Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
The earlier portion of the pedigree has been taken by Miss Nembhard from one drawn up by lawyers about 1807, endorsed "Sketch of Descent of F. G Smyth Esq. from George Brooks senior, George Brooks, Will Entered 21st Novr. 1750. Lib. 28, folio 19. Papers relative to Mrs. Witter. Not examined." George Brooks, great- grandson of testator, was Claimant under the will as Right Heir of Mrs. Witter, the surviving Dau. of the three. F. G. Smyth of Goshen was Claimant as surviving Heir of one of the Daus., being son of Francis George Smyth, deceased, and grandson of Cath. Brooks and F. Smyth. The latter portion has been taken from the pedigree drawn up by her father, the late Major-General Nembhard (1827-1905), founded on facts partly derived from his mother (18081874). The pedigree requires proof from wills, deeds, and parish registers, but it is probably fairly accurate.
A bookplate of John Brooks has been preserved; it is in the Chippendale style, with the Brooks arms so incorrectly engraved as to be useless for illustration. It however shews on an escutcheon of pretence: Gules, on a chevron Or three pellets, a coat of some heiress which has not been identified. [EDITOR.]
*Contributed by Miss Mabel Nembhard of 27 Gilbert Street, W.
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This estate, is in the parish of St. Elizabeth, some two miles from the village of Santa Cruz. About a mile from the residence known as "Pear Tree Valley" are the ruins of an old house with its large overgrown flower garden still traceable. To the east, on a slight eminence four or five chains off, is the old family burial-place, about 20 feet square, enclosed by a low stone wall. Within this is a stone tomb, surmounted by a massive black marble slab, with the following arms and inscription:
ARMS. A cross engrailed per pale .... (no tinctures). CREST. A badger passant above an esquire's helmet.
" Here lies the body of GEORGE BROOKS, Esqr. the Elder, who departed this life May ye 9th, 1750, aged 62 years, was an indulgent father, a loving husband, and a good friend."
In his will (entered in the Record Office in Libro 28, fol. 18), dated 3 March 1748 and proved 21 November 1750, he names his wife Elizabeth, six sons, Samuel, John, George, Christopher, Thomas, and Francis, also four daus., Anna, Elizabeth, Bonella, and Catherine.
Without the enclosure, on the north, south, and east sides, are three more tombs, of which the north side one has no inscription. The tomb on the south side has the following inscription on a limestone slab:-
"Here lieth the body of Mrs. ELIZABETH CHAMBERS, who departed this life on the 16 day of March, 1772, aged 52# years 3 months and eleven days. She was an indulgent parent and a good woman."
The tomb to the east is inscribed as follows, also on a limestone slab:-
"Here lieth the body of BONELLA CHAMBERS who departed this life on Sunday the 6th September 1772 aged 31 years and four months. She was a fond affectionate wife, a dutiful child, and a benevolent woman."
The whole of the above information has been derived from an article in "The Gleaner" of Jamaica, 1898, by Leslie Alexander, a clerk in the Record Office, of Kingston.
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+ Formerly known as "Burnt Ground."
#I think this 52 must be an error for 32, as she would hardly be 21 years older than her sister Bonella.
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The above burial-ground was not noted by Archer. On p. 327 be gives a M.I. from Falmouth Church in the parish of Trelawney to: "John Tharp Chambers, son of Edward Chambers Esq. d. 1795."
There is a small paper plan, drawn up in 1792 by Francis Robertson, Surveyor, giving the boundaries between Longwood and Burnt Ground plantations in St. Elizabeth's parish. "Burntground House " is marked, and "Land laid out for George Brooks," bounded at the north-west corner by Samuel Rushton and Henry Fleeming, then north and east by "Land belonging to the proprietors of Longwood Pen," and at the south-east corner by "Now Emaus Pen Patented by William Russell." Then follows a clause that "We Richard Joseph Edward and John Brooks of the one part, and John Brooks of the other part do hereby agree that the lines.... in the above diagram .... shall be.... the dividing lines between our properties ...." Not signed nor sealed.
The second John is thought to have been a natural son of George Brooks, Esq., because in 1769 and 1775 private acts were passed to authorize the latter to dispose of his estate, without regard to the Law of Disabilities, and to intitle his reputed children by Mary Powell to the same rights as English subjects (Feurtado).
Dr. George Brooks inherited a moiety of the Chester estate Trelawney and Mr. Kenyon the other from the widow of James Virgo Dunn, his great-uncle, but sold this to Mr. Kenyon in 1844. He also sold outlying portions of Burnt Ground, and negros were allowed to squat on the remainder.
His son, the Rev. George Bygrave Brooks, sold 300 acres of the Blenheim estate, which had formerly brought in £10,000 a year, to a Rev. Mr. Hildebrand, Rector of Snowdon, both estate and house then being in a ruinous condition; for £180.
Christopher Brooks of Farncomb in the parish of Godalming, Co. Surrey, doctor in physick. Will dated 13 October 5 Geo., 1718. To my sons Samuel and George Brooks, now in Jamaica, the mortgage for £300 made unto me by Thomas Downer of the parish of Veere in the said Island. To my son Francis Brooks, now an infant, my messuages in Godalming at 23, my wife to receive the rents till then for his bringing up, and if he die to my daus. Mary and Ann Brooks, and I further give my daus. £100 apiece at 21. My wife Judith Executrix and all residue. My friends William Osborne, citizen and haberdasher of London, and James Figg, junior of Chichester, co. Sussex, chirurgeon, overseers in trust, to whom I give a guinea each for a ring.
Witnesses: William Ayling, Richard Norris, William Godfrey.
Proved 5 February 1718 (22, Browning).
"Col. Brooks" was named in the list of his officers drawn up by Venables. See Bridges "Annals of Jamaica," 1827, i., p. 198. Bridges has added a note that he settled in the parish of St. Elizabeth.
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*Their first son was Charles Frederick (1840-1905), Assistant Bishop of Jamaica 1888-1904, consecrated in Westminster Abbey 30 November 1888.
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BROOKS Additions and Corrections
Chr. Brooks and Deb. Hay had a daughter Marianne, who married 1777, at Elim, John Foster, and had issue 2 sons.
Elizabeth Raby Brooks ran away after a ball at Cheltenham, and was married at Gretna Green.
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