Person Page - 9

       Miriam Morgan was baptised 2 Jul 1739 at the First Church, West Springfield, MA.² She married, 29 Nov 1758 at W.S. (int. 11 Nov), Israel/4s Brooks, son of Joseph/3s Brooks and Mary/4 Bliss.^3,4 They had 8 children at W.S. before he abandoned his family and removed with another woman to Half Moon, Saratoga County, NY, where he raised a second family.
     "The land records of Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield (these volumes are the old Hampshire County deed books), show numerous transactions that involve Israel Brooks. His land purchases are dated from 19 April 1762 to 9 July 1767. Record of the sale of his lands in Springfield while he was still in Massachusetts begin on 18 April 1768 and continue to 27 January 1777. All the deeds of sale through 23 October 1775 (acknowledged 23 January 1776) include his wife Miriam. The deed dated and acknowledged 17 January 1777 does not, however, name his wife."⁵ Miriam Brooks, wife of Israel, was received on confession on faith into the Congregational Church at West Springfield in 1776.⁵
     On 13 Apr 1784, Israel Brooks, of Half Moon, NY, dated, acknowledged and signed three deeds disposing of his Springfield property. Two of these mention his wife Miriam as follows.
     Israel Brooks, "late of West Springfield," yeoman, to son Simon Brooks, yeoman, and son Levi Brooks, of West Springfield, for £10 and love, etc., the house, barn and homelot "where I lately dwelt in said" West Springfield — 6+ acres, next to the land of Ebenezer Bagg, Lt. Frederick Bagg, and Timothy Morgan, reserving a lease of 50 years to Lt. Frederick Bagg and Mr. Simon Brooks "for the use of my wife said lease to expire with her decease or future marriage."
     Israel Brooks, "late of West Springfield," yeoman, to children Miriam Brooks, Rachel Brooks, Lettice/Lettuce Brooks, Barnabas Brooks, Roger Brooks and Marcy Brooks, all of West Springfield, for £10 and love and affection, 50 acres at West Springfield lying a little west of "house and home lot where I lately dwelt" next to Lt. Nathan Morgan, subject to 50-year lease to Lt. Nathan Morgan and Samuel Morgan "for the use of Miriam Brooks my wife during the term of her natural life or during the term of her continuing single and unmarried if she should be left a widow by me said term of fifty years to cease on her decease or future marriage."⁵
     The will of Israel Brooks, executed 15 Oct 1794 at Half Moon, NY, and proved 12 Feb following, mentions only "my wife Sarah," though he also remembers his children in New England.^5,6 Sarah Bagg died in Saratoga County between 1801 and 1802.⁵ Miriam (Morgan) Brooks died at West Springfield, MA, 23 Oct 1809, "wid.", a. 70.⁷ Buried in Meeting House Hill Cemetery.⁷
     See Charlotte Megill Hix, "Israel Brooks of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Half Moon, New York, and Some of his Descendants," TAG 72:1 (Jan 1997).⁵

       Hezekiah/4s Brooks was born 13 Jan 1741/42 at Springfield, MA, and baptised at the First Church the 24th of the same month.^1,2 He married (int. 27 Nov 1762, Springfield) his 1st cousin, Keziah/4s Brooks, daughter of Noah/3s Brooks and Keziah Bartlett, with whom he had 13 children at Springfield.^3,4 There he died 20 (Warren) Apr 1789 at age 47.^5,6 His widow married (2), 1 Jul 1790, John Berry.^7,8

       Keziah/4s Brooks was born 29 Apr 1742 at Springfield, MA, and baptised at the First Church circa 8 Aug following.^1,2 There she bore, 14 Dec 1761, a daughter Submit Brooks, father unidentified.³ Keziah married (1) (int. 27 Nov 1762, Springfield) her 1st cousin, Hezekiah/4s Brooks, son of Samuel/3s Brooks and Joanna/4 Warriner, with whom she had 13 children at Springfield.^4,5 There he died 20 Apr 1789.^6,7 She married (2), 1 Jul 1790 (int. 12 Jun), John Berry of Springfield.^8,9 She died at Springfield 23 [town rec.] or 24 (1st Ch. rec.) Mar 1801 at age 58.^10,11

       Samuel/3s Brooks was born 2 Aug 1712.^1,2 He married (1), 17 Mar 1736/37 at Springfield, MA (int. 18 Jan), Joanna/4 Warriner of Springfield, daughter of Ebenezer/3 Warriner and Joanna/3 Dickinson, with whom he had 6 children.³ Co-executor of the will of his brother Joseph Brooks, dated 27 Nov 1750.^1,4,5 His wife died 17 Mar 1756.⁶ He married (2), as her 2d husband, 19 Jul 1759 at Springfield (int. 17 Jun), Lydia/5 Stebbins, daughter of John/4 Stebbins and Sarah/3 Warriner, and widow of Moses Mirick. The two children of this marriage are ancestors of Pres. Grover Cleveland through their mother's bloodline.^7,8 Samuel died at Springfield 14 Dec 1765 (c.r.) at age 53.⁹ His widow died there 14 Feb 1782.¹⁰

       Joanna/4 Warriner was born 15 Aug 1711.¹ She married, as his 1st wife, 17 Mar 1736/37 at Springfield, MA (int. 18 Jan), Samuel/3s Brooks of Springfield, son of Benjamin/2s Brooks and Mary/3 Barnard, with whom she had 6 children.² She died at Springfield 17 Mar 1756 at age 44.³ Buried in Springfield Cemetery.⁴ A cenotaph at Northampton reads: In Memory of | Mrs. JOANNA, | wife of Mr. Samuel Brooks, | who died March 17, 1756, | in her 45th year.⁵