In an undated petition from the mid-1830s, orator Obadiah Alexander petitioned the court. That his father Aris Alexander died many years ago intestate with land of 25 acres. His widow married Joseph Jones and has since died. He left the following children your orator, Mahala now the wife of Richard L. Haile, Nancy the wife of James H. Greenwood, Maria who married Lewis D. Brooks and died before her mother leaving Beverley and Alexander Brooks, both under 21. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 39, item 39-C-17.]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Dwelling 572, Family 572
Brooks, Beverly, 35, male, farmer, $300 real estate, born in Virginia
Brooks, Lucy, 35, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, Sthreshley, 13, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Brooks, William, 10, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Brooks, John, 8, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Brooks, Elizabeth, 7, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, Columbia, 4, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, George, 1, male, born in Virginia

1870 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia [transcribed by William I. Brooks]:
Dwelling 396, Family 396
Brooks, Beverly, 56, male, white, farmer, $500 real estate, $275 personal estate, unable to read or write, eligible to vote
Brooks, Lucy Ann, 56, female, white, keeping house, unable to read or write
Brooks, George, 21, male, white, farm laborer, unable to read or write
Brooks, Lucinda P., 19, female, white, without occupation, unable to read or write
Brooks, Susan M., 16, female, white, without occupation
Brooks, Amanda, 15, female, white, without occupation
Brooks, Alexander, 13, male, white, farm laborer, unable to read or write
Brooks, Henry E., 10 male, white, farm laborer, unable to read or write
Hill David, 15, male, black, farm laborer, unable to read or write

1880 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Chapel Grove Precinct
Page 200 (18)
Dwelling 159, Family 159
Brooks, Beverly, white, male, 80, married, farmer, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brooks, Lucy A., white, female, 75, married, keeping house, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brooks, Martha, white, female, 42, daughter-in-law, widowed, at home, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brooks, Louis, white, male, 9, grand son, single, at home, in school, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brooks, Ida, white, female, 7, grand daughter, single, at home, in school, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia