Dr. David  Brooks     1747 -1795

 

Born:  1747, Stratford, Connecticut

Died:  1795, New York, New York of Yellow Fever, part of an epidemic of that disease throughout the New England area.  I should note that Dr. David Brooks is not buried at the family plot within Sands Point Cemetery in Nassau County, New York, with his wife, Hannah, and two of his children, Henry Sands and Anna Brooks.  It is most likely that he was cremated along with other bodies from the epidemic. 

 

1st  Spouse:  Hannah Sands married in Sands Point, Long Island, New York on November 30, 1770.

          [Recorded in New York Marriages, Vol XLI, page 275.].  (More below)

Children:       Henry Sands Brooks (b. September 8, 1772 – d. December 21, 1833, will January 23, 1834)

                      David Brooks (He is described as Henry’s younger brother, but I have no dates.)

                    Anna Brooks (October 25, 1778 – November 25, 1832, never married)

                    1 other unknown daughter?

 

                   

2nd Spouse:  Possibly Ann Luffman, of Oborne Township, Dorset, England.  She is the daughter of John and Ann Luffman, born January 5, 1755. 

Children:      Thomas Brooks  (Most likely an only child)

 

Occupation: Medical Physician

 

My information regarding the parents of Dr. David Brooks is speculative, but here are some suggestions

Father’s name:  Benjamin Brooks, b. abt. 1710 Melbourne, Derby, England.

Mother’s name:     Mary Beresford (many variants of spelling), they were married on March 26, 1733. 

Studying these marriage records further suggests possible siblings to Benjamin may be: Hugh Brooks, Robert Brooks, and a Mary Brooks that married a Nathan Hazard.  Possible additional children for Benjamin and Mary who may have stayed within the Parish may be: Benjamin, Mary, William, Frances, and Ann.  Earlier Derbyshire marriages that suggest who Benjamin’s parents may be are: John Brookes married to Mary Garot on July 4, 1700, or Joseph Brookes married to Hannah Cheeswell on May 7, 1711.  The date on the latter leads me to prefer it as a best guess. 

Do any of these names appear in Stratford, CT vitals therefore suggesting an emigration?  In a word, no. 

 

Wife Hannah Sands She is the daughter of Edward and Mary (Cornell) Sands.   There is some confusion as to when she was born.  One source says February 8, 1755, but another places the year much earlier, circa 1730/31.  The latter makes more sense, however the former, which supposedly comes from a transcription of her gravestone, would mean she was born 9 years after the death of her father.  There is agreement that she died July 8, 1835.  Father Edward Sands is the son of John and Sybil (Ray) Sands, was born in 1691 and died at Cow Neck Long Island, New York on March 9, 1746.  Mother Mary Cornell was born December 17, 1703 and died September 15 1762.  She was the daughter of Richard and Hannah (Thorne) Cornell of Mamaroneck, New York.  Hannah was the 6th child of 8, her siblings are: 1-Ray (died young on February 14, 1739), 2-Sybil (b. September 3, 1727, d. March 1, 1759), 3-Henry (b. 1728, d. July 1, 1780 and m. Martha Cornell on March 14, 1748), 4-Richard, 5-George, 6-Hannah, 7-Mary (b. 1733, d. July 28, 1793), 8-Deborah (b. 1736, d. September 2, 1762).  There is another resource [the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, vol. 92.] that shows Hannah Sands having married Samuel Treadwell on January 20, 1750; she being born December 18, 1731; that the 1790 census indicated the couple with 10 children and 1 other free person in the household; Samuel having died on February 5, 1800 and she passing possibly in 1821 and is buried with her husband.  I fear that there is more than one Hannah Sands. 

 

Of Dr. David Brooks…

1747- David is born in Stratford, Connecticut, son of Benjamin. 

1771- Marries Hannah Sands on November 11.  They settle near her home in Long Island and he establishes his practice.  I find it interesting that Dr. Brooks set up his practice near New York City in that particular year as it is the same year that King George III, by Royal Charter, founded New York Hospital. 

1772- Son Henry Sands Brooks is born on September 8.

1774- Most likely year for birth of second son, David.

