[Index]
James BROOKER (1814 - 1880)
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Louisa Willison BROOKER (1853 - 1854)
Rosina BROOKER (1855 - 1944)
James Albert BROOKER (1858 - 1939)
Mary Louisa BROOKER (1860 - 1937)
William Willison BROOKER (1862 - 1863)
 James BROOKER (1814 - 1880)

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Elizabeth Willison WOOD (1821 - 1916)
 Jonathan BROOKER (1760 - 1833)











Mary Anne WADE (1777 - 1859)











James BROOKER Elizabeth Willison WOOD
James BROOKER James BROOKER James BROOKER James BROOKER
James BROOKER Elizabeth Willison WOOD James BROOKER James BROOKER James BROOKER James BROOKER
b. 30 May 1814 at Airds, New South Wales, Australia
m. 02 Sep 1852 Elizabeth Willison WOOD (1821 - 1916) at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
d. 15 Mar 1880 at Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia aged 65
Near Relatives of James BROOKER (1814 - 1880)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Father in Law William Willison WOOD abt 1852 Cork, Co Cork, Ireland
Mother in Law Elizabeth MARKS Co Cork, Ireland 1876 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Father Jonathan BROOKER 1760 Kent, UK 14 Mar 1833 Airds, New South Wales, Australia 73
Mother Mary Anne WADE 1777 London, Middlesex, England 17 Dec 1859 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 82

Self James BROOKER 30 May 1814 Airds, New South Wales, Australia 15 Mar 1880 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 65

Wife Elizabeth Willison WOOD abt 1821 Cork, Co Cork, Ireland 03 Jan 1916 Gosford, New South Wales, Australia 95

Daughter Louisa Willison BROOKER 1853 1854 1
Daughter Rosina BROOKER 1855 Tarrawanna, New South Wales, Australia 20 Jan 1944 Corrimal, New South Wales, Australia 89
Son James Albert BROOKER 22 May 1858 27 Oct 1939 81
Daughter Mary Louisa BROOKER 15 Mar 1860 02 Nov 1937 77
Son William Willison BROOKER 03 Nov 1862 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 19 Mar 1863 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 0

Sister Sarah WADE 27 Sep 1793 Norfolk Island 05 Jul 1887 93
Brother William James WADE BROOKER 10 Dec 1796 Norfolk Island 09 Oct 1885 Lake Albert, New South Wales, Australia 88
Brother John BROOKER 24 Jun 1809 Windsor, New South Wales, Australia 07 Dec 1886 Kangaloon, New South Wales, Australia 77
Sister Elizabeth BROOKER 07 Dec 1810 Hawkesbury District, New South Wales, Australia
Sister Mary BROOKER 28 Nov 1812 Hawkesbury District, New South Wales, Australia 29 Sep 1890 Lake Albert, New South Wales, Australia 77
Half Brother Edward BROOKER HARRIGAN 20 Aug 1803 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 09 Jul 1891 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 87

Son in Law Robert John SPINKS 07 May 1855 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 21 Dec 1929 Corrimal, New South Wales, Australia 74
Daughter in Law Catherine Mary Gertrude NASH
Son in Law Walter Harding HOGAN
Son in Law William Edward KING

