He remained farming with his parents for several years, until a false friend, by a swindling transaction, brought the father to ruin, and put an end to the rural pursuits of the son.
Having recruited his health, he resumed the scholastic profession and opened a school at South Shields, where he became a member of the Town Council, being elected without canvassing or making a single speech.
He was a remarkable linguist, knowing French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and both ancient and modern Greek; he could, with the aid of a dictionary, read Welsh, Gaelic, and some half dozen other tongues.
Added to these wonderful qualifications was his knowledge where to get at any information required, and if, in conversation, any doubt occurred, he would never rest until, by reference to one or more of the 3,000 volumes which formed his library, he had settled the matter.
This religious body resembled to some extent that founded by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, the author of Robed membership leaving each member responsible solely for his own opinions, not affecting his relation to other associations.
The members, whilst pronouncing no dogma or adherence to any creed, sought" to arrive at a harmonious understanding and to occupy a common ground, with a view to united action for the furtherance or advancement, both within and without their immediate circle, of all that is truly good, elevating, useful, and honourable" The association lasted barely six years, during the whole of which time Mr. Brockie acted as President, and was always ready to aid in any way by lectures or addresses, and to help those who could no longer find a home in any of the usual places of worship.
Mr. Brockie did not fill any public office in Sunderland beyond being a member of the Museum and Free Library Committee, where he rendered excellent service in the compilation of the Catalogue.
Included in the three books are 2 works attributed to Brockie :- The Modern Pandora A Love Story – addressed to M N A set of the original documents are bound together and held by South Shields library.