19th Century Wills Recorded in New York County, New York, 1800-1829

Abstracts of wills for BREWER and BROWER found in the books of the Surrogate's Court, New York County, New York, for the years 1800 to 1829. Links take you to digital images of the wills found online at FamilySearch.org in their collection titled, New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 > New York County. Please note that the page numbers given below refer to the "old" page numbers found in the margins of the will books. The date generally is the date the will was recorded which often is the date it was proved before the Surrogate's Court Judge.

Samuel Brewer, 24 April 1815, Vol. 52, p. 240. Dated 1 March 1815, proved 24 April 1815, calls himself Samuel Brewer of the City of New York, merchant. "To my sister Phebe, wife of David Birdsall, the interest and profits of five thousnad dollars to be set apart and improved for this purpose by my executors...I give and bequeth the said sum of five thousand dollars to all her children then surviving in equal proportions. To beloved wife Elizabeth all household furniture. To my two children Elizabeth and Mary (both under age), and to their respective heirs..." Appoints his father in law John Titus and friend Alexander Cranston executors. Signed Samuel Brewer, witnessed by Maxwell Frokes, T.L. Ogden, H. Masor. This Samuel Brewer is a son of James Brewer and Hannah Lee, who can be found on the post of June 29, 2018. He is a descendant of John Brewer of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and is an example of a Brewer found in New York City who IS NOT a descendant of one of the early New Netherland Brouwer families. As stated in the will, his wife was Elizabeth Titus, daughter of John Titus. I have not had the opportunity to research her ancestry any further. She may have remarried as Samuel Brewer appears to have been only in his mid to late twenties when he died.

Jacob Brewer, 17 May 1815, Vol. 52, p. 275. Dated 31 March 1815, proved 17 May 1815, calls himself Jacob Brewer of the City of New York being weak in body but of sound mind. Gives "first to wife Abigail Brewer the interest of all my money at interest for her use during the time she remains my widow. Second, to my daughter Sally, the six green chairs now in my house, my mahogany tea table, one bed, bedstead and bedding. Third, after the death of my wife or so soon as she ceases to be my widow I give and bequeth to each of my daughters one hundred and twenty five dollars. Fourth, all the residue of my property after my wife's death or so soon as she ceases to be my widow I give and bequeth to my sons equally divided amongst them share and share alike." Appoints his sons John Brewer and Peter Brewer as executors. Signed by his mark, witnessed by Adam Hartell, and Lawrence Wiseburn of New York City, butcher. Jacob Brewer was baptized 22 August 1744 at the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow (now the Tarrytown Reformed Church), and was the son of Johannes Brouwer and Elizabeth Conklin, and is a great-great grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island. His wife was Elizabeth Yerks, a daughter of John Jurckse/Yerks and Susanna Forshay. Jacob and Abigail had ten children baptized at the Sleepy Hollow Church between 1774 and 1798. His father is the Johannes Brewer found on the post of June 29, 2018.

John Brower, 4 October, 1815, Vol. 52, p. 495. Dated 10 November 1812, proved 4 Oct 1815, calls himself "John Brower of the City of New York in the State of New York, gentleman, being of sound disposing mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life...." Mentions his wife Anne Brower; Mary Anderson "whom I have brought up, and who now lives with me, the annual sum of one hundred twenty dollars during the term of her natural life to be paid to her quarter yearly"; daughter Mary the wife of Benjamin Romaine of New York City, gentleman, and Dinah the wife of Peter Walker of New York City, "Taylor" and their heirs. Wife Ann Brower named as executrix with "respected friends" Peter Talman of Tappan in Rockland County, merchant and Peter H. Wendover of New York City, sailmaker as executors. Witnessed by Cornelius Van Valen, David Quackenbush, physician, and Adolph Brower. John was baptized as Johannes on 9 September 1733 at the Reformed Dutch Church at Schraalenburgh in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is a son of Samuel Brouwer and Maria Hartje and a great-great grandson of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon. John married Antje (Anne) Lozier in 1760 at the New York City Reformed Dutch Church. They had seven children, the first six baptized between 1760 and 1774 at New York, and the youngest, Samuel, baptized at Schraalenburgh in 1779. The family probably left New York City for Bergen County while the British occupied the city during the Revolutionary War. Only two children are mentioned in the will. Antje/Anne Lozier was a daughter of Benjamin Lozier/Losier and Dina de Groot. Dina's first husband was Pieter Brouwer, a brother of John's father, Samuel Brouwer.

