Brooks Family History

Last updated 15 July 2008
James Brooks

Coal Miner
b. abt.1817
m. abt 22 Feb 1841
d. abt. 1895
Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire
Mary Calden

b. abt. 1823
See below
m. abt 22 Feb 1841
d. 11 Feb1897
Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire
Mary Brooks

b. abt.1846
Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire

d. 7 Jan 1917
Cheddleton, Staffordshire
David Brooks

of Butts Lane, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire
John Brooks

{of Leigh, Lancashire}

William Brooks
Sarah Brooks

Married name Sarah Berry

Free BMD has a marriage for the 2nd quarter of 1845 between James Brookes and Mary Moulton. The marriage took place in the registration district of Wolstanton (which included Kidsgrove and Talke). From this I had listed Mary's maiden surname of Moulton.

However, Ernest Brookes I has given me the following :-
From the marriage certificate,
James Brooks aged 24 yrs. married Mary Calden aged 19yrs. at the parish church of Audley. On the 22nd Feb. 1841.
Both were resident at Butt Lane.
James Brooks's father is John Brooks, both are colliers.
Mary Calden's father is Samuel Calden who is a Boatman.

The certificate is witnessed by William Brooks,who I think is James' brother, who I have marrying a Catherine Archer on 28-4-1845 whose father is also a Boatman. William's father is given as John Brooks.

In census's Mary gives a different place of birth each time.

In 51 it's Wolstanton, In 61 It's Tunstall, In 71 It's Butt lane. I assumed being the daughter of a boatman she would never be quite sure where she was born. the canal was a major route between all 3 places.

I also have to thank David Eeley for his reseach into this part of the family tree.

Mary

Mary, wife of James Brooks left a will witnessed by J W Eeley. In her will she named as beneficaries sons John of Leigh in Lancashire, David of Butt Lane (Talk O Hill) and William, and daughters Mary Eeley and Sarah Berry. In the will she is described as a widow.

I ordered a birth certificate for Mary Brookes, born 3rd of December 1846, daughter of William Brookes, Engineer, and Emma Brookes formerly Stevenson. The family were living at Church Street Fenton. Details were "Brookes Mary, Stoke-on-Tt Dec 1846, vol XVII (17) page 142"

This does not match "my" Mary Brookes, above.

James Brooks

www.MyTrees.com lists a James Brooks, born 8th Oct 1817 at Burslem, Staffordshire, son of Samual Brooks (24 June 1788) and Mary. This is a possible match for our James Brooks. This Brooks family (see below) is also associated with Audley, Talk, Staffordshire.

Samual is in turn the son of William Brooks, married 4 September 1779 at Leek Staffordshire to Sarah Yarwood (daughter of Thomas Yarwood and Joyce Johnson).

William Brooks is the son of John Brooks and Hannah Clarke who married 27 Dec 1749 at Audley, Staffordshire, England.

John Brooks is the son of John Brooks born about 1698, Talke, Audley, Staffordshire and Ellen.

All this additional information is from the family tree of David Ralphs www.davidralphs.com. My thanks to David.

Audley Parish

1837 Tithe

Abraham Brookes held a house and garden, owned by Thomas Moore (plan number 188).
Thomas Brookes held a property between a house and garden and a joiner's shop, owned by John Bailey, (plan number 189).
Click here for Butt Lane Village details
Click here for map of Butt Lane, Church Street and Old Butt Lane.

Census Information

1841 Census

6th/7th of June

Butt Lane

  • Samuel Brooks (59) born about 1782, coal miner.
  • Mary Brooks (50) born about 1791.
  • Elija Brooks (27), born about 1814, coal miner.
  • Thomas Brooks (17) born about 1824, coal miner.
  • Joseph Brooks (15) born about 1826.
  • Moses Brooks (10) born about 1831
  • Isaac Brooks (8) born about 1833.

Butt Lane

  • Peter Norbury, born about 1806 (35), coal miner.
  • Hannah Norbury, born about 1808 (33).

