James #1 Westbrook is considered to be the first of the southern line of Westbrooks who came to Virginia from England some time before 1653. He was listed among 37 passengers brought over from England by Peter Knight and Baker Cutt who were given land grants for transporting people to the New World." James must have married soon after arrival because the birth of James #2 is estimated at 1649. We do not know James' wife's name.
James #2 Westbrook lived in Henrico County, Virginia. The first wife of James #2 is unknown. According to genealogists their children are: Samuel, John, Elizabeth, William and James #3.
William Westbrook #1 was probably born in Henrico County, Virginia, before or about 1694. William #1 was granted 100 acres below the Occonunchee Path on May 6, 1713. He married a lady named Sarah, maiden name unknown. Their children are: John #1 Westbrook (5/4/1733), Mary (1/3/1734), and Charles. On March 17, 1736, William #1 received 428 acres on the north side of the Roanoke River in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
John #1 Westbrook married the first time about 1753. We have been unable to determine the name of his wife, but she was probably the mother of all of his children. John #1 apparently moved to Mecklenburg County, Virginia. By 1770 John #1 had apparently left Virginia for Georgia. The colony of Georgia was inhabited by two nations of Indians (Cherokee and Creek) who enjoyed trading with the Englishmen. Having no money for trading, they bartered with animal hides and furs. The Indians had become accustomed to having the items obtained from the traders, but when animals became scarce they were soon deeply in debt. The colonial government stepped in to remedy the situation. It was agreed that the Indians would relinquish all of the lands lying between the Little and Broad Rivers. The government was to pay the debts of the Indians to the traders in exchange for the land. Wilkes County was created from the ceded land in 1777. John #1 Westbrook came to the area that was to become Wilkes County in 1773. The family came to Georgia on October 13, 1773: John #1 Westbrook, his wife, 3 sons and 4 daughters, ranging from 20 to two tears old, to occupy 100 acres on Coody's Creek, at the Broad River. Apparently the four daughters men of other names, so we have no record of them. A Franklin County, Georgia, Lineage book contains a write-up of John #1 Westbrook. He is listed to have 4 sons by the year 1790. Their names are recorded in the book: Thomas #1, John #2, Stephen #1, and Charles.
John #2 Westbrook was apparently named for his father, John #1 Westbrook. In the 1840 census, John #2 was between 70 and 80 years of age. This could have placed his birth date between 1760 and 1770. Considering the fact that he fought in the Revolutionary War, he must have been born about 1760. Because of his war service, a grant was listed in his name on February 10, 1785. His 287 ½ acre tract was on the North Fork of the Oconee River. About 1795, John Westbrook married Ellender (Eleanor) Little, daughter of Colonel James Little and Isabella Hamilton, from Virginia. Eleanor was born in 1778 and died in 1825. Their children were John #3, James William, Stephen Bartley, Joel M., Isabella, and Sampson L.
(to be continued)