Catharina Elizabeth Brooks

Not the daughter of Elder Jacob Miller, minister of the Brethren Church or "Dunkards"

[4] Catherine "Cathron" married Jeremiah Brooks August 18, 1794 Franklin County, VA.Settled on Elk River, Nicholas County, now Braxton County, WV in 1817.They continued to reside in that area which later became a part of Webster County, WV.They are buried in the Clutter Cemetery on Elk River near Webster Springs, WV.

She is traditionally seen as a daughter of George McElwain & Jeremiah Brooks, Sr.. However, In Catherine McElwain's marriage record she is noted to be the daughter of Jacob Miller. So McElwain is the name of her first husband.

Events

From https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=8762&p=surn...

Aug. 18, 1794 - Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bond. Catherine McElwain (b. 1764, d. Aft 1810) is identified as the daughter or Jacob Miller, German Elder, Church of the Brethren. (NO). Jacob Miller performed the wedding ceremony.

April 8, 1795 - Jeremiah is on the Botetourt County tax list. Jacob Miller pays taxes the same day. A John Brooks pays taxes on April 4, A William Brooks pays taxes on April 6. Another William Brooks pays taxes on April 12. This is in the district of Robert Harris in southern Botetourt County, The properties are now in southern Roanoke County.

1797 - About this time Abraham Brooks is born (census & WV death records)

1796, 1797, & 1798 - Jeremiah Brooks pays personal property tax in Franklin County in the George Turnbull district. Jeremiah is living in the vicinity of Adney Gap, and Slings Gap on the border of Botetourt County.

1799, 1800, & 1801 - Jeremiah pays taxes in Botetourt County.

1800 - About this time Jeremiah Brooks (Jr.) is born. (census & WV death record)

1810 - Botetourt County. Catherine Brooks is on the 1810 census as the head of household, with eight children residing there. Six of these children are unexplained.

Jeremiah likely died within a year of paying his taxes for 1801, but we do not know for certain.

Abraham and Jeremiah (Jr.) eventually ended up in the Braxton - Webster County area. We have found no evidence Catherine was alive when they moved, but we do not know.

From https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/6675397/person/612...

Birth: 20 Nov 1764 • New Hanover Township,Montgomery Township,Pennsylvania to Franklin County,Virginia

marriage: 18 Aug 1794 • Franklin County,Virginia Marriage Bond date August 18,1794 Surety was provided by Uncle Abraham Ritter. Jeremiah 'Jerry' Brooks ,Sr.,2nd husband,Lived on Jacob Miller's Farm in Roanoke with Catherine (1765–1802) “Catherine wrote her own consent form showing that she was educated and knew what she was doing...”

Residence: Lived on Jacob Miller's Farm Land in Roanoke as he owned all the land that the city was built on...with her husband and her kids...for a few years...

Birth of Daughter Nancy Mary Ann Brooks ,Lived on Jacob Miller's Farm in Roanoke for a few years with her parents(1794–1862) Abt. 1794 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Son Abraham William Brooks ,Sr.(1795–1856)
Abt. Jun 1795 • Franklin County,Virginia to Botetourt County,Virginia

Birth of Son Tunis 'Toonis' 'Simon' Brooks ,War of 1812,Lived on Jacob Miller's Farm in Roanoke(1797–1879). 1797 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Son Benjamin Brooks ,Sr.,Had 12 Kids(1798–1840) 1798 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Son Isaac Brooks(1800–). 1800 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Son Jeremiah Brooks ,Jr.(1800–1865) 1800 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Daughter Sarah 'Sally' Louise Brooks ,Lived on Jacob Miller's Farm Land in Roanoke(1803–1870) 09 Aug 1803 • Franklin County,Virginia

Birth of Son Jacob Brooks ,Sr.(1805–1850). 1805 • Botetourt County,Virginia

Residence 1810 • Botetourt, Virginia, United States

• Catharine Brooks
• Home in 1810 (City, County, State) Botetourt, Virginia
• Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 4
• Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 151
• Free White Persons - Females - Under 102
• Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 151
• Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 441
• Number of Household Members Under 16 8
• Number of Household Members Over 25 1
• Number of Household Members 9

Death Aft. 1820 • Clutter Cemetery,Webster Springs,Webster County,West Virginia

Disputed Identity

Catherine Miller was a widow McElwain according to

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/ritter/1865/

Marriage Bonds of Franklin County Virginia 1786-1858

BROOKS, Jeremiah and Catherine MCLEWAIN(MCCWAIN), dau. Jacob MILLER,Aug. 18, 1794. Sur. Abraham RITTER. she included a statement that she was willing to marry him, (unusual??)Can anyone give me some answers or thoughts on why Catherine would need to write a statement out that she was willing to marry Jeremiah BROOKS?? (I do have a copy of her marriage bond)Jeremiah Brooks brother might poss. be a William BROOKS who married a Mary Sellers.

I don't know who is Caty MILLER'S First husband was onlythat he was a MCLEWAIN(MCCWAIN)MCELWAIN (and its various spellings).Unknown McElwain died before her marriage to Jeremiah BROOKS. They could of have children I don't know.

known son of Catherine "Caty" Miller & Jeremiah BROOKS.

Abraham BROOKS, born bet.1795-1799, VA. He married Judah "Sydney" Sudna Carpenter.

Abraham Ritter also signed as a witness to Catherine's signature, as well as a Thomas Mcelvane.
Also Catherine "Caty" sister, Eva MILLER married a John RITTER. her Marriage Bonds of Franklin County Virginia 1786-1858 Ritter, John and Eva Miller,Aug. 7, 1787. Sur. Wm. Kelly.

Note: Jacob MILLER also signed for Eva RITTER.Marriage Bonds of Franklin County Virginia 1786-1858 Kingery, Joseph and Eva Ritter,Aug. 12, 1794. Sur. Jacob Miller. 89. also Does any one have children for John RITTER & Eva MILLER? Any information on the above families will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

However there is no daughter Catherine listed for Elder Jacob Miller, minister of the Brethren Church or "Dunkards" father of Eva Kingery who married John Ritter, Sr.

Citations

From https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/29X7-8F2

• Catharine Brooks in entry for Abraham Brooks, "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999"
• Catherine Brooks in entry for Abraham Brooks, "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999"
• Catherine in entry for Jeremiah Brooks, "West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932"
• Catharine in entry for Jeremiah Brooks, "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999"
• Catharine Mccwain, "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940"
• Legacy NFS Source: Catharine McElwain -

Sources

• Catharine Mccwain & Jeremiah Brooks Marriage: Aug 18 1794 Franklin County, Virginia Wife:Catharine Mccwain Husband: Jeremiah Brooks Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M86877-5 System Origin:Virginia-EASy GS Film number: 31523

Links

• https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/mcilvaine/21/
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/o/b/Warwick-R-Tobias/G...