Late 18th Century Wills Recorded in New York County, New York

Surnames BROWER and BREWER found in books of the New York County Surrogate's Court. In this post we are covering the years 1778 to 1795. The images are online at FamilySearch.org in their collection titled New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 > New York County.

Nicholas Brower, 10 June 1778, 33: 10 (12), 41. Codicil at p. 12 (15). At Albany AB, No. 120 (image 690). The will is dated 17 Sep 1777, with codicil dated 21 Sep 1777, recorded at the Surrogate's Court 17 Jun 1778. He is calls himself Nicholas Brouwer of Albany, yeoman. He mentions his wife Sarah, his brother Cornelis and his own children, Nicholas Jr., David, William, Jeremiah, Jacob, Jane (wife of William Conklin), Sara, Catherina, Elisabeth. Sarah Brower, executrix appeared before Judge Thomas Treadwell of the Probate Court at Dutchess County, New York on 10 Jun 1778. Nicholas Brower, as executor appeared before the Surrogate Court in Dutchess Co., 31 Aug 1778. This Nicholas was married twice, first to Mary Dutcher (six children) and second to Sarah Drake (seven children) who afterwards married Stephen Callow. He is a son of Adolphus Brouwer (1693-1742) and Jannetje Verdon (daughter of Jacob Verdon and Femmetje Westervelt). Nicholas is a great-grandson of Adam Brouwer, of Gowanus, L. I. Nicholas was born 11 June 1714 (according to a Bible record) and was the Brouwer responsible for establishing the mills at Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, New York.


Johannes Brewer, 13 Jan. 1780, 33: 149 (223), 152. Begins at the very bottom of page 223. The will is dated 19 June 1778. Proved 13 Jan 1780. Johannis Brewer, of the Manor of Philipsburgh in Westchester County, being in perfect health. My will is that my son Jacob shall have all my improvements where I now live, on condition that he gives his sister Peggy Brewer a good maintainance. I leave to my daughter Peggy a good bed and furniture. I leave all household goods to my four sons and three daughters viz: Deliverance, Peter, Matthew, Jacob, Angeltie wife of John Sispen, Lena wife of Peter Mabie and Peggy, and all my moveables. I make my friend William Yurksea and John Yurksea, executors. Witnesses: Johanis Britt, William Britt, William Davids. Johannes/John, called Brewer in the will, was baptized in 1702 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. He was a son of Samuel Brouwer and Grietje Smith, a grandson of Matthys Brouwer and Marietje Pieterse (Wyckoff) and a great grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I.

James Brewer, 7 Dec. 1780, 33: 196 (299), 191. Begins at the bottom of page 196 (299). Dated 20 November 1780, proved 7 Dec 1780. James Brewer of the Manor of Cortlandt in Westchester County, being weak and sick. I leave to my son Joseph, seventy pounds in gold or silver. To my wife Hannah, my horse and riding chair. After all debts are paid I leave the rest to my wife Hannah and my seven children, Sarah, Mary, Joseph, James, Daniel, Phebe and Samuel. I make my wife and my son Joseph and my brother-in-law Abijah Lee, executors. Witnesses: Justus Sherwood, Josiah Ingersoll, Joseph Lee, Jr. James Brewer was baptized in July 1740 at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He is a son of Daniel Brewer (b. 1704, Watertown, MA) and Phebe Locke. He is a great-great grandson of John Brewer (b. abt. 1621, Cambridge, England) who was at Sudbury, Massachusetts by October 1642. John Brewer had a son, John (1642-1691) who married Elizabeth Rice, and a daughter Hannah (1645-1697) who married Daniel Goble. Two descendants of the immigrant ancestor, John Brewer (his wife was named Anne) have taken Y-DNA tests with the Brewer DNA Project. Advanced SNP testing with Big-Y (FTDNA) and analysis at YFull, now has them identified as haplogroup R-FGC46823 (which is an update from the post of April 22, 2016). James Brewer's wife was Hannah Lee, a daughter of Joseph Lee who died in 1790 in Westchester County.

Jurre Brower, 11 Feb 1784, 36: 228 (272), 183. His will dated 18 September 1754 was not proved until nearly 30 years later on 4 February 1784. We know he was living in 1778 when he owned a seat at the Brooklyn Reformed Dutch Church. His name appears variously as Jeury, Jurian and Jeremiah, and was no doubt named for his maternal grandfather, Jurian Caljer. Jurre Brower was the son of Abraham Brouwer and Cornelia Caljer, and a grandson of Adam Brouwer. Jurre and his brother, Abraham received from their father, the mills and property at Gowanus, L. I. In his will he calls himself a miller. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Hilton (his first cousin) with whom he had eleven children, and second to Charity Stillwell (no children). His will mentions three sons, Abraham, William and Adolph, who receive his whole estate, real and personal in "Brookland." He mentions his wife, Geertje (Charity is an anglicization of Geertje, which in Dutch is pronounced closely to Charity), and the goods she brought to the estate. Daughters, Maria, Cornelia, Jannetje, Elizabeth, Sara and Lena, who are all not yet married. Daughter Annatie, the wife of Henry Taylor. The three sons are executors and Jacob Bennet, Jurie Bennet and Simon Boerum witnessed the will.


