James Vass Brooke

98. James Vass BROOKE was born on 10 Oct 1824 in Falmouth, Virginia, died on 9 Oct 1898 in Warrenton, Fauquier, VA, at age 73, and was buried in Oct 1898 in Warrenton Cemetery, Warrenton, VA.

Death Notes: Died at his home

General Notes: Name: James Vass Brooke born at Falmouth, Virginia, October 10, 1824, son of William Brooke, exporting merchant, and Jeannie Morrison, his wife, half-sister of James Vass, of Fredericksburg. He studied law under Judge R. L. C. Moncure, settled in Warrenton, and began law practice at the early age of nineteen years. He was an ardent Whig. He served as commonwealth attorney, and state secretary of the American party. He was elected to the convention of 1861, and signed the ordinance of secession. In 1862 he organized and took to the field, Brooke's battery, which was attached to Jackson's corps. During the valley campaign, his ankle was broken by the kick of an artillery horse, but he returned on crutches, and took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. His disability forbade further military service, and in 1863 he entered the house of delegates, in which he served until the fall of Richmond. After the war he was a law partner of Hon. R. Taylor Scott, in Warrenton, and his practice covered a period of fifty-five years. He canvassed actively for every Democratic presidential nominee from 1868 to 1896, when he supported Palmer and Buckner. He served several times in the house of delegates and senate, and in the latter body, in 1877, labored arduously for the "Brooke bill," providing for an amicable settlement of the state debt. In the next session he was chairman of the judiciary committee, and took a leading part in the revision of the code of Virginia. He served in all important offices, and was largely instrumental in modernizing the pavements, lighting and water supply of Warrenton. He was for forty-five years an elder of the Presbyterian church, and many times a delegate to the general assembly; for two years acceptably filled the pulpit in the absence of the pastor; and was for twenty-five years superintendent of the Sunday school. He died October 9, 1898. In politics he was a follower of Henry Clay.

1850 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > Ashbys>age 26>lawyer 1860 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > South West Revenue District> age 35>lawyer 1870 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > First Revenue District>age 45> lawyer 1880 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > All Townships > District 44>age 55>lawyer 1890?? age 65

Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Lawyer-admitted to Fauquier bar before he was 20/CSA.

• Education: privated school in Fredericksburg/studied law under Judge R. L. C. Moncure/worked for Samuel Chilton.

• Religion: Presbyterian.

• Military: Military.

James married Mary Elizabeth NORRIS , daughter of Thaddeus NORRIS and Ann [---?---] , on 22 May 1844 in Fauquier Co., VA. Mary was born about 1822 in Virginia and died after 1870 in Fauquier Co., VA.

Marriage Notes: Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850

General Notes: 1850 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > Ashbys>age 28 1860 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > South West Revenue District> age 36 1870 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > First Revenue District>age

Children from this marriage were:

+ 214 M i. William Throckmorton BROOKE was born about 1846 in Warrenton, Fauquier, VA.8

  215 M    ii. Richard Norris W. BROOKE was born about 1848 in Warrenton, Fauquier, VA.8

General Notes: Never married 1850 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > Ashbys>age3 1860 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > South West Revenue District> age 12 1870 ?? 1880 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > All Townships > District 44>age 32>artist Richard Brooke, vice principal of the Corcoran School of Art from 1902 to 1918, and a writer, 19th century journalist and writer

Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Artist/journalist and writer/Consul, La Rochelle, France.

+ 216 F iii. Jeannie Morrison BROOKE was born about 1850 in Warrenton, Fauquier, VA.8

+ 217 M iv. James Vass BROOKE Jr. was born about 1853 in Warrenton, Fauquier, VA.8

+ 218 M v. Francis "Frank" Calvert BROOKE was born about 1856 in Virginia.8

  219 F    vi. Nannie A. BROOKE was born about 1858 in Virginia and died before 1898 in Virginia.

General Notes: 1860 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > South West Revenue District> age 2 1870 United States Federal Census > Virginia > Fauquier > First Revenue District>age 12

Source: Downloaded March 2011 from http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~revpierrerobert/d5.htm