Person Page - 2347

       Lt. Thomas/4c Brooks was born 7 Mar 1738 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), CT, and there baptised 7 May following.^2,1 He married Ruth (–?–).^3,4 Appointed lieutenant of the 16th company, 15th regiment by the General Assembly of May-Jun 1773.⁵ A Revolutionary soldier (g.s.) and lieutenant (Jacobus), he lived at Burlington.^6,2 He was denounced, Jun 1776, as a Loyalist (as were his uncle Capt. Benjamin Brooks and Benjamin's sons):
     Whereas information hath been made to this Assembly by Amos Barns, Dan Hill and James Stoddard, three of the committee of inspection in Farmington, that Thomas Brooks of Farmington, lieutenant of the 12th company in the 15th regiment, hath openly professed before said committee that he could not satisfy himself that the Colonies could be justifyed in their present measures, and that he could not join with them against Great Britain or against the King, and that he is unfit to sustain any military office: Resolved by this Assembly, that Colo. John Pitkin and Colo. Thomas Belden be a committee to call said Brooks before them and and examine into the matters alledged in said complaint or information, and report make of what they shall find, with their opinion thereon, to this or the next General Assembly; and that in the meantime he be and is hereby suspended from the exercise of his office of lieutenant of the company aforesaid.⁷
     Perhaps because he had warmed to the Revolutionary cause, or (more likely, perhaps) to prove his loyalty, Thomas Brooks enlisted, at Farmington about 1 Jun 1777, as a teamster in the Revolutionary army, for a term of 3 years, but was forced to return home to Farmington in ill health. His eldest son Ahira took his place as a substitute at Fishkill, NY about 1 Sep 1778 and served 20 months to complete his father's term of enlistment.⁸
     Of Bristol in the 1790 census, household two males over 16, one under, and five females.⁹ He died 3 Dec 1812 (g.s.) at age 74.³ His probate names children Chauncey, Ruth Webster, Lucina, Almira, Lydia Bartholomew, Thomas, Hannah Moses, Abigail Thompson, and Gilbert.² His wife Ruth died 6 Mar 1816.¹⁰ They are buried in South Cemetery, Burlington.³

       Abraham/4c Brooks was born 22 Apr 1743 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), CT, and baptised in June at the Congregational Church in Cheshire.^2,1 He married, 5 Mar 1767 at Farmington, Deborah Hungerford of F., daughter of Capt. John Hungerford and Deborah (–?–).^3,2 She died in 1788.⁴ He was located at Bristol in the 1790 census, household composition 3-2-2.² The father and several sons removed to Oneida County, NY, where Abraham Brooks (whether father or son unkn.) is listed in the account books of Brayton's Store, Western, NY between 1796 and 1804.⁵ Abraham Sr. died 16 Mar 1805 (g.s.) at age 61.² Buried in Steuben, NY.²

       Lois/4c Brooks was born 17 Dec 1740 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), CT, and baptised Apr 1741 at the Congregational church, Cheshire.^2,1 Lois Brooks of Farmington, probably the same, recorded, 18 Dec 1762 at Great Barrington, MA, her intention of marriage with Ebenezer Hamlin Jr.³

       Ens. Nathaniel Bunnell was born in May 1686 at New Haven, CT.¹ There he married (1), 10 May 1709, Desire Peck.² She died at Wallingford in 1724.³ He married (2), as her 1st husband, 17 Feb 1726 at Wallingford, Mary/3c Brooks, daughter of Lt. Thomas/2c Brooks and Martha Hotchkiss.^4,5 He died at Wallingford in May-June 1732.⁶

       Desire Bristol was born 5 Nov 1707 at New Haven, CT.² She married, as his 1st wife, 6 Jul 1727 at Wallingford, Thomas/3c Brooks Jr. of Wallingford, son of Lt. Thomas/2c Brooks and Martha Hotchkiss.^2,3 She died at Wallingford 13 Nov 1748 at age 41.^2,4

       Deborah/4c Brooks was born 5 Feb 1732 [15 Feb, Jacobus] at Wallingford, CT, and baptised Jul 1737 at the Congregational church in Cheshire.^2,1,3 She married, 15 Dec 1756 at Waterbury, Barnabas Lewis, son of Benjamin Lewis.^4,1 She died at Waterbury 11 Feb 1759 at age 27.¹

       Desire/4c Brooks was born 9 Feb 1740 at Wallingford, CT, and baptised the same month at the Congregational church, Cheshire.^2,1 She had a natural son Solomon Brooks c. 1760, and died before 1774.²

       Thomas/4c Brooks III was born 2 Dec 1733 at Wallingford, CT.^2,1 Baptised Jul 1737 at the Congregational Church, Cheshire.² He married, 12 May 1757 at Wallingford, Mary Hotchkiss, daughter of John Hotchkiss and Miriam Wood.^2,3,4 Thomas Brooks, either this man or his father, was ensign of the south company, Cheshire, May 1760, under Capt. Enos Brooks and Lt. Cornelius Brooks.⁵ Of Cheshire in the 1790 census, household composition 2-0-3.^2,6 He died 20 Mar 1801 (c.r., g.s.) at age 67.² Buried in the old graveyard, Cheshire.²

       David/4c Brooks, 2d so-named, was born 7 Feb [Jul, Jacobus] at Wallingford, CT, and baptised at the Congregational church, Cheshire, Jul 1737.^2,1 He married, 8 Mar 1759 at Wallingford, Sarah Bunnell of Wallingford, daughter of Ebenezer Bunnell and Lydia Clark, who there died 1 Jan 1763.^2,3 He died at Wallingford 14 [4, g.s.] Dec 1764.^2,4 Buried in the old graveyard, Cheshire.²

       Samuel/4c Brooks was born 4 Apr 1738 at Wallingford (now Cheshire), CT, and baptised the same month at the Congregational church, Cheshire.^2,1 He married, 10 Jan 1760 at Wallingford, Ruth Doolittle of Wallingford, daughter of Ebenezer Doolittle and Lydia Warner.^2,3 Of Bristol in the 1790 census, with himself and one male over 16, one male under 16, and his wife Ruth.⁴ There she died 25 Apr 1804.^5,6 He died 1 Jun 1813 (g.s.) at age 75.⁶ They are buried in Old North Cemetery, Bristol.^7,8