Brooks family.

Aaron Brooks (1794-1845), an attorney in Petersham, Mass., married on 22 April 1822, Abby B. Morgan (1804-1831). They had three children: Francis Augustus (1824-1902), Frederick (1826-1828), and Sarah Chace (1829-1838). He married on 4 September 1831, Martha Amelia Willson (1807-1875), daughter of Rev. Luther Willson (1783-1864) and Sally (Bigelow) Willson (1783-1826), of Petersham. Aaron and Martha had four children: James Willson (1833-1912), John (1836-1920), Abby Morgan (1839-1925), and Martha Willson (1842-1924). All five children attended Leicester (Mass.) Academy.

James Willson Brooks graduated from Brown University in 1855 and received a law degree from Harvard in 1858. Afterwards he went to Europe and from 1861 to 1865 served in Paris as Vice-Consul for the United States. After his return to America, Brooks traveled to the West and was involved in mining activities in Arizona. By 1868 he had returned to Massachusetts. Brooks was employed by Gordon McKay (1821-1903), a manufacturer of shoe making machinery, and achieved considerable prosperity.

Brooks divided his residence between the Boston area and Petersham. He was involved in a number of philanthropic activities in his home town, giving land for a school and helping to build the Petersham Memorial Library. Brooks was a founder of the Petersham Historical Society, and was instrumental in locating the Harvard Forest in the town. He also built the Nichewaug Inn, a summer hotel in Petersham. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1900.

In 1864 Abby Morgan Brooks married the historian John Fiske (1842-1901). The Fiskes lived primarily in Cambridge, Mass. and had six children: Maud (1865-1952), Harold Brooks (1867-1927), Clarence Stoughton (1869-1910), Ralph Browning (1870-1893), Ethel (1872-1960), and Herbert Huxley (1877- ).

Martha Willson Brooks lived throughout her life in Petersham and was involved in many local activities. She was another founder of the Petersham Historical Society.

From the description of Papers, 1778-1912. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 207119874