Who was Charles Brooks?

[Phoenix]

He seems straightforward enough:

Charles Hector Brooks bp 1791, son of Thomas and Susanna Brooks of Eagle & Child Yard, Holborn

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...17/edit/record


By 1841 (ie 50 years later) he is living south of the river, in Collingwood Street Southwark:


https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...59/edit/record and is a quill maker.


He is living with Mary Ann Pow, nee Cotmore, aged 45, her daughter and son-in law Mary Ann and Henry Hanscomb, and Elizabeth Rogers, aged 55, a quill-dresser.


Charles's will, made in 1844 (but not fully administered until 1890!!) https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-v...?usePUBJs=true mentions both Mary Anns, suggests that Thomas Pow may not be dead.


He also mentions Mary Ann Clapham common law wife of James Cotmore, Edwin Wall son of Sarah Cotmore and Edwin Wall, son of Ann Cotmore.


The Cotmores were famous pen-cutters.



Did Charles Brooks leave his money to them

• because he'd worked with them?
• through the persuasions of his common law wife?
• because he already had some family connection with them?

Can anyone find any trace of Charles before 1841?