Hello Richard, Welcome to the Dorset List Not sure if this helps, but as names / details are similar to those you mention, thought I would give you the details - it may fit into your research somewhere (if not now, maybe at a later date) Baptisms at St James, Poole: Nathaniel BROOKS s/o Nathaniel & Edith BROOKS on 14 March 1759 Michael Francklin (sic) BROOKS s/o Nathaniel & Edith BROOKS on 30 December 1765 Joshua BROOKS s/o Nathaniel & Edith BROOKS on 15 March 1768 Edith Nicholson BROOKS d/o Nathaniel & Edith BROOKS on 3 January 1770 Burials at St James, Poole: Nathaniel BROOKS (infant) on 29 March 1799 Nathaniel BROOKS (aged 45) on 16 March 1804 - (probably the one baptised above). Edith BROOKS (aged 77) on 30 January 1813 Other BROOKS baptisms at St. James, Poole: Robert BROOKS s/o James & Mary BROOKS on 29 November 1781 (born on 11 August 1779 @ Bay Bulls N'land) James BROOKS s/o James & Mary BROOKS on 16 May 1785 Charles BROOKS s/o John & Sarah BROOKS on 11 September 1805 (born on 23 March 1805 @ Hamworthy - note Hamworthy lies between Poole & Lytchett Minster) George BROOKS s/o John & Sarah BROOKS on 25 January 1807 (born on 22 July 1807?) - must be an error either by minister or transcriber. Maria BROOKS d/o John & Sarah BROOKS on 23 September 1808 (born on 20 August 1808 from Hamworthy) Joseph BROOKS s/o Joseph & Elizabeth BROOKS on 30 June 1780 - Father to those below as on 1841 & 1851 census'. Elizabeth BROOKS d/o Joseph & Elizabeth BROOKS on 22 December 1813 (Mariner) - married a William MYNHEER (see below) Ann BROOKS d/o Joseph & Elizabeth BROOKS on 26 July 1815 (Mariner) - Later married a George Allen - on 1851 census with father Joseph Emma BROOKS d/o Joseph & Elizabeth BROOKS on 1 July 1818 (Mariner) John BROOKS s/o Joseph & Elizabeth BROOKS on 4 January 1820 Louisa BROOKS d/o Joshua Mauger & Mary BROOKS on 13 November 1801 (born on 16 June 1796) Mary Ann BROOKS d/o Joshua Mauger & Mary BROOKS on 13 November 1801 (born on 22 May 1801) Susanna Augusta BROOKS d/o Joshua Mauger & Mary BROOKS on 28 August 1818 (officer in ?) Martha Knight BROOKS d/o Jamrs John & Caroline BROOKS on 18 June 1873 Marriage at St James, Poole: John BROOKS (widower) to Keturah DIBLE (widow) by banns on 6 February 1810 Witnesses: Clement GRAN & Thomas LACY Joseph BROOKS to Sarah MOORES on 15 July 1845 Baptisms at Hill Street Baptist, Poole: John BROOKS s/o John & Keturah BROOKS on 5 September 1810 James BROOKS s/o John & Keturah BROOKS on 22 October 1811 Marriage at St Pauls, Poole: Richard Henry BROOKS otp to Mary Jane ORCHARD otp by banns on 30 December 1877 Witnesses: Charles POOL & William Henry BUTLER Marriage at Lytchett Minster: Elizabeth BROOKS to William MYNHEER by banns on 18 April 1836 - Witnesses: Henry BENNETT & William RICKETTS This Elizabeth BROOKS is the daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth baptised in 1813, as in 1841 Joseph & Elizabeth have an Elizabeth MYNHER (aged 3) together with their daughters Ann & Emma and a William BROOKS (aged 4 mths) with them on the census in Lytchett Matravers. Joseph is noted as a Yeoman (therefore now a landowner). Lytchett Matravers is the next parish from Lytchett Minster travelling north west from Poole, Burials at St. James, Poole: Mary BROOKS on 5 March 1697 (a girle (sic)) Jos. BROOKS (infant) on 3 March 1793 Michael Franklin BROOKS (aged 42) on 25 April 1809 (Mis-transcribed on National Burial Index as Frampton, but Franklin on original) Margt BROOKS (aged 53) on 28 October 1809 Thomas BROOKS (aged 75) on 5 January 1818 Joseph BROOKS (aged 83) on 15 December 1827 Susanna BROOKS (aged 16) on 23 April 1832 (abode Creekmore (sic)) - Creekmoor is next to Lychett Minster. Burial at St. Pauls, Poole: James John BROOKS (infant) on 10 June 1874 Burials at Lychett Minster: Elizabeth BROOKS (aged 66) on 17 May 1843 Joseph BROOKS (aged 79) on 22 January 1860 Cyril BROOKS (aged 28) on 25 May 1922 Being that these families all live in the same areas and some seem to have connections to Newfoundland, I think that these families are probably related somehow to your Nathaniel & Henry. Also after 1851 there aren't any BROOKS living in Poole / Lytchett on the census'. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find Nathaniel or Henry's baptisms to confirm any connections. May I suggest that you try the Dorset Family History Society (DFHS) see www.dorsetfhs.org.uk as I believe that one of their founder members is an expert on the Newfoundland Trade with Poole and has written books about the family links. Also it may be worth contacting the Poole History Centre - see (wait for it!!) http://boroughofpoole.com/go.php?structureID=U464057c6c52db&ref=S46BC7E889FE5A (or Google Poole History Centre and select the one for Borough of Poole (2nd one that comes up) which should take you straight to their pages on the Borough's website.) They hold quite alot of information about the trade between Poole & Newfoundland. I hope some of this helps and happy hunting... Regards Vanessa Dorset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Lamb" <lambikins@ozemail.com.au> To: <DORSET@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 6:43 AM Subject: [DOR] Brooks Poole - Newfoundland > Hi > > I am new to this site and would appreciate any help please . Am looking > for bapt, marr etc details of Nathaniel Brooks and Henry Brooks.... > > ** possibly brothers or maybe cousins; born approx 1720 to 1735 ; > Nathaniel's wife was Molly > > **both were Newfoundland merchant mariners operating from Poole in the > 1750's and 1760's; a search of Dorset Rootsweb archives has some detail of > their careers but no details of their antecedents; they were possibly part > of a larger Brooks family fishery business from Poole at that time > > ** newspaper reports of 1792-95 indicate bankruptcy of an Edith Brooks > with major holdings in Bay Bulls Newfoundland and she was of Poole and had > 25 acres at Lytchett Minster also; she may or may not be related to these > brothers or cousins ( aunt, mother?) > > ** they could have been born in any of the parishes around Poole of course > > Have not had much luck with Dorset OPC's so any assistance very welcome > > thanks in anticipation