Last weekend I drove to Siler City, North Carolina to attend a lecture on The Regulator Movement of Chatham County, North Carolina, given by Mr. John H. Emerson. The lecture was sponsored by the Chatham County Historical Society and took place at the Rives Chapel Church in Siler City, North Carolina.  Tours of the church and the nearby Old Tick Creek cemetery, where the Regulator James Emerson was buried, were given prior to the lecture.  I did not make it to the church in time for the cemetery tour, however I made it inside the hall in time to get a good seat. I think attendance was higher than they expected because the organizers had to set up more chairs. The lecture itself ran for just about an hour. The Chatham County Historical Society had some books and pamphlets on a table at the back of the room that we could visit after the lecture. Another gentleman also had some weapons on display for us to look at.

The Regulator Movement is said to be the precursor and possibly even the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.  What started out as a peaceful movement enacted to change the policies governing land and property taxation and to rid the colony of corrupt politicans, ended in a gun fight at the Battle of Alamance Creek.

I decided to attend this lecture for a couple of reasons: My ancestor, Henry Williams, was living in nearby Caswell County, NC during this time (1766-1771) and was believed to have been in the Caswell County Militia. I think he may have had some involvement in the Regulator Movement. There’s been some confusion about his involvement in the Revolutionary War (see previous post here) and I was hoping to clear it up by learning about his possible role in the Regulator Movement.

I also wanted to have any excuse to drive out that way. Siler City is on the outskirts of Randolph County, North Carolina. My Godwin family settled in Randolph County in 1800 in the small community of Seagrove. Seagrove is about a 20 minute drive West of Siler City. A few weeks ago I took my first trip out to Randolph County to visit the Genealogy room in the Randolph County public library located in downtown Asheboro. You can read about my visit on my other blog here. I hope to make more trips out there to take in more of the scenery.

I did not learn any new information about my ancestor, Henry Williams, believed to have been an officer in the Revolutionary War.  There was a copy of William Powell’s book, The Regulators in North Carolina: A documentary history, 1759-1766 on one of the tables.  I did not find any mention of my ancestory, Henry Williams, in it. This was not surprising as I had already read much of the book in 2006 when I wrote a paper on the Regulator Movement for my North Carolina History Class.

A Mr. Brooks Gilbert opened up his family home, originally owned and  occupied by Isaac Brooks, also a Regulator, to the lecture attendees.  His home is located at 1958 Ike Brooks Rd, which was just a quick turn off of the Rives Chapel Church Road in Siler City. Isaac Brooks was a descendant of John and Susan Brooks, whose descendants meet every August in Siler City for a huge family reunion.  I have yet to find a connection between this Brooks family and my own of Caswell County, North Carolina, however I believe both families came from the same part of Virginia prior to their migration to North Carolina.  This Brooks family even has a highway named after them!  More to come about my visit to Isaac Brooks’ House.

Many researchers of my Henry Williams have indicated that he was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, citing page 71 of William S. Powell’s book When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977  (Durham, NC: Moore Publishing Company, 1977) as their source. This is the only source I can find indicating that Henry Williams was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  I did not find a pension application for him or his widow or heirs in Heritage Quest’s Revolutionary War database.

Maybe Henry Williams was in the Caswell County militia and maybe he was active in that militia during the Regulator Movement (of which William S. Powell also wrote a book about – The regulators in North Carolina: a documentary history, 1759-1776).  However, I do not believe he saw duty during the Revolutionary War.  His brother, Colonel James Williams, was instrumental in the War.  He was living in the 96th District of South Carolina at the time.  In 1780, James Williams travelled to Caswell County, NC to visit his brother. It was there he wrote his will and transferred much of his property and possibly his slaves to his brother’s house for safe-keeping from the Tories. That Henry Williams was at home with his family, instead of away at war also indicates to me that he did not participate in the War.