1775- On May 19, Dr. David Brooks from Long Island is named as one of 26 principals that protested against the Colonists and an order is issued to appear before the Provincial [Continental] Congress December 19, 1775.  There is no record of his making this appearance before Congress.  The History of Queens County by W. W. Munsell & Co., 1882, reviews these events nicely and they can be corroborated in The Library of Congress American Memory site.  Letters or cards printed in area papers review some of the problems that these disaffected persons were causing including Benjamin Sands referring to them as “noxious vermin”.  However, those that list names do not include Dr. David Brooks. 

Mid-1775 through mid 1776-, my theory is that staunch Loyalist Dr. David Brooks fled America back to England.  I have found 5 ships that departed New York in late May and arriving at various English ports in late June or Early July of 1775.  Passenger lists for these vessels are not available.  While there, he met Ann Luffman and she became pregnant about March of 1776.  Still being married to Hannah and also being a Catholic, I propose that Dr. Brooks now “escaped” back to New York prior to July.  Oborne Township, Dorset, England records indicate that the Banns of Marriage were announced August 20, 1776, but that no civil license was issued.  This may have been the Luffman family’s attempt to save some respect for their daughter.  The groom’s pre-existing marriage that was neither dissolved nor annulled would be grounds to prevent the marriage.  In studying Oborne records, the David Brooks that would have “married” Ann Luffman was not from the area, nor did he die there.  The couple did not settle there, nor is there any record of any births for them or for her individually.  It is most likely that Ann (Luffman) Brooks went to London to have her child alone.

1776- A June 5, 1776 letter from New York’s provincial Congress demands that Dr. David Brooks and others, be brought before committee to show cause why they should be considered friends to the American cause.  An annotation by Dr. David Brooks name indicates “Holding office from the King of Great Britain”.  A letter dated July 27th from Lt. Col. Birdsall states that there are 30 to 40 Tories hiding in the Massapequa swamp and proposes “to ferret them out.”  They did not succeed in arresting all of these men because they then came out and Huzzaed for King George.   Dr. David Brooks is arrested in Long Island, New York on August 12 by order of General Washington.  They were sent by boat to Norwich, Connecticut and later paroled on December 9, 1776 and having paid £500.  Thomas Jones in his History of New York During the Revolutionary War elaborates that these were principal people, strict Loyalists, consequently obnoxious to rebellion. They were sent to Philadelphia where they were confined for several weeks, then sent back under guard to the provincial Congress of New York where they were confined and kept under close guard for several weeks more in a dirty tavern in an unhealthy part of town with a drum constantly beating at the door.  (For added perspective regarding the Long Island Loyalists, please see the article Long Island Loyalists: The Misunderstood Americans by Andrew C. Batten as published by the Oyster Bay Historical Society.)  I’ve tried to look for other Tories that resided in the greater Long Island area and there are many.  Most relevant are a large number of the Sands family, many are likely related to Hannah, Dr. Brooks’ wife.  A small group of which were put before a General Court Martial in December of 1778 for Treasonable Practices and Keeping Correspondence with the Rebels.  (See Advanced Loyalist Studies for more information.)  Also of interest is Edward Sands who served with the King’s American Dragoons and took advantage of the King’s offer of money and land and re-settled in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.  What especially caught my attention regarding Edward is that he became St. John’s Coroner, therefore indicating a medical background, which surely would have made him an acquaintance of Dr. David Brooks when they were together in Long Island.  There were Patriot soldiers too amongst the Sands family.  For example, Lt. Col. Birdsall’s letter mentioned above was addressed to Colonel Jonathon Sands. 

1776- December 24, without his father present, son Thomas Brooks is born, probably in Shoreditch, London, England.  (Source does not mention his mother’s name.)

1778- Daughter Anna Brooks is born to Dr. David and Hannah Brooks on October 25 in Long Island, New York.

1779- Rebels arrest Tory Dr. David Brooks in Long Island, New York on July 3 and take him to Connecticut where he is confined.  From Rivington’s Gazzette as quoted in The History of Queens County.

1786- Dr. David Brooks and others represent the Diocese of St. George’s Church, Hempstead, Long Island, New York in a convention held in New York on May 16.

1795- After several years of practice from his office on the northwest corner of Catharine and Cherry streets in New York City, Dr. David Brooks dies of Yellow Fever, probably between August and October.  The first 2 cases of Yellow Fever occurred at the New York City docks on May 29 with the arrival of the ship Antoinette.  The epidemic actually began in late July and was originally focused in the area of Water Street near the wharfs.  Dr. David Brooks’ office at Catharine and Cherry Streets is in this area.  New cases ended with the arrival of cold weather on October 12.  732 people had died.  It was not unusual for the bodies to be disposed of by cremation or mass burial.

