Browers Found Fulton County, New York Wills

Abstracts, with my notes, on this post are all from Fulton County, New York which was formed out of Montgomery County in 1838. Digital images of the will books for Fulton County are online at FamilySearch.org. There are other probate records there which we'll eventually look into. Of note - I did not find any wills in which the testators name was recorded as BREWER. I only found BROWER.

The Will of Arndt Brower of Stone Arabia. Fulton Co., NY Wills 1:23. Dated 10 July 1793. We've covered this will previously. See the posts of November 9, 2018 and November 29, 2011. Stone Arabia, of course, is not in Fulton County, but is in Montgomery County. The earlier will books of Fulton County are duplicates of the Montgomery County books.

The Will of Cornelius Brower of Palatine. Fulton Co., NY Wills 2:161. Please see the November 9, 2018 post.

The Will of Margaret Brower of Johnstown. Fulton Co., NY Wills 5:85. Proved 28 January 1856. A legacy to the Associates of the Presbyterian Church of Johnstown ($100) "the legacy given to me by my nephew Robert Campbell of Albany." Executor to sell and dispose of all other estate, proceeds to pay just debts and funeral expenses, remainder, one half to Irane(?) Jackson, the mother of Irina(?) Jackson, the other half to Margaret Thayer, the widow of Thomas Thayer. Appoints John Thayer as executor. Signs with her mark. Witnesses: Peter Sueallie(?) and James Gordon (or Jordan) both of Johnstown. The will does not appear to be dated, but the executor, John Thayer, first appeared before the court on 4 January 1856. (The handwriting here is rather poor). [I am not certain as to who this Margaret Brower might be, but she appears to be a single woman and Brower is her family name rather than a married name. There are two candidates found in Johnstown in a search of the 1850 U. S. census. One Margaret Brower, is age 50, born in New York, she as real estate of $300 and is enumerated on sheet 200 next to the family of Mindert Vosburgh. The second Margaret Brower is age 65, born in New York. She is found on sheet 247 in family no. 1176 headed by Samuel Furgason, age 38. Also in the household are Catharine Furguson (age 60), Mary A. Furguson (31), Margaret Furgason (28), Catharine Brower (26) and John Buttor (23, a laborer).]

The Will of Sarah Brower of Johnstown. Fulton Co. NY Wills 6:276. Dated 22 February 1870. Leaves her entire estate, real and personal to her sisters Margaret Brower and Rebekuh Brower, share and share alike. Appoints Hiram A. Parsons of Johnstown, executor. Signed Sarah Brower. Witnesses: Eleazer G. Warner and Ann Parsons. Proved 15 August 1870. [Margaret Brower, age 56 and Rebecca Brower, age 52, can be found on the 1870 U. S. census at Johnstown, Fulton County, New York (page no. 204, dated 11 July 1870, family no. 1806). I do not find Sarah on the 1870 census. Rebecca is a glove maker. Both were born in New York. In the same dwelling are Thomas Case, age 29 and Mary Case, age 27 (family no. 1807). On the 1860 U. S. census, I find Sarah Brower, age 46, born in New York, with Margaret Brower, age 48. The occupation for both recorded as "glove leather" (page 157, family no. 130).]

The Will of Margaret Brower of Johnstown. Fulton Co., NY Wills 8:357-59. Dated 13 December 1871. Leaves her entire estate, real and personal, to her sister Rebeckah Brower. Hiram A. Parsons of Johnstown appointed executor. Signed Margaret Brower. E. G. Warner and Ann Parsons, witnesses. Proved 5 February 1877. [See Sarah Brower above].

