Kings Co., New York Deeds, Vol. 7 Index

Kings County, New York, which today has the same political boundaries as New York City's Borough of Brooklyn, was a primary center of settlement during the 1600s. Many families found in Westchester, Dutchess and Orange Counties, New York, throughout New Jersey, and even in Bucks and Philadelphia Counties, Pennsylania, during the 1700s, can trace their origins to Kings County, New York. Researching families from Kings County can be a challenge. Church records exist, but they are scattered and have gaps. For example, records for the Brooklyn Dutch Church, post 1719, are lost. Literally, the records of hundreds of marriages and thousands of baptisms from Brooklyn can not be consulted. Probate records prior to the Revolution are usually found in the Probate Records of New York County, assuming they were probated and recorded. Many, however, were not. (The Kings County Surrogate's Court, which handles probate, was not established until after the formation of New York State). A third source of primary information, land records or deeds, can sometimes fill in missing genealogical data.

Kings County Deed records begin in the late 1670s. The deeds are recorded in Books (often referred to a as Volumes or Libors). Books 1 through 7 cover the colonial period and a bit beyond. They have been filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah and are available through local Family History Center Libraries. Volumes 1-4 are on FHL film #1413189, while volumes 5-7 are on FHL film #1413190. The deed records from Kings County, Volume 1, were abstracted by David McQueen and published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record in 1917. They are found in Volume 48, pages 110-118, 291-298, and 355-361. These records take us up to the mid 1690s. Abstracts are convenient, but the complete original document should still be sought out. Doing so is a two step process. First one has to consult the Grantor and Grantee Indexes (FHL film #s1413114 to 1413188), then one has to go to the appropriate volume of deeds to locate the complete record. Fortunately, Volumes 5, 6 and 7 include either a list of deeds, or an alphabetical index at the back of each volume. These three volumes cover the years 1724 to 1803. I have taken digital images of the lists and indexes for volumes 5, 6 and 7 and will make them available online. If you are looking for a Kings County ancestor, circa 1724-1803, this will at least save you one step. We'll start with Volume 7.

Kings County Deeds, Lib. 7 Index

There are seven images, and they are probably best viewed by downloading them to your own computer and using your computer's tools to zoom in, etc.

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More Anneke Jans

Here are four more resources for those interested in learning more about the actual facts surrounding the legend of Anneke Jans, followed by some useful advise.

"The Heirs of Anneke Jans vs. Trinity Church," by William J. Parry was published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record in 1994 (Volume 125, nos. 2 & 3). It is the most thoroughly researched and comprehensive account of the actual events, claims and lawsuits that created the "legend" of Anneke Jans, ever published. It covers events from the early 1700s and into the 20th century.

A follow up article by the same author, "A Family Feud: The Anneke Jans Claimants in 1831," found in NYGBR vol. 126, no. 2 (April 1995), describes a lawsuit between heirs (or presumed heirs) over, basically, the lack of results from an attempted lawsuit. The article includes a list of claimants, that the author states "maybe useful in solving genealogical problems." The operative word here is "Maybe." Inheritance lawsuits often include the claimant's pedigrees. After all, they have to prove their descent from the individual who's fortune they are trying to claim. But simply because a claimant introduces a pedigree into evidence, or testifies to an ancestry, does not make it correct.

In light of what I just mentioned, here is a "List of Claimed Heirs" of "Sarah and Wolfert Webber and of Sybrant Bower (sic), son of Jacobus Brower." This group of fortune seekers organized themselves in 1873 for the purpose of making a claim on the estates of Sarah and Wolfert Webber, who they believed left an inheritance back in Amsterdam that was never claimed.

And finally there is "Ancient Estates" Heirship Documentation Available, by William B. Bogardus. It describes the availability of pedigree information submitted by claimants with regards to one of the Anneke Jans lawsuits of the 1900s, and how an interested researcher might go about accessing it. I've made this available primarily because of the cautionary note included in the fourth and fifth paragraphs. I would venture to say that no one on earth has spent as much time, energy and resources in researching the descendants of Anneke Jans as has William B. Bogardus. As these words of caution come from Bill, I believe that they carry a great deal of weight. Do not ignore them. They apply not just to the Anneke Jans lawsuits, but also to all lawsuits and trial testimony that involves the relating of a pedigree. I would add that the cautionary words also apply to pedigrees that are submitted to any one of the numerous genealogical based societies (D.A.R., Mayflower Descendants, etc.) that exist. In every case, especially for generations beyond the claimant's or applicant's grandparents, the pedigree must be verified with additional research. If the pedigree is accurate, then a researcher working today should be able to duplicate the pedigree using available vital records, church records, probate and land records.

The above documents are all a part of the William B. Bogardus Collection.

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Fytie Brouwer and Her Two Husbands, Evert Hendricksen and Matys Cornelissen

Fytie Brouwer, daughter of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon, was probably born between 1655 and 1660 at Gowanus, Long Island. No record of her baptism has been found. She is named as a daughter in Adam Brouwer's will of 1692, which also mentions Fytie's daughter Magdalena. Fytie is covered by William J. Hoffman in "Brouwer Beginnings" at TAG 24 (1948): 28-29. Hoffman's account is very brief. He simply mentions her two marriages, refers the reader to NYGBR 75 (1944):169 for the children from her first marriage, and lists the two children of her second marriage. The Dutch name, Fytie, is the equivalent of the English, Sophia.

Fytie Brouwer was married twice. Her first marriage, for which no record is found, was to Evert Hendricksen. This occurred before February 1677 when their son Adolph was baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church. Her second marriage to Matys Cornelissen, with banns dated 20 February 1692, is recorded in the records of the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church. The record calls her "Fijitie Adams" (using her patronymic) and states that she is the widow of Evert Hendricks, and that she is living in Brooklyn. Her husband, "Matijs Cornelisen," is an unmarried man from Jutland (Denmark).

By her first husband, Evert Hendricksen, Fytie had seven children, with baptism records found for six between the years 1677 and 1690 at New York, Brooklyn and Flatbush. The seventh child, the above mentioned Magdalena, is only known from Adam Brouwer's will. No record of baptism has been found for her, but as she was named for Fytie's mother, Magdalena Verdon, it is likely that she was Fytie's first daughter and probably born in 1675 or 1676. Her children by Evert Hendricksen assumed the surname, Van Gelder, although Evert is never found as being recorded with that name himself. The children of Evert and Fytie would have the patronymic, Evertsen (or Evertse). There exists another distinct, and larger, family named Van Gelder, found in New York at the same time as the descendants of Fytie and Evert are found there that should not be confused with Fytie's Van Gelder descendants. They are two separate and unrelated families.