Jacob Brower, 5 April 1784, 36: 366 (440), 280.  His will is dated 23 October 1781, proved 5 Apr 1784. Jacob Brouwer of the City of New York, masoner. Devises to son Jacob, five pounds to be paid to him before the remainder of the estate is to be divided. Names sons, Jacob, Abraham and William; daughter Petronella; daughter Anna, wife of Cornelius Cooper; daughter Jane, wife of Henry Van Winkel; heirs of daughter Mary deceased, meaning Gitty and Mary Permilliar. Should any of my deceased father, Jacob Brouwer's, estate be recovered after my death, it is to be divided into four shares. One fourth equally unto my within named heirs; another unto the heirs of my brother John Brouwer deceased; another unto my brother Everardus Brouwer; the remaining fourth unto my brother Abraham Brouwer. Names sons Jacob and Abraham, and nephew Jacob Brouwer, hatter, all of New York City, as executors. Wit: George Lindsay, Nicholas Hillaman, Abraham Brouwer. Dated at Kakiat, New York, in the fifth year of American Independence. Jacob was baptized on 24 September 1710 at the Brooklyn Reformed Dutch Church. He was a son of Jacob Brouwer and Petronella de La Montagne. His grandparents were Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus through whom descendants claim descent from Anneke Jans Bogardus. He is a great grandson of Adam Brouwer. This Jacob Brouwer was married to Maria de Lanoy, a daughter of Abraham de Lanoy and Jannetje Roome. Jacob and Maria had ten children, all baptized at the New York City Reformed Dutch Church between 1737 and 1758. Both Jacob and Maria are recorded as witnesses to numerous baptisms in the church's records. Apparently late in life he lived at Kakiat in Orange County (now Rockland Co.), New York, likely escaping British occupied New York City during the Revolutionary War years. He was a mason.

William Brower, 12 June 1786, 39: 123 (140), 110. At Albany AB No. 139 (image 759). The will is dated 4 September 1782 and can be found in both the New York County Surrogate's Court records and on file in the Clerk's Office at Albany. It was probated 12 Jun 1786. In the will he calls himself "William Brower of Rumbout Precinct, Dutchess County, farmer, being weak of body but of sound mind and memory...". Names his wife Mattya, son Jeremiah to receive 10 shillings for his birth right & "to my real and personal estate upon Long Island and Staten Island I allow to be sold and fifty pounds a piece to be given to my children viz: Garrett Brower, William Brower, Letty Brower & Cornelius Brower in lieu of fity pounds given to my son Jeremiah some time ago." The remaining "part of said estate" to be divided among all the children (Jeremiah, Garret, William, Letty, Cornelius). Names as executors, his wife Mattya Brower, sons Garrett and William Brower, and Abraham Hoagland. Witnessed by Francis Bogardus, John Ackerman, and James Wills. On 18 Nov 1786, Garrett and William Brower executors of the will of William Brower deceased appeared before Judge Thomas Treadwell, City of New York "duly sworn to the true execution and performance of the said will." William apparently left Long Island for the safety of Dutchess County after the Battle of Long Island in 1776. He was a son of Jeury Brouwer (Jurre Brower, above) and Elizabeth Hilton, and so died only a few years after his father. William's wife was Meclitta Van Duyn, daughter of Gerrit Van Duyn and Aaltie Van Nostrand. His children remained in Dutchess County. The daughter, Lette, or Aeltje, married Abraham Hoagland. William is a great grandson of Adam Brouwer.


