Person Page - 3086

Capt. David/4h Brooks married, 22 Oct 1765 at Haddam, Connecticut, Jemima/5 Stocking, daughter of Nathaniel/4 Stocking and Abigail/4 Cooper, with whom 6 children were recorded.^2,3 He died aboard an English prison ship in June, 1782.¹
     "Capt. David Brooks, a native of Higganum, and some of the time a resident of the Neck, where he married, was commander of the sloop-of-war, Samson, of which Shubael Brainerd was first lieutenant, and Samuel B.P. Arnold was master gunner. Of the crew, Jonathan Brainerd jr., Elihu Cook, James and Nathaniel Stocking (supposed brothers-in-law of Capt. Brooks), it is believed belonged to the Neck; and Timothy Clark, Elijah Green, and William Aikens, to Chatham. Timothy Clark had some position on board. The Samson, built in Higganum, with a sharp bow for fast sailing, and carrying six or eight guns of from nine to twelve pounders, took several prizes and gained quite a reputation among friends and foes as a strong fighter. Among the different engagements of the Samson with the enemy was her battle by night with the Swallow, a British sloop-of-war of 20 guns, in the Sound and near New York. As the two vessels approached each other, the Samson was hailed for her name. The reply was "The Hornet!" The latter, a noted privateer from Philadelphia, had taken many prizes and was a terror to the enemy, who feared to contend with her unless with superior force. The engagement began and continued with great severity until the guns of each became unserviceable, and both vessels were leaking badly and in such a dangerous condition as to necessitate a mutual withdrawal for repairs. The Swallow retired into Cow Bay where she repaired. Spies informed the Samson when her late antagonist was ready to sail, and she was off her port ready to meet her. In despair, the Swallow was scuttled and sunk by her escaping crew. One of the officers of the Swallow remarked that he had rather contend with two Hornets than with one Samson.
     "The Samson, after important service in many an action with the enemy's ships, was captured in the English Channel, and her officers and crew confined in the Jersey prison ship, where Captain Brooks, Lieutenant Brainerd, William Aikens, Jonathan Brainerd jr., Elihu Cook, Elijah Green, James and Nathaniel Stocking (and how many more of its crew is unknown) all died in June 1782, as appears by the Middle Haddam church records, under well grounded suspicion of having been poisoned; all partaking of food which the master-gunner refused on account of the flavoring he disliked, and in consequence he alone survived. How many prisoners there were, from other ships and places, who had like experience and fate, is unknown. It was said that Cunningham, the steward of the prison ship, boasted that he had destroyed more rebels than the king's arms. Dr. Field, in his Brainerd Genealogy, page 106, mentions the suspicion of administering of poison in liquor to the officers and crew of the Samson. This, written so much nearer the time, may appear more authentic than the above version given from tradition. The fact of the poisoning is of more importance than the method."¹

Jemima/5 Stocking, born 7 Sep 1745¹, married (1), 22 Oct 1765 at Chatham [Bailey] or Haddam [Barbour], Connecticut, Capt. David/4h Brooks, son of Jabez/3h Brooks and Eunice (–?–), with whom 6 children were recorded at Haddam.^2,3 A privateer captain, he died aboard an English prison ship in June, 1782.⁴
     About 1787 she married (2), as his 2nd wife, Capt. Samuel/4h Brooks ("Samuel Brooks Jr." in the rec.), probably son of Jabez/3h Brooks and Eunice (?), and thus brother of her 1st husband.^5,6