have copy]. Christopher Brooks and Salley Holderness, both of Caswell County, NC. Bondsman: James Scott. Test: Alexander Murphey.

1810 Caswell Co NC Census, p. 2. Christopher Brooks: 1m age 26-45 [he was 29]; 1f age 16-26 (Salley Holderness).

Sally didn't live long after their marriage, and Christopher married second to Isabella Kerr, 28 Nov 1812. He had eight children by Isabella, to include a son named Robert Holderness Brooks.

Caswell DB R
p.154
18 Aug 1814 Thomas Vaughan Jr to Nathaniel L. Rice. 160 acres on N. Hico adjacent James Currie, Starling Warren, Micajah Pleasant. Wit: Christopher Brooks, Jacob Graves
p.407
18 Nov 1816 Division of lands of John Kerr dec'd to legatees. Survey by Daniel S. Farley. Tract with mansion house and Stoney Crk tract valued at $5 per acre.
Mansion house tract: allotted to Mary Kerr, James Kerr, Solomon Kerr, John Kerr,
Christopher Brooks [in right of his wife Isabella], Benjamin Lea, Jere Lea, Barzillai Kerr, Joseph Penix
Stoney Crk plat: allotted to Zephaniah Kerr, Alex Kerr, dec'd
County Line plat: allotted to each of above. Comrs: Joseph Benton, Hugh Walker, Thomas Loyd
Rec. Jan Court 1817

Caswell DB T, p.323
12 Jun 1810 [I suspect the date is an error; it's among deeds dated 1818-1820]
Christopher W. Brooks to Elijah Barton for $375, about 185-200 acres which he purchased of Nathan Williams where Howell Massey lives and was purchased of Massey who purchased it from John Watlington, John Scoggins, Jeremiah Bush, Zachariah Hastins, James Ray. Adj Benjamin Lane, Cuthbert King, Davis Hart's legatees. Wit: Nathan Sims, Burnley Barker.
See DB Q, p.233 for the purchase

Caswell WB G, p.356
Jan Court 1817 Inv and sales of estate of Alexander Kerr, Junr. Sale held 15 Nov 1816. Buyers included Christopher Brooks, Barzillai Kerr, Jeremiah Lea, Benjamin Lea, John Kerr Junr. James Kerr, Adm.
p.357
Jan Court 1817. Sale of estate of John Kerr, Senr. 14 Nov 1816. Buyers included Christopher Brooks. James Kerr & John Kerr, Adm.

Caswell DB U, p.96
22 Sep 1819 Nathan Williams to Pleasant Rudd, 34.4 acres on Country Line Crk being part of land of Joseph Bush dec'd adj Richard Martin. Mary Bush, widow, has a dower on such land as long as she lives. Wit: Edmund Herndon, Christopher Brooks.

1820 Caswell Co NC Census, p.44. Christopher Brooks: 1m age 26-45 [he was 39]; 2m -10 [John Kerr & Robert Holderness]; 2f -10 [Mary Graves and an unknown female child]; 1f 26-45 [Isabella was 30] 11 slaves

Caswell DB AA, p.69
31 Dec 1828 Alfred Parks to Thomas Bigelow. 140 acres, Country Line Cr adj Hiram Parks, Dameron, on Pinson's Road. Wit: Wm. Florence, C. W. Brooks. Proved by oath of Christopher Brooks.

1830 Casell Co NC Census, p.284 Christopher Brooks: 2m -5 [Iverson & Alexander], 2m 5-10 [Christopher & James], 1m 10-15 [Robert], 1m 15-20 [John], 1m 40-50 [Christopher], 1f 10-15 [Mary], 1f 30-40 [Isabella] 21 Slaves.

Caswell DB CC, p.282
7 Aug 1833 William Walker to Christopher W. Brookes for $700. 176 acres on South Country Line Cr where Walker lives adj Thomas Bigelow, said Brookes, Hiram Parkes. Wit: Richard Whitmore, Q. Anderson.