Peter Brower, 12 Feb. 1788, 40: 79 (62), 70. Peter Brower's will is dated 15 May 1767, and was not proved until 22 January 1788. He was a bricklayer of New York City. To son Jacob, six shillings. Also all my wearing apparel and all residue of my estate, both real and personal, to my daughters Ann, now the wife of John Walker, mariner of New York, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Ustick, shopkeeper, of New York, to be divided equally between them, their heirs, forever. My son Jacob to recieve 1/3 part of the rents and profits of my real estate during his natural life. I appoint my brother-in-law William Woynants, and my cousin Everardus Brower, hatter, executors. Wit.: Luke Jno. Kierstead, Charles Phillips, yeoman, Charles Morse. Proved 22 Jan 1788. On 12 Feb 1788, William Woynants having since died, Everardus Brower, the other executor, having refused to serve, the Court appoints Peter Ustick, merchant of New York, to administer the estate. Peter Brower, or Pieter Brouwer, was said to have been born 29 March 1699 (according to the notorious "Hill Manuscript"). A record of his baptism has not been found, as he was likely born at Gowanus (Brooklyn) at a time when many of the Reformed Church records there are lost. Based upon witness recording at baptisms, he appears to have been a son of Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus, and so a grandson of Adam Brouwer, and a great-grandson of Anneke Jans Bogardus. Pieter/Peter was married three times. By his first wife, Elizabeth Quackenbosch, daughter of Benjamin Quackenbosch and Classje Webber, he had eleven children, all baptized at New York between 1722 and 1742. His second wife was Catharina Thong (m. 14 April 1750), and his third was Sara Kip (m. 17 October 1751), a daughter of Pieter Kip and Immetje Van Dyck. No known children by his second and third wives. The "brother-in-law, William Woynants," who served as an executor, was the husband of Leah Quackenbosch, who was a sister of Peter's first wife. The "cousin Everardus Brower," would actually be a nephew; a  son of Jacob Brouwer and Petronella de La Montagne, which supports the placement of Peter as a son of Jacob Brouwer and Annatje Bogardus. Although he had eleven children, the will only mentions three - son Jacob, and two married daughters, Anna and Elizabeth. While four others are known to have died early, it is possible that all or some of the remaining four were still living, but may have left the New York City area for parts west. The son Petrus Brouwer (bapt. 1740) appears to have been the Peter Brewer who died in Williamsburg, Clermont Co., Ohio in 1842, age 102 (he was recorded as age "over 100" on the 1840 U.S. census at Williamsburg), while it is conceivable that his son Benjamin (bapt. 1728) may be the Benjamin Bruer whose estate was administered in 1778 in the old Yohogania County, Virginia, having lived at which was soon after, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. (More on this in a future post).


Abraham Brower, 19 June 1792, 41: 27 (17), 43. Dated 6 July 1789, proved 19 Jun 1792, he calls himself, "Abraham Brower of the City of New York, carpenter, being in perfect health and of a sound mind, memory and understanding." Mentions, "my eldest son Garret Brower, all my carpenters tools and to concern for such further part of my estate as is herein after expressed further I will and order that my loving wife shall remain in the full possession of all my real and personal estate during her natural life and after her decease I will and order that my said estate both real and personal shall be equally divided amongst my children herein after named share and share alike that is to say one full sixth part to my son Garret Brower...one full sixth part to my son Abraham Brower...one full sixth part to my daughter Peter Nelly Post...one full sixth part to my daughter Effe Halsey...one sixth full part to my daughter Mary Brower...one full sixth part to my grand daughter Elsie Thew." Abraham appointed, "my loving wife sole executrix." He did not mention her name, however, she is called Effe Brouwer when administration of Abraham's estate was granted to her on 19 June 1792. Witnesses: George Stanton, Ahasuerus Turk, Cornelius Sebring (blacksmith). Abraham was baptized 6 February 1717 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church. He was another son of Jacob Brouwer and Petronella de La Montagne, and so a great grandson of Adam Brouwer and a great-great grandson of Anneke Jans Bogardus. Abraham married Aefje (Effe or Affe) Van Gelder (see immediately below), a daughter of Gerrit Van Gelder and Anna Quick, and of the Van Gelder family descended from Jan Van Gelder and Tanneken Montanac (and not of the Van Gelders descended from Evert Hendrickszen and Fytje Brouwer). They had nine children born between 1744 and 1772 (a 28 year span. Aefje would have been 47 years old when her son Abraham, mentioned in the will, was born). The will is recorded a second time here, Abraham Brower, 23 Nov. 1795, 41: 603 (438), 271. This second record appears after his widow's death, when son-in-laws Anthony Post and Jabez (a.k.a. Taber) Halsey, and son Abraham Brower, appeared before the Surrogate's Court.


Affe Brower, 29 June 1795, 41: 515 (373), 237. Her will was dated 12 June 1795 and proved 29 June 1795. She calls herself Affie Brouwer widow of Abraham Brower formerly of the City of New York deceased house carpenter, being sick in body but of a sound and disposing mind...I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my estate real and personal unto such of my daughters as shall be living at my decease and to their heirs (daughters names not given)...I do nominate and appoint my son Abraham Brower, my sons-in-law Anthony Post and Jabez Halsey to be executors. Wit: George Ireland, John Divine, John Cresier. Affie was the widow of Abraham Brower mentioned just above, and a daughter of Gerrit Van Gelder and Anna Quick. She was baptized 25 August 1725 at the New York Reformed Dutch church.

Early 19th century wills of New York County coming in a future post.

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