Jackson county census lookup please?

[rowanali]

I'm trying to trace either a Thomas Washington Brookes (born in Jackson, Michigan 1851 to british parents), or his father Thomas Brookes (born England, 1829).  There is a MI 1860 Federal Census Index result for a Thomas G Brookes in Jackson County, 4 W. Jackson, p150 on Ancestry.Co.Uk but it doesn't give me any other info to check if it is my ancestor.
I know Thomas (circa 1829) was married to Rebecca and they later moved to Halifax in Nova Scotia.  I know that their son Thomas Washington Brookes (1951) was born in Jackson, Michigan, and that they had at least 2 other children (Leonard E Brookes 1854 and Nelson Brookes 1861) because they are on the Halifax Census.  I wonder if it is possible to find any other info on them - I'm trying to get birth dates and places for Thomas senior and his wife Rebecca (more specific than just 'England').  I can't find any death's either for them - other than Thomas junior who returned to marry in UK.
Any help much appreciated,
ali

[Lisa in California]

Hi Ali:
Not much information here, but posting it anyway:
1860 Jackson Ward 4, Jackson, Michigan
Thomas G. Brooker[Brookes], age 31, born England, occupation: Confectionary? _______?
Rebecca Brooker, age 30, born England
Thomas W Brooker, age 9?, born Mich?
Leonard? Brooker, age 6, born Wisconsin

[Lisa in California]

1850 Marshall, Calhoun, Michigan, 17 July 1850
T G Brooks, age 22, born England, married within the year
Rebecca Brooks, age 21, born England

There isn't an occupation noted for T. G., but only a handful of people on the page have occupations noted.

The Brooks were living with quite a few other people.  Were they possibly living in an inn?  Names on the list are:
Merriett family
Thomas
Gracy
Charter
Smith
Fardall
Welch
Robinson
Bostock
Polhemas family
Kern family
Spicer
Sandy
McMahon
Johnson
Tracy

On the following page, in the margin is "Public House".  (The names start on page 24 and continue to page 25.)

[Lisa in California]

This doesn't help in your search, but in case you are interested in Jackson, Michigan, there are photographs on this site:
http://jackson.lib.mi.us/index.php?q=gallery

[Lisa in California]

Do not see Leonard's birth, but I didn't look too closely:
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/genealogy/index.asp

The site does state that only a limited number of births were recorded before 1907.

I don't believe Michigan allows an internet search for their vital records.

[rowanali]

Dear Lisa in California - this is fantastic info - more than I hoped for - you have confirmed lots for me - many thanks!  Only querie back to you would be occupation - you say ? confectioner, could it be stationer? - he was certainly making paper bags in Canada 20 years later.  I can't believe how helpful everybody is!
ali

[Lisa in California]

Hi Ali:

I checked the image again, it certainly looks like Confectionery, after checking writing on several pages.  It definitely doesn't start with St.

There is a photo of "Confectionery Ice Cream Justice of The Peace" in Jackson (I think it was Jackson), but the photo isn't dated.  Obviously, it would have to be much later than 1860.
http://www.myjdl.com/gallery/v/buildings/PA_FULL_188.jpg.html

[Lisa in California]

On the 1860 census are two columns:
Value of Estate Owned
Value of Real Estate: 2,000?
Value of Personal Estate: 1,000?

While the figures certainly aren't the highest (after looking at several pages), they are higher than most entries.  Perhaps he owned a small building in town?

[josey]

Where did Thomas Washington marry? This may have been the area Thomas snr and/or Rebecca came from.

Do you think the name Washington is a clue to Rebecca's maiden name? Or even Leonard or Nelson? Or are these family names?