 

Image from History of Queens County.

 

Brooks Brothers Clothiers Connection

Who was Thomas Brooks’ father?  This was a perplexing question for me for the longest time.  We learn from Ida’s letter that he was in the state of New York, most likely in New York City.  Ida when recounting son Thomas’ movements, says, “When the [cholera] 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 Brooks’ son, Thomas Wallace Brooks] found them in New York.  And found them the prosperous Brooks Brothers Clothing.”   It is apparent to me from Ida’s choice of words that Thomas Brooks knew that his father had passed away, so he was searching for his half-brothers.

 

Ida’s letter mentions Thomas seeking out his Brooks brothers and finding that they had a clothing business in New York, New York. 

Sketch found on Photobucket website as part of an article about Knickerbocker Village history and the July 16, 1863 Draft Riot.

 

Left: The Brooks Brothers’ “Golden Fleece” logo. 

Right: John Brooks, grandson of Dr. David Brooks. Image from Men of Progress.

 

Therefore, David and Henry Sands Brooks are the half brothers that Aunt Ida mentions Thomas Brooks as seeking.  Their father, Dr. David Brooks, is then my Thomas Brooks father.

 

Son Henry Sands Brooks marries Levina Lyon (b. March 15, 1780 – d. October 28, 1865) of Greenwich, CT.  They married abt. 1802 in Greenwich, CT.  Probably had 10 children: David (June 11, 1803 – August 27, 1805), Henry (August 13, 1806 – May 5, 1850), Daniel Hamilton (March 6, 1809 – March 1, 1884), Ann Amelia (abt. 1811 – July 29, 1820), John Edward (January 1, 1813 – February 17, 1899), Elisha (June 15, 1815 – October 10, 1876), Hannah (abt. 1817 - ?), Benjamin (abt. 1819 - ?), Edward Sands (December 15, 1821 – April 25, 1875), and Lauretta (abt. 1823 - ?).  Henry Sands Brooks established the clothing business in 1818, after his death, the surviving sons operated it.  His son John Brooks remained with the business and handed it over to his son, John Edward Brooks, who led it towards what it is today.   John Edward Brooks retired in 1896 and has 2 sons: Walter and Frederick.  John Brooks married Anna Eliza Moseman in 1834 and they had 9 children: Henry Willet, Luisa Anne, John Edward, Katherine Adelia, Daniel Hamilton, George Spencer, Adelaid Eliza, Walter, and Frederick

 

Thomas’ half-brother Henry Sands Brooks very likely travelled to England on business.  Henry Sands Brooks’ Day Charge book is partially illustrated in Brooks Brothers Centenary; 1818 – 1918 and a number of the monetary entries carry the typical 3-column format for British monies.  It is apparent from Aunt Ida that Thomas knew of, and had met, his half brother prior to 1832.  That meeting had to have occurred in England, most likely London.  (I am aware that much of Colonial America and Canada used the British Pound as their currency, so the simple presence of this currency in his bookkeeping is not of itself conclusive for Henry Sands Brooks having actually travelled to England.)

 

The Men of Progress book is a Who’s Who type of book written in 1898, focusing on business leaders from Connecticut.  In its discussion of John Brooks, the then leader of the Brooks Bros Clothing business, Men of Progress describes John Brooks’ family history as, “His ancestors came originally from Derby, England.  He is the great-grandson of Benjamin Brooks, and grandson of Dr. David Brooks, physician of Stratford, Connecticut.”    The book elaborates on his service with the New York Militia and emphasizes that John Brooks “…always retained an interest in his honorable Connecticut lineage.”  It is apparent to me that this is an attempt to downplay the fact that his grand father was a Loyalist.

 

 

Sources: 

Long Island Cemeteries, by Josephine C. Frost, from a survey of Long Island Graves circa 1900, found on I Dream of Genealogy Free Databases.

Derbyshire Parish Registers, Marriages.  Published by Phillimore & Co., edited by Thomas Matthews Blagg, 1906.

Oborne Marriages 1754-1837.  Transcribed from Transcriptions book at Dorset History Center.

Brooks Brothers Centenary; 1818 – 1918, printed for the Brooks Brothers by The Cheltenham Press, New York, copyright 1918.