Very little is known regarding Evert Hendricksen. He is found on the Assessment Roll at Brooklyn in 1675 and 1676 with one poll, and on the roll dated September 26, 1683, with 1 poll, 1 cow, and 1 "do yearling" (meaning a one year old cow). He is rated at twenty-four pounds and ten shillings, and is recorded following his brother-in-law (by marriage to Brouwer sisters) "Jesies Dregz" (Josias Drats). The lack of a marriage record for Fytie and Evert deprives us of the opportunity of learning Evert's place of birth. Although he was living at the time, Evert is not clearly found on the September 1687 Oath of Allegiance taken in Kings County. This list, however, does include the name of "Ephraim Hendricks," who resides in Breucklijn (Brooklyn), has been in the county for 33 years, and is recorded between Matthys Cornelisen (the man who would become the second husband of Evert's wife, and Claes Thomas Van Dyck. Since "Ephraim" is not a given name commonly found among 17th century Dutch men, this record may belong to Evert Hendricksen. If this is correct, then Evert came to New Netherland in 1654, but we still do not know from where. Other then the baptism records of six children, no other records for Evert Hendricksen have been found. No record of probate or settlement of his estate is known. The sponsors at all six baptisms were members of Fytie's family. The absence of any persons who can be identified with certainty as family members of Evert, would lead us to believe that he was likely to have had no family near by at the time of the baptisms. Marretje Hendricks, the later to be wife of Adam Brouwer (the younger) does appear as a sponsor for two children of Evert and Fytie (in 1682 and 1684) prior to her marriage to Adam Brouwer. This Marretje Hendricks may well be a daughter of Hendrick Volckersen (Bries) and Geertien Claes, whose family lived on property adjacent to that of Adam Brouwer's. It may be that Evert and Marretje were brother and sister (who married Brouwer siblings) but thus far, no evidence has been found that would indicate that Hendrick Volckersen had a son named Evert. For now, Evert Hendricksen's origins remain a mystery. We do know that he was deceased by February 20, 1692, when Fytie Brouwer remarried. (A second man named Evert Hendricksen, lived at the same time. He was Evert Hendricksen Bras/Bres/Bresse, baptized in 1644 at New York, son of Hendrick Pietersen (Van Dusenberg/Van Wessel) and Geertie Everts. He married Metje Hardenbroeck in 1685 and had eight children baptized at New York between 1686 and 1703. He should not be confused with the Evert Hendricksen who married Fytie Brouwer. They are different men).

Fytie Brouwer's second husband was Matys Cornelissen. As stated above, they were married with banns dated February 20, 1692, recorded at Flatbush. It was his first marriage. Fytie and Matys had two sons, both baptized in Brooklyn (Cornelis in 1695 and Abraham in 1699). Both sons assumed the surname Van Horne (Van Horn, Vanhorne) and settled in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. According to the September 1687 Oath of Allegiance, "Matthys Cornelisen", residing at Breucklijn (Brooklyn) was in the county for 23 years. He is recorded between Simon Aertsen and Ephraim Hendricks. In 1698, "Matthys Cornelisse," is found on the census of Brooklyn with a household of one man, one woman and five children. The children would have to be his first son, Cornelis, and four step-children from Fytie's first marriage, probably Hendrick, Jannetje, Sarah, and either Jacobus or Aeltje. In 1709, Nicholas Bouwer of Brooklyn (Fytie's brother) signed a bond to Mattyse Corneliusse of Brookland for three hundred and fifty pounds, payable to Cornelius and Abram, "the two and only sons and children of Mattys Corneliusse and Feytie his wife" (Kings Co. Deeds, Lib. 3, pp. 164 and 172). In 1714, the inventory of the estate of John Bowne of Mattawan, Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., New Jersey, includes among the mortgagors, "Mathias Corneliuson" and "Cornelius Van Horn." An unconfirmed source states that on January 24, 1722, Abraham Van Horn sold land (in New Jersey) to Capt. Richard Salter, land that was originally acquires by Abraham's father, Matthys Cornelisson (I have not yet examined the original deed). No will or accounting of the estate of Matthys Cornelissen has been located, but it does appear that he died between 1714 and 1722, probably in Monmouth or Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The identity of the parents of Mattys Cornelissen is not known. Our Van Horn Kindred by Elsie O. Hallenbeck (1959), states that he came from Hoorn in North Holland. Her idea is probably based upon the fact that Matthys' sons assumed the surname, Van Horne (from Horne). However, Matthys himself is never recorded with this surname and Hallenbeck's statement is probably incorrect. As mentioned above, Matthys' marriage banns state that he was from Jutland, which is now Denmark. Researchers of the Van Horne/Van Horn family need to be aware that there is another, unrelated and distinct, Van Horn family found in New York and New Jersey. This family was prominent in New York City and in Bergen County, New Jersey and the Van Horne descendants of Fytie Brouwer and Matys Cornelissen are not at all related to them. In addition, the given names, Cornelius and Abraham, are repeated often within both Van Horne families.

Genealogical Summary of the families of Fytie Brouwer

Among Fytje Brouwer's descendants is Sophia Johnson (1795-1868) the first wife of "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, and mother of all of his children. The Vanderbilt descendants of Fytie Brouwer were arguably the wealthiest family in America at the turn of the 20th century.

The Brouwer lineage of Sophia Johnson

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Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus

Jacob Brouwer, the son of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon, has been estimated to have been born in 1655, probably at Gowanus, Long Island. The estimated date is based upon the fact that he does not appear on the 1675 assessment roll at Brooklyn, but does appear on the 1676 list (with 1 poll). Totten in "Anneke Jans and Her Two Husbands," NYGBR 56 (1925): 231, makes this observation, and makes the assumption that the age of 21 was the cutoff for being taxed. If this estimated birth year of 1655 is accurate, it would make Jacob the fourth son and fifth child of his parents. Jacob was certainly named for his maternal grandfather, Jacob Verdon. Traditionally, the second son was named for the maternal grandfather, and if Adam and Magdalena did follow this tradition then we would expect to find Jacob born sometime in the thirty month period between the baptism of eldest son, Pieter Brouwer (September 1646) and the next recorded son, Matthys Brouwer (May 1649). Perhaps Jacob was born in early 1648. Unfortunately, there is no surviving record that would answer this with certainty.

Jacob Brouwer's wife was Annetje Bogardus, baptized on October 3, 1663 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, a daughter of Willem Bogardus and Wynnetje Sybrants. Her paternal grandparents were Domine Everardus Bogardus and Anneke Jans. Jacob and Annetje's marriage occurred at Brooklyn on January 29, 1682 and was recorded in both the New York and Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church records. The descendants of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus are, of course, also descendants of the "famous" Anneke Jans, and as a result there have been numerous incorrect descendants claimed for Jacob and Annetje by 19th and 20th century pretenders seeking to claim a piece of Anneke Jans supposed fortune. In time I'll cover some of the more egregious claims.

