John Hardee and Sibithia Brooks

This is an outline of the lives of John Hardee and Sibithia Brooks. Sibithia's daddy's will is in the post concerning William Brooks and Sarah. Evidently, John was living in the same county with Joel all along. I don't know why Daddy didn't find him. He was certainly visible, since he also was a Justice of the Peace. This timeline also includes marriages performed by both Joel and John, as well as by other family members.

1782

We do not know John Ziba Hardee’s correct year of birth. He changed it often. We also may not have the correct spelling of Ziba, since that was also spelled differently on every census and on almost every legal document. In addition, we do not know who the parents of John Ziba Hardee were. We are fairly certain that he was born in Pitt County, North Carolina, and the search for his origins is ongoing.

Between 1782 and 1813

We do not know any of the details of John Ziba Hardee’s life between 1782 and 1813. We do know, however, that several Pitt County, NC, young men, Brooks included, left for the Georgia Land Lottery in 1807. I think it is safe to say that John Ziba Hardee was with them. However, I can find no mention of his having been granted land in Georgia in that time period. That does not mean it didn’t happen. It just means that I haven’t found it yet.

1813

John Ziba Hardee married Peggy Mitchell on Feb. 4, 1813, in Baldwin County, Georgia. Some report this date as late as Feb. 7. As I understand it, the courthouse, in which this record was found, burned and this marriage was found on a piece of paper that survived because it had fallen between the stacks. I suspect the reported date of this marriage depends, in large part, on who is transcribing the entry.

1814

Joel Hardee, son of John Ziba Hardee and Peggy Mitchell, was born on June 8, 1814, in Baldwin County, Georgia.

1816

John Hardee, son of John Ziba Hardee and Peggy Mitchell, was born in 1816, in Baldwin County, Georgia.

1817

In 1817, John Ziba Hardee moved his family to Monroe County, Alabama. They were moving along with Peggy’s family. When this move took place, Joel was three and John was one. So, they were just toddlers when they moved to Alabama and really would have had no memory of living in Georgia at all. It is believed that John Ziba settled the family in the northeastern part of Monroe County in the vicinity of Activity, Alabama, which was near the present Old Texas-Midway area.

Between 1817 and 1825

Sometime between 1817 and 1825, Peggy Mitchell passed away, leaving Joel and John motherless before the ages of 11 and 9.

1825

John Ziba Hardee married fifteen year old Tabitha Brooks, in Monroe County, Alabama, about 1825. They became the parents of ten children: Sarah Jane, James Thomas, Ellender, William Thomas, Samuel B., Bryant Stidwell, Thomas, Subbitha Caroline, Julia Ann, and Pinkney Taylor.

1834

John Hardee married Sibithia Brooks, daughter of William Brooks and Sarah, in Monroe County, Alabama, on Feb. 15, 1834. Surety was provided by brother Joel Hardee.

1835

On June 18, 1835, Joel Hardee married Isabella Coker, daughter of Nathan Coker and Susanna Watson. She was “the girl next door,” and aren’t we lucky?

1837

About 1837, John Ziba Hardee and Tabitha Brooks moved from Monroe County to Coosa County, Alabama. Sons John and Joel moved with them, but both boys brought their families back to Monroe County, Alabama, approximately 10 years later.

1850

According to the census, in 1850, John Hardee and Sibithia Brooks were both 34 years of age and living in Monroe County, Alabama. They had no children living with them. The census taker spelled Hardee with only one “e.”

If I remember correctly, her daddy died in 1856? His will is in an earlier post.

1870

According to the census, in 1880, John Hardee and Sibithia Brooks, both age 54, lived in Beat 12, Monroe County, Alabama. Their post office address was at Dennards Bluff.

