Children of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn: Daughters Samantha, Martha and Rozilla

Among the ten presumed children of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn of Highgate, Vermont are three daughters, Samantha, Martha and Rozilla. Little is known of the three and two did not marry. As a consequence it was decided to cover them in one brief post.

The eldest of the three, Samantha, was born about 1807, certainly in Highgate, Vermont. She is found on the 1850 census as "Samontha Bruer," age 43, born in Vermont, enumerated at Swanton, Franklin Co., Vermont in the household of Richard Moore, aged 57, a farmer. Also in the household is one Clarenda Stevens, age 19, possibly a sister (or relation) of Cynthia Perlina Stevens, the wife of Schuyler Brewer, and sister-in-law of Samantha. Relationships between members of a household and the head were not recorded in 1850, and no occupation is recorded for Samantha. She died 25 June 1861 and is buried besides Peter and Hannah Brewer on the family property in Highgate, thus the presumption that she was a daughter of Peter and Hannah. No evidence has been found for a marriage or children.

Martha Brewer is stated to have been born 7 January 1815 at Highgate, and died 20 October 1875 at St. Armand, Brome County, Quebec, Canada (just north of the boarder from Highgate, Vermont). The vital dates given here are from the research of others and I have not been able to confirm them with independent records. By 1838, Martha was married to John J. Reynolds who was born about 1813 in Canada (probably just north of the boarder with Vermont). The couple is found on the 1850 census at Highgate, Vermont, with Martha aged 35, John Reynolds, age 37, a farmer, and (presumed) children Martha M. Reynolds, age 12; Mary R. Reynolds, age 8; John W. Reynolds, age 6; and Phebe S. Reynolds, age 5. All four are stated as born in Vermont. The household is enumerated next to Jacob Brewer (recorded as Jacob Bruer). In 1861 the family is found at Missisquoi, Canada East (1861 Census of Canada). John is recorded as "P. Reynolds," but the other members of the household, wife Martha, and three children, Mary, John and Phebe, confirm that this is the correct family. The oldest daughter, Martha, had married Otis C. Freeman about 1857 and were also enumerated at Missisquoi. In 1871, Martha, but not her husband, is found on the census of Canada at St. Armand East, Missisquoi, Quebec, Canada, in the household of her son-in-law and daughter, Otis and Martha Freeman. Two sons have been found for Martha M. Reynolds and her husband, Otis Freeman. Hubert Freeman was born about 1862 and Warren Freeman about 1871. In 1901, Martha (Reynolds) Freeman, as a widow, is found at St. Armand. The family has not been traced any further, and marriages for the remaining three children of Martha (Brewer) Reynolds, Mary, John and Phebe Reynolds, have not yet been found. Sources for this additional data, which supersedes the current edition of the Brouwer Genealogy Database, can be found on Ancestry.com at Martha Brewer.

The youngest daughter of Peter and Hannah Brewer was Rozilla V. Brewer, born about 1818, most certainly at Highgate. She is known only from an account of her burial. Rozilla died 21 August 1841, age 23 years, and his buried at Highgate. An early transcription of her gravestone records, "Rozilla V. Brewer, daughter of Peter & Hannah Brewer." There is no evidence that she married or left children.

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