Peter Chardon Brooks (1767-1849)

President of the New England Insurance Company, Boston

He was reputedly Boston's first millionaire, the richest man in New England, and is still today considered to be one of the 100 wealthiest Americans in history. He died in 1849 with a fortune estimated at $6-million, four times as much as the fortunes of men such as David Sears, Samuel Appleton etc. He owned a significant swathe of real estate, forbidding any of his premises to be used for "grog-selling purposes". He divided his time between Boston (his town house was at the corner of Atkinson and Purchase Streets) and his summer home at Medford, Massachusetts. He married Ann, daughter of U.S. Founding Father Nathaniel Gorham and they had 9-children (listed).

Parents (2)

Rev. Edward Brooks

Rev. Edward Brooks, of Medford, Massachusetts

1733-1781

Abigail (Brown) Brooks

Mrs Abigail (Brown) Brooks

1732-1800

Spouse (1)

Ann (Gorham) Brooks

Mrs Ann (Gorham) Brooks

1771-1830

Children (9)

Edward Brooks

of "The Elms Farm" Medford; Member of the Massachusetts State Legislature

1793-1878

Gorham Brooks

of Boston & Medford, Massachusetts

1795-1855

Ann (Brooks) Frothingham

Mrs Ann Gorham (Brooks) Frothingham

1797-1864

Peter Chardon Brooks Jr.

Peter C. Brooks Jr., Merchant, of Boston, Massachusetts

1798-1880

Sidney Brooks

Commission Merchant, of Davis, Brooks & Co., New York

1799-1878

Charlotte (Brooks) Everett

Mrs Charlotte Gray (Brooks) Everett

1800-1859

Ward Chipman Brooks

of Boston; died in early adulthood, unmarried

1804-1828

Henry Brooks

Henry Brooks, of Boston; died unmarried

1807-1833

Abigail Brown (Brooks) Adams

Mrs Abigail Brown (Brooks) Adams

1808-1889