William Brooks of Scituate and Gilbert Brooks of Rehoboth “almost certainly brothers” were passengers of the Blessing in 1635.

Sgt. Gilbert Brooks, of Rehoboth

• Parents unknown
• Brother of William Brooks of Scituate
• Born ca 1621 in England. Gilbert died in Rehoboth, MA on 13 Jun 1695.
• Place of Burial: Old Winslow Burying Ground, Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
• Sgt. Gilbert Brooks, of Rehoboth Find A Grave Memorial

Married

• Married: (1) Elizabeth Simmons, per the New Engand Marriage Records Prior to 1700 . Elizabeth died in Jul 1687. Buried on 17 Jul 1687 in Rehoboth, MA.14. It has been suggested that Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth (Nash) Simmons of Scituate
• Married: (2) 18 Jan 1687[/8] Gilbert second married Sarah Redway, daughter of James Redway, in Rehoboth, MA.14 Born ca 1642.208

Sgt. Gilbert Brooks, of Rehoboth Will, Dated: June 6, 1695, by the Redway Family, page 131

Family

It has been suggested that Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth (Nash) Simmons of Scituate.
Their children include:

1. Elizabeth Brooks(ca 1646-4 Mar 1674/5)
2. Sarah Brooks (ca 1646-)
3. Mary Brooks (ca 1649-)
4. Rachel Brooks (ca 1650-)
5. Phebe Brooks (ca 1652-ca 1721)
6. Bathsheba Brooks (ca 1655-24 Feb 1739)
7. Rebecca Brooks (ca 1657-)
8. Hannah Brooks (ca 1659-2 Oct 1762)
9. Bethia Brooks (29 Apr 1662-)

Born about 1621 (aged 14 in 1635). Came to Plymouth Colony in 1635 on the Blessing," & first settled in Scituate. Moved to Marshfield by 1643, Scituate by 1646, & Rehoboth by 1662. Died 13 Jun 1695 (from inventory). Married (1) by 1646, Elizabeth Unknown. She was buried at Rehoboth on 17 Jul 1687. (2) in Rehoboth, 18 Jan 1687[/8], Sarah (Redway) Carpenter, daughter of James Redway & widow of Samuel Carpenter. Almost certainly brother of WILLIAM BROOKS, who also sailed on the "Blessing," & who appears immediately before Gilbert on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms, at his admission to freemanship in 1658, & on the 1658 list of freeman. His early association with WILLIAM VASSALL may indicate that Gilbert Brooks was from Essex in England.

Source: Anderson's Great Miogration Study Project. Memorialized as one of the first settlers of Marshfield on cenotaph at Old Winslow Cemetery.

Pane-Joyce Genealogy

Gilbert Brooks. Born ca 1621 in England. Gilbert died in Rehoboth, MA on 13 Jun 1695.14

Gilbert came to New England on the Blessing in 1635 at age 14. He is almost certainly a brother to William Brooks since they came on the Blessing together, and their names appear together on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms, on admission to freemanship in 1658, and on the 1658 list of freemen. Gilbert settled in Scituate, removed to Marshfield by 1643, back to Scituate by 1646, and to Rehoboth by 1662.14

From Deane’s History of Scituate:

Gilbert Brooks was a brother of William Brooks, sen. and came into Scituate at the same time. His residence was on the south of Colman’s hills. He sold his house to Robert Crossman of Taunton, 1652. It was afterward the residnece of Joseph Otis, Esq. The earliest notice which we have seen of him, is , that he was in the family of Mr William Vassall 1638. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Gov. Edward Winslow. He had sons Gilbert and John, probably born in Marshfield. ... In 1675, he kept a garrison at Gov. Josiah Winslow’s house in Marshfield. We observe that John, son of Gilbert Brooks, had a legacy in the will of his uncle, Gov. Josiah Winslow.

Gilbert’s will was dated 6 Jun 1695 at Rehoboth, probated 5 Jul 1695, inventory 13 Jun 1695. It mentions his wife Sarah; grandson Benony Wiggins; stepson Zacariah Carpenter; and nine unnamed daughters an equal share of the estate after his death excepting daughter Rachel's share to grandson Benony Wiggins; sons-in-law Robert Crosman and William Manle executors; grandchild Bathsheba Walker; grandson Brooks Thrasher; and Zacariah Carpenter a coverlet. Witnesses Samuel Newman, Richard Bowen, and Nathaniel Chaffee all of Rehoboth. After the inventory the estate was distributed to the widow, Zacariah Carpenter 3-14-6, Benoni Wiggins, Rebecca Haskins, Batsheba Walker, Betiah Thresher, Sarah Lyon, Elizabeth Steven's children, Rachel "another Daughter being at Long Island we have as yet oppurtunity to pay her anything", Mary Colburn "as yet will not recieve any portion but rather shows dislike of the will".

Links

• https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr02/rr02_183.html#P16182
• https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr02/rr02_163.html#P219

Sources

• Frank R. Holmes, Directory of the American Heads of New England Families, 1620-1700 ( American Historical Society; New York; 1923;), Page 32.
• James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. I (A-C) ( Little, Brown & Co.; Boston; 1860-1862;), Page 260.
• Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 1687-1745, Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 1687-1745 ( Genealogical Forum File Library; NEHGS Register, Vol. 63;), Gilbert Brooks - Will of 6 Jun 1695.