Caswell DB DD, p.274
5 May 1835 Thomas Bigelow to John Kimbro for $700, 180 1/2 acres on Country Line Cr adj Alfred Parks, Samuel Dameron, John Wilson, Christopher Brooks. Wit: E. Graves Thos. W. Owen.

Caswell DB EE, p. 236 5 Mar 1839
Commissioners to divide land & slaves of Zachariah Pattillo dec'd were Levi Walker, Wm. Florence, C. W. Brookes, Abner Walker. Heirs of Pattillo included Mary L. Pattillo, widow; Thomas M. Kimble for wife Ann; Lewis A. Pattillo, Zachariah, Frances, Albert Pattillo who must have been minors as several slaves were not allotted because of the minority of the heirs and these three received no slaves, although they had been allotted land.


DB EE, p.431 22 Mar 1839 Thomas Bigelow to Micajah Pleasant for $1040, 209 A on S Country Line Cr adj Alfred Christopher Brooks, Alfred Parks on Pinson Rd, Barnwell. Wit: E. Benton, Robert H. Brooks, C. W. Brooks. [Is this Christopher Brooks & the clerk slipped in an extra Alfred or forgot a comma?]


1840 Caswell Co NC Census, p.124. Christopher Brooks: 1m 5-10 [Iverson], 1m 10-15 [Alexander], 2m 15-20 [Christopher & James]; 1m 50-60 [Christopher was 59 and died later in 1840]; 1f -5 [Sarah], 1f 40-50 [Isabella]

Will Book O; p.126.
Oct Court 1840. Written 15 Sep 1837. Will of Christopher W. Brooks. Names sons John K., Robert H., Christopher, James, Alexander, Iverson. Daughter Mary married to James Boswell to have slaves in her possession. Daughter Isabella Brooks. Wife: Ibby.
Exec: sons John, Robert & Christopher
Wit: Q. Anderson, Jno. Q. Anderson
John K. and Robert H. Brooks qualified as executors.
p.151
Jan Court 1841 Inventory of the estate of Christopher Brooks decd taken 30 Dec 1840, John K. Brooks & Robert H. Brooks, exec. There is a bond on John C. Totten; acct on John Stamps.

Inventory lists the following slaves: Wyatt, Judith, Manerva, Lucinda, Nancy, Arnend, Mariah, Caroline, Emily, Harriett, July, Rachel, Edith, Huldah, Sarah, Anthony, Armsted, Samuel, Anderson, Jerry, David, Willis, Smith, Isaac, Wyatt, Blake, Lewis & Albert.
40 head hogs, 20 sheep, 16 cows, 7 horses
200 barrels of corn, 6000 #'s tobacco, 40 bushels wheat, 20 stacks fodder, 12 stacks oats
Large amount of household goods including 7 beds, 24 plates, 16 chairs, two looking glasses
Farming tools included a wagon, eight plows, twelve hoes, etc.


Events

Birth11 Sep 1781Caswell County, North Carolina
Marriage9 Feb 1810Salley Holderness
Marriage28 Nov 1812Caswell County, North Carolina - Isabella Kerr
Death31 Aug 1840Caswell County, North Carolina

Families

SpouseSalley Holderness ( - 1812)
SpouseIsabella Kerr (1790 - 1851)
ChildJohn Kerr Brooks (1813 - 1852)
ChildMary Graves Brooks (1815 - 1841)
ChildRobert Holderness Brooks (1817 - 1860)
ChildJames Malone Brooks (1821 - )
ChildChristopher W. Brooks (1824 - 1851)
ChildAlexander Graves\George Brooks (1826 - 1892)
ChildIverson Lee Brooks (1829 - 1876)
ChildSarah Isabel Brooks (1832 - )
FatherChristopher Brookes (1755 - 1781)
MotherSusannah Williams (1762 - 1795)

Endnotes