E-mail from Cindy Chambers; cindybob74@yahoo.com
1 July 2005
Hello,
I am currently researching Brooks Cemetery in New London Township, Henry County, Iowa with my cousin. I am tied or related to most of the people buried there as I am descended from these families?Prier, Willey, Brown, See, etc. I saw your information on the internet and would like to offer you some of my research.
Brooks Cemetery in Section 28 of New London Township, Henry County, Iowa actually is part of two separate quarter sections and had its beginning on two separate properties.
Half of the cemetery is about 1/2 acre in the North West corner of the East half of the South West quarter of Section 28. This half is on your right as you stand at the big gate in the center of the cemetery. The land patent is in the name of John Williamson Talley (or Tally). (Misc. Book 174, page 558, Henry County Courthouse, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa)
The oldest stone in the cemetery is for his grandchild. He stipulated in the deed when he sold the property that that portion had been given for a burying ground. (Deed Book O, page 253, Henry County Courthouse, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa)

The second half of the cemetery is the South West corner of the East half of the North West quarter of section 28, the half on the right from the big gate in the center of the cemetery. The original land patent is in the name of Thomas Brown. (Book 1, page 52, Henry County Courthouse, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) I believe that Thomas Brown, Sr. gave that half for a burying ground since there were burials there when his son owned the land and I believe Thomas Brown, Sr. is buried there.

I have a copy of the will of this Thomas Brown who didn't own the land very long before he died. Below is a transcription of this will
(Filed in the Henry County Courthouse, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Probable box #9)

Last Will & Testament
of
Thomas Brown
Filed & Recorded 8 April
1842 Book A page

E. Killpatrick Judge
of Probate

Territory of Iowa }

Henry County Sct }

Be it remembered that on the 8th day of April A.D. 1842 Daniel Smead & John P. Finley two of the Subscribing witnesses to the within will appeared before the court of probate for said County and after being duly sworn on their oaths depose & say that they were present & saw the within named Thomas Brown affix his mark to the within will & that the same was signed in the presence of the said Thomas Brown for him and at his request for him and that they the said witnesses subscribed the same as witnesses at in his presence & at his request - that the said Thomas Brown was of sound mind & memory at the time of the Signing the Same

Given under my hand the date above written

E. Killpatrick Judge

of Probate

Will of Thomas Brown[1] (transcribed)
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Brown of the Township of New London, Henry County, Iowa Territory being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, Blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following that is to say. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Brown all my household furniture. I do also give and bequeath unto my eldest son James Twenty dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my son David Twenty dollars I also give and bequeath unto my son James my son David my son Thomas Junior my daughter Rebecca my daughter Sarah my daughter Catherine and my Grand son George Washington Brown all the rest residue and balance of my personal estate which I may have remaining unto me at my decease to be equally divided among my several above mentioned heirs. I Further give and devise unto my son Thomas all that certain messuage (?) as tenement situate lying and being in the Township of New London County of Henry, Iowa Territory, known as being the east half of the North west quarter of section twenty eight in Township seventy one North Range Five west. I do also hereby order that the several Legacies and sums of money shall be paid to the said respective Legatees within one year from and after my and my wife Martha's decease. I do further hereby appoint Simeon Smead my sole executor for this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one.

Signed sealed published and delivered

by the above named Thomas Brown his

to be his last will and testament in Thomas X Brown

the presence of us who have here untomark

subscribed our names as witnesses in

the presence of the Testator

Simeon Smead

___________________________________________________________________

E-mail from CIndy
2 July 2005

Back before 1840, Thomas Brown (17??-1841 or 2) and his wife, Martha came to the New London area along with his 3 sons....James, David, and Thomas, Jr. (1840 census) These three sons were also in the 1850 census; James at 45 years, David at 44 years, and Thomas Jr. at 40 years. (I will send copies of the census pages) You have the father of these three men as Frank but I have the will of Thomas Sr., the father.

Thomas Sr. dies in 1841 or 1842. His patent for his land is dated December 1, 1841. I assume that he is already dead then or sick and dying. I will send a copy of his will and also his son, Thomas Jr.'s and whatever else I have. I am not really researching the family so much as I am researching the cemetery they are buried in. Thomas E. Brown is the son of David Brown not Thomas Sr. I have a list of Sarah's heirs and I will make a copy of her will next time I am at the courthouse. (probably Wednesday). As I said, I will make copies next week at Staples since some of them are legal size and will mail them to you. Any information you can contribute about Brooks cemetery will be greatly appreciated. My cousin and I are putting a book in the Dover Museum about the cemetery. We will make the book updatable so that we can add any new information by just printing out a page. I would be glad to send you a copy. There was also a son named George who was married to Marsilla Brooks in Indiana and died there. Thomas Sr. names the son of George in his will. I have his guardianship papers.

I am descended from a Brown from New York but I believe that eventually I can tie him to Thomas Sr. as a brother or (more likely) a cousin. Just the naming of the children and the fact that my Browns come to New London and go back to Oskaloosa and then come back here makes me think this. I don't put conjecture in my family trees but I do make guesses and put them into files. A lot of the time I can prove myself to be correct. Then I put it in the family tree. I will give you the number of the marriage license for Thomas Jr. and Mary Ann Riggs for your sources, also. Thomas Jr. died in 1865 and I have his will also (just got it yesterday).

Nice meeting you and any time I find more I will send it to you, if you like. I am going through almost every record in the Henry County, Iowa courthouse and will probably find more stuff. It's a sickness.

_________________________________________________________________
1840 Census, Henry County, Iowa

Thos. Brown, one male 70-80, one female 70-80
______________________________________________________________
The First Voters
The New London Journal Centenniel, 1870-1975, Page 30

Thomas is listed as one of the first voters in New London.
__________________________________________________________________
..History of Des Moines County and the People, Aufrobus, Volume 1, Page 550

In addition to the names of those already given we call to mind the following named presons, who came to Pleasant Grove Township, during the territorial times.
Thomas Brown, James Brown, and David Brown are all listed
________________________________________________________________

1. DAVID BROWN b: 1806 in Tennessee
2. James Brown b: 1806 in Tennessee
3. Thomas Brown Jr. b: BET 1791 AND 1811 in Tennessee
4. Rebecca Brown
5. Sarah Brown
6. George Brown
7. Catherine Brown

1. Title: E-mail from Cindy Chambers, 1 July 2005
   Page: notes
   Text: Thomas Brown, Sr.
   Judi`s 4th gr grandfather
2. Title: 1840 Federal Census, Henry County, Iowa Territory
   Page: notes
   Text: Thos. Brown
3. Title: E-mail from Cindy Chambers, 2 July 2005
   Page: notes
   Text: 177?
4. Title: 1840 Federal Census, Henry County, Iowa Territory
   Page: notes
   Text: Thos. Brown, one male 70-80, one female 70-80
5. Title: Will of Thomas Brown Sr., Probated 8 April 1842
   Page: notes
   Text: Will was probated 8 April 1842
6. Title: Will of Thomas Brown Sr., Probated 8 April 1842
   Page: notes
   Text: Will was made 9 June 1841
7. Title: E-mail from Cindy Chambers, 2 July 2005
   Page: notes
   Text: Bet. 1841-1842
8. Title: Will of Thomas Brown Sr., Probated 8 April 1842
   Page: notes
   Text: Will was probated 8 April 1842 so Thomas died before that