Person Page - 88

       Francis/2 Fletcher was born circa 1636, probably at Concord, MA.^2,3 There he married, 11 Oct 1656, Elizabeth/2 Wheeler of Concord, daughter of George/1 Wheeler and Katherine Pin.⁴ Shattuck calls him a large landowner. Concord's tax list of 1666 indicates that his taxes were abated on 17 lots in the East District comprising 437 acres.⁵ "In full communion with the Churche at Concord," he was admitted freeman 1 Apr 1677 (also recorded 23 May).⁶ He survived his wife, who died at Concord 14 Jun 1704.⁷

       Elizabeth/2 Wheeler was baptised 3 Jan 1635/36 at Cranfield, Bedfordshire.¹ She married, 11 Oct 1656 at Concord, MA, Francis/2 Fletcher of Concord, son of Robert/1 Fletcher and (–?–) (–?–).² Daughter Elizabeth Fletcher was named in the will of her father George/1 Wheeler, 28 Jan 1684/85.³ She died at Concord 14 Jun 1704 at age 68.⁴

       Robert/1 Fletcher was born in Yorkshire, England circa 1592.^1,2 He married, in England, (–?–) (–?–). Robert Fletcher, his wife, and three young sons were among the first party of settlers to arrive at Concord, MA, in the fall of 1635.² He was chosen the town's first constable, 2 Nov 1637.³ Inexplicably, on 4 Dec 1638, Capt. Thomas/1a Brooks, "being chosen cunstable for the towne of Concord," was sworn in to the same office.^4,5,6 Not until 4 Jun 1639 was Robert Fletcher discharged by the Court, "being not found faulty."⁷ One of many Concord inhabitants who signed, 14 May 1645, a petition to the General Court requesting tax relief.⁸ Loving friend and neighbor Robert Fletcher was named an overseer in the will of Thomas/1 Fox of Concord, 25 Jan 1657/58.⁹ Pillsbury says he was "a wealthy and influential man", though on what basis he does not say.¹⁰ Robert Fletcher died at Concord 3 Apr 1677, aged 85.¹¹ His widow died there before 12 May 1677.¹²
     "The name was originally written Fledger, said to have been derived from the trade of a maker of arrows, and its French equivalent, Flechier, has furnished some with an inference of French extraction. But the confirmed opinion of a member who made genealogical research is that this branch has its root in Yorkshire, England, whence the first ancestor of record came to America."¹

       Joseph/3s Brooks was born 6 Aug 1710 at Springfield, MA.¹ He settled in the north district of Western (renamed Warren), now part of Palmer. "Assignee of David Ingerson of 100 acres; he bought of the Claimers 100 acres, and it was a Court grant, 1732. John Blair and John Patrick were made freemen and purchased the farm in 1735. It was situated in the east part of the District and bounded north by the farm of Obadiah Cooley."² Then of "Kingsfield alias Elbows," he married, 8 Nov 1734 (int. 27 Sep, Springfield), Mary/4 Bliss, daughter of Thomas/3 Bliss and Hannah Cadwell, and widow of Jonathan/4 Sikes.^3,4
     Of Palmer, Ware, and Kingsfield, Joseph Brooks died (probably at Ware) the day he made his will, 27 Nov 1750, at age 40.⁵
     The will of Joseph Brooks of Ware River, dated 27 Nov 1750 (proved 14 May 1751), gave wife Marey a third of the estate after payments of debts, eldest son Joseph £13-6-8 over and above his equal share, and second son Israel £4 over and above the rest of the children — third son Silas, youngest son Jonathan, eldest daughter Chloe, second daughter Eunice, third daughter Anne, and youngest daughter Thankful. He appointed wife Mary and Ichabod Bliss of Brimfield administrators for the underage children. Samuel Bliss of Western (now Warren) was subsequently chosen by Israel Brooks as his guardian.^6,5,7 An order in his probate folio names Marey custodian of Silas, Jonathan, Cloe, Eunice, Ann and Thankful, all under the age of 14.⁷