Cornelia Brower, 30 April 1816, Vol. 53, p. 174. Dated 14 April 1812, proved 12 Apr 1816. Cornelia Brower of the City of New York, widow, weak in health but of sound mind, memory and understanding. To my daughter Helen Knapp, widow, my bureau and my set of bed curtains. Direct my executrix to, within a reasonable and convenient time after my decease, to sell and dispose of my real estate in the City of New York consisting of a house, lot of ground in First Street. Proceeds to pay debts and funeral expenses, residue to my daughter Cornelia, 1/3 part; daughter Helen, 1/3 part; to grandchildren Abraham Knapp and Charles Knapp, children of my said daughter Helen to be divided equally. Appoints daughter Helen Knapp as executor. Wit.: John Boyd, Elizabeth Vanderhoof, S. Cowdrey. Cornelia is Cornelia Anderson, baptized 26 March 1740 at the New York City Reformed Dutch Church, a daughter of Peter Anderson (recorded as Pieter Andriesse) and Cornelia Holmes (recorded as Cornelia Homs). Cornelia married Charles Brouwer at the New York Reformed Dutch Church on 24 December 1761, and the record here calls her Catharina Anderson. The baptism record of their daughter, Cornelia, 14 April 1765 at New York, records her as Cornelia Anderson. So, it appears that the marriage record, or perhaps the transcription of it, was in error. Charles Brouwer has not yet been placed among the Brouwer families of New York. However, he apparently had a sister Sara Brouwer who had married Cornelia's brother, Joris/George Anderson, and perhaps another sister, Jannetje Brouwer who was a witness to the baptism of George and Sarah (Brouwer) Anderson's son, Jacobus, in 1766. The daughter, Helena Knapp, mentioned in the will, married Lockwood Knapp in the English Lutheran Church, New York City, on 13 July 1799. No record of baptism has been found for Helena. The daughters mentioned in the will are, to date, the only two known children of Charles and Cornelia (Anderson) Brouwer.

Abraham Brower, 10 June 1816, Vol. 53, p. 219. Dated 3 October 1815, proved 10 Jun 1816. Abraham Brower of New York City, blacksmith, being of sound and disposing mind and understanding. Just debts and funeral expenses to be paid. To son John D. Brower, his heirs and assigns, that lot of ground and livery stable now occupied by John Curtis, distinguished on a certain map by lot no. 66 on the southerly side of Partition Street in the Third Ward of New York City containing in breadth in front and rear each, twenty-five feet, and in length on each side, 77 feet. Also to son John D. Brower that other lot and blacksmith shop occupied by him, lot no. 67 on the southerly side of Partition Street in the Third Ward, adjoining on the west side of the above mentioned lot. To wife Nelly Brower, $100, payable within 40 days of my decease, also, as long as she remains my widow, that lot of ground and brick coach and 220 chair house, lot 68 on the southerly side of Partition Street in the Third Ward. Upon her death or remarriage said lot to my son Jacob V. Brower, his heirs and assigns. Also to said wife, Nelly Brower, that dwelling house and lot no. 69 on the southerly side of Partition Street in the Third Ward and upon her death or remarriage to my daughter Hannah Brower. To wife, Nelly Brower, lot and dwelling house now occupied by John Curtis, no. 3 on the southerly side of Partition Street adjoining on the westerly side the coach makers shop occupied by my son James Brower and on the easterly side and adjoining to the house lot of Andrew Hopper, and after her death or remarriage to my son Richard Brower, his heirs and assigns. To said wife, Nelly Brower, lot and dwelling house and stable now occupied by Robert Dawson, lot no. 7 on the southerly side of Dey Street in the Third Ward of New York City, and after her death or remarriage to my son Jacob V. Brower, son Richard Brower, and daughter Hannah Brower. My wife is directed to apply the rents from said properties for her maintanence and that of my daughter Hannah Brower. To said son James Brower, lot and coach makers shop now occupied by him, no. 70 on the southerly side of Partition Street. Also to son James Brower, lot and dwelling house no. 41 on the northerly side of Dey Street, and James to pay off the mortgage of $1250. After death of son James, said two lots to sons Jacob V. Brower and Richard Brower. To son Abraham Brower, $50, and release him of all monies he now owes me, and that is all I intend for him to have from my estate. Sons John D. Brower, Jacob V. Brower and Richard Brower appointed as executors. Wit.: Robert Dawson, John Curtis, Benj. Ferris. (Included is a hand drawn map of the streets mentioned with location of the properties mentioned. Partition and Dey Streets are parrellel to each other and intersect Broadway). Proved by Benjamin Ferris of New York City, councilor at law, and John Curtis of New York City, livery stable keeper. There were many men named Abraham Brower. This Abraham was baptized 30 November 1735 at the Tappan Reformed Dutch Church, the son of Jacob Brouwer and Jannetje Hartje. He is a great-great grandson of Adam Brouwer, by way of his son Pieter Brouwer. Abraham's grandparents were Abraham Brouwer and Lea Demarest. Abraham was married twice and had children by both of his wives. His first wife was Gerreberg Brouwer, a daughter of (another) Abraham Brouwer and Elizabeth Ackerman. They were second cousins and had three children. Abraham's second wife was Neeltje Duryea, a daughter of Johannes Duryea and Antje Voorhees. Abraham and Neeltje were married in 1771 and had six children born between 1772 and 1787.