After James’ death during the Battle of King’s Mountain in October 1780, Henry Williams, his brother and executor of his estate, reported an accounting of $25,000 that had been given to his brother, James Williams from the State of North Carolina to use to raise militia in Caswell County and surrounding counties to fight against the Tories. James’ son John Williams testified that this money was used to rally troops who were taken to King’s Mountain with him.  There is no mention of Henry Williams’ active participation in the rallying or marching of said troops. [Source: Graves, William T., James Williams: An American Patriot in the Carolina Backcountry, San Jose: Writers Club Press, 2002, p. 56]

The Author, William S. Powell, did not provide any sources or a bibliography to his book aforementioned. He did, however, note that all notes, chapter materials, and source material was given to the Gunn Memorial Library in Yanceyville, NC.  I therefore intend to visit this library and review his notes to see what source he used for his list of Caswell men who saw action in the Revolutionary War.

Richard Brooks was born about 1730, probably in Virginia, and died about 1790 in Caswell County, North Carolina.  In his will written October 3, 1789 he mentioned his wife Ann Brooks and his 5 children:

1. William Bird Brooks (c. 1774-after 1830)
2. Elizabeth “Betsey” Brooks (born c. 1789)
3. Francis Armestead Brooks (c. 1781 – after 1860 in Alabama) married James Sheppard
4. John Brooks (c. 1785 – after 1809)
5. Ann Smith Brooks (c. 1770 – c. 1805), married Solomon Graves

Richard Brooks was living in Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia prior to his removal to Caswell County, North Carolina between 1770 and 1780.  Caswell County was formed from Orange County in 1779.  It is possible, Richard lived in Orange County, North Carolina from 1770-1779 when part of the county became Caswell County.

On December 10, 1754, Richard and Thomas Brooks were listed in a survey to divide land equally between the two men according to the last will and testament of Mr. Jonathan Brooks in Kingston Parish, Gloucester Co., VA. [1]

On April 10, 1770, Richard and his wife _____’s daughter, Ann Smith Brooks, was baptized in Kingston Parish, Gloucester Co., VA [1].  Unfortunately, I did not see a marriage record for Richard Brooks in the Kingston Parish Book. 

Richard’s wife Ann was listed on the 1800 Caswell County, NC census report after he died. She was listed between the ages of 26 and 45, born between 1755 and 1774. This would have made her about 16 years of age at the time of Richard’s daughter, Ann Smith Brooks’ date of birth in 1770 in Virginia.  It is possible Ann Smith Brooks’ mother was someone other than Ann. It is also possible her mother’s maiden name was Smith, for whom she was named after. 

Richard’s will was written in October of 1789 and proved in January of 1790.  His Wife, Ann Brooks’ will was written March 4, 1806 and was proved in January court of 1809.  In her will, she listed her 9 grandchildren, 6 of whom were the children of her son William Bird Brooks and 3 of whom were children of her daughter Frances A (Brooks) Sheppard. Her son in law, Solomon Graves (married to Ann Smith Brooks) was listed as executor. Ann Smith Brooks Graves must have died prior to her mother writing her will in 1806 since she was not listed as an heir.

Richard and Ann Brooks’ son William Bird Brooks settled in Giles County, Tennessee after his parents died. He was married to Sarah Paine in Person County, North Carolina.

Richard and Ann Brooks’ daughter Frances Armistead Brooks Sheppard removed to Butler County, Alabama where they died about 1860.

Richard Brooks was probably the brother of Thomas Brooks and son of Jonathan Brooks of Gloucester County, Virginia.  I believe Thomas and Mary Blacknall Brooks were the parents of my ancestor, Christopher Brooks (1755-1781), along with his siblings, Sarah/Sallie Brooks Holderness, Charles H Brooks, Thomas Brooks Jr., George Brooks and possibly Mary and Jonathan Brooks.

The following original wills are housed at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The collection title is “Caswell County, North Carolina Series of Original Wills, 1771-1927″ and the call number is C.R. 020.801.1. The Brooks family wills were contained in the first box of the series (no. 1).  There might have been more Brooks family wills contained in the box written after 1900. I only inventoried those wills written before 1900 (on 10/25/2008).