John’s half-brother, Bryant Stidwell Hardee, is living next door with his wife and her daughter, Mary (age 5). Bryant Stidwell and Jane’s ages are incorrect and so are his initials. They have him as B.F. Hardee, instead of B.S., but the S. is difficult to read unless you know what you are looking at. Oh Good Lord – they’ve got Sibithia’s name as Cilia. It’s a wonder we are able to find any of them at all!!!

1880

According to the census, in 1880, John Hardee and “Libba” Brooks were both 64 years old and living in Monroe County, Alabama. Both listed their place of birth as Georgia.

Half-brother, Bryant Stidwell Hardee (age 40), was living 3 houses down (with a Kemper in between them, by the way). Living with Bryant Stidwell were his wife, Jane (age 45) and two daughters: Mary P (age 15) and Elmira (age 9). I am assuming Mary P. was Jane’s daughter by a first marriage, since we know Elmira to be Bryant Stidwell’s oldest child and that he had no daughter named Mary.


Between 1899 and 1908

To tell you the truth, I don’t know when either John or Sibithia died. The last record of her is in 1880 and I found a John Hardee marrying a Martha Williamson in Monroe County, Sept. 1, 1895. I seem to remember that our Joel died Dec. 22, 1897. Brothr John died between 1899 and 1908. The last wedding he performed, that I have a record of, was Feb. 9, 1899, when he married Whitman Cotton and Sarah Brooks. I believe both John and Sibithia died in Monroe County, Alabama, and I suspect that John died in 1900. Both John and Sibithia were dead by the time of the 1908 to 1959 Alabama Death Index.

1910

Bryant Stidwell Hardee lived on until Oct. 1, 1922. He died in Monroe County, Alabama. His death is recorded there in Volume: 37 Roll: 2 Page #: 18265

It is hard to get a handle on this group because Sibithia’s brother-in-law, that Litz fella, was a Mormon and baptized most of her family into the Mormon Church. I don’t know that John changed from Methodist to Mormon. I can find no record of it – and somehow doubt such would occur. However, Bryant Stidwell Hardee was buried in the Mormon Cemetery, so it is anybody’s guess.

Monroe & Connecuh County Marriage Records for Brooks: 1833 – 1880
Marriage Books in Monroe County Probate Office and Driver Family Bible
By: Lucy Wiggins Colson and Robert Ellis Colson
Abstracted by: Linda Lambert 9/10/2005


Feb. 15, 1834 John Hardee married Sibithi Brooks
Wedding Performed by: ???
Surety: Joel Hardee

April 15, 1834 Daniel McKinzie married Sarah Brooks
Wedding Performed by Daniel P. Wright, JP
Surety: Rolling Griffin

March 27, 1838 Allen Brooks married Melinda Mims
Wedding Performed by: H.E. Courtney
Surety: L. Sawyer

Sept. 1, 1843 Green Roberts married Mary Brooks
Wedding Performed by: ???
Surety: Warren Allen
This is Sibithia’s sister

July 30, 1848 Charles Brooks married Margaret Mims
Wedding Performed by: John Fore, JP
Surety: James O’Neil

March 2, 1851 Samuel Brooks married Eliza McClammy
Wedding Performed by: W.M. Longmire, JP
W.H. Loveless written in Comment Column

July 5, 1852 Stephen Frederick married Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks
Wedding Performed by: Hugh Rankin, JP
Surety: B.C. Cotton

July 18, 1855 Enoch Hicks married Frances Brooks
Wedding Performed by: William Longmire, JP
Surety: Charles Brooks

Oct. 15, 1855 John Brooks married Elizabeth Grimes
Wedding Performed by: S.A. Farmer, MG
Surety: John DeLoach

Nov. 2, 1860 George W. Brooks married Martha Harris
Wedding Performed by: J.R. Watson, JP
Surety: Evant Brooks
Wedding took place in the home of J.R. Watson, JP
This JP is some of Isabella's folks.