John J. Brower, 14 April 1823, Vol. 58, p. 92. The will begins at the very bottom of this page. Dated 14 May 1822, proved 14 Apr 1823, called John J. (I.?) Brower of New York City, gentleman, mentions sisters Leah, Jane (Brouwer) Vredenburg, niece Jane V. Joralemon, Anna Eliza Petit niece of late wife, and four grandchildren: John Brower son of late son John Brower, Jr., deceased; Catherine Forman; and Effie, now wife of James Quackenbos, formerly Effie Forman; daughters of late daughter Jane, deceased, the late wife of George Forman; also John Brower Galatian, son of late daughter Catherine, deceased, the former wife of William W. Galatian. John J. (or I., the letters J and I were often interchanged) Brower was also a son of Jacob Brouwer and Jannetje Hartje, and a brother of the Abraham Brower mentioned above. John's wife was Catherine Duryea, a daughter of Johannes Duryea and Antje Voorhees, and a sister of Neeltje Duryea, who was the second wife of the above Abraham Brower. John and Catherine were married in 1769 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church and had eleven children born between 1770 and 1796. Only three lived into adulthood, and all three pre-deceased John, but left grandchildren mentioned in the will. Catherine (Duryea) Brower died in 1800.

John N. Brower, 25 February 1828, Vol. 62, p. 37. Dated 21 February 1828, proved 25 Feb 1828. John N. Brower of the City of New York, Grocer. Devises and bequeaths to his wife, Susan, "so long as she remains my widow, all right title and interest in and to the following leases of lots of ground belonging to me and the buildings thereon erected, to wit the lease of a lot of ground in Stanton Street and the house thereon erected and lease of the lot adjoining thereto (together with the appurtenances) in Stanton Street, all in the City and County of New York..." also all wearing apparel, beds, bedding, the "said Susan had when I married her," and all household furniture purchased by his wife Susan after their marriage, "to be held and used or disposed of by the said Susan for her own benefit in lieu of the said Susan's right and interest in my estate so long as the said Susan shall remain my widow." He next orders that his executors dispose of, either at public or private sale, the remainder of his estate both real and personal, with the proceeds to pay for funeral expenses and to pay off just debts with the remainder to be given to my "now brothers and sisters and not to my half brothers and sisters," but does not record their names. Should his wife die or remarry, the property devised to her is also to be given to "my now brothers and sisters." Appoints as executors "my true and faithful friends Benjamin Riggs, Matthew Curtis St. John and Hiram King, all of the City of New York." Witnesses: William S. Sears, William E. Sewall, Samuel H. Miller. John N. Brower was a son of Nazareth Brouwer (1756-1817) and Ginny/Jane Brouwer (1757-1795). Ginney was Nazareth's first of three wives. They were married in 1775 and had seven children. Ginney, or Jane, is said to be a daughter of Charles Brouwer and Jane Ryder, while Nazareth is a son of Cornelis Brouwer and Mary Archer. If correct, they were then first cousins. John N. Brower's wife, Susan, is known only from this will. Her family name has not been learned and there does not appear to be any record of children. John N. Brower and this larger inter-married family are descendants of Nazareth Brouwer and Anne Rozell. This, first, Nazareth Brouwer was a son of Nicholas Brouwer and Jannetje Caljer, and a grandson of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon.  This branch of the Adam Brouwer family has it's beginnings in Westchester County, probably in the area that is now the Bronx. Records from the early 1700s for this location, and for this Brouwer family are few, and the composition of the families descended from Nazareth is in part based upon unverified accounts of earlier researchers. We do, however, have a descendant of Cornelis Brouwer (mentioned above) who has taken a Y-Chromosome DNA test. His results match those of the other descendants of Adam Brouwer. The Charles Brouwer, husband of Cornelia (Anderson) Brower whose will is abstracted above, may somehow fit, somewhere, among this branch of Adam Brouwer's descendants. More research in Westchester County needs to be conducted, and if there is anyone out there with more insight or records, please use the Comments section to relate them to the rest of us.

We will continue through the 1800s in New York County in a future post.

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