On this date in our family history . . . the 20th day of July in the year 1655 . . . Robert Brooke dies in Calvert County, Maryland . . . this Robert Brooke is a 10th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . he is credited with bringing fox hunting to America, and left a written memorandum of his family, and of the time of his settlement in Maryland, i.e. . . .
"The before-named Robert Brooke, Esquire, arrived out of England in Maryland the 29th day of June, 1650, in the 48th year of his age, with his wife and ten children. He was the first that did seat the Patuxent, about twenty miles up the river at Delabrook, . . . In 1652 he removed to Brooke Place, being right against Delabrook ; . . ."
He departed this world the 20th day of July, and lieth buried at Brooke Place Manor ; . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 20th day of May . . . in the year 1599 . . . Elizabeth Brooke nee Twyne dies somewhere in England . . . and is memorialized in 1603 when her son places a "brass" in the Whitfield Church . . . the wording from this brass is quoted below . . . this Elizabeth is a 12th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . in a letter from Vicar of Whitchurch, he wrote that . . .
There is a beautiful Brass which I now give you :
PIETATIS OPUS
This grave (oh griefe) hath swallowed up with wide and open mouth
The body of good Richard Brooke of Whitchurch, Hampton South,
And Elizabeth his wedded wife, twise Twentie years and one.
Sweet Jesus hath their souls in heaven, ye ground flesh, skin and bone.
In Januarie, worne with age, daie sixteneth died hee.
From Christ full fifteene hundred years and more by ninety-three;
But death her twist of life in Maie, daie twentieth did untwine,
From Christ full fifteen hundred years and more by ninety-nine.
They left behind them, well to live and grown to good degree,
First Richard, Thomas, Robert Brooke the youngest of the three;
Elizabeth and Barbara and Dorothee the last
All six the knot of nature, love and kindness, keeping Fast.
This toomstone with the plate thereon, thus graven fair and large
Did Robert Brooke, the youngest sonne, make of his proper charge.
A citizen of London State by faithful service Free,
Of Marchant great Adventurers a brother sworne was hee;
And of the Indian Companie, come gain or loss or lim
And of the Goldsmith liverie, All these God gifte to him
This monument of memorie in love performed hee
December thirtie-one from Christ, Sixteen hundred and Three.
Anno Domini, 1603 --
Laus Deo.