1. Richard Brookes, dated 1790 (wife Ann)
2. Ann Brooks, dated 1808 (wife of Richard)
3. Thomas Brooks, dated 1855 (wife Martha)

The will of Richard Brookes was recorded in Caswell County, North Carolina Will Book B, p. 321.  This will was abstracted in Katherine Kerr Kendall’s book “Caswell County, North Carolina will books, 1777-1814″ on page 30. (See entry below)

The abstract reads the following:

Richard Brooks (spelled Brookes on original) [actually the "e" is crossed out on the original that I looked at in 2008] – Will – w. 3 Oct 1789. Wife Ann; 4 youngest children William Bird Brooks (under 21), Betsy Brooks, Frances Armstead Brooks, John Brooks; daughter Ann Smith Graves; Exec: wife Ann and son in law Solomon Graves. Wit: W. F. Smith, Israel Barker.

The will of Ann Brooks was recorded in Caswell County, North Carolina Will Book E, p. 379.  This will was abstracted in Katherine Kerr Kendall’s book “Caswell County, North Carolina will books, 1777-1814″ on page 109. (See entry below)

The abstract reads the following:

Ann Brooks – Will – w. 4 Mar 1806. Son William B. Brooks; 9 grandchildren: Wm B. Brooks sons John, Robert, & William and daughters Betsy, Ann, and Joanna; Frances A. Sheppard’s daughters Ann, Betsy, and Polley.  Exec:  son Wm B. Brooks. Wit:  Sol Graves, S. Graves, John L. Graves.

The will of Thomas Brooks includes the following:

Thomas Brooks – Will – written 31 Mar 1855
Wife: Martha Brooks
Children: son William Brooks (under 21), daughters Nicy and Mary Ann.
Exec: Wife Martha Brooks
Wits: Charles G Russell and Byrd D Paylor

There was no estate folder for Richard Brookes at the archives. There are, however, estate folders for the Thomas and Ann Brooks listed above.

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Goals:

1. To copy, scan, and transcribe the wills of Richard, Ann, and Thomas Brooks of Caswell Co., NC from the Archives – update 10/25/08: These 3 wills were copied by the Archives.  4/2/09: Wills were scanned into my computer and info entered into my genealogy software.
2. To copy, scan, and transcribe the estate records of Ann and Thomas Brooks of Caswell Co., NC from the Archives 

Sources:

1. Caswell County, North Carolina Series of Original Wills, 1771-1927, C.R. 020.801.1, North Carolina State Archives.
2. Katherine Kerr Kendall, Caswell County, North Carolina will books 1777-1814. 1784 tax list. guardians’ accounts 1794-1819 and Caswell County North Carolina will books 1814-1843. guardians’ accounts 1819-1847. 1850 & 1860 census mortality schedules powers of attorney from deed books 1777-1880, can be searched online at ancestry.com.

Related Posts:

Brooks family estate records from Caswell County, North Carolina

John Brooks Binns 1910-1989

John Brooks Binns was one of my paternal great-grandfathers.  He was born March 20th, 1910 in Monticello (Drew County), Arkansas to John Milton Binns and Perthenia Brooks. 

On August 19th, 1934, he married the love of his life and my great-grandmother, Blanche Kathryne Hill in Longview, Texas.  They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Fort Smith, (Sebastian County) Arkansas in 1984.

John Binns and his wife Blanche were school teachers in Alma, Arkansas.  They had three daughters together. John had blonde hair and blue eyes and was approximately 6 feet tall.  He cherished all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He was a hugger. I remember he used to squeeze me so tight I couldn’t breathe!  He played football in high school and college. He attended Monticello A&M College in the early 1930s. He was president of the college Press Club and well-liked by his peers.

John Brooks Binns died December 10, 1989 in Fort Smith, (Sebastian County) Arkansas.  He was buried in Roselawn Cemetery, Fort Smith, (Sebastian County) Arkansas.  His wife Blanche (Hill) Binns died December 27th, 1992 and was buried beside him in Roselawn Cemetery.

According to the family tree file of Rosalyn Sumner, Jeremiah Brooks was born about 1773 and died in Person County, North Carolina in 1871. He married Elizabeth Thomas, 18 Mar 1795, Caswell County, North Carolina. 

