Halifax, Nova Scotia look up please?

[rowanali]

Looking for deaths of Thomas Brookes (born in England circa 1829) and his wife Rebecca (born in England circa 1830).  They are on 1871 and 1881 Census in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but I can't find anything on them after that.  I know of 3 children - all sons, who I think left Canada for USA or UK, but don't know what happened to the parents.  They arrived in Canada via USA sometime between 1852 and 1871.
Thanks for any help.

[Lisa in California]

It appears that the family is still in Jackson, Michigan in 1860.  (1860 census information was posted after ali put up this thread).  American info on the following thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,404077.0.html

[rowanali]

Yes, they certainly were in Michigan in 1860 (you have now confirmed for me that it was the same Thomas Brookes), but they move to Nova Scotia and are on the census there in 1871 and 1881.  Thomas Washington (eldest son) moves back to UK, Leonard may stay in Halifax for a bit longer, and Nelson (third son) moves to Boston, Mass, USA.  I just wondered what happened to the parents - are they around in 1891 or later in Nova Scotia? 
Thanks for all this Lisa,
ali

[Lisa in California]

I do not see their names on the following site, but records are continually added:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cancemet/NS/index.html

[josey]

Can't find a death for either of them here as Brookes, but 3 deaths of Thomas Brooks.

http://www.novascotiagenealogy.com

Perhaps Thomas & Rebecca followed their sons but died between censuses? Have you tried the SSDI for a death in the USA
http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
& freebmd for a death in England?

You could try the 14 day free trial on ancestry.ca & look there ....

[nickgc]

A search of the 1891 Canada census (free at Library & Archives Canada) doesn't turn up any likely ones.

P.S.  SSDI is an unlikely place to find anyone born in 1829:  98% of deaths are after 1962 (my gpa who died then isn't on) and the earliest deaths are 1937.

Nick

[rowanali]

Thanks for that - it's useful to know, and thanks for checking the 1891 census for me,
Ali
PS My chiropodist in Aberdeen is a Shand, and my friend from school was a Flett from Orkney (I know, there are loads of them up there!)

[josey]

Didn't know that about the SSDI so thanks Nick. I've never had to use it just knew it existed.

The hunt goes on....

[Lisa in California]

Perhaps you have already have seen them in the Halifax Directories?
Thomas Brookes was living at 31 Granville with: Rebecca (Mrs), Nelson, clerk, and Leonard E, clerk.
Halifax directory for 1880-1881.

Other directories can be viewed on this site:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canadiandirectories/index-e.html

There is an L E Brookes in 1889-90.  He is listed as L E Brookes and Company.
-----------------
I only tried a couple of searches for Brookes after 1881 and didn't see them.  I just tried searching for Brooks after 1881.
In Halifax in 1882-1883:
Rebecca Brooks is listed as wid Thos.  She was living at 31 Granville.

Further searches may narrow down her year of death.  I believe when my ancestors' names (in Toronto City Directories) were listed as widowed, the husbands had passed away within the year.