William J. Hoffman devoted five pages to the family of Jacob Brouwer in "Brouwer Beginnings" (TAG vol. 24 [1948], pp. 23-28). It would be useful to review each child again here. Hoffman lists nine children, while William B. Bogardus in Dear "Cousin": A Charted Genealogy of the Descendants of Anneke Jans Bogardus (1605-1663) to the 5th Generation, and of her sister, Marritje Jans (1996) gives ten. There are baptism records for seven of Jacob Brouwer's children. Jacob Brouwer did not leave a will and no recorded settlement of his estate exists. He was likely deceased by December 20, 1706, when his wife, recorded as "Annitie Brouwer," appears as a head of household on an assessment list at Brooklyn with 26 acres. Jacob was certainly deceased by April 30, 1707, When Sybrant Brouwer, "eldest son and heyre to Jacob Brouwer, late of Brooklyn, deceased," sold his interest in the Gowanus Mill property to his uncles (Jacob's brothers), Abram Brouwer and Nicholas Brouwer.

The eldest child of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus is the above mentioned Sybrandt Brouwer. He is covered by Hoffman in "Brouwer Beginnings" at TAG 24 (1948):24. No baptism record survives for Sybrandt. He is proved as a son of Jacob Brouwer by the above mentioned deed. Hoffman gives his date of birth as August 29, 1683, and cites Totten at NYGBR 56 (1925): 232. Totten in turn cites the notoriously unreliable "Hill Manuscript." Therefore, we do not know Sybrandt's actual date of birth. The date of August 29, 1683, has been generally accepted and it does fall within the period of his parent's marriage (29 January 1682) and the baptism of their son Jacob (November 30, 1684). It is of note that as Jacob's eldest son, Sybrandt should have been named for Jacob's father, Adam Brouwer. Instead he was named for Annetje Bogardus' maternal grandfather, Sybrandt Jansen. Sybrandt Brouwer married Sara Webber, daughter of Aernout Webber and Jannetje Cornelis, at the New York Reformed Dutch Church on May 12, 1706. They had nine children baptized at New York between 1707 and 1725. It is likely that Sybrandt died on December 3, 1727. Among the incorrect claims for Sybrandt is one in which his son Jacob (b. 1707) married a Lea Studhard in 1724, had a son John Brouwer who married Catharine Verwey, who in turn had a son named Elias Brouwer. This lineage is entirely incorrect (at each generation).

The second child, and second son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus was Jacob, baptized on November 30, 1684 at Brooklyn. The sponsors were Jesaya Drets and Aeltje Brouwer (Jacob's sister and her husband). The baptism was recorded in both the Brooklyn and Flatbush records. He is covered by Hoffman at TAG 24 (1948):24-26. Jacob married Petronella de la Montagne, daughter of Jan de la Montagne and Annetie Waldron, on October 28, 1709 at New York (recorded at both New York and Flatbush). They had eight children, all baptized at New York between 1710 and 1733. Among the incorrect claims here, is the attribution of a son named Cornelis Brouwer who married Mary Archer. This incorrect placement was first published by T. G. Bergen in his Bergen Genealogy, page 367-368 (footnote). This Cornelis Brouwer is not a descendant of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus.

The third child and third son is Willem, baptized May 8, 1687 at Brooklyn. Sponsors were Willem Bogardus (child's maternal grandfather) and Helena Verbrugge (Van Brugh, the child's mother's first cousin). Willem married Maritje van Oort, daughter of Goosen van Oort and Maria Peeck, and widow of Pieter Hennion, on May 19, 1709 at New York. The marriage record calls her "Maria Hennion." Her family name has been variously recorded as Van Noordt, Van Nort, Van Note, and other variations. It appears that Willem and Marritje had six known children, and they relocated from New York City to Middletown in Monmouth County, New Jersey by 1720. Willem was still living in June 1746 when he conveyed land to Jacob Brower (his son) of Shrewsbury. Willem is covered at TAG 24 (1948):26, although Hoffman's account is incomplete.

Everardus Brouwer is the fourth child and fourth son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus. He was baptized on December 8, 1689 at Brooklyn, sponsors Cornelis Hoijer and Cornelia Bogardes (the child's aunt and her husband). Everardus (named for his maternal great-grandfather, Dom. Everardus Bogardus) married Mary Petit on December 26, 1723 at the Presbyterian Church at Newtown, Long Island (Newtown is now Elmhurst in Queens County). They had ten children but baptism records are only found for two. Everardus is covered at TAG 24 (1948): 26).

Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus' fifth child, and eldest daughter, was Anna Elisabet, baptized on November 15, 1694 at Brooklyn (sponsors Lambert Sachariassen and Maritje Jansen, neither of who's relationship to the Brouwer or Bogardus families is known). She was married on September 7, 1716 at Flatbush, to Jacob Quakenbosch, son of Reynier Pietersz Quackenbosch and Claesje Jacobse Stille. They had twelve children, the first six baptized at New York between 1719 and 1729, the last six baptized at the Tappan Reformed Church bwtween 1730 and 1742. Anna Elizabeth, also called Anna, Johanna, and Hannetje, is covered by Hoffman at TAG 24 (1948): 26-27.

Adam, baptized March 29, 1696 at Brooklyn, was the sixth child and fifth son. Sponsors at the baptism were Cornelis Fiele (Viele) and Katrijna Bogardus (the child's aunt and her husband). Hoffman covers Adam Brouwer at TAG 24 (1948): 27-28, and states, "Most authorities consider him the founder of the Monmouth Co., N. J. branch, and I believe he is." Coming from William J. Hoffman, this statement is odd. Hoffman developed a terrific reputation as a critical reviewer of previously published genealogical claims and was adept at correcting them. One of his primary tools was considering naming patterns and known family relationships found among baptismal sponsors. Hoffman spent a good deal of time using these techniques to correct numerous errors in prior accounts of the descendants of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon (see my earlier post on William J. Hoffman). However, with Jacob Brouwer's son Adam, Hoffman uncharacteristically  takes a pass. His statement above implies that he made no effort to confirm the conclusions drawn by earlier "authorities" (in some of the work of these same "authorities," Hoffman had found other errors). If Hoffman had applied the same standards to Jacob's son Adam, as he did in many other cases, it is very possible that he would have come up with a different conclusion. The claim that Adam Brouwer, baptized March 29, 1696, son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus, is the Adam Brewer of Monmouth County, New Jersey, is not certain.

Pieter, stated to have been born March 29, 1699 at Gowanus, is the seventh child and sixth son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus. No record of baptism has been found. Hoffman covers Pieter Brouwer at TAG 24 (1948): 28. He attributes this birth date to "Ms. notes," without being specific. Totten, in "Anneke Jans and Her Two Husbands," NYGBR 56 (1925): 234, gives this same date and cites the "Hill Manuscript" as the source. Considering the original source cited by Totten, this date of birth has to be taken with a grain of salt. Placement of Pieter in the family of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus is based upon cross-sponsorships at the baptisms of grandchildren of Jacob and Annetje. Pieter stands as a sponsor at baptisms for children of Sybrandt Brouwer and Jacob Brouwer (wife Petronella de la Montagne) and for Anna Elisabeth Brouwer (husband Jacob Quackenbosch). In turn, Jacob Brouwer stands as a sponsor at the baptisms for a few of Pieter Brouwer's children. Pieter was married three times, first to Elizabeth Quackenbosch (daughter of Benjamin Quackenbos and Claasje Webber) on November 18, 1721 at New York. His second marriage was to Cathatina Thong on April 14, 1750 at New York. She died within a year of that date, and Pieter married, third, Sara Kip (daughter of Pieter Kip and Immetje van Dyck) on October 17, 1751 at New York. Pieter lived in New York City and died there on August 10, 1780, "in his 81st year," according to the New York Gazette, and Weekly Mercury. All of his children were by his first wife.

Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus' eighth child and second daughter was Wyntje, baptized on October 1, 1701 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church. Sponsors were Johannes Kip and Rachel Kierstede, wife of Willem Teller (members of Annetje Bogardus' extended family). Wyntje was named for Annetje Bogardus' mother, Wynnetje Sybrants. She is erroneously recorded in a few later records as "Tryntje." Wyntje married Richard Petit on November 26, 1722 at the Newtown Presbyterian Church. They had nine children. She is covered by Hoffman at TAG 24 (1948): 28.

The ninth child, third daughter, and last verifiable child of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus was Magdalena, baptized on March 8, 1704 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, sponsors Dirck Adolf (no known relationship) and Arientje Kierstede (no known relationship). She was certainly named for her grandmother, Magdalena Verdon. Magdalena is covered by Hoffman briefly at TAG 24 (1948): 28, where he states his objection to prior claims that she was the wife of (either) Joost Vredenburg or John Drake. Both of these incorrect claims are elaborated on in the later pages of "Brouwer Beginnings." Hoffman does not suggest a husband for Magdalena. William B. Bogardus, Dear Cousin... (1996), chart 7E, states that she married Willem van Oort, son of Goosen van Oort and Maria Peeck, and brother of Maritje van Oort who was the wife of Magdalena's brother, Willem Brouwer. This marriage is based on circumstantial evidence, and if correct would imply that Magdalena was married at age 15 or 16 to a man who was 14 years her senior. The couple lived in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and no baptism records for any children are found. There are five, "probable" children for Willem van Oort and his wife, Magdalena (whoever she may be) and they will be elaborated on in a future post.

All of the above children will be the subjects of individual write-ups in future posts.

 A tenth child of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus is stated to be John Brouwer. No record of baptism is found for a John, son of Jacob Brouwer, and he is not found in Hoffman's "Brouwer Beginnings" account of the family. William B. Bogardus in Dear Cousin: A Charted Genealogy of the Descendants of Anneke Jans Bogardus (1605-1663) to the 5th Generation, and of her sister, Marritje Jans (1996), chart 7A, places John in this family with the "possible" birth date of September 5, 1692 (at Brooklyn). On October 24, 1711, "John Broun" was married to Antje van Oort, daughter of Goosen van Oort and Maria Peeck (and sister to the above mentioned Marritje van Oort, wife of Willem Brouwer) at New York. John and Antje had one child, Maria, baptized at New York on August 24, 1712, at which a sponsor was (the above) Willem Brouwer (the other sponsor, Elsje Witten, was a sister of Antje and Marritje van Oort). This record also gives John's surname as "Brouwn." On August 31, 1712, "John Brouwn," witnessed the baptism of Lucreta Brouwer, daughter of Willem Brouwer. It is therefore assumed that John is a brother of Willem and that his name was consistently mis-recorded as "Brouwn". This, however, may not be a correct assumption. It is observed that the sponsor appearances could be the result of Antje van Oort and Marritje van Oort being sisters rather then Willem and John being brothers. It is also noted that John does not appear in any record with the name "Brouwer." In addition, his daughter, Maria, is recorded as "Maria Brouwn" at her own marriage (October 1, 1732 to William White), and as "Maria Broun" when she appears with her husband as a sponsor for her much younger half-brother, Johannes Cregier. My own opinion is that John's placement in this family is incorrect. He is not likely to have been a son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus, and his correct name may have in fact been, Brouwn (Brown, Braun). John Brouwn was deceased by July 30, 1715, when as "Hanna Browne," Anna Van Oort married Simon Cregier at the New York Reformed Dutch Church. Simon Cregier and his wife, recorded as Anna Van Oort, Anna Van Oost, or Antje Van Oort, had nine children baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church between 1716 and 1734.

The Family of Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus

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"Anneke Jans in Fact and Fiction"

The first truly sober account of Anneke Jans, devoid of fantastic claims, backed by scholarly research and realistic in it's description of Anneke Jans and her supposed inheritances, was written by George Olin Zabriskie, F.A.S.G. Titled, "Anneke Jans in Fact and Fiction," it was published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record in 1973 (volume 104, pages 65-72 and 157-164).

The article briefly describes the property in lower Manhattan that so many "descendants" believed they had claim to. It carefully considers the actual records regarding Anneke Jans' first husband, Roeloff Jansen, to determine the family's correct origins, and provides the first published account of the actual baptisms of the couple's first three children, Lijntje, Sara and Trijntje. The identification of the parents of Anneke Jans' second husband, Dom. Everardus Bogardus, which simply follows a 1971-1972 article in de Halve Maen, however, is incorrect (see Willem Frijhoff, Fulfilling God's Mission; The Two Worlds of Domine Everardus Bogardus, 1607-1647 [2007] for a more plausible account of the Domine's old world family). The article then gives the first accurate, complete and modern genealogical summary of the family of Anneke Jans ever to be published. Following this there is a brief discussion of Anneke's mother, Tryntje Jonas, which includes a list of a few incorrect claims and assumptions regarding her descendants.

The article picks up in the next issue (volume 104, page 157) with an account of the family of Anneke Jans' sister, Marritje Jans, who was married three times, first to Thymes Jansen, second to Dirck Corneliszen and third to Govert Loockermans (one child by each husband). The focus is then turned to the Webber family and very clearly debunks the fantastic (even idiotic) notion that Anneke Jans was somehow a illegitimate daughter or granddaughter of William I, "the Silent," Prince of Orange, Stradtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Friesland (1544-1584), who was born in 1533. The article also clearly demonstrates that Anneke Jans was not a member of the Webber family in any way, and uses the church records of Amsterdam to reconstruct the inter-related Webber, Cocks, Wallis and Selyns families. (The Selyns/Selijns family is further expanded upon by Frans C. M. Gouverneur in "Dutch Origins of  Some Early Settlers and Allied Familes, part 7, Selijns, Specht," New Netherland Connections, volume 9 [2004], starting at page 89, with corrections in volume 14 [2009], page 67. "Part 6, Webber, Cock," of the same series by the same author is found in NNC vol. 9 [2004]. pp. 72-87. "The Family of Hendrick Cock of Amsterdam," by John Blythe Dobson, is found in NYGBR 142 [2011], pp. 107-116, 195-202). George O. Zabriskie concludes his article with the statement (regarding the disproved notion of a royal ancestry for Anneke Jans), "Predictably, those of extreme bias and ineptitude, while basking vicariously in 'fame and fortune' will refuse to accept this and all other evidence contrary to the legendary fairytale." Despite the fact that this article was first published thirty-nine years ago, you can still find "family trees" and other accounts online that claim Anneke Jans as a descendant of William "the Silent."

