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Brentford Families - Brooks
Vivien Concannon has written about her Brooks family:My grandmother's (Lucy Ann Brooks) family of Brooks originated from Brentford, her parents were John Dowson Brooks (1850 - 1933) and Mary Ann HUGHES. To my understanding her grandfather was also named John Dowson Brooks (1820) and his occupation was a Lighterman.
I believe that this branch of the family were descended from Joseph Brooks who married an Ann DOWSON 25 Dec 1803 at Ealing and the Dowson name was retained.
I have previously been in contact with Joanne Tansley and we discovered that her William Brooks of the Royal Tar and my John Dowson Brooks were brothers.
John Dowson Brooks (1850 - 1933)
Baptised at St Laurence, New Brentford 25 Aug 1850. Married Mary Ann Hughes 1875. Children:- Lucy Ann Brooks 1876
- John Dowson Brooks 1878
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Have attached 2 photos of John Dowson Brooks (uniform I cannot identify - can you help identify it?).
The second photo was taken at my grandparent's house (Lucy Ann BROOKS married Stanley Port MEW) The Old Tollhouse (Canal Lock house) in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, grandfather was employed by the Grand Union Canal as carpenter, section foreman (as were other members of the Mew family in the Tring, area of Herts.) As you can see he only had one leg, which was the result of an accident with a hawser possibly on The Thames when he worked as a Lighterman.
Family legend has it that grt grandfather assisted with the transportation of Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames but I do not have any definite proof.
TopJohn Dowson Brooks (1820 - Baptised Dec 1820 St Mary, Twyford, Brentford. Married Mary Ann WALTON 1843. Children:- Mary Ann 1845 (married into CHISNELL family)
- William 1847 (Royal Tar publican)
- John Dowson 1850-1933
- Isaac 1857
- Elizabeth 1848-1896
1851 Census living at schedule 68 The Ham, 1861 Census living at schedule 60 Brent Cottages, Brentford, occ Lighterman. 1881 Census living at Half Acre Cottage, Brentford. 1891 Census living at 52 Steel Road, Marlboro Cottage occ Waterman & Lighterman.
To my knowledge my branch of the Brooks family is now extinct as JD Brooks 1878 died during WWI and had only one son (yes another JD Brooks 1910 - 2003).
Would love to hear from any other members of the Brooks family.
TopNot your Brooks family? Try this one.
Page published January 2011