Niece Mary RAY 16 Sep 1809 1837 28
Niece Sophia RAY 28 May 1812 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 65
Nephew William RAY 07 Dec 1814 30 May 1885 Marrickville, Sydney, Australia 70
Nephew John RAY 12 Oct 1817 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 10 Sep 1859 41
Niece Maria RAY 16 May 1822 22 Apr 1924 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 101
Nephew Nathaniel BOON 14 Sep 1825 11 Feb 1911 Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia 85
Niece Margaret BOON 17 Sep 1826 09 Jul 1904 77
Nephew Thomas BOON 12 Aug 1828
Nephew James BOON 20 Nov 1830
Nephew Jonathan BOON 20 Nov 1830 15 May 1901 70
Nephew Nicholas BOON 20 Nov 1830 18 Nov 1899 68
Niece Sarah Ann BOON 02 Jun 1832 12 Oct 1854 22
Nephew Daniel BOON 25 Nov 1852 19 Jul 1876 23
Niece Mary Ann BROOKER 24 Mar 1821 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 09 Jan 1863 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 41
Niece Sarah Elizabeth BROOKER 20 Mar 1823 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 23 Nov 1890 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 67
Nephew William BROOKER 26 Dec 1824 09 Jun 1892 67
Nephew Jonathan BROOKER 16 Jun 1827 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 14 Feb 1829 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 1
Niece Elizabeth BROOKER 11 Mar 1830 08 May 1905 75
Nephew Jonathon BROOKER 19 Jul 1832 New South Wales, Australia 03 Jun 1888 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 55
Nephew James BROOKER 16 Oct 1834 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 17 Sep 1907 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 72
Niece Sophia Jane BROOKER 19 Jul 1838 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 1916 Redfern, New South Wales, Australia 78
Nephew Joseph Henry BROOKER 27 Feb 1840 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 21 Dec 1840 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 0
Niece Eliza BROOKER 21 Feb 1843 20 May 1877 34
Niece Mary BROOKER 18 Dec 1848 20 Jul 1931 Kangaloon, New South Wales, Australia 82
Nephew Jonathan BROOKER 03 Dec 1849 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 17 Jun 1906 Kangaloon, New South Wales, Australia 56
Nephew William BROOKER 24 May 1851 Charcoal Creek, New South Wales, Australia 05 Apr 1935 Kangaloon, New South Wales, Australia 83
Nephew Murdo BROOKER 13 May 1853 Charcoal Creek, New South Wales, Australia 29 Jun 1913 Robertson, New South Wales, Australia 60
Niece Sophia LOWE 14 Apr 1828 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 29 Mar 1893 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 64
Nephew John Christopher LEDWIDGE 26 Jul 1832 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 01 Jul 1873 Hay, New South Wales, Australia 40
Nephew Christopher LEDWIDGE 05 Feb 1834 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 08 Aug 1869 Balranald, New South Wales, Australia 35
Nephew Henry ANGEL 16 Nov 1836 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 09 Jul 1924 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 87
Nephew William ANGEL 17 Oct 1838 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 28 Oct 1891 Newtown, New South Wales, Australia 53
Niece Keturah ANGEL 05 Oct 1841 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 22 Nov 1932 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 91
Nephew Robert ANGEL 05 Oct 1841 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 19 May 1870 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 28
Nephew Richard ANGEL 19 Feb 1844 Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 16 Jun 1907 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 63
Niece Mary ANGEL 10 Feb 1847 Hay, New South Wales, Australia 07 Jul 1932 Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia 85
Niece Sarah M ANGEL 10 Feb 1847 Hay, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew James ANGEL 08 Mar 1850 Hay, New South Wales, Australia 05 Jun 1926 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 76
Nephew Edward Jonathon ANGEL 13 Jun 1852 Hay, New South Wales, Australia 08 Nov 1934 Lake Albert, New South Wales, Australia 82
Nephew Samuel ANGEL 18 Feb 1853 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 21 Apr 1938 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 85
Niece Mary Anne HARRIGAN 1835 07 Aug 1870 35
Niece Elizabeth HARRIGAN 10 Jun 1837 20 Dec 1915 78
Nephew James Edward HARRIGAN 28 May 1839 12 May 1929 89
Niece Sarah Jane HARRIGAN 1855 28 Oct 1893 38
Nephew William HARRIGAN 22 Dec 1857 04 Sep 1948 90
Niece Louisa Emily HARRIGAN 22 Mar 1860 17 Jan 1889 28
Niece Alice Clara HARRIGAN 05 Aug 1863 17 Jan 1956 92