The Will of Paulina Brower of Mayfield, Fulton County. Fulton Co., NY Wills 13:21-23. Dated 18 November 1885. To son Charles Brower, all property both real and personal. Appoints son Charles Brower as executor. Signed Paulina Brower. Charles Brower, sole executor, appears before the Surrogate's Court of Fulton County, 13 Jun 1890, regarding the matter of the last will of Paulina Brower, late of Mayfield. Next of kin of the testratrix are named as Betsey Haines, William Brower, Charles Brower, all of Mayfield, Earl Fosmire, Seth Fosmire and Charles B. Fosmire, all of Mayfield. [Paulina is the wife of Jacob Brower, b. 20 December 1815, of Mayfield. She is found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD) here. She is identified by descendants as Paulina Toman, and there is more on her on the Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. database that I maintain on Ancestry.com (subscription required). This will adds information on descendants not found on the BGD. Her husband, Jacob Brower, is a son of Jacob Brower (b. 6 August 1785), who is a son of Jacob Brouwer and Margitta Triet. The Brewer DNA Project would be helped if any direct male descendants of this Brower family of Mayfield would be willing to participate in the Project by taking a Y-DNA test.]

The Will of James D. Brower, aged sixty seven years, of the City of Gloversville. Fulton Co., NY Wills 16:470-71.  Dated 28 October 1898. All lawful debts to be paid and discharged. Wife, Lydia A. Brower, my house and lot in said city and other real estate is any there be during the term of her natural life, and at her decease I give and devise one undivided half part thereof unto my brother Benjamin W. Brower for and during the term of his natural life, and he other undivided one half part to my sister Jane Brower for and during her natural life and at her decease I give and devise such undivided one half part unto the children of my said sister. At the decease of said brother, his undivided half to be given to the children of said sister. That what is given to the children of said sister is to be divided equaly between them. Orders that the life tenants of his real estate keep the same in good condition and repair and property insured the same during the time of their tenancy. Brother Benjamin W. Brower appointed executor. Proved by witnesses Allen Relya and Lucas Clement, 6 January 1899. [No children are mentioned in this will, although a child, Theodore W. Brower appears with James and Mary A. Brower on the 1860 U. S. census at Root, Montgomery Co., and on the 1870 U. S. census at Charleston, Montgomery Co. In 1880 James and Lydia A. Brower are enumerated next to Theodore at Gloversville, Fulton County. James can be found on the BGD. We have him as the son of an Abram Brower and his first wife, Mary, which includes children Jane Brower and Benjamin Wakefield Brower. Theodore is also on the BGD. Research on the family is certainly incomplete. The will mentioned here is not included. Abram Brower's ancestry has not been discovered. He appears to have been born around 1805 or 1808 and died on 3 April 1891, age 83 (gravestone). He was at Glen in Montgomery County in 1850. There is an Abraham Brower, born 8 June 1807, baptized 5 September 1807 at Lutheran St. Paul's (the Geisenberg Church), Minden, Montgomery County. His parents were a Cornelius and Margretha Brower (they are not included on the BGD). So, more work to be done here with this group].

The Will of Selah Brower, of Mayfield. Fulton Co., NY Wills 17:231-32. Dated 15 October 1901.  Leaves al estate, real and personal, wherever situated, to wife Maria Anna Brower, and appoints her executrix. Witnesses: Maude L. Parkes, Lena Friess. Proved 14 November 1901. [Selah (Seela) Brower was born about 1867, a son of Abram (b. 1829) and Louisa (___) Brower, and a great-grandson of Jacob Brouwer and Margitta Triet.]

The Will of Nancy Brower of Ephratah. Fulton Co., NY Wills 19:18. Dated 23 January 1895. Just debts and funeral expences to be paid. Leaves household items to daughters Deborah Brower, Rebecca Coolman, Jane Barrett, Esther Lynaugh, Annie Conley, Katie Oar. To son Eli H. Brower, all my real estate and also all my personal property of every kind not mentioned herein. Appoints son Eli H. Brower, of Ephratah, executor. Probated 14 April 1902. [Nancy is Nancy Tutler, wife of John Brower, born ca. 1816, a descendant of Willem Brower and Rebecca Vedder. John and Nancy are on the BGD, although their profiles are very much incomplete. Some children listed above are missing. There is also an error in John's profile - his will was not dated 11 January 1839. That should refer to the will of his father, Harmen Brower, who mentions John in his will. More on this family can be found on the Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck database I maintain on Ancestry.com. The baptism record of her son John Harmen Brower (1850 at Stone Arabia) calls her Nancy Tutler, while a Find-A-Grave listing calls her Nancy Duesler. The son, Eli H. Brower, is called Elihue Brower in most records that I have found for him.]