Anneke Jans in Fact and Fiction

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Marretje Brouwer and Her Two Husbands, Jacob Pieterszen and Barent Janszen Van Tilburg

Marretje Brouwer, the eldest daughter of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon, was baptized on 4 June 1653 at the New Amsterdam Reformed Dutch Church. Sponsors were Francois Baschet and Engeltje Jans, neither of who are known to be relations of either Adam Brouwer or Magdalena Verdon. Marretje (Maria, Mary) was undoubtedly named for her maternal grandmother, Maria Badie. She was Maria Badie's first granddaughter.

Marretje was married twice. Her first marriage was to Jacob Pieterszen, "j.m. Van Lubeck," on 20 September 1676 (banns dated 3 September 1676 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church). Little is known of Jacob, other then the info obtained from the marriage bann which states that he was born at Lübeck which is in present day Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. T. G. Bergen, in his Early Settlers of Kings County, incorrectly calls him Jacob Pieterszen VERHULST. A Jacob Cornelis Verhulst was married to Maria Willemse Bennet (herself a granddaughter of Maria Badie, and a first cousin of Marretje Brouwer). There are three known children born to Marretje and Jacob, namely, Jacob (baptized 1678 at New York), Magdalena (bapt. 1681 at Brooklyn) and Henricus (bapt, 1684 at New York). None of the three have yet been identified in later records. They may have assumed their father's patronymic, PIETERSEN (PETERSON), as a surname, or they may have assumed their own patronymic, JACOBSEN (JACOBSON), as a surname. Any insight into what happened to the three children of Marretje and Jacob would be welcome. Jacob Pieterszen was deceased by 19 September 1686, when banns were published at the New York Reformed Dutch Church for Marretje's second marriage to Barent Janszen, "j.m. Van Midwout."

Marretje's second husband, Barent Janszen, often is found with the name, Barent Van Tilburg, and was a son of Jan Theuniszen (Van Tilburg) and Tryntje Pieters. No baptism record survives for Barent, but as per his marriage banns he was born at Midwout, Long Island. In early accounts of his parent's family, starting with James Riker, Revised History of Harlem (1904), pages 219-220 (footnote), Barent's mother is incorrectly identified as Tryntje Pieters CRONENBURG. Although she was a Tryntje Pieters, her surname was not CRONENBURG. The woman known as Tryntje Cronenburg was a different person (see exchanges at the Dutch-Colonies List at RootsWeb from December 2007 and January 2008.
Riker also makes the error of assigning two children to Marretje and Barents, namely Geesje, baptized in 1691, and Jan, baptized in 1697. These two children were children of another Barent Janszen (Barent Janszen BOSCH) and his wife Dievertje Van Heyningen. The baptism records for the two children (at the New York Reformed Dutch Church) clearly give the mother's name as Dievertje Van Heyningen, so why Riker claimed the two as children of Marretje Brouwer defies explanation. William J. Hoffman, in "Brouwer Beginnings," TAG 23 (1947): 206, does not correct the error identifying Barent's mother as "Tryntje Cronenburg," although he does not include the two children as claimed by Riker. There is no evidence that Marretje Brouwer and Barent Van Tilburg had any children. On 22 January 1692, Barent Van Tilburg, along with William Nazareth (husband of Marretje's sister Helena Brouwer), were appointed by their father-in-law, Adam Brouwer, as executors of his will (Adam did not appoint any of his seven living sons as executors). Barent was probably born between 1660 and 1665 and Midwout, and thus far the last record I have found for him is dated 1 May 1709, when he stood as a sponsor at the baptism of Maria, daughter of Willem Brouwer and Martha (Bolten) at the Brooklyn Reformed Dutch Church. Barent is found on the 1703 census of New York City, as "Barent Vantilburg," with a household of 1 male age between 16 and 60, no adult females, and 1 male child and 1 female child. From this it is assumed that Marretje died prior to the taking of the census. The identity the two children is not certain. Marretje's youngest two children from her first marriage (Magdalena and Henricus) would have been aged 22 and 19 in 1703, and presumably would not have been classified as "children." There are no surviving records of any baptisms for children of Marretje and Barent. Whether or not the two children are natural children of Barent and Marretje is not clear from the limited information supplied in the census record. If they are, their names have not been discovered.

Marretje Brouwer and Her Two Husbands, Jacob Pieterszen and Barent Janszen Van Tilburg

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"Two Anneke Jans Law-Suits"

As a continuation from the last post regarding published works on Anneke Jans, here is another, this one from The American Genealogist, vol. 24 (1948), pages 65-69.

In "Two Anneke Jans Law-Suits," by H. Minot Pitman, the author presents some genealogical data that was taken from the court records of two cases involving claims to the "Trinity Church Property," alleged to have been owned by Anneke Jans. The cases examined were filed in 1830 and 1834.

The first case, initially filed in 1830 by John Bogardus (1760-1832) and dismissed in 1847, includes a lineage of John Bogardus' descent from Anneke Jans. Testimony and depositions given by individuals regarding their family ancestry, and/or the composition of families, is sometimes used as a source by later genealogists. Many researchers make the mistake of assuming that testimony given before a court is always correct. This isn't so, and testimony and statements are particularly inaccurate when human memory is involved. In this case, filed by John Bogardus in 1830, is an example of an incorrect (in this case an incomplete) claim. The lineage from Anneke Jans to John Bogardus, as filed in the court records, is missing a generation. Here is the correct lineage from Anneke Jans for John Bogardus. Recreate the lineage as stated in the record (as presented on pages 65-66) and you will find the missing generation.

The second case presented is from 1834, Jonas Humbert et al, vs. Trinity Church. In this case, which involves a line of descent through the Bayard family of New York City, the lineage is correct. It's a bit confusing as multiple Samuel and Peter Bayards are mentioned, but once put together and checked against other records (baptism, marriage and probate records) it can be summarized as follows: Samuel Bayard (1706-1784) Descent from Anneke Jans. 

I approached both of these cases by first writing out the lineages as claimed in the cases, and then looked to confirm each generation using available church, probate and other (in the case of John Bogardus, a Bible record published in the NYGBR in 1953). This is the approach I would recommend to anyone who encounters in their research, a lineage that may appear at quick glance to have some air of authority since it was presented in a court case, or used to secure a membership in an esteemed genealogical society (D.A.R. for example). And simply because a lineage is accepted, that acceptance does not mean that the stated lineage is absolutely accurate. Take the time to check the the claims against other records. If the lineage is correct, you should have no trouble recreating it from scratch.

