The text below is from a letter sent from my Grandma, Frances Josephine (Brooks) Kowald to my Mother, Betty Jane (Hilak) Kowald.  It was in her own handwriting and I have kept the spelling, punctuation, names and words just as she wrote them.  For clarity I have added some names information using [  ].  The Helen in the first paragraph is Frances’ sister Helen Margaret (Brooks) Williams who was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and moved to Troy, New York around 1924. 

[Frances to Betty] This is a copy of a letter Helen had from our cousin Ida who was a daughter of Myron Brooks, brother of Frank Brooks, our Father.  Helen has a better copy of the Brooks family, but can’t find the copy.

[Frances copying Cousin Ida’s words] Three Brooks brothers came over from London, England around 1799 or very early in the 1800’s.  They went to New York.  A few years later the half brother [Thomas Brooks] came who was our Great Grandfather with his wife [Ann West] and 2 children Keziah (6 yrs) and Grandpa (4 yrs) [Thomas Wallace Brooks] came by way of Montreal.

There was a cholera epidemic in Quebec and no one was allowed to land.  Great Grandpa was a cabinet maker and worked with fine woods as a master carpenter.

Together with Ann, Keziah and Grandpa, they were taken ashore at night and he was put making coffins.  Grandpa used to tell his family his first memory of things was to stand his turn holding a candle so Great Grandpa could build more coffins night and day.

When the epidemic was over they came on down to Troy, New York.  He [Thomas Brooks] had lost track of his brothers.  (No mail those days.)  But in later years Grandpa [Thomas Wallace Brooks] found them in New York.  And found them the prosperous Brooks Brothers clothing.  He would not go as a poor relative so all contact ended.  I do not know when he and Ann [Ann West] died.  As to the Walkers, I only know they were up in Eagle Bridge region.

As to Josline - They dated back to Nornondy England.  The name was spelled Josecilyn and changed to Joslin.  Came over to America and was one of Roger Williams companions who were driven out of Bay Colony, Mass. (Baptists) and founded Providence R.I.  Our branch migrated to Eagle Bridge.

Rebecca Ann Joslin married a Walker and there were Carrie Gile [Caroline (Walker) Gile], Johnathon Joslin (John) and Ruth Ann Joslin Walker.  Great Aunt Carrie Joslin went west after married.

I do not know when or where our Ruth Ann met [Thomas Wallace Brooks] but they were married on her 17^th birthday Jan 4 – and Papa [Myron Walker Brooks] [Illegible line here] that I know.

Myron Walker was born on Nov. 16^th.  Great Grandma Rebecca died on her 81^st birthday.  I remember that.  I remember her sitting in her chair by the window of the dining room in the frame house on 5^th Ave. in Lansbury New York where Grandma lived before she moved to Troy with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Clarence in the country.

I do not know when Great Grandfather died.  These dates would be in the family bible that you have.

Great Grandma Rebecca became blind and was cared for by Grandma Ruth Ann.

This is all I remember about our family.

[Frances speaking again now] Ruth Ann Walker married Thomas Wallace Brooks and had 3 boys Myron, Oscar and Frank and 2 daughters Carrie and Anna.

Myron married ? and had Ida Betty.

Oscar married ? and had ?.  [Frances actually wrote in the question marks.]

Frank married – Elizabeth Mae Briggs.

       Eunice

       Helen

       Frances

       Thoma[s]

Frank and Mae were divorced and Mae married Austin Horr and had:

            Cora Mae (Aunt Mary) married Carol Orcutt.

Jenny Elizabeth (Aunt Betty) married Edward Percy Sellick.

Jay Putnam Sellick

Russell Ames (Bud) Sellick

Jay married – Libby ? and had 2 children, Candice and Kim.

Russel married – Mary Ruth ? and had 3 children:

        Penny

        Scott

        Tanya.

Our cousin Ida Betty died in 1979.  She and Helen were the only cousins that kept up a correspondence.  I never knew cousin Ida who was also a nurse.

Love,

Mom

P.S.

I cannot figure where the Joslins came in but I think Great Grandma Rebecca must have been a Joslin before marrying a Walker and Grandma Brooks (Ruth Ann) maiden name was Walker and married Thomas Wallace Brooks.