John Brooke

Biographical notes

“Prentis House Historical Report, Block 17 Building 11A Lot 51.” Originally entitled: "A History of the Prentis House Colonial Lot #51 Block # 17 - Site # 11. By Helen Bullock (1938) Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1366.Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library. < link >

A house was erected on this site between 1712 and 1714 by John Brooke, who had acquired the lot in 1712 with a building clause:

March 13, 1712

Feoffees
to
Brooke, John
Consideration: 5 shillings

One certain lot of ground in the city of Williamsburg designed in the plot of the said city by the figures 51.

Shall within 24 months begin to build according to Act of Assembly Oct. 23, 1705.

(Vol. II - Deeds, Bonds York County, Virginia p. 416)
John Brooke "Lycence to keep a ordinary at his dwelling house in Williamsburg"
Jan 17, 1714 (#105)
Mar. 19, 1715 (#1072)
(#1090)
Lycense (#1102)

On March 18, 1724 he sold a small house on the lot to his son-in-law, William Prentis, for £20. The property was described in the deed:

...All that messuage of house standing and being on lot No. 51, which house fronts the West, being 25 foot by 16 foot beside the shedd, with the ground which the said house covers and running a direct line North on the said lot the breadth of the said house to an old stable standing on the said lot... (Deeds & Bonds, Vol, III, York County, Virginia p446)

Brooke continued to live on the lot until his death in 1729, as there is no record of his owning, any other property in York County, and his will and inventory were recorded there that year. He disposed of his property to William Prentis: [illegible] Prentis from Brooke - Aug. 16, 1725 Book 16 - Orders, Wills, p. 352 2 March 3, 1726

Brooke, John - will Williamsburg

• As to my houses and lots in Williamsburg, I give and bequeath the same unto my loving wife during her natural life, and after her decease unto my daughter Mary Prentis and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten and in defaults of such heirs unto the said William Prentis and his heirs forever.
• Wife Anne Brooke appointed executor.
• Probated Nov. 17, 1729.
• (Book 17 - Orders, Wills. York County, Virginia)

By this bequest, Brooke's house on the same lot must have been bequeathed to his son-in-law.

John Brooke's inventory, made at the time of his death follows …

Recorded Feb. 6, 1729

(Book 17 - Orders, Wills York County, Virginia)

When William Prentis died in 1765 he left to his wife "That part of the lot whereon I now live, which was conveyed to me by my father-in-law Mr. Brooke," and the remainder of his property he left to his sons:

Comments

https://www.prenticenet.com/people/america/william/

In reading the story on William Prentis, the only issues I have about the of marriage William Prentis to Mary Brooke. They were married before 1726 when John Brooke wrote his will leaving his house to daughter Mary Prentis. He had sold a small house on this property to William Prentis in 1724. John Brooke ran an ordinary in 1714 in this residence. William Prentis and Mary Brooke's daughter, Sarah married William Waters who lived only 2 doors down Duke of Gloucester Street. Williamsburg was not an independent town or city back than. It was split down the middle of Duke of Gloucester Street, the north side was York County and the south side was James City County. Mary Brooke probably was born in her father's house on Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg, York County. The Prentis Store is down Duke of Gloucester Street on the York County side. Research information on the Prentis House and Store can be found online under the digital library research tab of the Colonial Williamsburg Rockefeller Library.

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Notes

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Prentis-74

An exact date of his birth is not known for John Prentis,but he was the only grandchild mentioned in the will of John Brooke dated 3 March 1726 and filed 17 November 1729 in York County, Virginia.[3]

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References

• Ancestry.com. Colonial Families of the USA, 1607-1775 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data:Mackenzie, George Norbury, and Nelson Osgood Rhoades, editors. Colonial Families of the United States of America: in Which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families Who Settled in the American Colonies From the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775. 7 volumes. 1912. Reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1966, 1995. “Prentis Family.” Vol. Vll, page 386. < AncestrySharing >. William Prentis married Mary Brooke, daughter of John Brooke and his wife Ann (surname not given) of York County.
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Prentis-74 cites
  • Prentis House Historical Report, Block 17 Building 11A Lot 51 < link >