The children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Brooks were:

1. David BROOKS b: 1796 in Person County, NC
2. Nancy Woody BROOKS b: 1798 in NC
3. Green BROOKS b: ABT 1800 in NC
4. Hosey BROOKS b: AFT 1800 in NC
5. Susan BROOKS b: AFT 1800 in NC
6. Jane BROOKS b: 25 FEB 1804 in Caswell County, NC
7. Andrew BROOKS b: c 1805 in NC
8. Logan BROOKS b: 1814 in NC
9. Elizabeth BROOKS b: 1822 in NC

Related Posts:

Jeremiah Brooks of Caswell County, North Carolina

Jeremiah Brooks of Person County, North Carolina

Logan Brooks was the son of Jeremiah Brooks and Elizabeth Thomas of Caswell and Person County North Carolina. He was born about 1814 in Person County, North Carolina.

1840 Person Co., NC Census Report
Logan Brooks, 1m 20-30, 2f < 5, 1f 20-30 [b. bet 1810-1820]
Same page as father, Jeremiah Brooks
Roll 368, p. 292

1850 Person Co., NC Census Report
Lougan Brooks, 36 yo (b. abt 1814), NC
Susan Brooks, 33 yo (b. abt 1817), NC
Martha J Brooks, 10 yo (b. abt 1840), NC
Jeremiah Brooks, 6 yo (b. abt 1844), NC
Ann F Brooks, 3 yo (b. abt 1847), NC
M432_640, p. 223, Image 258

1860 Person Co., NC Census Report
Logan Brooks, 47 yo (b. abt 1813), NC
Susan Brooks, 43 yo (b. abt 1817), NC
Jerrymiah Brooks, 14 yo (b. abt 1846), NC
Emily Brooks, 5 yo (b. abt 1855), NC
Rany L Brooks, 3 yo (b. abt 1857), NC
 M653_909, p. 445

Andrew Brooks was born about 1805 in Person County, North Carolina. He was the son of Jeremiah Brooks and Elizabeth Thomas of Caswell and Person Counties, North Carolina.

1850 Person Co., NC Census Report
Andrew Brooks, 45 yo (b. abt 1805) NC
Sarah Brooks, 44 yo (b. abt 1806), NC
Nancy A Brooks, 20 yo (b. abt 1830), NC
Elijah Brooks, 18 yo (b. abt 1832), NC
Albert G Brooks, 16 yo (b. abt 1834), NC
Elizabeth S Brooks, 14 yo (b. abt 1835), NC
Harriet J Brooks, 11 yo (b. abt 1839), NC
Sarah F Brooks, 6 yo (b. abt 1844), NC
John B Brooks, 3 yo (b. abt 1847), NC
M432_640, p. 423, Image 257;

There were two Jeremiah Brooks men living in Caswell and Person Counties, North Carolina.  There was an older Jeremiah Brooks living in Caswell County who was born before 1756 according to the 1777 tax lists of Caswell County, NC. A younger Jeremiah Brooks lived in Person County, North Carolina. He was born about 1773. There might have been a third Jeremiah Brooks living also in Caswell County, North Carolina who was the same age as the Person County man.  The records I have for Jeremiah Brooks in Caswell County, NC do not indicate his exact age, with the exception of the 1777 tax list which is the first record I found for Jeremiah Brooks of Caswell County, NC; however, they do all support him being born between 1756 and 1774.  The last record I found for Jeremiah Brooks in Caswell County was the 1800 Caswell County census report. This Jeremiah Brooks was born between 1756 and 1774 therefore he could have been the older or younger Caswell County man.  Click on this previous post to see a brief snippet of the Caswell County Jeremiah Brooks. Scroll down below to see Person County records of Jeremiah Brooks.  According to his descendants, this Jeremiah Brooks was born about 1773 and died in 1871.  There are estate records for him in the North Carolina State Archives.  He also wrote a will.

