General Notes

He was a citizen and merchant tailer of London

THE BROOKES OF LONDON

In the 1979 October issue of The American Genealogist, Vol. 55, No. 4, page 193, we find "The Brookes of London, the Maternal Ancestors of Nathaniel and Joshua Foote", by Janis Greene Valore, Myrtle Stevens Hyde and Glade Ian Nelson. These compilers worked independently and graciously consented to have their results combined into one article. The references to precise dates of baptisms, marriages and burials refer to the parish registers of St. Leonard's nigh Eastcheap, London.

These Brookes of London, two of whose daughters married brothers named Foote, from one pair of whom two sons came to America, were successful tradesmen and citizens of London, residing in the Parish of St. Leonard's in Eastcheap, the registers of which begin in the seminal year of 1538.

We must commence, however, with a Brooke of whom we know little, not even his first name, nor his dates, nor his occupation, nor his wife's name, and all that can be said of his residence is that the interest exhibited by one of his sons in the Parish of Chingford, Essex, suggests that this may have been the place of origin, but when we get back that far we are beyond the range of parish records and can only have recourse to probate records and manorial records. He had however, a son who had a daughter Kathryn who was in 1551 already married to a man named Noble, and in 1566 was a widow of the same name. He also had a daughter whose name was Daye, still living in 1551. Both are mentioned in the will of the other son, and the said Kathryn Noble in that son's wife's will as well.

The other son, Robert Brooke, buried as an aged man on June 28, 1551. As for the date of his birth, we can only guess at the possibility of about 1495. A citizen and merchand tailor of London, he made his will on June 26, 1551, probated on July 21, 1551, abstracted as follows:

"Robert Broke citizen and marchantaillo of the citie of London--Katheryn my wyef my sole executice---to my children the thirde ppte of my goodes---Katheryn my wieff to have and enyoie my house wherin I nowe dwell for the terme of her lyfe whiche ys named the steere and the styroppe---in Gracious (Gracechurch) strete wthin the parishe of Saint Leonardes Estchepe and hath on the north side the house of James Morley Irenmonger and on the southe syde the house of John Wolstone Irenmonger and on the west the kings highe waye called gracious strete and after her decease---the same house unto my sonne John Broke---and yf the said John departe this worlde without yssue then I will the same house unto my three daughters equally---to the parsone of seynt Leonardes ijs to distribute at his pleasure---my syster Daye xxs---Katheryne Noble my brothers doughter (vjs viijd)  ---srvaunte Thomas Hoode xxxs and a black gowne--- xxs unto the poor people in the paryshe of Chinckford in Essex--- xxs unto the poore people of seynt Leonard Estchepe---and as for all other things I put wholy to the judgement and good discretion of ye abovesaid Katheryn my wyef---witnesses Sir John Turnor parson, Anthony Cooly grocer, Thomas Hoode Marchaunttaillor."

Whether son, John has issue was not known, as he was not yet married. The amount of Robert's bequests were hardly generous, but he was the owner of a messuage we shall meet again and it was no small establishment. Note also that much is left to the wife's discretion.