24 Apr 2021

I few days ago I received the death certificate of James Brighton Brooks, who I suspected of being the father of Rebecca Brooks.

Death at Mendham, Suffolk on 24th January 1858 of James Brighton Brooks, male, aged 82 years, formerly a farmer. The cause of death was old age, not certified. The informant was Frances Brooks, present at death, Mendham. Frances could not sign her name. Registered 29th January 1858.

I suspect Frances Brooks is Frances Snowling, the wife of George Brooks the grandson of James. She would have been 39 at the time. In the 1851 census James is recorded as living with George and Frances.