Sister in Law Jane Willison WOOD 1820 Cork, Co Cork, Ireland 1916 Tarrawanna, New South Wales, Australia 96
Brother in Law William RAY abt 1759 17 Oct 1835 76
Brother in Law Nathaniel BOON 1792 18 Feb 1839 47
Sister in Law Sophia MITTON 24 May 1801 Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia 17 Jan 1892 Lake Albert, New South Wales, Australia 90
Sister in Law Janet MCKENZIE abt 1809 04 May 1901 Robertson, New South Wales, Australia 92
Brother in Law Daniel LOWE 07 Oct 1810
Brother in Law John HART 1830 Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
Brother in Law Christopher LEDWIDGE 1799 05 Feb 1834 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 35
Brother in Law Henry ANGEL abt 08 Jan 1791 Woodgreen, Hampshire, England 07 Dec 1881 Lake Albert, New South Wales, Australia 90
Sister in Law Mary WEBBER abt 1797 Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK 07 Feb 1854 Dapto, New South Wales, Australia 57
Events in James BROOKER (1814 - 1880)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
30 May 1814 James BROOKER was born Airds, New South Wales, Australia
14 Mar 1833 18 Death of father Jonathan BROOKER (aged 73) Airds, New South Wales, Australia
02 Sep 1852 38 Married Elizabeth Willison WOOD (aged 31) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 85
1853 39 Birth of daughter Louisa Willison BROOKER 85
1854 40 Death of daughter Louisa Willison BROOKER (aged 1) 85
1855 41 Birth of daughter Rosina BROOKER Tarrawanna, New South Wales, Australia 85
22 May 1858 43 Birth of son James Albert BROOKER 85
17 Dec 1859 45 Death of mother Mary Anne WADE (aged 82) Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia
15 Mar 1860 45 Birth of daughter Mary Louisa BROOKER 85
03 Nov 1862 48 Birth of son William Willison BROOKER Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 85
19 Mar 1863 48 Death of son William Willison BROOKER Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia 85
15 Mar 1880 65 James BROOKER died Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia
Source References:
85. Type: Book, Abbr: Mary Wade to Us, Title: Mary Wade to Us, Auth: Mary Wade Family History Association, Publ: Mary Wade Family History Association, Date: 1986, Locn: https://www.marywadefamily.org/items/show/1
- Reference = pages 233-235 (Marriage)
- Reference = pages 233-235 (Name, Notes)
- Notes: James Brooker, son of Mary Wade and Jonathan Brooker, was born at Airds in 1814. He was the last known child of Mary Wade. He would have shared the hardships of the pioneering settlers as a small child. James and his elder brother John and his two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, all have baptismal records in St Luke's church al Liverpool; all entered on the same day in 1819.

The 1828 Census reveals that James, then 14 years old, was living with his parents on a farm on the Illawarra, at Fairy Meadow, near Corrimal. By the 1841 Census, aged 27, he was the owner of three houses in Fairy Meadow. He lived in one of them with his mother, and the other two were rented out. He also had 60 acres in the area.

After his father, Jonathan, died in 1833, William inherited his property at Fairy Meadow, and in 1844 it was transferred to James on payment to William of twenty pounds in March 1845.

James, aged 38, Married Elizabeth Willison Wood on 2/9/1852 at Christ Church, St Laurence, Sydney. Elizabeth was a direct descendant of an old Irish family. She came to Australia in 1849 aboard the Duke of Bronte, together with her mother and her sister, Jane, who later married Edward Harrigan. All three Woods were women of considerable education. Prior to leaving Ireland, Elizabeth had witnessed the funeral of Dan O'Connell and had been associated for five years with a Deaf and Dumb Institution at Claremont. The Woods arrived in Melbourne and, as mentioned in the Harrigan story, shortly after arriving in Wollongong the sisters opened a school at Market Square.

In December, 1852, James acquired a crown land block at the Glebe, South Wollongong.

Between 1853 and 1865, five children were born: Louisa Willison (1853), James Albert (1858), Mary Louisa (1860), William Willison (1862) and Rosina (1865). Louisa Willison and William Willison died in infancy.

