“Willis Brooks & Elizabeth Jones was Marred [sic] the 13th of Febury 1828” [Minter-Durham family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 26856]

On 10 November 1835, Willis Broocke purchased property at the sale of the estate of Gabriel Boughan, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 1–2.]

In 1839, orators and oratrices Robert Jeffries and Betsy [later written as Elizabeth] his wife, Richard Dunn and Peggy his wife James Clarkson and Ann his wife John Smether and Bakey[?] his wife Willis Brooks and Betsy his wife William McFarlane and Sophronia his wife Obadiah J Alexander and Dorothea his wife and Polly Thomas complained that your orators and oratrices are the descendants of Richard Jones who died in 1805 in Essex County. James Durham intermarried with Nancy Jones a daughter of the said Richard Jones. That the said Nancy died this year without issue and that her husband survives. That James Durham is now in possession of slaves. A chart provides further clarification: Benjamin Jones had issue: Lucy wife of Geo Saunders, Betsy wife of O. Alexander, Polly [also listed as Dolly] wife of Geo. Durham; Richd Jones had issue Sophronia wife of W McFarlane; Joseph Jones had issue Betsy wife of W. Brooke, Patsey wife of Jno: Smether; Thomas Jones died without issue; Nancy Jones married James Durham; Susanna Jones died without issue; Betsy Jones wife of plaintiff Robert Jeffries; Sally Jones left Ann wife of Jas Chowning; Peggy Jones married Richard Dunn plaintiff; Polly Jones married Jno Thomas [in 48-J-20 corrected as Thompson]. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 48, item 48-J-15.]

In an undated petition, orators and oratrices Mary Brooks widow of Samuel Brooks decd, Catharine Davis who before her marriage with Othniel Davis decd was Catharine Brooks a daughter of the said Samuel Brooks, Sale Davis and Nancy his wife, who was Nancy Brooks a daughter of Samuel Brooks, Willis Brooks a son of Samuel Brooks decd, James Henry and Martha Taylor children of Barbara Taylor decd who before her marriage with Reuben Taylor was Barbara Brooks, a daughter of Samuel Brooks, which said James, Henry and Martha Taylor are infants under 21 by Robert M. Davis, their guardian and next friend, the said Robert M. Davis in his own right, Heritage Cauthorn and Walker D. Hart Merchants and partners in trade under the firm and style of Cauthorn & Hart, and the said Heritage H. Cauthorn in his own right, complained that the said Samuel brooks died in ____ possessed of a small tract of 63 acres, 7 slaves and other personal property. Administration of his estate was granted to James Wright. Robert M. Davis is attorney for Catharine Davis widow of Othneil has power of attorney to recieve all lands slaves and money with liberty to retain a debt or debts due to Davis & Wright. There is also debt to Cauthorn & Wright. Heritage H. Cauthorn has power of attorney from Sale Davis and Nancy. Decree on 21 November 1836. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 47, item 47-N-28.]

The estate of Susanna Jones in account with Richard D Dunn, administrator, from 1838 to 1839 was ordered recorded 18 November 1839. Includes a division of the estate: $8.27-4/7 each to James Durham in right of wife, Robert Jeffires in right of wife, Ann Games in right of her mother, Richard D Dunn in right of his wife, and William McFarlane in right of his wife; $2.16-3/4 + 1/7 to George Durham in right of his wife Polly, George Saunders in right of his wife, Obadiah Alexander ditto, and Armistead Jones in his own right; and $4.13-1/2 + 2/7 to Willis Brooks in right of his wife, and John H Smither ditto. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 418–419.]

The estate of Mary Thompson in account with Richard D Dunn, adminsitrator, from 1838 to 1839 was oredered recorded on 21 October 1839. Includes distributions of $8.24-4/7 to James Durham in right of wife, Robt Jeffries in right of wife, Ann Games in right of her mother, Richard D Dunn in right of wife, and William McFarlane in right of wife; $2.06-3/4 + 1/7 to George Durham in right of wife Polly, George Saunders in right of wife Lucy, Obadiah Alexander in right of wife, Armistead Jones in own right; $4.13-1/2 + 2/7 to Willis Brooks in right of wife and John H. Smither in right of wife. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 419–420.]

On 17 November 1840, Willis Brooks and Henry Crow were bound in the penalty of $100 for Willis Brooks’s administration of the estate of Mary Brooks, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 543–544.]

On 13 March 1841, Henry H. Boughan, as coroner for Essex County, led an inquisition taken at the public highway near Mrs. Elizabeth B. Allen’s (deceased) into the death of Henry, a slave the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Hundley, then and there lying dead. A jury consisting of James Semple, M G Wood, Jas Durham, John J Wright, Henry Crow, Z. M. P. Carter, Baylor W Hill, Johnson Games, Philip Coleman, Willis Brooks, Caleb A Noel and Wm S Croxton state that Henry came to his death on the 12th Day of March, that he had no marks of violence, and died by being chilled to death. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, page 589.]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 69A, Dwelling 38, Family 38
Brooks, Willis, 44, male, farmer, $450 real estate, born in Virginia
Brooks, Eliabeth, 41, female, born in Virginia, cannot read or write
Brooks, Samuel, 20, male, laborer, born in Virginia
Brooks, Charles, 16, male, laborer, born in Virginia
Brooks, Martha, 12, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, Elizabeth, 10, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, George, 9, male, born in Virginia
Brooks, Lunsford, 7, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, Catharine, 5, female, born in Virginia
Brooks, Willis, 2, male, born in Virginia