Henry Sands Brooks

Henry Sands Brooks was born on September 8, 1772, in Queens New York. His parents were David Brooks and Hannah Brooks (maiden name Sands). His parents married on November 30, 1770, with David being twenty-two and Hannah at fifteen years old. Dr. David Brooks was a physician whose practice was in New York on the northwest Corner of Cherry Street and Catherine Street. He died on October 14, 1795, at the age of 47 from yellow fever.

Henry was the oldest of four siblings. His younger brother David was born around 1774, a second brother John's birthdate is unknown, with sister Ann born on October 25, 1778. Henry married Lavinia Brooks (maiden name Lyon) and they had nine children, six boys and three girls between the years 1802–1821. His six sons names are David (1804–1805), Henry A., Daniel Hamilton, John, Elisha, and Edward Brooks. Henry's daughters were named Ann, Hannah, and Lorreto Brooks.

Henry Sands Brooks started off selling groceries several years prior to owning his business at the same address he grew up in. Soon, the War of 1812 interrupted his provisional trade leading Henry to leave his profession and retired to an upstate farm in Rye. Once the war was over Henry went to work with his younger brother David Brooks in his clothing business on Cherry Street for a couple years. In 1817, Henry dissolved the partnership with his brother and moved a few blocks down to the corner of Cherry Street and Catherine Street in Manhattan.