Person:Henry Brooks (5)

Henry Brooks was a planter and a Quaker. From the Cecil Meeting Minutes: 10d 3m 1749, "Henry Brooks haven taken a wife after the manor of those who differ from us in religious principles this meeting therefore appoint Samuel Wallis and Thomas Bowers to acquaint him that friends expect him to consider his disorderly marriage or friends will be obliged to disown him of our society". 14d 4 1749, it was reported that "he could not condemn what he approved, and that he expected friends to disown him." 13d 10m 1749, "Henry Brooks his denial has been made publick in Cecil and Chester meetings which said denial is as follows: Whereas Henry Brooks a reputed member of our society having married a woman of a different persuation from us in religious principles disagreeable to the direction of friends discipline, and having been dealt with as usual in such care did not find him inclinable to condemn the same to the satisfaction of friends -- we do hereby disown him the said Henry Brooks to be any longer of our society and desire he may no more be deemed such until he shall be brought to a sight and sense of him self of his out going herein which will be matter of joy to all true lovers of the blessed truth. Given forth at our monthly meeting held at Cecil Meeting house on the 13d of the 7th month 1749." 14d 12m 1757, "Henry Brooks appeared in our meeting and delivered a paper condemning his former disorderly...which was read and approved." The paper read as follows: "Dear Friends and ..., I have made with you the people called Quakers for many years past in a good degree lived agreeably there unto for a time whereof I came under your christian care but alass with sorrow I may say I did not continue long in that good condition before I became non watchfull over my conduct and proceeded contrary to the devine principle of truth in myself in marrying by a prest contrary to the discipline of truth maintained by faithfull friends for which I am sorry that I gave any just occation for truth to suffer or the professers of it to be evilly spoken of through my misconduct and I do sincerely take the whole blame and shame thereof to myself desiring through the Lords assistance to walk worthy of his Merciezes and favour in... wherein I hope and desire ever to be more carefull in my life and conversation which will I doubt not give me acceptance with my well inclined friends again. So I remain your respectful friend. Henry Brooks Henry Brooks died 27d, 3m, 1762 in good standing in the Society of Friends. The education of the children of Henry and Sophia and care of their estates were entrusted to the Friends by his will after his and his wifes death. Henry Bodien was appointed this responsibility. Following Henry's death, Samuel Wallis (122) was given this responsibility.

In the first inventory Aguila Peacock and Rob Peacock are listed as kin and Sarah Brooks is Executor. In the second inventory, 12 May 1763, Aquila Peacock and Margaret Brooks are listed as kin and Henry Bodien is administor.

Henry Brooks was condemned by the Cecil Monthly Meeting for taking a wife after the manor of those who differ from Quakers in religious principals. In Dec 1757 Henry condemned his marrying by a priest.

1. ↑ Records of Meetings, Cecil Meeting of Friends, Kent Co, MD.
2. ↑ Skinner, Vernon L Jr. Abstracts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland 1674-1774. Family Archive CD number 206.. (Broderbund, 1998)
   Inventories 1760-63 page 67, 78:233.
3. ↑ Kent County Probate Records
   Inventories 5:214.
4.   Records of Meetings, Cecil Meeting of Friends, Kent Co, MD.
5.   Kent County Probate Records
   Inventories #5 1759-1766 pages 124 and 219.
6.   Wright, Robert W. Barnes & F. Edward. Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. (Family Line Publications, Westminster, MD, 1996)
   Vol 1 page 54.
7. ↑ Henry's inventory names Aquilla Peacock and Robert Peacock as next of Kin.
   A second inventory Kent Co 5:214 names Aquilla Peacock and Mergt Brooks Kin. The same two signed Ann Brooks inventory as kin in 1763.