(All of those mentioned above, and in the lineage charts, with source citations, will be available online with the next update of the Brouwer Genealogy Database. The copy of the article was scanned from a photocopy in the William B. Bogardus Collection. If you scroll down past Minot's article and past a segment on Austin's Rhode Island Genealogies, you will come to a follow-up article titled, "Anneke Jans Descendants," by Lewis Neff).

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"Anneke Jans Bogardus and Her Farm"

An article titled, "Anneke Jans Bogardus and Her Farm," appeared in Harper's Weekly in May 1885 (Vol. 70, issue 420). The author is not stated. The copy being made available here is from the William B. Bogardus Collection. It is simply being offered as an example of Gilded Age writing regarding the subject of Anneke Jans and the claims of her descendants. As you will no doubt notice, some literary license is taken with the embellishment of her status and with some specific events and descriptions of her life. For a more accurate and realistic interpretation of just who Anneke Jans was, I would recommend the account found in Prof. Willem Frijhoff's, Fulfilling God's Mission; The Two Worlds of Domine Everardus Bogardus, 1607-1647 (Leiden & Boston: Brill, 2007). See the section titled, "Anneke Jans Story."

Anneke Jans Bogardus of course is a very familiar figure to many people researching their Brouwer, Brower and Brewer ancestry. Unfortunately, because of the false legends surrounding her life, regarding both her ancestry and estate, she has become a pivot point of sorts for numerous false lines of descent, many of which pass through her granddaughter Annetje Bogardus and her husband, Jacob Brouwer (a son of Adam Brouwer & Magdalena Verdon). There will be more on specific incorrect, and correct lines in future posts.

Anneke Jans Bogardus and Her Farm

The article is also available on line at Cornell University's Making of America website.

Fulfilling God's Mission; The Two Worlds of Domine Everardus Bogardus, 1607-1647, at Google Books.

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Brower: Reformed Dutch Church, Stone House Plains, New Jersey

Here is a list of BROWERs baptized at the Reformed Dutch Church at Stone House Plains, New Jersey. The list is from the William B. Bogardus Collection and covers the years 1803 to 1822.

Browers: Reformed Dutch Church at Stone House Plains.

The baptisms were extracted from Family History Library film #946019.

Here also, is an online transcription of baptism records from this church.

Stone House Plains is now known as Brookdale, and is located in the Township of Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey.

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Browers in Stone Arabia, New York Baptisms

Baptism records for the Reformed Dutch Church of Stone Arabia in the Town of Palatine, New York begin in 1739. There are two sources available for the baptism records. First is the record in the Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, transcribed by the NYGBS and edited by Royden Woodward Vosburgh in 1916. There are three volumes to this series. Volume 1 is available online at the NYG&B website (membership required). Volume 1 covers baptisms from 1756 to 1795 and marriages from 1756 to 1799. Other records, such as member lists and sales and registrations of seats, are also found in this volume. As I recall, volumes two and three can be accessed online through Heritage Quest (access to Heritage Quest online is only available through a login via a subscribing institution such as a library).

A second source is available through Kinship Books. "Baptism Record of the Stone Arabia Reformed Church," transcribed by Arthur C. M. Kelly covers the years 1739 to 1899.

Persons with the surname BROUWER or BROWER, extracted from the version published by Arthur C. M. Kelly are now available online. This scanned PDF is from the William B. Bogardus Collection.

Brouwer-Brower, Baptism record of the Reformed Dutch Church of Stone Arabia

Today, Stone Arabia is a hamlet within the Town of Palatine in Montgomery County, New York. It is located on the north side of the Mohawk River. The original settlers consisted of German immigrants from the Palatine and descendants of Dutch families that had first settled in the areas of Schenectady and Albany in the 1600s. Among the earliest settlers was Willem Brouwer/Brower, who is often claimed as (but not proven to be) a son of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth Drinckvelt of Beverwijck.

The Stone Arabia Church in 2010

An account of Early Stone Arabia, by Andrew L. Dillenbeck (1931), can be found online.

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Family of Willem Brouwer (son of Adam Brouwer)

Willem/William Brouwer was the third son of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon. He was baptized on March 5, 1651 at the New Amsterdam Reformed Dutch Church. The baptism record does not record his mother's name (as was the common practice during that period in the records). He is named in his father's will of 1692. William is covered by William J. Hoffman in "Brouwer Beginings" (The American Genealogist vol. 23 [1947], pp. 204-206). There are some errors in Hoffman's account of William Brouwer's children.

Willem Brouwer was married at least twice and very possibly, three times. He lived at Gowanus, Long Island at least until 1708. He appears to have remained in the area of Kings County and New York City until at least 1713. Back in 1680 (when William would have been aged 29) a suit was brought against William Brewer, by Joseph Boules, in Richmond County (Staten Island), for assault. No other evidence has been found to confirm that William lived there.

Willem's first wife was Elizabeth Simpson. No marriage record has been found. They were married prior to June 1677. Willem and Elizabeth had five children. She is identified as Elizabeth Simpson in baptism records of her children and as "Lijsbet Pietersen, wife of Willem Brouwer," in 1677 when she is recorded as a member of the Brooklyn Reformed Dutch Church. She was a daughter of Pieter Simpson and his wife Grietje.

Willem Brouwer's second wife was Marthe Boulten (Boulton). Again, no record of marriage has been found, but they were married prior to January 1702 when there first child was baptized at Brooklyn. She is called simply, "Marta" in the baptism records of three children at Brooklyn, and as "Marthe Boulten" in the baptism record of her youngest daughter, Susanne, at the French Protestant Church in New York City in 1712. She may have died at about this time, as she is not found in later records and Willem may have remarried.

Willem, possibly, married as his third wife, Neeltje Thomas, a daughter of Urbanus Thomasen and Maria Schouten. Once again, there is no record of this marriage, however, William, child of William Brouwer and Neeltje Thomas was baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church on August 26, 1713 (sponsors were Jan Schouten and Maria Schouten, widow). This marriage is placed with Willem Brouwer based on the fact that no other man named William Brouwer, of marriageable age, and single in 1713, is known. The marriage is likely as it involved two Brooklyn families. One observation that does cause some hesitation is the fact that Willem was forty years older than Neeltje. However, assuming that Marthe Boulton did die in 1712, William would have been left with four children under age ten, and aged 61 himself. Finding a new, younger wife, was a necessity. If the William Brouwer who married Neeltje Thomas is someone other than the subject of this post, then he would be someone for whom no other known record has been identified, and someone completely new to Brouwer family research. [Update: It has since been shown that Neeltje Thomas was not a wife of Willem Brouwer. She married William Brown. See the post of March 15, 2013].