Men of Progress: Biographical Sketches of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in and of the State of Connecticut, compiled by Richard Herndon and edited by Richard Burton, published by New England Magazine, Boston, MA 1898.

Latter Day Saints Family Search

Correspondence, Miscellaneous Papers, Proceedings of Committees, &c., New York Provincial Congress.  From a letter addressed to several persons of Queens County [New York], for evidence against sundry Prisoners in custody as inimical to the Liberties of America, dated February 15, 1776.

Journal of the Proceedings of Congress, held at Philadelphia, from September 5, 1775 to April 30, 1776.  Philadelphia, 1778.

The New York Times published an article on March 31, 1918 under the headline “Centenary of Clothiers”, speaking of the 100th anniversary and the publication of the above noted Brooks Brothers Centenary; 1818-1918 booklet.

History of New York City from the Discovery to the Present Day.  By William. L. Stone, publ. by E. Cleave, New York, 1898.

History of St. George’s Church, Hempstead, Long Island, New York.  By William Henry Moore, publ. E. P. Dutton, New York, 1881.

A History of Long Island: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time.  By Peter Ross, Lewis Pub. Co., New York, 1902.  Transcribed by Coralynn Brown.

Opinions and Practice of the Founders of the Republican Relation to Arbitrary Arrests, Imprisonment of Tories, Writ of Habeas Corpus,  Seizure of Arms and Private Papers, Domiciliary Visits, Confiscation of Real or Personal Estate, etc., etc. By William Cook, printed in Washington DC by William H. Moore, 1864.

History of Queens County. W. W. Munsell & Co., New York, 1882.

Yellow Fever in New York City, by Claude Edwin Heaton, MD., Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, April 1946, Vol. 34(2).

Brooklyn Genealogy Information Page, Yellow Fever.

 

Additional Brooks Mentions…

All of the following individuals warrant further research towards discovering a relationship to my Thomas Brooks:

A David Brooks can be found in LDS Family Search who was christened May 8, 1750 at Saint Andrew, Holborn, London, England

From Brett Payne’s Derbyshire Genealogy Pages:

Joseph Brooks baptized on June 6, 1756 at St. Mary’s, Derby, England.

Constable Edward Brooke from Staten-by-Bridge, Derby, England, from a 1662 Hearth Tax Assessment.  (Tax not paid, by the way.)

Pigot’s Derbyshire Trade Directory for 1821 – 1822:

John Brooks, a tailor from Ticknall

Joseph Brooks, working at the Roebuck (An inn or tavern) in Melbourne.

Glover’s Directory of the County of Derby 1827-1829:

John Brookes, a tailor from Ticknall (Notice the change in spelling of the surname.)
Joseph Brooks, farmer from Appleby Magna
Joseph Brooks, victualer (Similar to a grocer) at Roe Buck, Melbourne
Thomas Brooks, farmer from Melbourne.  (Not likely my Thomas because we know he was in London by this time.)

From Crime in Derbyshire, 1770 – 1828:

          John Brooks of Melbourne, a Grocer, guilty and fined for cheating on weights in 1828.

          Joseph Brooks, a tailor, guilty and fined for poaching: possession of tools in 1812.

          Benjamin Brooks of Melbourne, a labourer, accused of theft and found not guilty in 1781.

          Thomas Brooks, a labourer, guilty and sentenced to 6 years in prison for poaching in 1823.  (Note: This should not be my Thomas Brooks since his children were born in 1824 and 1826, which would not likely have occurred if he were in prison.)

The Derby Mercury (Derby, England), Wednesday, April 13, 1892; Issue 9248
WIRKSWORTH
Inquest - An inquest upon the body of Robert Wardman was held by Mr. Taylor, deputy coroner, at the Hope and Anchor Inn, Wirksworth, on Friday morning. Deceased, who was 13 years of age, went to the Hopton Wood Stone Quarries with his father's breakfast on the 2nd January, but instead of returning straight home called at Messrs. Bowne and Shaw's quarry. Whilst there warning was given of a shot about to be fired, and he and another moved away to what they considered a place of safety, but both were hit by stones from the shot. Deceased was carried home, and subsequently removed to the cottage hospital, where he remained under the care of Dr. Brooks until death took place. - A verdict of Accidental death was returned.

