Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#110, b. 12 June 1817, d. 13 June 1883
Father*Hardin Hairston b. 23 Oct 1786, d. 23 Oct 1862
Mother*Sarah "Sally" Stovall STAPLES1 b. 1 Oct 1791, d. 4 May 1845
Birth*Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON was born on 12 June 1817 in Virginia.1 
She was the daughter of Hardin Hairston and Sarah "Sally" Stovall STAPLES.1 
Marriage*Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON married Thomas B. Brooks, son of Micajah BROOKS and Georgia C. POOL, on 11 August 1842 in Patrick, Virginia; Minister Joshua Adams.1,2,3,4 
Census 1850Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON appeared on the 1850 census of Thomas B. Brooks on 1 June 1850 in Lowndes, Mississippi; Thomas B Brooks 34 GA, Sarah A Brooks 32 VA, Harriet E Brooks 15 MS, Mary T Brooks 4 MS, Hardin H Brooks 3 MS, James T W Hairston 15 VA (see Note), Samuel Thomas 45 was an overseer. - Note: James Thomas Watt Hairston was staying with his aunt Sarah A. Hairston, wife of Thomas Brooks.4

 
WillIn Thomas B. Brooks's will dated 31 December 1859 in Lowndes, Mississippi, Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON was named as an heir; Mentions his daughters Mrs. Harriett E. Spann, Mary T. Brooks, Sally Allice B. Brooks, his wife Sarah A. Brooks and his son Hardin H. Brooks. He appointed George Hairston and Sarah A. Brooks as executors. Witnessed by Edmond G. Sanders, F. O. Dailey and Peter C. Hairston. Recorded 8 December 1860. - Lowndes County Probate Wills 1847-1889, page 55. FSL #5835939, image 122.
Death Spouse*Her husband, Thomas B. Brooks, died on 12 January 1860. 
Census 1860*She appeared on the census of 10 August 1860 in Crawford, Lowndes, Mississippi, Ailsie Brooks 40 VA, Mary 14 MS, Harden 12 MS, Sallie 4 MS.5

 
WillIn Hardin Hairston's will dated 29 September 1862 in Lowndes, Mississippi, Sarah Alsey HAIRSTON was named as an heir; Hardin Hairston left a will dated 29 September 1862, Lowndes County Courthouse, Mississippi, Will Book 1, page 122-124. FSL #5835939, images 159-160. PDF transcript and a copy of will attached.6
Census 1870*She appeared on the census of 30 June 1870 in Brooksville, Noxubee, Mississippi, Sarah A Brooks 46 VA, Bell 13 MS.7

 
DeedOn 2 April 1877, P. C. Hairston and Sarah A. Brooks sell to George Hairston a two fifths undivided interest in a large tract of land in Lowndes County. - Lowndes deed Book 45, page 313. FSL #8567113 image 512.
Census 1880*She appeared on the census of 11 June 1880 in Beat 5, Noxubee, Mississippi, Mrs S A Brooks 62 VA, Belle Brooks 20 MS daughter, Mrs M T Helm 33 MS daughter, Watt Helm 9 MS grandson, Ada Hairston 17 AL niece, and 2 servants. Ada Hairston was the daughter of Sarah Hairston Brooks's deceased brother Robert Andrew Hairston who had lived across the state line in Greene County, Alabama.8

 
Death*She died on 13 June 1883 in Noxubee, Mississippi, at age 66. Bible states "at her home Noxubee Miss.". Cemetery marker shows June 16, 1882 as date of death.1 
Burial*She was buried in Hairston Cemetery, Lowndes, Mississippi.9

 

Family

Thomas B. Brooks b. 5 May 1816, d. 12 Jan 1860
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S55] Harden Hairston Family Bible, 1750-1908. The Holy Bible containing The Old & New Testaments: Translated Out of the Original Tongues,.....J. Holbrook's Sterotype Copy., Eighth Edition, Brattleborough, (Vt.), 1817, Library of Virginia.
  2. [S70] Marriages of Patrick County, Virginia 1791-1850, Lela C. Adams, (Bassett, VA 1972).
  3. [S3044] Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
  4. [S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  5. [S1860] 1860 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  6. [S271] Will of Hardin Hairston - 29 Sep 1862, Lowndes County Will Book #1, page 122. Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930. FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9Q6-RFZ9), IGN: 005835939, image 159/418, Lowndes County Courthouse,.
  7. [S1870] 1870 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  8. [S1880] 1880 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  9. [S17] Hairston Cemetery, Lowndes County, Mississippi, Information and photographs gathered from personal visits.
Last Edited13 Oct 2025