Feb. 11, 1865 John N. Hawkins married Mary Rebecca Brooks
Wedding Performed by: Nathan Coker, JP
Surety: Robert Pugh

August 19, 1869 James Sawyer Brooks married Mary Jane Driver
Wedding Performed by Joel Hardee
Surety: W.H. Patrick

August 10, 1873 Edward F. Brooks married M.M. Gunn
Wedding Performed by John Hardee, JP
Surety: Allen M. Gunn, father of the bride.
Wedding took place in the home of the bride’s father.

August 24, 1873 George W. Brooks married Hulda A. Gunn
Wedding Performed by John Hardee, JP
Surety: John Hardee
Wedding took place in the home of the bride’s father,
Allen M. Gunn.

Nov. 14, 1875 Gaston G. Booker married Parmelia Brooks
Wedding Performed by: William J. Booker
Wedding took place in the home of the bride’s father.

Sept. 12, 1876 John S. Brooks married Narcis A. Skinner
Wedding Performed by John Hardee, JP
Wedding took place in the home of the bride’s mother.

Dec. 13, 1877 Thomas Driver married Nancy Jane Brooks
Wedding Performed by: Joel Hardee, JP
Surety: J.S. Brooks (brother? Or father?)
Wedding took place in the home of James Brooks

Dec. 14, 1879 Dave R. Griffin married Margaret Brooks
Wedding Performed by: John Parrett, JP
Surety: John Hardee
Wedding took place in the home of John Hardee

Dec. 12, 1880 George W. Stuckey married Mattie Brooks
Wedding Performed by: William Booker, MG
Wedding took place in the home of Samuel Brooks

1882 Robert Henry Brooks married Betty Ann Mathews

Feb. 9, 1899 Whitman Cotton married Sarah Brooks
Wedding Performed by: John Hardee, JP



Tabitha Brooks was Joel’s step-mother
Joel is marrying the Brooks who are in Tabitha’s family

August 19, 1869 James Sawyer Brooks married Mary Jane Driver
Dec. 13, 1877 Thomas Driver married Nancy Jane Brooks


Feb. 15, 1834 John Hardee married Sibithi Brooks
John is marrying the Brooks who are in Sibithia’s family.

August 10, 1873 Edward F. Brooks married M.M. Gunn
August 24, 1873 George W. Brooks married Hulda A. Gunn
Sept. 12, 1876 John S. Brooks married Narcis A. Skinner
Dec. 14, 1879 Dave R. Griffin married Margaret Brooks @ John’s home
Feb. 9, 1899 Whitman Cotton married Sarah Brooks

More marriages performed by Joel and John – or related in some way.

Some Monroe County Marriage Records, 1894 - 1896, Monroe, Alabama
Contributed by: Kay Cobb

PAGE 460
W.L. REAVES TO EVY ANDERSON JANUARY 13,1894 JOHN HARDEE J.P.
J.L. HARDEE TO L.S. MIDDLETON JANUARY 11,1894 JOEL HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 471
W.C. FLOWERS TO S.A. MIDDLETON JULY 2, 1894 JOHN HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 489
A.N. JONES TO C.V. LANGHAM JANUARY 6,195 JOEL HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 494
A.Z. HARDEE TO M.L. MIDDLETON FEBRUARY 21,1895 JOEL HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 508
J.H. BYRD TO HENRIETTA PETTIS JULY 28,1895 JOEL HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 509
J.T. PARRISH TO M.E. WRIGHT AUGUST 2,1895 JOEL HARDEE J.P.
J.E. WATTS TO ELLA F. BOOKER JULY 8,1895 JOEL HARDEE J.P.

PAGE 512
JOHN HARDEE TO MARTHA WILLIAMSON SEPTEMBER 1,1895 J.H.KEARLEY J.P. Was this our John? or a younger John?
PAGE 530
W.A. SMITH TO M.S. HARDEE DECEMBER 19,1895 JOHN H. BROWN J.P.
JOHN JEFFERSON TO JULIA MALCOMB DECEMBER 31,1895 B. SAWYER M.G.