GEORGE BROOKS (linked to Genealogies page)

George Brooks was undoubtedly residing in what is now Monroe, Orange County, New York, at the time of his marriage to Nancy Anne Garrison, probably in the 1780's. Both he and the Garrisons appear there in the 1790 census. Nancy's family was there before she was of marrying age, so it is likely that the Brooks and Garrison families moved independently to Monroe, formerly part of New Cornwall.

If George was born ca1760, he may have been born at New Cornwall; however, I have yet to find evidence of his family there. The only Brooks land sale was in 1779 by a John and Anne Brooks, and they appear unconnected to George. It is perhaps more likely that George immigrated to New Cornwall.

DOCUMENTATION:

1790 Aug 2 - George Brooks is listed in the New Cornwall, Orange County, New York census, below. Assumed residents of the house are his infant son Abraham; one unidentified son; wife Nancy Anne Garrison; one daughter, possibly Hannah.

George Brooks in the 1790 census. Source: Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The area where George and his neighbours were located in 1790 can be approximated by combining the census with maps. The area was renamed Cheesecocks for the 1800 census as it was located in the long-established Cheesecocks Patent, and by 1810 the area was in the census for Monroe, which had been formed from part of New Cornwall. George left the area shortly after the 1790 census, but many names from the census page remained and persisted for decades. By 1850, homes of the neighbours and their descendants appear on the map below. A section of the 1840 census shows connections to the map for families that were close neighbours to George's father-in-law, Jonas Garrison, in 1790. George was somewhere in the same vicinity.

Locating neighbours of Jonas Garrison and George Brooks. Source: Sidney, J. C., Smith, R. P. & Brown, N. S. (1851) Map of Orange County New York: from actual surveys. Philadelphia: Newell S. Brown, Publisher, 15 Minor St. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2013593254/.

This satellite view is the same region as the map. The darker area is a carefully measured overlay of the Cheesecock Patent, and the purple areas are properties sold around 1790 by a few of those recorded near George on the census pages. The yellow houses are those locations identified by the red lines on the map above. Since both Cheesecock Patent property records and the more recent map are consistent, George and Nancy Brooks probably lived southwest of present-day Harriman, NY.

Approximating the location of George Brooks in 1790. Source: created from Google Maps. (2021). Monroe, NY. Satellite image. Retrieved from https://www.google.ca/maps/@41.3166712,-74.1674875,11856m/data=!3m1!1e3 [Accessed 12 October 2021].

By 1794, we find George requesting land in Upper Canada. The Land Board met 25 Mar 1794 at Adolphustown: "George Brooks desirous to become a resident in this province prays for 200 acres of land. He having been examined by the board and the oath administered to him the land is granted" (1). George's entry follows that of his wife's brother, William Garretson [Garrison], also new to the province, his request being considered by the board at the same meeting. It is likely that George and Nancy travelled with her Garrison relatives from Monroe, NY to Upper Canada.

Three days after the board met, the Adolphustown census records his household: 1 man [George], 1 woman [wife Nancy Anne], 1 boy [son Abraham], 3 girls [daughters Hannah, Abigail, and Fanny?]. Although listed in the Adolphustown census, the property is almost certainly Gore AA Fredericksburgh Additional where the family was living shortly thereafter. This conclusion is reached using property records and the census order of names as listed by Canniff, p. 455 : "...Alexander Fisher, 10 [people in household]; James McMasters, 8; James Stephenson, 1; Russel Pitman, 7; Joseph Clapp, 4; George Brooks, 6..." (2)

Locating George Brooks in 1794. Source: created from Walling, H. F. (Cartographer). (1860). Map of the United Counties of Frontenac Lennox and Addington Counties [map]. <https://maps.library.utoronto.ca/hgis/countymaps>/frontenac_lennox_addington/Frontenac_Lennox_Addington_1860.jpg>

George appears again in the Adolphustown census the following year, 1795, with the addition of one daughter.