Butt Lane (next door to the Norbury's)

  • John Brooks, (58) born about 1783, coal miner.
  • Eliabeth Brooks (59) born about 1782
  • William Brooks (17) born about 1824 {son or grandson?}
 

Butt Lane

  • Thomas Brookes, born about 1811 (30), coal miner.
  • Louisa Brookes, born about 1815 (26).
  • Joseph Brookes, born about 1833 (8).
  • Mary Brookes, born about 1834, (7)
  • Daniel Brookes, born about 1838, (3)
  • John Brookes, born about 1840, (7months)

Hight Street, Woolstanton

  • Daniel Brookes born about 1781, shoe maker
  • Magrett Brookes born about 1781
  • Samuel Brookes, born about 1821, shoe dealer.

Hight Street, Woolstanton

  • George Brookes (15) born about 1826, ironmonger's assistant

1851 Census

30th March 1851(previous night)

116 Butt Lane

  • Mary Brookes, head of household, born about 1782, born Fair Hill Warwickshire,
    .
  • Mosses Brookes, son, born about 1831, Collier, born Audley.
  • Issac Brookes, son, born about 1833, Collier, born Audley.
  • Mary Brookes, grandaughter, born about 1844, Audley

117 Butt Lane

  • James Brooker (sic), head of household, born about 1817, Coal Miner, born Audley.
  • Mary Brooker (sic), wife, born about 1821, born Woolstanton.
  • Eliza Brooker (sic), daughter, born about 1849, born Audley.
  • Mary Brooker (sic), daughter, born about 1846, born Audley.
  • Samu Brooker (sic), son, born about 1844, born Audley.
  • William Brooker (sic), son, (10 months) born 1850, born Audley.

118 Butt Lane

  • John Brooker (sic), head of household,, born about 1784, on parish relief, born Audley.
  • Elizabeth Brooker (sic), wife, born about 1781, on parish relief, born Audley.
  • John Chadwick, stepson, born about 1805, coal miner, born Audley

119 Butt Lane

  • Sarah Brookes, head of Household, born about 1797, born Woolstanton.
  • Thomas Brookes, son, born about 1843, born Audley.
  • Sarah Brookes, daughter, born about 1827, born Woolstanton.
  • Thomas Brookes, son-in-law, born about 1824, born Audley.
  • David Brookes, step-son, born about 1835, born Audley.
  • Betsy Brookes (sic), grandaughter, (3 months)
  • Hannah Brookes (sic) grandaughter (2) born about 1849
  • James Harding G-son (3) born about 1848

1861 Census

8th April (previous night)

Audley 3a Whitmore Newcastle

70 New Road, Talk Oth Hill (RG09, piece 1920, folio 10, page 13)

  • Abraham Brooks, 46 (1815), head of household, Collier, born in Ardley (sic), Staffordshire.
  • Ann Brooks, 39 (1842), wife, born in Ardley (sic)y, Staffordshire.
  • David Brooks, 19, son (unmarried), Collier, born in Ardley (sic), Staffordshire.
  • Moses Brooks, 15, son (unmarried), Collier, born in Ardley (sic), Staffordshire.
  • Peter Nowotny (sic) [Norbury], 59, father-in-law, widower, Collier, born in Ardley (sic), Staffordshire.

Butt Lane (117)

  • James Brookes, 44 (born about 1817), head of household. collier, born in Talk.
  • Mary Brookes, 40 (born about 1821), wife, born Staffordshire.
  • Samuel Brookes, 17 (born about 1844) son, collier.
  • William Brookes, 15 (born about 1846) , born Talk.
  • Sarah Brookes, 5 (born about 1856), born Talk.
 

189 Butt Lane, House of William Feyer (47), boot builder (boat builder?) and Inn Keeper.

  • Mary Brooks, 15 (born about 1846), unmarried, servant, born Audley

210 Butt Lane

  • Joseph Brooks, 55 (1806), head of household, collier.
  • Mary Ann Brookes, wife
  • Prescilla Brookes, sister-in-law (i.e. married to Joesph's brother).

6 Great Marsh

  • Joseph Brookes, 72 (born about1789), head of household, ag lab.
  • Sarah Brookes, 71, (born about 1890), wife.

