BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

7-114 INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIESJORDAN BROOKS (2)At the publication of the first edition of “Brooks Family History,” Jordan Brookswas the oldest known ancestor of the authors. At that time, it was believed thatJordan was related to the Robert Brooks family of Mecklenburg County, Virginia,however, the relationship was not known. With the discovery of the 1783Personal Property Tax list showing Jordan Brooks living in the same householdas Robert Brooks, Sr., the authors became convinced that Jordan was a son ofRobert Brooks, Sr.There are numerous other legal documents linking Jordan Brooks to the childrenof Robert Brooks, Sr. Jordan Brooks signed the Surety Bond for the marriage ofRobert’s daughter, Nelly. Additionally, Daniel Baugh, who married the Robert’sdaughter, Lucy, witnessed many of Jordan’s deeds in Edgefield County, SouthCarolina and later lived in Putnam County, Georgia during the same time thatJordan did. Furthermore, it is known that several of the children of RobertBrooks lived in Edgefield County, South Carolina during the same period thatJordan did. Although Jordan was not mentioned in the will of Robert Brooks,Sr., neither was Robert Rose Brooks. Robert Rose Brooks was proven to be theson Robert Brooks, Sr. in the 1780 consent certificate of marriage where RobertBrooks gave consent “to my son, Robert Rose Brooks.” Robert Rose Brooksalso followed Jordan to Edgefield County, South Carolina, the same counties inGeorgia and later lived in Pike County, Alabama where Jordan’s son, Williamsonlater lived.According to the 1830 census of Upson County, Georgia, Jordan was born between1760 and 1770. The 1783 tithable list indicates that Jordan Brooks musthave turned sixteen around 1783 which implies that Jordan was probably born inthe mid 1760’s. “Brooks Family History” by Myrtle (Lackey) Ashley states thatJordan was born in Virginia. Additionally, the 1900 Census record of John WesleyBrooks shows that John’s father, Jordan, was born in Virginia. According to“Brooks Family History” by Myrtle (Lackey) Ashley, Jordan’s “first wife’sname was Mary Cruse.” Because two of their oldest sons were born in Virginiain the late 1780’s and two of their daughters were born prior to 1790, JordanBrooks probably married Mary Cruse in Mecklenburg County, Virginia in theearly 1780’s. Two Edgefield County, South Carolina deeds dated 1798 and1807, confirm that Jordan’s first wife’s name was Mary.The earliest known document of Jordan Brooks was the 1783 Personal PropertyTax List of Mecklenburg County, Virginia where Jordan was living in the samehousehold as father, Robert Brooks, Sr. and his brother, Robert Rose Brooks.Jordan was also listed in the 1787 Personal Property Tax List. The last referenceof Jordan Brooks living in Virginia was where Jordan signed the 1787 marriagebond of his sister, Nelly. Two 1850 Census records indicate that Jordan’s twooldest sons, Isham and Robert, were born in Virginia in the late 1780’s.The earliest documentation of Jordan Brooks living in South Carolina is the1790 census of Edgefield County, South Carolina. Jordan is listed with his wife,two sons (born 1784 to 1790) and two daughters. On June 5, 1795, Jordan paidWilliam and Mary Coursey 40 pounds for 200 acres located in the Edgefield