It's unlikely the family moved, though there appear numerous opportunities for them:

• A warrant was issued by Order in Council 8 July 1797 for 200 acres at L18 C13 Rawdon Twp, and George's name appears there on an early Rawdon map; however, it is unlikely he settled there, even briefly, for his son George's 1842 petition indicates the land was never improved and was forfeited (3).
  

• In October, 1797, a claim for L27 C1 Thurlow was allowed (4), but again, settlement duties were evidently not performed as the patent was issued to one James Richardson in 1819.

• In 1799 George claimed L17 C3 Camden (5), the north side of present day Newburgh, and a deed was issued 17 May 1802 from the Crown for 200 acres. The property abstracts for the lot do not indicate George ever owned it.

• Finally, George's will (6), dated a few weeks prior to his death, bequeaths L18 C4 Ernestown, but again, there is no indication of his ownership of this lot in the land abstracts.

On 24 May 1806, a statement of agreement was devised between George Brooks, his brother-in-law Marvel Garrison, and Nicholas Peterson, regarding their claims for land in Gore AA and BB, Fredericksburgh (7). They requested that a deed reflect their agreement, and a map was drawn up to confirm their ownership. The deed for 138 acres was issued 6 Dec 1806 to George.

Ontario Crown Lands Department. (1806). Township papers, RG1 C-IV reel 151, p. 543 [Microfilm]. Retrieved from <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS54-49TR?i=671&cat=185567>

In 1808, the Fredericksburgh assessment shows George had 40 acres cultivated and 90 uncultivated (8). He mortgaged his gore property to John Clapp 20 May 1812 (the mortgage was released by son George Jr in 1852).

George died 18 May 1813 while on duty with the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles from non-combat causes (9). He died "at Prescott or thereabouts" (10), and his land was advertised for auction.

Stuart, C. "Sheriff's Sale," Kingston Gazette, Kingston, October 8, 1814, p. 1. Microfilm, Kingston Public Library.

SOURCES

(1) Library and Archives Canada. (1794). Land Board Records and Minutes, RG1 L4 vol. 8, p. 43 [Microfilm]. Canadiana Heritage Microfilm Publication C-14027 image 710. <https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c14027>

(2) Canniff, William, "History of the Settlement of Upper Canada, Ontario," (Online: Project Gutenberg Ebook, 2017) [Originally published as History of the Settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,) with special reference to The Bay of Quinte, Toronto: Dudley & Burns, 1869], p. 455 <https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54554/pg54554-images.html>

(3) Library and Archives Canada. (1843). Upper Canada Land Petition, RG1 L3 vol. 71, B2/90, LAC Microfilm Publication C-1637 image 91.

(4) Library and Archives Canada. (1797). Records of the Upper Canada Heir and Devisee Commission, Midland District, p. 49, Canadiana Heritage Microfilm Publication H-1136, image 509 <https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_h1136/509?r=0&s=1>

(5) Library and Archives Canada. (1799). Records of the Upper Canada Heir and Devisee Commission, Midland District, p. 154, Canadiana Heritage Microfilm Publication H-1136, image 509 <https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_h1136/600?r=0&s=1>

(6) records of the Napanee museum, consulted ca1990

(7) Ontario Crown Lands Department. (1806). Township papers, RG1 C-IV reel 151, p. 543 [Microfilm]. Retrieved from <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS54-49TR?i=671&cat=185567>

(8) Adolphustown-Fredericksburgh Heritage Society. "1808 Assessment Fredericksburgh Township" in AFHS (Internet site), at <www.sfredheritage.on.ca/1808Assessment.html>

(9) Johnston, Winston. The Glengarry Light Infantry 1812-1816: Who were they and what did they do in the war? (Benson Publishing, 2nd ed., 2011), p. 225. Copy purchased from the author.

(10) Library and Archives Canada. (1823-1831). Upper Canada Land Petition, RG1 L3 vol. 52, B16/69e, LAC Microfilm Publication C-1628 image 942