8 Great Marsh

  • William Brookes, 42 (born about1819), head of household, railway labourer.
  • John Brookes, 22, (born about 1839), son, bricklayer.
  • William Brookes, 17 (born about 1844) ,son, ag lab.
Union Workshouse, Ashton-under-Lyme
  • Moses Brookes, 6, an inmate in the workhouse (Newcastle-under-Lyme).

1871 Census

2nd/3rd April

Audley 3a Whitmore Newcastle

  

192 Newtown

  • Joseph Brookes, head of Household, 38 (born about 1833), coal miner, born Audley.
  • Mary, wife, 46 (born about 1832), born Audley.
  • Anner Brookes, daughter, 19 (born 1852) born Audley
  • Daisey Brookes, daughter, 12 (born about 1859), born Audley.
  • Marcia Brookes, daughter,9 (born 1862) born Audley.
  • Daniel Brookes, son, 5 (born about 1866), born Audley.

6 Villiers Street, Dresden, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

  • Elizabeth Brookes head of household, 36, born about 1835,manager, born Longton.
  • Mary J Brookes, daughter, 15, potters paint...., born Caverswall.
  • Abrahams Brookes, son, 10 (born about 1861), born Longton.
  • Albert E Brookes, son, 8 (born about 1863) born Longton.
  • David Brookes, son, 4 (born about 1867), born Longton.
  • Elizabeth Brookes, daughter, 1 (born about 1870) born Trentha,?)

1881 Census

3rd - 4th April

Audley 3a Whitmore Newcastle

Old Butt Lane

  • John Eeley, head of household, 32 (born about 1849) born Preston (Preston Bissett, Cambridgeshire).
  • Mary, wife, 35 (born about 1846), born Audley.
  • James W Eeley, son, 9 (born about 1872), born Audley.
  • John Eeley, son, 7 (born about 1874) born Audley.
  • Sarah Ann Eeley, 5 (born about 1846) born Audley.
  • David Eeley, son, 3 (born about 1848) born Audley.
  • Hannah E Eeley, daughter 6 months (born 1880), born Audley.

Old Butt Lane

  • Joseph Brookes, head of Household, 55 (born about 1826), coal miner, born Audley.
  • Mary A, wife, 46 (born about 1835), born Audley.
  • Andrew Brookes, nephew, 12 (born about 1869).
  • Caroline Brookes, lodger, general servant, 18 (born about 1863), born Audley.
  • Mary E L Brookes, daughter, 6 months (born 1880) born Audley.

Old Butt Lane (117) FHL Film 1341648 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2703 Folio 96 Page 14

  • James Brookes, head of household, 64 (born about 1817), coal miner, born Audley.
  • Mary Brookes, wife, 60 (born about 1821), born Audley.
  • David Brookes, son, 20 (born about1861), coal miner, born Audley.
  • John Brookes, son, 15 (born about1866), coal miner, born Audley.
  • Mary A Brookes, daughter, 8 (born about 1873), born Audley.

Old Butt Lane (118)

  • William Brookes, 56 (born about 1825) head of household, coal miner, born Audley.
  • Catherine, wife, 64 (born about 1817), born Leek.
  • Dinah Brookes, daughter, 16 (born about 1865), dressmaker, born Audley
  • Hannah Brookes, daughter, 13 (born about 1868), born Audley
  • James E Brookes, son, 14 (born about 1867), coalminer, born Audley

Old Butt Lane (119)

  • Thomas Brookes, head of Household, 38 (born about 1843), born Audley.
  • Ann Brookes, wife, 34 (born about 1847), born Audley.
  • Sarah Brookes, Mother, born about 1797, born Woolstanton.
  • Jethro Brookes, son, 14 (born about 1867), born Audley.
  • Luke Brookes, son, 9 (born about 1872), born Audley.
  • Sarah Ann Brookes, daughter, 7 (born about 1874) born Audley.
  • Ernest Brookes, son, 5, (born about 1876) born Audley.

Old Butt Lane, home of William (61) and Sarah (57) Edwards, with sons Paul *21) and Silas (23).