William J. Hoffman, in his account of Willem Brouwer's family in "Brouwer Beginnings", makes some errors. It is necessary to review each of the children.
1-The eldest daughter Magdalena, was baptized 14 September 1679, at Brooklyn, daughter of Willem Brouwer and "Betje" (as recorded in the Brooklyn records) or "Elsje" (as recorded in the Flatbush records). "Betje" is probably a version of "Betty" while "Elsje" may be a variation on "Eliza." Either way it is apparent that Elizabeth Simpson was the mother, as she was Willem's wife at this time. Hoffman mentions that it had previously been stated that she married Joost Vredenburgh. This is not the case (and Hoffman later proves this), as the Magdalena Brouwer who did marry Joost Vredenburgh was a daughter of Nicholas Brouwer (younger brother of William). This Magdalena likely died prior to 1692. In his will, Adam Brouwer, mentions each of his living granddaughters named Magdalena (as they would have been named for his wife (their grandmother), Magdalena Verdon). However, he does not mention one who was a daughter of Willem. If living, she certainly who have been given a mention.
2-The second daughter, Lysbeth/Elizabeth was baptized 12 October 1681 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, daughter of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth (last name not given). Hoffman, oddly, missed this baptism record despite it having been published and widely available since 1878. Hoffman states, "the year of her birth has been given as 1681, but this cannot be verified." Hoffman correctly discounts previous claims that Lysbeth married Jan Parcell, and correctly states that she instead married Harmen Gerretszen (van Sant). The couple relocated to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
3-The third child and eldest son was Adolphus Brouwer, baptized 10 August 1684 at Brooklyn. He is recorded as a son of Willem Brouwer and Elisabeth Brouwer, in both the Brooklyn and Flatbush records (the Flatbush records add the word, "Bergen" in parenthesis, but the significance of this is not clear). Hoffman mentions previous claims that Adolphus was married to Jannetje Verdon. As Hoffman makes clear, he was not. Hoffman does not supply any additional info on Adolphus. He was probably unaware of a deed dated 1 August 1704, recorded in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, between Thomas Stevenson and Thomas Revel that was witnessed by "Adalfas Bruer, A. Wibardlis Vansandt, and Jones Vansandt." I am certain that the witness was this Adolphus Brouwer. I am also of the opinion that it is possible that this Adolphus Brouwer is actually the Adam Brewer who lived at Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Conventional accounts have claimed that Adam Brewer of Shrewsbury was a son of Jacob Brouwer (brother to Willem) and Annatje Bogardus. However, there is no solid proof to support that belief. Circumstantial evidence may favor this Adolphus (the names Adolphus and Adam were used interchangeably in the early Brouwer generations) as the Adam Brewer of Shrewsbury. But as this idea bucks more then 100 years of claims and "tradition," more proof may be needed. The issue is not settled as of now.
4- Fourth child and second son was Johannes, baptized 18 September 1687 at Brooklyn, son of Willem Brouwer and Elizabeth Brouwer. Hoffman incorrectly states that he is the Johannes Brouwer who "probably" married Aegje Sprong. He is not. The Johannes Brouwer who married Aegje Sprong is a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, a completely unrelated, but contemporary, Brouwer family. Further record of Willem's son Johannes have not been identified. To date I have not found records of any Johannes or Jan Brouwers, born prior to 1700, that have not been placed. It may well be that Willem's son Johannes died at an early age.
5-The fifth child and third daughter was Catharina. Here again, Hoffman misses her record of baptism and simply states, "mentioned by several authorities, but no proof has been found." The baptism record of Catharyn, daughter of Willem Brouwer and Elizabeth Simpsons is in the records of the New York Reformed Dutch Church, dated 5 October 1690. Sponsors were Barent Janszen and Marritje Brouwer (Willem's sister and her second husband). Catharina married Joshua Cresson and the couple's first child (Joshua) was baptized at Bensalem, Bucks Co., Pa. Record of their second child is at Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, while a third child was baptized at Readington, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. A possible fourth child (Abraham) is later found living at Augusta Co., Virginia, and still later at Surry Co., North Carolina. Catharina was the last child of Willem's first wife, Elizabeth Simpson.
6-The sixth child and fourth daughter, and first child of Willem's second wife, Marthe Boulten, was Jannetje, baptized 8 January 1702 at Brooklyn, daughter of Willem Brouwer and Marta. This event occured 12 years after the baptism of Willem's fifth child and so there was clearly a long period of time between Willem's first two marriages. Hoffman does not follow Jannetje any further and makes no mention of a spouse. It was likely that Jannetje was the wife of Jan Losee (baptized 6 October 1700 at Brooklyn, son of Jacob Losee and Lysbeth ___). The couple first lived in or near Jamaica, Long Island, had children baptized at Raritan and Readington, New Jersey in 1730 and 1732, and children baptized at Morristown, New Jersey in 1745, 1747 and 1750.
7-The seventh child and third son was Samuel, baptized 25 August 1706 at Brooklyn, son of Willem Brouwer and Marta. Hoffman states that according to Our Home, Samuel moved to New Jersey and married Maregrita (___). That is certainly possible. Samuel Brower was on the 1753 list of Freeholders in the Western Precinct, Somerset Co., New Jersey. However, a Samuel Bruer witnessed the will of John Bruer of Somerset County on 29 October 1732. This Jan Bruer (Brower) was clearly a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, and perhaps the Samuel who "moved to New Jersey" was a member of that unrelated family. Or perhaps there were two, unrelated Samuel Browers who moved to New Jersey, one a descendant of Adam Brouwer, the other of Jan Brouwer. Presently there is just too little surviving records to make a clear call. Samuel and Maregrita did have two daughters, both named Annate, baptized at Raritan in 1732 and 1735. No other children have been identified, but as it appears that Maregrita was living in 1747 and Samuel as late as 1760 (witnesses to wills) it may be that other children existed for whom no identifying baptism or other record survives.
8-The eighth child and fifth daughter was Maria, baptized 1 May 1709 at Brooklyn, daughter of Willem Brouwer and Martha (van der Linde's 1983, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn Records). T. G. Bergen in his early translation of the Brooklyn Dutch Church records records her, apparently in error, as "William" (FHL film #0017529, item 4). The 1983 edition of the Brooklyn Dutch Church records (which is preferred over Bergen's early translation) records her as Maria. Hoffman incorrectly gives the date as 1 May 1708. The correct date is 1 May 1709. Earlier editions of the Brouwer Genealogy Database included T. G. Bergen's, William, along with van der Linde's, Maria. That is now corrected. Willem Brouwer and Marte Boulten did not have a son named William. No further records for Maria have yet been identified, either by Hoffman or by myself.
9-The ninth child, sixth daughter, and final child of Willem's wife, Marthe Boulten was Susanne, baptized on 30 April 1712 at the French Protestant Church in New York City. In this record Martha's surname is given as "Boulten." This is the first and only mention of her surname. However, sposnors at the baptisms of three of her children (Jannetje, Samuel and Susanne) had the surname Bedeuw or Bourdet. Could "Boulten" be an error for either of those names? The marriage banns of Jan Bernie and Antie Koel, dated 25 January 1730, at the First Reformed Church of Tarrytown, Westchester Co., New York, state that Jan Bernie was a widower of Susana Brouwer. No other person named Susana Brouwer, born early enough to have been married and have died prior to 1730 is known (Susanne being a very rare name among the Brouwers). Assuming that it was Willem's daughter Susanne who appears in this record, it is apparent that she married and then died before reaching the age of twenty. Hoffman offers no further info or insight on Susanne.