By 1870, James was a man of property and able to devote considerable time to public life. In 1874 he appeared in debates regarding the establishment of a free library in Wollongong.

He was also a considerable writer of letters to newspapers on matters relating to public affairs. He served as an alderman on the North Illawarra Council for several years and was Mayor for two terms. He displayed very considerable intelligence and energy in his work for the public good and was much respected. In 1875 he purchased two houses in central Wollongong opposite the Wollongong Town Hall. In 1879 an exhibition was staged at the local School of Arts; James Brooker exhibited some bone-work which was described as "the greatest curiosity in the whole collection". The bone-work had been done some 30 years earlier by an old resident of the district employed by Mr A. Beatson and was representations of flora and fauna carved in bone.

In September 1879 James, aged 65 years, suffered a severe stroke. The Illawarra Mercury, 23/9/1879, carried the following description: "On Saturday, forenoon last, Mr lames Brooker of Fairy Meadow was taken seriously ill. It appears that while on his way into town in a dogcart, his right side from the shoulder to the foot suddenly became paralysed. Mrs Allum, of Fairy Meadow (to whom Mr Brooker had given a seat in his dogcart as he was coming along the road) noticed the whip fall out of his hand, and a motion on the part of his body as if he were about to fall helplessly over the side of the vehicle. She at once caught hold of him and thus probably saved him from falling out of the cart onto the road. This occurred about midway between Fairy Creek and the hospital. Mrs Allum at once called for help, and Mr Dennis Williams being just approaching the road from the lane leading to his residence, that gentleman hastened to the assistance of Mr Brooker whom he found quite unable to either speak or move. With the assistance of the others, Mr Williams drove the vehicle with Mr Brooker to the Freemason's Hotel, where every attention was at once paid 10 him, and Dr Thomas called in to his aid. After some time the patient's speech returned a little, and in the course of the afternoon he was removed to his home at Fairy Meadow. We are happy to learn he had somewhat improved on Sunday and yesterday, though still prostrated.

Very great sympathy is felt for Mr Brooker and his family, he being one of the oldest residents of the district, being also very deservedly respected. He has also been very active and useful as a public man, more especially in connection with the North Illawarra Council of which he was Mayor for several years."

James died 15th March, 1880, and is buried in the Congregational Cemetery. He was survived by his widow, his son, lames Albert, and two daughters, Mary Louisa and Rosina.

By the terms of lames' will his son, lames Albert, received 75 acres at Fairy Meadow and all animals and personal property on it.

His wife, Elizabeth, received an annuity of Thirty Pounds for the term of her life.

To his trustees, James Albert (his son) and George Hewlitt (a Wollongong Bank Manager) went 400 shares in Mercantile Mutual Company and 500 shares in City Mutual Insurance Co. together with any money, all to be held in Trust and divided equally between his three surviving children James Albert, Mary Louisa and Rosina.

James’ wife. Elizabeth, died at Gosford on 3rd January 1916, aged 95 al the home of her daughter Mary Louisa.

The opening sentence of her obituary, published in the Illawarra Mercury on 14th January 1916, reads: "To have seen the first load of coal shipped from Wollongong and to live until the early days of 1916 was the privilege of Mrs. Elizabeth Willison Brooker who passed away last week at Gosford, aged 95 years." It is interesting to note that the following week the Mercury reported the death of Elizabeth's sister, Jane Harrigan (nee Wood), aged 96 years.

His son, James Albert, married Catherine Mary Nash on 4th May, 1881. James died at Longreach, Queensland on 22nd October, 1939.

Mary Louisa married twice, first to Waiter Hogan on 14th April, 1882, and second to William Edward King on 27th April, 1922, with no Issue.

Rosina married Robert John Spinks on 13th December, 1876, and died on 20th January, 1944. Although James and Elizabeth had five children, the line only continues through their daughter, Rosina.
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