  • Ada Brookes, grandughter, 12 (born about 1869), born Audley.

Old Butt Lane

  • Louisa Brookes, head of household, 63 (born about 1818) widow, born Audley.
  • Enos Brookes, son, 27 (boarn abour 1845), unmarried, coalminer, born Audley.
  • Harriett A Brookes, grandaughter, 9 (born about 1872), born Audley.
  • Levi Brookes, gandson, 14 (born about 1867) coal miner, born Audley.

1891 Census

5th/6th April1

41 Church Street, Butt Lane

  • David Brookes, head of household, 59 (born 1835), grocer, born Butt Lane.
  • Hannah Brookes, wife, 52 (born 1839), born Sandbatch Cheshire
    .
  • Thomas Brookes, son, 31 (born 1881), coal miner born Burslam.
  • Albert Brookes, son, 29 (born 1862), born Butt Lane.
  • Willmot Brookes, son, 22 (born 1869), born Butt Lane.
  • Frances Brookes, daughter, 13 (born 1878), born Butt Lane.
  • Fredrick Brookes, son, 6 (born 1885?), born Butt Lane.

58 Cross Street, Butt Lane

  • Caleb Brookes, head of household, 25 (born 1867), coal miner, Butt Lane.
  • Annise Brookes, wife, 24 (born 1868), born Burslam.
  • Geroge Brookes, son, 10 (born 1881), born Butt Lane.
  • Daniel Brookes, son, 9 (born 1882), born Butt Lane.
  • Joseph Brookes, son, 8 (born 1883), born Butt Lane.
  • Lois Brookes, daughter, 6 (born 1885), born Butt Lane.
  • John Brookes, son, 2 (born 1889), born Butt Lane.
  • Agnus Brookes, daughter, 1 (born 1890), born Butt Lane.

60 Cross Street

  • George Brookes, head of household, 36 (born 1855) coal miner, born Butt Lane.
  • Hannah Brookes, wife, 35 (born 1856)

79 Old Butt Lane (119)

  • Thomas Brookes, head of Household, 47 (born about 1844), coal miner, born Butt Lane.
  • Ann Brookes, wife, 43 (born about 1846), born Butt Lane.
  • Jethro Brookes, son, 24 (born about 1867), coal miner,born Butt Lane.
  • Luke Brookes, son, 19 (born about 1872), coal miner, born Butt Lane.
  • Sarah Ann Brookes, daughter, 17 (born about 1874) born Butt Lane.
  • Ernest Brookes, son, 15, (born about 1876), colaminer, born Butt Lane.
  • Thomas W Brookes, son, 8, (born about 1876), colaminer, born Butt Lane.

80 Old Butt Lane (119 Butt Lane?)

  • William Brookes, 66 (born about 1825) head of household, retired coal miner, born Leek.
  • Catherine, wife, 64 (born about 1827), born Leek.

81 Old Butt Lane (117 Butt Lane?)

  • Mary Brookes, widow, head of household, 66 (born about 1821), born Tunstall.
  • David Brookes, son, 30 (born about1861), coal miner, born Butt Lane.

82 Old Butt Lane

  • Andrew Brookes, head of household, 24 (born about 1867), born Butt Lane.
  • Frances Brookes, wife, 22 (born about1869), born Butt Lane.
  • Joseph Brookes, son 3 (born about 1888), born Butt Lane.
  • John Brookes, son 9 months (born 1890), born Butt Lane.

84 Old Butt Lane

  • John Eeley, head of household, 43 (born about 1848), born Preston Bisset, Bucks.
  • Mary Eeley, wife, 45 (born about1846), born Butt Lane.
  • William Eeley, son 19 (born about 1872), born Butt Lane.
  • David Eeley, son 13 (born 1878), born Butt Lane.
  • Hannah Eeley, son 10 (born 1881), born Butt Lane.
  • Mary Eeley, son 8 (born 1883), born Butt Lane.
  • Joseph Eeley, son 4 (born 1887), born Butt Lane.

100 Old Butt Lane

  • Mary E Brookes, neice, 7 (born about 1884), born Talk.

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