I've been working through the published vital records of western Massachusetts for the years up to 1850. Most of the death records are bare-bones, although occasionally one is amusing, as in the case of the 92-year-old who died "of general decrepetued." Some just make your jaw drop. Vital records of Montague, Franklin County, MA, page 129, Deaths: Brooks, Eliakim, at Valley Forge, July 1, 1778. 4. Eliakim, b. 1736 probably at Winchester, NH (also recorded at Deerfield, MA) m. Elizabeth ____, of Montague, MA, where they lived. Soldier twice in the French/Indian Wars, 1757, 1763 Soldier again in the Revolution. 3. Nathaniel BROOKS (1710) + Abigail/4 ALLEN 2. Nathaniel BROOKS (1664) + (2) Mary ALLIS 1. William BROOKS (1610?) + Mary BURT Nathaniel/2, his 1st wife Mary WILLIAMS, and their children were victims of the famous Deerfield attack by French and Indians in 1704/5. Nathaniel survived to be ransomed from Canada, but his wife was killed and their children lost in Canada. That's an amazing amount of direct involvement in history for just three generations.. Any descendants out there? Chris