Person County, North Carolina references to Jeremiah Brooks:

Jeremiah Brooks “of Caswell County” purchased 113.5 acres of land on South Hico in Person County from John B. Lea on Sep 27, 1806.  He then sold this land to James Dollarhide, Dec 26, 1807.  He was still listed as being “of Caswell County:”

1806

Person Co Deed Book D, page 33, John B Lea to Jeremiah Brooks of Caswell County for $283.75, 113 ½ A on S Hico adj Carver. 27 Sept 1806. Wit: Thomas Carver, William Carver. (Person Co NC deed Book abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 82)

1807

Person Co Deed Book D, p. 113, Jeremiah Brooks of Caswell Co to James Dollarhide of Person Co., for $290, 113 ½ A on S Hico in Person Co., adj Carver. 26 Dec 1807. Wit Wm Carver, David Brechen. (Person Co NC Deed book abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 90)

In Nov of 1809, Jeremiah Brooks “of Caswell County” purchased an additional 158 acres on South Hico in Person County from James McMurry. By 1810, he was enumerated on the Person County, NC census report:

1809

Person Co Deed Book D, page 200, 1809: James McMurry to Jeremiah Brooks of Caswell County, for $474, 158 A on S Hico adj Rose, Jacob Thomas, Kelly Br., H Combs, Whitfield, Robert Vanhook. 29 Nov 1809. Wit: Loyd Vanhook, Adam McNealy. (Person Co NC Deed book abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 99)

1810

1810 Person Co., NC Census Report:  Jeremiah Brooks 3m < 10, 1m 10-15, 1m 26-44; 1f < 10, 1f 10-15, 1f 26-44; Assuming he is the oldest male, he was born between 1766-1784. Since this Jeremiah is younger than the Jeremiah from Caswell Co NC on the 1777 tax list (b. abt 1756), it is probably these two Jeremiahs are NOT the same person. However, I did not find Jeremiah Brooks on an 1800 Person Co. Census report, so it is possible that there were indeed two different Jeremiah Brooks’ in Caswell Co prior to 1800. And one of them moved to Person while the other stayed behind.

1814

Person Co Record Books, book 6, Taxable property, 1814: Capt. Douglass’ District: Jeremiah Brooks. (Kendall’s Person County, North Carolina Compilations, 1792-1823, Abstract p. 97)

1817

Person Co deed book F, p. 121-3: James Johnson to Lawrence Vanhook for $127.12 ½; 30 ½ acres on S. Hico adjacent to John Wilson, Loyd Vanhook, Robert Vanhook, and Jeremiah Brooks. 27 Oct 1817. Wit: Jesse Bradsher. (Person Co NC deed Book abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 184).

1818

Person Co deed book E, p. 69-70: John G. Wilson & Co. of Leasburg, CC, to William Lipscomb of Person Co., for $1591. 530.9 acres in Person Co on Cobb Cr & Rushy Br adjacent to the heirs of Lawrence Lea decd, James Johnson Jun., Jeremiah Brooks, and Laurence Vanhook, near the meeting house, Kendal Vanhook, and Nicholas Thompson. 1 Jan 1818. Witnesses: Nicholas Thompson and John H. McNeill. (Person County, NC Deed Book Abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 146)

Person Co deed book E, p. 173-4:  William Lipscomb to Jeremiah Brooks, for $225, 501/4 A on S Hico adj Laurence Vanhook, said Brooks, Elijah Jacobs. 3 Jan 1818. Wit: Jesse Bradsher, Stephen Pleasant. (Person County, NC Deed Book Abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 155)

1820

1820 Person Co., NC Census Report:  Jeremiah Brooks, 1m < 10, 2m 10-16, 1m 16-18, 1m 16-26, 1m > 45, [b. bef 1775]; 1f < 10, 1f 10 – 16, 1f 16-26, 1f >45; 4 people in agriculture, 0 slaves; On same page as Thomas Brooks (26-45);  (Roll M33_82, Page 436, Image 242).

1821

Person Co deed book F, p. 152-3: Lawrence Vanhook to Nicholas Thompson of Caswell County, town of Leasburg, for $88.50 30 ½ acres on S. Hico adj Lipscomb, Loyd Vanhook, Robert Vanhook, Jeremiah Brooks. 17 Nov 1821.  Wits: Will A. Lea, Wm Lipscomb. (Person Co NC deed Book abstracts, 1792-1825, p. 185).

