BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

7-204 INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIESOn January 18, 1836, Daniel wrote a letter to his father in Talbotton, Georgiafrom Velsaco, Texas. This letter is included in the back of this book. Accordingto “Brooks Family History,” Daniel “was killed in (the) Fannin Massacre.”However, it has been determined that Daniel was actually killed by Mexican soldierson March 21, 1836 while he was stationed at Victoria, Texas. DanielBrooks was one of sixteen mechanics detailed from Ward’s Command to build aboat at Victoria. The following is a quote as found in the Kemp Collectionwhich describes the death of Daniel Brooks as told by Thomas J. Smith, anothermechanic who survived the skirmish at Victoria: “Smith and four others were atone time taken to the west bank of the river to throw into it the bodies of tenmurdered Texans, stragglers from Ward’s Command. One of them was knownas ”Dog" Brooks. Smith and his companions would have been murdered at thesame time but for the intercession of Col. Holzinger." Ward’s Command wasunder Colonel Fannin whose command of over 400 men was taken prisoner bythe Mexican Army. Later, all but ten to fifteen were brutally executed nearGoliad, Texas what became known as the “Fannin Massacre.”References: 1) Deed Book D, Page 179, Talbot County, Georgia, 1835; 2) “Letterfrom D. B. Brooks to Robert Brooks,” mailed from Velasco, Texas to Talbottan, Georgia,dated January 18, 1836, located in the University of Texas Archives, Austin, Texas; 4)“Kemp Collection, Fannin Notes,” University of Texas Archives; 5) Letters to the Universityof Texas Archives from Mary (Powell) Hudson, 1938; 6) “Brooks Family History,”by Myrtle (Lackey) Brooks, 1944; 7) “40,000 Early Georgia Marriages,” by JosephT. MaddoxFRANCES AMANDA BROOKS (2.4.1.1) is the daughter of Daniel BaughBrooks and Caroline (Paul) Brooks. Frances was born in 1834 in Georgia.When Frances was just “13 or 14 months old,” her father left for Texas andDaniel’s father, Robert Brooks, was given custody of her on November 15,1835. Frances Brooks married W. S. Powell and they were the parents of twodaughters:............Mary Fox Powell, b. 1855............Grace PowellIn 1851, “Amanda Powell as the sole heir of Daniel B. Brooks” received$172.55 for Daniel’s service in the Texas Revolution. On June 17, 1851, 640acres of land was issued to his heirs on Donation Certificate Number 325. OnJune 18, 1851, an additional 1,920 acres was issued in his name on Bounty CertificateNumber 862. On August 24, 1859, another 640 acres of land was issuedto Daniel’s heirs in Palo Pinto County, Texas. In 1861, W. S. Powell received$300.00, distributive share of the estate of Robert Brooks. On August 7, 1874,yet another 1,280 acres was issued in his name in Palo Pinto County.The Powells lived for many years in Waco, Texas. Mary Powell married a Mr.Hudson, but they never had any children. From about 1900 to 1938, Mary(Powell) Hudson lived in Memphis, Tennessee. Mary (Powell) Hudson donatedthe 1836 letter written by Daniel B. Brooks to the University of Texas Archives.Grace Powell also married and had a daughter named Gladys.