Person Page - 2696

       Rev. Bethuel/6g Brooks was born 17 Jul 1790 at Gill, MA.^1,2 He married, by 1816, Polly Hadley, with whom he had 10 children.² The 1855 New York state census recorded Rev. Bethuel (a. 64, lived this county 4 y.), Polly (a. 58), and three grown children in their household at Maine.³ There Polly died 22 Nov 1868.² There Bethuel reportedly died 1 Feb 1878 at age 87.⁴ They are buried in Maine Village Cemetery.⁵ "Bethuel was an M.E. local preacher; his labors were in Broome, Cortland and Chenango counties."⁶

     A HERO FALLEN. Rev. Bethuel Brookes died at his sons residence L.L. Brookes in Maine N.Y. Feb. 1st, 1878 in his 88 year. The subject of this sketch was born in Gill Mass. July 17th 1790. He was converted to God in August 1817 in Batavia N.Y. and united at once with the M.E. Church with which he remained until death a devoted and faithful member, making his whole christian life a little more than sixty years. Soon after his conversion it was discovered by his brethren that he had both gifts and grace for the work of a public teacher; He was therefore licenced to exhort May 22d 1819 and as a preacher of the Gospel July 8th 1823. And he was ordained to the office of a deacon in the church of God July 28th 1828 by Bishop Roberts. Father Brooks was a local preacher in the M.E. church for more than fifty-four years: and a man of great ability as a preacher often preaching with wonderful power and pathos. He was called far and near to preach funeral sermons, and in this he excelled. He could always be depended upon to go if he was able to do so. Consequently it is believed that he preached more funerals and married more couples in the region where he has lived and finally died than any other man on the same territory. Through all his earlier ministry he was abundant in labors preaching and promoting revivals and organizing societies and afterwards placing them under the care of the preacher in charge. In this way he was the Father of the church at Lisle, Kelewog and Marathon and many others. For many years of his ministry he was employed in the regular work under the presiding elder, which he filled with great acceptobility. He raised a large and interesting family: Three of his sons having been called of God are in the Ministry. Rev. Asa Brooks has long been a worthy and honoured member of the Wyoming Conf. Father Brooks choose his home with his youngest son L.L. Brooks after the death of his wife seven years ago with whome he has spent the evening of his days in great peace and closed the same in glorious triumph.
     He had a remarkable constitution and consequently great powers of endurance. He preached occasionally up to within a few months of his death. he was always a regular attendant upon prayer meeting and class meetings, and a great friend to the preachers. His last meeting with his brethren was at the dedication of our [page truncated].
     His ringing voice was heard in public for the last time expressing his gratitude to God that he had lived to see the new church completed. The following day he was taken to his sick and dieing bed. two weeks after he called his family toge[ther] concious that his days were nearly marked and ordered that the sacriment of the Lords Supper should be administered it was an occasion of interest that I shall never forget. After the elements were consecrated, Father Brooks in a distinct tone of voice said "Seven years ago you were called together under similar circumstances to celebrate the eucarist at your mothers death bed and it was a time of blessing. O, May you all be faithful to meet us in heaven. O, That I may now enjoy all the benefit that Christ desired should be participated by the institution of this supper that is all I have to say." The occasion was one of swetest fellowship and of richest communion with God. The old vetrous voice often ringing out praises to Jesus. Three weeks more of terible suffering was endured with perfect consiousness up to the last and yet never a murmer escaped his lips — He said repetedly to the writer that he died in full faith of that Gospel which for more than fifty years he had preached to others." Thus has closed the vetrian life of a hero in the local ranks of the Ministry in the M.E. Church. Peace to his memory.
     Maine Feb. 18th 1878 C.V. Arnold.⁷

       Selah/6g Brooks was born 28 Mar 1793, probably at Gill, MA.¹ He married his 2d cousin Ruby/6g Streeter, daughter of Perley Streeter and Eleanor/5g Brooks.² The 1855 New York state census recorded Selab (a. 62, lived this county 1 y.) and Ruby (a. 57) in their household at Lisle.³ He died 20 Feb 1871 at age 77.¹

       Guy/6g Brooks was born 10 Nov 1795, perhaps at Gill, MA.¹

       Hannah/6g Brooks was born in Connecticut 14 Dec 1778, and baptised 21 Feb following at Glastonbury.^2,3,1 She married, 16 Oct 1799, Oliver Pendell, son of Elisha Pendell and (–?–) Boynton.³
     To a handwritten family register, Hannah Pendell added the following comments:
     this written by me HP is a correct draught of the old register May God in mercy blefs the members that are here named with grace sufficient to bring them to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jefus
     Sunday Dec 21 1837 this day I am alone my Family are gone to meeting O may the Lord blefs them to day with a spirit of worfhip O I Pray God to send down his holy spirit in the little affembly that my husband & children would fear & serve the Lord HP
     O Lord my God grant me a right spirit a spirit a spirit [sic] of humble Prayer for them to day o Lord blefs those that are at a diftance from me that I cannot counfel
     Sun Jan 12 AD 1840 to day I am all alone O Lord may I meet a blefsing to my soul to day while I read & meditate & Pray o my heart is filled with anguifh while I think on my orphan Grandechildren & on my children that are out of the ark of life. O Lord help me to pray for them acceptably give me a right spirit O God help me to believe on the Lord Jefus O God help my poor Hufband & children that they may repent and believe
     February th 16 1840 all alone no one to speak to. O Lord I want to worfhip thee in spirit & in truth but O my wicked heart I am a great sinner I need to be washed in the blood of Jefus from head to foot my [soul?] is in anguifh to day O my Husband & my children parts of my very self can I bear to see them dishonor God whom I adore O that they would serve the Lord their God once I could hear some of them sing & pray but the World has now got the advantage of them O Father of us all for Jefus sake awake them from their carelefs & prayerlefs situation to a senfe of their duty
     February th 6 1841 all alone
     Give ear my children to my word
     Whom God hath dearly bought
     Lay up his laws within your heart
     And print them in your thought
     to fear God and keep his commandments is the begining of wisdom. O Children let this be your study try to serve the Lord when I am dead & gone & can no more counfel you by word of mouth & may the Lord direct your steps & keep you.³