The Will of Cornelius Brower of Schenectady, New York, 1767

Cornelius Brouwer (Brower/Brewer) was baptized on 30 January 1704 at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York. He was the son of Hendrick Willemsz Brouwer and Maritie Pieterse Borsboom, and the grandson of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth Drinkvelt, and of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom and his wife Grietje.

Cornelius (or Cornelis) was married to Cornelia Barheit on 27 June 1730 at Schenectady. She was a daughter of Johannes Barheit and Catherine Gilbert, and was baptized at Albany on 6 October 1706. Her mother, Catherine Gilbert was the daughter of John Gilbert and Cornelia van den Bergh.

Cornelius Brouwer and Cornelia Barheit had three known children whose baptisms are found in the records of the First Reformed Church of Schenectady. Hendrick (19 October 1731) married his first cousin, Maria Brouwer (daughter of Hendrick Brouwer and Elizabeth Van Eps) in 1764. Catharina (31 March 1734) married first, Gerrit van Antwerpen in 1752, and second John Richy. Marytje (15 October 1738) married John Munro, a noted Loyalist during the Revolution. They settled at Matilda in Dundas County, Upper Canada (Ontario) after the Revolutionary War.

Cornelius Brouwer's will, dated 13 August 1765, was proved 3 December 1767. It is on record at Albany, file AB 79. In the will he styles himself as "Cornelius Brewer of Schenectady, Albany County," and mentions his wife, Cornelia; son Hendrick Brewer and his heirs; grandson Gerrit Van Antwerp and his heirs; grandson Cornelius Rickey, under the age of 21; and daughter Mary, wife of John Monroe of Albany, merchant, and her heirs.

Cornelius Brower, Will 1765 (1)

Cornelius Brower, Will 1765 (2)

Cornelius Brower, Will 1765 (3)

BGB 219