John BROOKER was born in 1781. His parents were John Brooker and Sarah POCOCK who married in 1767. At the time John was born the family was living in Warfield near Reading. There is no more information on where his parents were born or who his grandparents were. John was the third of three children (the others were Mary 1775, James 1778) all born in Warfield.

John BROOKER married Susanna HUNT on 18.10.1812 at St Martin in the Fields. He was 31, she was 27. She could sign her name, he made his mark. They lived near the Allsop's in Charles Place, Kensington. They had 7 children of whom only 3 (or 4) survived

John *26.9.1813 Charles Place 8.4.1841 10 Gardeners Buildings Kens
Mary Ann *24.8.1817 do. not known
Caroline *2.7.1820 do. 5.1.1900 4 Kelso Place, Kens.
Henry *1.9.1822 do. 6.12.1892 Providence Terrace, Kens

We assume Mary Ann survived because there is no burial record at St.Mary Abbot, but we know nothing of her. John (senior) was variously described as coalporter, servant, waiter, civil servant and died in 1834 aged 53. John married a Charlotte Simmonds in 1837 (see below). This left Susanna, Caroline and Henry (and possibly Mary Ann) living at Charles Place. Henry became a cooper, being apprenticed to Edmund Peell at 12 Marchmont St (nr. Brunswick Sq.) in 1841. In 1846 he married Emma Hunt at St.Margaret, Westminster. The 1851 census shows Susanna (66, Widow, Sempstress) and Caroline (30, unmarried) living at 10 Charles Street. In 1857 Caroline married a Malcolm MacPherson (printer). Susanna died in 1868 (buried 3.2.1868 Brompton Cemetery).

Susanna's parentage is a mystery. The 1851 (and 1861) census gives Susanna's birthplace as "Leachlade, Gloucestershire" but there is no Hunt baptism there in 1785 (or '84 or '86) - only a Susanna Pace, and there is no record of her marrying a Hunt and subsequently being widowed. It is tempting to relate Susanna Hunt to Richard Hunt but it may just be a coincidence of names.