Josiah Brooks

"While Timothy Brooks was living in Billerica, his wife died, this was on Sept. 15, 1680. Shortly after, Timothy moved to Swansea. Here he found that many of the former Swansea residents who had scattered during the Indian scare, had returned. Pastor Myles had returned from Boston in 1677 but there were some of his parishioners who never returned to Swansea. Eldad Kinsley, one of the seven founders of the Rehoboth church, and his wire Mehitabel, were among the residents of Swansea in the summer of 1679. In August of that year, Mr. Kinsley died. Mrs. Kinsley married Timothy Brooks in the fall of 1680 and in August 1681, she gave birth to a son, Josiah."

"JOSIAH, (Timothy, Timothy, Henry), b. Aug. 26, 1681 in Swansea, Mass. He removed to West Jersey with his parents in 1690. Here he married Lucy and settled with his bride at New England Cross Roads, Cumberland Co., d. 1731-32 (intestate)."

"At Fairfield, now Fairton, in Comberland Co., N.J. there was a settlement of New England and Long Island people as early as 1705. Most of the settlers were located at a section about two miles south east of the Fairton post office at a village which they termed, "New England Cross Roads." Here came Levi Preston with his wife, Abigal Brooks, the daughter of Timothy Sr. about the year 1709. It is quite probable that Josiah Brooks came to this settlement that same time for, in 1710 he was elected constable. He was township collector in 1718 and again m 1728-30, surveyor of the highways io 1718, 1728-30 and overseer of the roads in 1727. The lineage ofJosiah is fairly well traced out down to the present time with the exception of the sons of Joel, his grandson, of whom the writer has been unable to trace.)"

Children::

1. Henry.
2. Josiah b. ---? m. Abigal; d. intestate 1749-50.

"(It is very probable that there were children of Josiah above as well as other children of his father, Josiah. This family settled principally on the South Side of the Cohansey and there are several families of the early days who resided in this section but whose records are so incomplete that the writer can not state with positiveness their connection.)"

TIMOTHY BROOKS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND HIS DESCENDANTS

BATHSHEBA "BATHSUA" "BETTY" FARGO Was not a known wife of Josiah Brooks, son of Capt. Timothy Brooks and Miriam (Brooks) Harris not a known daughter.

Biography

https://www.tributaries.info/p734.htm#i7333

Josiah/3w Brooks, born 26 Aug 1681 at Swansea, Massachusetts,3,1, removed with his parents and several siblings, after 1690, to Cohansey, West Jersey.4,5 A yeoman farmer, his wife was Lucy (–?–).6 "Josiah Brooks married and took his wife to a farm on the south side of the Cohansey [River], where their descendants still [1927] live. … Josiah and his children located south of the Cohansey in Fairfield."4 Brother Josiah Brooks, "liveing at West Jersey," is mentioned in the will, 9 Apr 1713, of John/3w Brooks of Swansea.7,8

Josiah Brooks died intestate.6 25 Apr 1732, the inventory of the estate of Josiah Brooks, yeoman of Cohansey, amounting to £131.5.7, was returned by David Wascoat [Westcott] and William Batman (William/4w Bateman, his 1st cousin once removed). 8 June, bond of widow Lucey Brooks, of Cohansey, as administratrix of the estate; Daniel Wescote, fellow bondsman.

Children with Lucy (–?–):

• Mary/4w Brooks11 b. circa 1707, d. circa 1730
• Henry/4w Brooks+12 b. say 1710, d. after 18 Feb 1749/50
• Isaac/4w Brooks13 b. circa 1713
• Josiah/4w Brooks14 b. say 1720, d. after 18 Feb 1750

Source Citations/Notes:

1. [S1081] Alverdo Hayward Mason, ed., Swansea Records, 24-5, Josiah Brooks b.
2. [S298] Cutter & Loring, Brooks Family of Woburn, 7, Josiah (3.xiii.) Brooks.
3. [S192] Costello, Fiske and Rounds, Vital Records of Swansea, Massachusetts, to 1850, 9, Josiah Brooks b.
4. [S132] Robert Peacock Brooks, Timothy Brooks, 43.
5. [S141] Black, "After 12 Generations," 16.
6. [S216] H. Stanley Craig, New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills, 62-63, Josiah Brooks.
7. [S216] Craig, NJ Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills, 62-63, John Brooks.
8. [S692] H.L. Peter Rounds, Abstracts of Bristol County, 3:212-213, John Brooks.
9. [S2342] NJ State Archives, v. 23, Calendar of Wills, 1670-1730, Salem Wills, Josiah Brooks inventory.
10. [S132] Robert Peacock Brooks, Timothy Brooks, 14-15, Josiah (7.) Brooks.
11. [S1455] Ann Kessler, citing "The Bacon Family Website."
12. [S132] Robert Peacock Brooks, Timothy Brooks, 46.
13. [S1076] Judy Brooks Truchon, source unreported.
14. [S213] H. Stanley Craig, Cumberland County New Jersey Wills, 24, Henry Brooks of Deerfield.