Jonathan Brooks

Jonathan Brooks was born in May 1738. He was the son of Joshua (Josua) and Geertje Bonds Brooks. This individual was an Albany resident who would have come of age during the 1760s. Care must be taken to not confuse him with the family patriarch or with younger, same-named kinsman who also lived during the course of this Jonathan's long life.

In January 1767, he married Rensselaerswyck native Elizabeth Bradt at St. Peter's Anglican church. A daughter and son were christened in the Albany Dutch church in 1774 and 1779. However, he was a member at St. Peter's.

These Brookses were Albany mainstays for more than sixty years. During the 1760s, his lot on the hill was referenced in the city council minutes. Jonathan was a carpenter who lived above South Pearl Street in a home at 13 and/or 15 Plain Street. As late as 1800, his household of five members was served by three slaves. In 1810, a "Jonathan Brooks, Jr." was listed on the census of heads of households. On several occasions, two Jonathans were listed in city directories as carpenters at 13 and 15 Plain Street.

During the 1780s, he served as fireman and watchman and was paid from the city treasury. He seems to have served as a building inspector as well.

Jonathan Brooks died in April 1829 at the age of ninety-one. His newspaper obituary said that he had been born on May 13, 1738 and that he had lived in the first ward his whole life. His will passed probate later in the month. His widow lived until 1832 - also reaching the age of ninety-two.

Sources: The life of Jonathan Brooks is CAP biography number 347. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.