1840

1840 Person Co., NC Census Report: Jeremiah Brooks, 1 m 60-70 [1770-1780]; 1f 20-30, 1f 60-70; (Next to Logan Brooks, 20-30) (Roll 368, p. 292)

1850

1850 Person County

Jeremiah Brooks 76 (b. abt 1774), VA Farmer
Elizabeth Brooks 75(b. abt 1775) PA
Elizabeth Brooks 28 (b. abt 1822) NC
Sarah E. Brooks 17 (b. abt 1833), NC
Thomas Thomas 88 (b. abt 1762) PA

1850 Census – Slave Schedules

Jeremiah Brooks, Person Co., NC – 3 Black male slaves, 1 mulatto slave

1860

1860 Person County Bushy Fork p. 543

Jeremiah Brooks 85 VA

Elizabeth Brooks 30 NC

Sarah Brooks 21 NC

1860 Census – Slave Schedules

Jeremiah Brooks, Person Co., NC – 4 male black slaves, 1 female black slave

1870

1870 Person County, Olive Hill

Jeremiah Brooks 98 (b. abt 1772), NC no occupation 800 1500

Elizabeth Brooks 50 (b. abt 1820), NC Keeping house

Sarah Brooks 32 NC at home can’t read can’t write

(Roll M593_1154, p. 640, image 630)

Bibliography

Kendall, K. K., & Donaldson, M. F. K. (1978). Person County, North Carolina compilations: Land grants, 1794, 1805, 1823 tax lists, record books abstracts, 1792-1820, letters of attorney. Raleigh, N.C.: Kendall. (Searchable online at ancestry.com)

Kendall, K. K. (1994). Person County, North Carolina deed books, 1792-1825. [Baltimore, MD?]: Clearfield Company.  (Searchable online at ancestry.com)

Caswell County, North Carolina references to Jeremiah Brooks:

Caswell County North Carolina List of Taxables, 1777:

Glouster District: Jeremiah Brooks, 126 acres, 4 wp, 6 bp

This probably not the same Jeremiah Brooks of Person Co., NC who was born in 1773; he would not be old enough to be taxed in 1777.

Caswell Co Will Book C, p. 164, July Court 1796, Sales estate of John Shearman 10 Nov 1795. By Pemberton Burch, adm. Sales to: Drury Clark, Mrs. Shearman, William Wallis, Jeremiah Brooks, John Burch, William Gallaugher, John Christenbury, Willson Jones, Joseph Neeley, Will Hews. (Kendall’s Abstracts, Caswell Co Will Books, 1777-1814, p. 51)

 Caswell Co Will Book C, p. 423, January court 1800: Sale estate of George Farley by H. Burton and Catharine Farley, exec. Buyers: … Jeremiah Brooks … (Kendall’s Abstracts, Caswell Co Will Books, 1777-1814, p. 67)

Caswell Co Deed Book L p. 247, 26 Apr 1800, Henry McMullen of Caswell Co to son John McMullen, for good maintenance of Henry and wife, all lands whereon he now lives. Witnesses: Thos Neely & Jeremiah Brookes. (Kendall’s Abstracts, Caswell Co Deed Books, 1777-1817, p. 207).

1800 Caswell Co., NC Census Report: Jera Brooks, p. 117, there was 1m < 10, 1m 16-25, 1m 26-44, 2f < 10, & 2f 16-25; + 0 slaves; Assuming Jeremiah is the oldest male, he was born between 1756-1774. If he is the same Jeremiah listed on the Caswell county 1777 tax list (who had to have been at least 21 years old to be taxed, therefore born before 1756), then he was born probably in 1756; However, this could also be the same Jeremiah Brooks who settled in Person County, North Carolina who was born about 1773. This is the only census report Jeremiah Brooks was on in Caswell Co., NC.

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Bibliography:

Kendall, K. K. (1981). Caswell County, North Carolina will books 1777-1814 1784 tax list guardians’ accounts 1794-1819 and Caswell County North Carolina will books 1814-1843 guardians’ accounts 1819-1847 1850 & 1860 census mortality schedules powers of attorney from deed books 1777-1880. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield. (Searchable online at ancestry.com)

Kendall, K. K. (1989). Caswell County, North Carolina, deed books, 1777-1817: Abstracts. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press.

North Carolina State Archives, Caswell County, North Carolina List of Taxables for 1777, 1780, & 1784, microfilm, Call No. 020.70001.