Brooks, James

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1906

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Town

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James Brooks of Bridgwater (1848-?): age 58, 2 songs ‘The Cuckold’ ('Our Goodman' FT963) & ‘The Sportsman’s song’ (FT964) on 6 Aug 1906: James Brooks was baptised at St Mary’s Marlborough, Wilts on 27/8/1848, son of James Brooks, a blacksmith and his wife Elizabeth. James Snr moved to Bridgwater and set up as a coach smith by 1871 in Monmouth Street, his son following him into the trade.

James married Elizabeth Sprouting on 26/12/1870 at Bridgwater St John church and they had 6 children. James worked variously as a coal labourer (1881), a quay labourer (1891), and coach smith again (1901). He lived in Eastover, across the bridge over the River Parrett in the newer part of the town. It is not known when he died.