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Biography[]

John Brooks was born 4 May 1752 in Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States to Caleb Brooks (1694-1766) and Ruth Albree (1718-1793) and died 1 March 1825 Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Lucy Smith (175-1791) 1805 in Massachusetts.

Governor John Brooks (1752-1825) and US Revolutionary War Hero.


In 1775 while studying to become a physician he also became a respected leader of a company of minute-men based at Reading, MA. With the Brittish advance on concord on 19 April 1775, Major Brooks mobilized his company and engaged the British on their retreat at Merriam's Corner, where they inflicted significant casualties without loss of their own.

From contemporary accounts: "As the enemy passed the road from Bedford, they met a body of minute-men, commanded by Major John Brooks. A little below Bedford road there was a sharp action, and several of the British were killed."

Another account: " The enemy faced about suddenly and fired a volley of musketry uopn us. They overshot. The fire was immediately returned, and two British soldiers fell dead in the road near the brook." The engagement was followed by more fighting in Lincoln Woods.

He missed the engagement at Bunker Hill while trying to collect reinforcements. On 1 Jan 1776 he was appointed a major in Webb's 19th Regiment.

At the Battle of Saratoga, Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks commanded the extreme left of the American line against the Germans. He was again present at Valley Forge and the Battle of Monmouth.

During the War of 1812, John Brooks was Adjutant-General of the State of Massachusetts. In 1788 was a member of the Constitutional Convention, US Marshal (1791-96) and Governor of Massachusetts (1816-1823). It was during Brooks's tenure that Massachusetts's territory of Maine became an independent state. Having served seven terms, Brooks declined to run for an eighth term and retired to private life. His body is interred at Salem Street Burying Ground in Medford, Massachusetts.


In 1836, a large granite pyramid memorial was erected in his honor at the Medford burial grounds.

Children of Governor John Brooks and Lucy Smith[]

  • 1. Lucy Brooks 1775A - b. Reading, MA, married George O'Kill Stuart and had a son who was mayor of Quebec.
  • 2. child who died at Medford, Oct 1778.
  • 3. Alexander Scammel Brooks 1781 - who was captain of artillery in War of 1812 and killed by steamboat explosion off Florida Coast in 1836
  • 4. John Brooks, Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, died in Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813.
  • 5. Child who died 24 Mar 1786.




Children


Offspring of John Brooks and Lucy Smith (175-1791)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Lucy Brooks (1775-1813)
Baby Brooks (1776-)
Baby Brooks (1778-)
Alexander Scammell Brooks (1781-1836) 19 October 1781 Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States 17 December 1836 (Atlantic Ocean) Sarah Turner (1785-)
John Brooks (1784-1813)



Siblings[]


Offspring of Caleb Brooks (1694-1766) and Mary Winn (1711-1746)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Mary Brooks (1731-1818)
Abigail Brooks (1733-1794)
Ebenezer Brooks (1735-1775)
Caleb Brooks (1736-1736)
Caleb Brooks (1737-1744)
Rebecca Brooks (1739-1766)
Jonathon Brooks (1740-1825)
Ruth Brooks (1741-1779)
Sarah Brooks (1742-1830)
Caleb Brooks (1744-1812)
Increase Brooks (1745-1846)


Offspring of Caleb Brooks (1694-1766) and Ruth Albree (1718-1793)
Name Birth Death Joined with
John Brooks (1747-c1751)
Theodore Brooks (1750-)
John Brooks (1752-1825) 4 May 1752 Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States 1 March 1825 Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States Lucy Smith (175-1791)
Joseph Brooks (1754-1756)
Elizabeth Brooks (1757-1810)
Hannah Brooks (1760-)

Residences

References[]

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