LEVI BROOKS RESEARCH NOTES

LEVI BROOKS RESEARCH NOTES

I have never found record of where Levi was born or where/when he married Lydia Buck. In 12/1999 the Connecticut Historical Society searched the following for record of Levi's birth: CT Barbour Index of Vital Records to 1850, genealogical indices, genealogies of Brooks and Buck, and their manuscript file finding. Additionally, they searched town histories for Wethersfield, the Upper Houses (Middletown and environs), church records for Wethersfield and Stepney, and the Hartford County Probate Records. Nothing was found.

Levi and Lydia conveyed land in Eastbury, CT on Feb 20, 1778 as evidenced by the Grantor Index to Deeds for Wethersfield, CT. (Volume 15, page 205) Quit Claim to Joshua Andrus. In this same index is an entry for Thomas Brooks et al to Thomas Wickham on April 14, 1664. My copy of that document shows "Job Hawkins of Boston and Thomas Brooks of Portsmouth" sold something (can't read it) for hundred pounds.

From Church records of the Church in Eastbury, CT. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Book 61, Page 84: Children born to Levi Brooks while they were in Glastonbury, CT. HANNAH was baptized 21 Feb. 1779. POLLY was baptized 3 Nov 1782.

The Glastonbury, CT. land record index only had two records for Levi. They were both Grantor Records. One was the record below to his father Thomas. The other was a transaction where he sold 15 acres to Isaac Tubbs on September 27, 1779.

Levi and Lydia Brooks as the grantors and Thomas Brooks as the grantee. Glastonbury Land Records, Volume 8, Microfilm # 824, Deeds 1774-1787. My copy is very dark and almost unreadable but clearly shows Levi and Levi selling to "our Honored father Thomas Brooks " a certain piece of land situated in said Glastenbury in the Parish of Eastbury containing three acres of land, Butting and Bounding South on a Highway, East on land of Capt. Samuel Wells, West and North on Land of David Rose?" The document is dated March 23, 1779. The witnesses were Elizur Tallcott and Prudence Tallcott. We know that this had to be Levi's father as Lydia's parents were Peletiah Buck Jr. and Hannah Hills.

Levi's Military Records

1775: Reference: The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and naval Service During the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783, Edited by Henry P. Johnston, A.M. Hartford 1889: on the list of "Men Who Marched from the Connecticut Towns in April 1775 for the Relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm from the Town of Glastonbury: Levi and Thomas (presumed to be his brother) are listed as being in the 2nd Regiment - Gen. Spencer's 1775 9th Regiment and served for four day on this occasion, as did all the men from their town. (p.11). (Also an Elizur Brooks on this list)

1775: Listed in the Second Regiment, "General Spencer's", the 9th Company, among the Privates is Levy Brooks (enlisted May 8th 1775, discharged December 17, 1775) p.51 Thomas Brooks enlisted May 6, 1775 & discharged Dec 17, 1775. Battles during that time frame were:
May 10 --Ethan Allen & Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga
June 17 -- The British drove the Americans from Breed's Hill in the Battle of Bunker Hill
July 3 -- Washington assumed command of the Continental Army
August 14 -- Gunpowder stolen from British in Bermuda for General Washington
Nov 13 -- The patriots occupied Montreal in Canada

1776: p.385 - State Regiments at Boston, January to March 1776 on the list of the men in the 6th Company of Colonel Wolcott's Regiment shows Levi Brooks and Thomas Brooks. The Captain of the 6th Company was Johathan Hale. From Jan-March 1776 history shows the patriots drive the Loyalists from Moore's Creek Bridge. On March 3, the Continental Fleet captured New Providence Island in the Bahamas. On March 17, the British evacuated Boston.

1777: There is also record of a Levi Brooks on the Payroll of Capt Thomas Lawson's Co. in Col. Cook's Regiment of Tolland, CT for the campaign against Burgoyne, Aug. 23 to Nov. 5, 1777. The privates were paid 2.0.0 L per month and served for two and 1/2 months. On this list, in addition to Levi, is Josiah and Jonathan Brooks. Between the dates of this enlistment history tells us that the patriots crushed the Hessians at Bennington on August 16.
September 11 -- The British won the battle of Brandywine.
September 19 -- Gates' forces checked Burgoyne's army in the First Battle of Freeman's Farm.
October 4 -- Washington's forces met defeat in the Battle of Germantown.
October 7 -- The patriots repulsed the British in the Second Battle of Freeman's Farm.
October 17 -- Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga.

CENSUS INFO

1790 MA - The first Census of the United States shows three Levi's

1. Greenfield Town, Hampshire Cty, MASS
(1 Male over 16, 3 males under 16 and 4 females).

2. West Springfield, MA.
Males +16 including Head of Families = 4
females including H of F = 6

3. Winchendon Town, MA
Males of +16 incl. HofF =1, males under 16=1, females incl HofF = 2

There is a Thomas Brooks in this 1790 Census in Hampshire Cty (1 male over 16, 6 males under 16, and 2 females). Another in STERLING TOWN 2 males +16 incl HOF, 1m -16 & 3f +16 incl HOF.

Greenfield, Deerfield are now in Franklin Cty, MA. It is my opinion that the Levi in Greenfield Town is my ancestor who relocated to New York and appeared as:.

Levi Brooks lived in Thurman, Washington County, New York (Reel 26, 1800 Federal Census of New York

1810 Levi in Chenango County 02401-00010

(NOTE: The Levi Brooks that married Bettsa Flint is not this Levi.)

NEW YORK

**Per genealogy notes of 1951 by NY researcher, George Massey, "Dr. Peletiah B. Brooks' granddaughter said that her great-grandfather, Levi Brooks, came to NY with his brother Thomas. Both settled in Plymouth, had fought in Rev. & had come from Mass. We think Levi was in Mass in 1785 when his son, Levi Jr., was born." His papers are on file at the Chenango County Historian's office, 45 Rexford Street-Museum, Norwich, N.Y. 13815. I did not find anything more than the above statement that would be helpful.

Per HISTORY OF CHENANGO AND MADISON COUNTIES, NEW YORK, page 417: The first town meeting was held at the house of Walter Bement, March 3, 1807 and the following named officers were chosen ... LEVI BROOKS , Fence Viewer. ("Fence viewer, n.: a local official who administers the fence laws (as by inspection of new fence and settlement of disputes arising from trespass by livestock that have escaped enclosure." Webster's Third New International Dictionary.)

Anyone picking up the research of this family must know that the DAR Record of Genealogy for Mrs. M.H. Townsend (#87924) is well known to be incorrect.

Per the book "Revolutionary War Veterans Chenango County-New York, Volume 1: Levi and Lydia are buried in Aldrich Farm Cemetery on the Plymouth/Norwich Road in Norwich, New York. The cemetery is off the road on a high prominence. His tombstone reads:

Levi Brooks A Revolutionary Soldier Died Feb 12th, 1829 Aged 72 years & 16 days

MISCELLANEOUS

A book on the history of Leyden, MA. lists Levi and Thomas Brooks who came to Leyden abt 1784 from Guilford, VT. during the Yorker troubles. I'm told by descendants of Thomas that he had children born in Leyden, MA.

Lydia is by his side. I don't have a photo that will scan of her stone. It reads: In Memory of Lydia Consort of Levi Brooks Who lived beloved & died Lamented July the 4th 1806 in the 59 Year of her age Blest are the dead Who die in the Lord

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