Brooks Family Genealogy Pages:

          There are 11 pages of names here.  Vast majority have Derbyshire connections.  Start digging!

Deirdre, A woman that regularly blogs on Blogger, reviews her family history, which focuses more on the Sands family.  She covers much of the same ground, but adds another generation into the puzzle that isn’t recognized by other sources.  Deirdre says;

“Her name was Anne Sands. She's one of my great-grandmothers. She was born on Block Island. Her father was named John Sands, as was her grandfather, and her great-grandfather was named James Sands. One of her other great-grandfathers was Simon Ray, and one of the other ones was a man named John Alcock. Those are the three that Julia can rub off of Settler's Rock on Block Island and hang them up on her wall.
Anne Sands married a man called David Brooks. They had a son, also named David, and then David married a woman called Hannah Sands. Hannah's grandfather was Edwards Sands, whose brother was John. (See above.)  Hannah and David Brooks had a son called Henry Sands Brooks, and in 1818 he founded a company called H & D.H. Brooks and Company that was remarkable in it's marketing the idea of ready-to-wear clothing. Henry left the company to his grandson Elisha Brooks, who, with his brothers, changed the name to -- yup, Brooks Brothers, and took it forward.  Elisha had a daughter named Lavinia, who had a daughter named Dorothy, who had a grandson named Hans, who has a daughter named Deirdre.

(If I’m reading this right, Deirdre is suggesting that David Brooks married Anne Sands, daughter of John Sands, and they had a son named David.  This second David Brooks then married Hannah Sands, who is the granddaughter of John Sand’s brother, Edward Sands.  Without mentioning sources or dates, it is hard to verify and place this into perspective.  It does make me ask which of her David Brooks would then be the father of my Thomas Brooks?)

The 1698 Census of Nassau County, New York (Sorry, I’ve lost the website.) contains the following Sands: Zibe, John, Mary, Gorg, Edmund, Nathanell, Doroty, John, May, Samuell, Zibiah, Doroty, Anna, Sarah, and Abigail.  I do not have family divisions for these which would help our understanding. 

Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut does mention the following Brooks men: 

John and David Brooks are executors of a will for a David Brooks in May of 1769.

Captain Joseph Brooks is a Representative from Haddam, Hartford County, CT, from 1770 – 1772.

Mr. John Brooks is a Representative from Stratford, Fairfield County, CT, also from 1770 – 1772.

Captain Enos Brooks of Wallingford, CT is appointed to a committee towards making a new ecclesiastical society in 1770.

Jabez Brooks, Jr. is established as an Ensign in Connecticut’s Militia, 6th company, 6th regiment in May of 1772.

Page 422 from A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut (Press of Case, Tiffany, & Co., Hartford, Conn., 1852.) shows the vote for the ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the representatives of Connecticut on January 3, 1788.  David Brooks from Cheshire, CT cast a Nay vote.

The History of Meriden, CT mentions:

Benjamin Brooks marries Thankful Hickock on December 15, 1741.

David Brooks, (possibly from Wallingford) on a committee to check loyalty for Cheshire Parish in 1775 – 1776.  He took confessions and recorded them as the Clerk.

The History of New Haven County, CT has this note regarding physicians living in the North Guilford area after 1800:

          “Doctor David Brooks, removed to New York, where he died in January, 1826.”

Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. III, by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, Litt. D., Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1902.  David Brooks is outlined in this work as a graduate of Yale College in 1768.  He is from the town of Cheshire, the son of Capt Enos Brooks (See Public Records… above.), and grandson to Lt. Thomas Brooks.  He studied Theology and was licensed to preach in 1770.  David Brooks married Elizabeth Doolittle in 1773 and they had 6 daughters and 4 sons.  David Brooks participated in a number of Revolutionary War battles and participated as a member of Connecticut’s Congress including being a delegate for the Connecticut Convention, as noted above in A Catalogue of Names.  He resided in Cheshire, CT, passing at the age of 58 in 1801.

The 1783 List if Original Members of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati includes a David Brooks, of New York.  This group appears to be an organization made up by former officers of the American Army that fought in the Revolution.  David Brooks holds the position of Assistant Clothier-general within this group.

LDS Contributors suggest Benjamin Brooks (1685 – 1745 of Stratford, CT), son of John and Sarah Brooks and who m. Mary Booth march 12, 1712/13 in Stratford, CT. 

 

 

 

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