Williams, Brooks, I 1791 - Apr. 7, 1836
Brooks, the second child of Thomas Williams and Maria Priscilla Brooks
Williams was born in Tennessee in 1791 and given his mother's maiden name. His
family migrated to Missouri Territory in about 1817 and settled on the Jean
Petit River in present Arkansas. In 1819, he married Mary Ann (maiden name
unknown) and the same year Brooks and Mary Ann signed over pre-emption rights to
Cherokee land they had squatted on in Hempstead County, Arkansas. They traveled
into Lousiana, crossed the Red River and were in Mexican Texas by 1821 when a
Mexican census was taken and were living in an area that became Cherokee County.
Brooks' sister, Naomi, and spouse, William John Ware, were nearby. In 1834,
Naomi's husband was killed by a fall from his horse and his sister entered a
common-law-marriage with another neighbor, James Bradshaw. 1835 - Mexican
Certificate #2187 "Certify that foreigner, Brooks Williams, is a man of good
morals, is married with family and has accepted a Grant of 2 leagues (almost
9000 acres in present Cherokee County).
1835- James Bowie wrote Henry Rueg that he had been visiting in the village of
Big Mush and that John Williams had been killed. (Older brother of Brooks
Williams. Cherokee villages were in present Cherokee County where the brothers
both lived.
1836 - The Texas Revolution was under way, and the Battle of Jacinto looming.
Gen. Sam Houston assigned Brooks to assist settlers rushing to cross the Sabine
River and reach safety in US territory in Louisiana. Brooks and a group of
settlers had arrived on the west side of the flooded Neches River (about 20
miles east of Nacogdoches near Fort Lacy) in present Cherokee County. Mexican
agents had stirred up a group of young Cherokee braves who were milling on the
other side of the river. The settlers ask Brooks to cross over and see if the
Indians would let them cross over in peace. Brooks crossed and was killed and
scalped by the Indians. The settlers moved on down several miles and crossed the
river. Brooks' oldest son, Robert, joined Capt. Costley's Texas Rangers to
avenge his father's death.
Children:
1. Robert Williams 1822-1860
2. James Williams 1824-
3. Miranda Williams Stephens 1826-
4. Syntha Ann Williams Lovens 1827-
5. Elizabeth Williams Howeth 1829-
6. Reynaldo Williams 1831-
7. Nancy A. Williams Black 1835-
- Blanche Keating Collie