[Update: The section that follows no longer pertains to Willem Brouwer. See above and the post of March 15, 2013].
The above nine children are all mentioned by Hoffman in his "Brouwer Beginnings." Not mentioned is the possibility that Willem was married a third time to Neeltje Thomas. If the William of this marriage is correctly identified as Willem Brouwer then one, and probably two, additional children are to be added.
10-The likely tenth child of Willem Brouwer was William, baptized 26 August 1713 at New York, son of William Brouwer and Neeltje Thomas. The sponsors, Jan Schoute, and Maria Schoute, widow, were Neeltje's brother and mother. It is likely that William was the William Brouwer who married Lea Maas at the New York Reformed Dutch Church on 17 September 1740 (the record calls them "William Brown and Leah Mosch"). Their son, William, was baptized on 3 November 1742 at New York. The record incorrectly records their surname as "Brown" (not the only time this occurs among various Brouwer families). The mother is, however, recorded as Lea Maas, and the sponsors as Thomas Thomassen and Maria Schouten, widow of Urbanus Thomassen (Neeltje's brother and mother, and great-uncle and great-grandmother to the child). William and Lea had a daughter Geertje ("Brouwn") baptized at New York in 1747, and a son Thomas ("Brouwer") baptized there in 1754. Sponsors for Geertje were Thomas "Brouwn" and Johanna Connour, "j.d." (single woman). Sponsors for Thomas Brouwer in 1754 were"Abner" Brouwer (Abner possibly an error for Abram, relationship not determined as there were numerous men named Abraham Brouwer living at this time) and Angenietje Bennet, widow of Jan Schouten Thomas (Neeltje Thomas' sister-in-law, and a great-aunt by marriage to the child).
11-A possible eleventh child would be Thomas Brouwer, for whom no baptism record has been identified but who stood as sponsor at the baptism of the above William Brouwer's daughter, Geertje, in 1747. Thomas is another name that is exceedingly rare among the early families descended from Adam Brouwer. The first confirmed Thomas Brouwer does not appear until 1739 (a son of Everardus Brouwer and Eva Petit). But the given name "Thomas" would fit right along with this family considering that it was a name certainly taken from Neeltje's family. (For more on the Schouten-Thomas-Thomassen family see Eunice H. Young and Ken Styker-Rodda, "Jan Lucaszen Schouten and His Descendants," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record vol. 115 [1984]: pp. 180-181, 215-219).

What became of Willem Brouwer is not known. In 1708, "Willem Brower and Martha, his wife, of Brooklyn," sold to Cornelius Sleght of Newtown (Queens Co.) a house and garden spot in Brooklyn. They both signed with their marks (Kings Co. Deeds, v. 3, p. 144). In 1713 we have the baptism of his possible son, William, and after that event, nothing. His children by his first two wives did leave Kings County. Daughter Lysbeth is found in Bucks Co. Pa., daughter Catharina in Bucks Co. and then in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, while son Samuel may have gone to Hunterdon Co., and son Adolphus appears in Bucks Co. (and may have landed in Monmouth Co., N. J.). Daughter Jannetje is in the area of Raritan and Readington, N. J. and eventually is found in Morris Co., N. J. The presumed son William, of possible third wife, Neeltje Thomas, remains in the New York City area, and sponsors at the baptisms of his children are primarily from his mother's family. Perhaps Willem Brouwer died soon after the baptism of William. He would have been aged 62 in 1713. Or perhaps he followed one of his older children to New Jersey or Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. It is noted that Neeltje Thomas, herself, does not appear as a sponsor at any of the baptisms of the children of her son, William. Willem Brouwer is not recorded as a sponsor at any baptism for any of his children (although it must be noted that the recording of sponsors in the records of New Jersey churches was not consistently done).

There exists two records in New Jersey for two different men named William Brewer or Brower, for which neither William is identified. In January 1730, administration of the estate of William Brewer of Amwell, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey was granted to James Chambers. Our Willem Brouwer would have been aged 79 in 1730. In 1735, a William Brower of Readington, Hunterdon Co., a debtor, appeared before the Monmouth County Court of Common Pleas. Our Willem Brouwer would be aged 84, and I doubt this record applies to him. The 1730 estate administration, however, is a record that may belong to our Willem Brouwer.

As of yet, no confirmed descendants of Willem Brouwer have participated in the Brewer DNA Project. Finding one would be fortunate, but I don't hold out much hope. Willem had three confirmed sons (Adolphus, Johannes and Samuel) but there are no confirmed sons for any of the three (unless Adolphus is the Adam Brewer of Shrewsbury). Possible son, William Brouwer, did have two known sons, but their descendants have yet to be traced. Among the persons who have participated in the Brewer DNA project, and who are confirmed genetic descendants of Adam Brouwer, but are yet unplaced, is a descendant of William Brewer of Philadelphia. In 1850, William Brewer was aged 73, said to be born in New Jersey (thus born ca. 1777). While definitely a genetic descendant of Adam Brouwer, the Y-DNA profile for the participant has two mutations that are not found in any of the other Adam Brouwer Group participants (see kit #N46637 at the Adam Brouwer Group DNA Analysis page). This could be a line descended from Willem Brouwer, born in 1651, a son of Adam Brouwer. Finding the traditional genealogical records to support this possibility, has thus far been unsuccessful.

A genealogical summery of the family of Willem Brouwer is now online:

The Family of Willem Brouwer and His (possibly) Three Wives

*Please see the post of March 15, 2013, which explains that the idea Willem Brouwer was married to Neeltje Thomas is incorrect.

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Brouwer Genealogy Database

The Brouwer Genealogy Database website has been updated. This update is the latest since May 2, 2012 and all changes and corrections mentioned in posts to this website between May 2nd and today are now reflected in the Brouwer Genealogy Database.

Of special mention is the addition of more BENNET descendants of Maria Badie (mother-in-law of Adam Brouwer). All descendants of Adam Brouwer and of Willem Adriaeszen (Bennet) share a common ancestor in Maria Badie and are therefore cousins. As mentioned in the August 24th post regarding Maria Badie, the principal published source for BENNET descendants is Wilson V. Ledley's, "Descendants of Willem Adriaese Bennet of Brooklyn and Some of His Descendants," found in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volumes 93, 94, and 95 (1962-1964), has a considerable number of errors, misplaced descendants, and even a few "invented" individuals. Some of these newly discovered errors are reflected in the updated Brouwer Genealogy Database. I'd like to thank Liz Johnson and Mike Morrissey for their help in uncovering some of these problems and for diving into this rather large and complicated family. It is possible that in the future I will create a separate, "Bennet Database," that will encompass the entire family originally presented by Wilson V. Ledley, 48 years ago. Please note that this is a work in progress and current placements found on the Brouwer Genogealy Database are subject to change.

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