The Will of Abram D. Brower of Gloversville. Fulton Co., NY Wills 20:85. Dated 13 July 1883. Names wife Sophronia M. and son Harry M. Brower. (Fulton Co. NY Wills 20:85). Witnesses William Green and Ellen E. Clark. Wife sole executrix. The probate record is found on page 87. It is dated 25 March 1904, nearly 21 years after the will was written. [Abram D. Brower is the A. D. Brower found on the 1880 U. S. census at Gloversville, with wife Sophronia (age 44) and son Harry M. (age 12). They are in Gloversville in 1900. His wife, Sophronia Bort, died 24 December 1932, age 97. Abram D. Brower is very likely the son of David Brower (wife Betsey) who is found at Broadalbin in 1840, 1850, 1860, and in 1870 at Johnstown. His profile on the BGD is incomplete. More can be found for Abram D. Brower on the Ancestry.com database for Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I.]

The Will of Lois Bower of Johnstown. Fulton Co., NY Wills 20:89. Dated 4 March 1904. Lawful debts to be paid. Bequeaths "pictures" that are named to Amelia Harmon, Sarah M. Crane, Florence Bedford and Helen Dixon, and her hat rack to Sidney S. Bedford. Residue of estate to brother David B. Bowers. Mentions father Lorenz Bower, and gives him authority over the articles of her estate. Appoints her brother David B. Bowers and father Lorenz Brower as executors. Witnesses: Mrs. Edna Rowles and Mrs. Mary Sutliff, both of Johnstown. Proved 16 April 1904. [Please note that the name here is BOWER and not Brower. I find Lois and her father Lorenz on the 1900 U. S. census in Johnstown. Lorenz was age 68, born in Germany. Lois was age 49, born in New York. I wanted to include them because the index entry and some of the handwriting in the will does look like BROWER.]

The Will of Lydia A. Brower, wife of James D. Brower of Gloversville. Fulton Co., NY Wills 20:205. Dated 28 October 1898. After just debts are paid, all my property unto the following named persons: To sister Elizabeth Stoller $400. To sister Sarah Stoller $500. To my brothers William H. and Peter Wilson, $400 each. To half-brother Ira Wilson $200. To half-sister Lillian H. who now resides at Richmond $200. To my step-mother if she survives me $250 - my step-mother Elizabeth Wilson. To my niece Jennie Stoller, daughter of my sister Sarah $100. To my niece Satie Wilson, daughter of my brother Henry $100. Set of conditions for the above. Husband James D. Brower to have use and income of my property and estate excepting my wearing apparel for and during his natural life. Wearing apparel to sisters Elizabeth and Sarah. Household furniture to said husband, also use of my wood lot containing ten acres, he to pay the taxes, and after his decease to brothers Peter and Ira. Appoints sister Elizabeth Stoller and Ira Wilson as executors. Witnesses: Allen Relyea and Lucas Clement, both of Gloversville. Proved 9 Mar 1906. [James D. Brower is found above. This will identifies his wife as Lydia A. Wilson and supplies a good deal of info on her family from which to begin further research on her ancestry.]

The Will of Mabel Ross Brower, of Gloversville. Fulton Co., NY Wills 22:111. Dated 28 December 1910. All debts and funeral expenses to be paid. All estate, real and personal to husband Henry S. Brower who is appointed sole executor. Witnesses: Nelson H. Anibal and Ida M. Bowne. Proved 27 January 1911. [Mabel Ross was born about 1877 in New York. Her husband was Henry Schofield Brower who was born 28 January 1879 in Tremont, Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania. Henry S. Brower is a descendant of Hubert Brower, immigrant to Pennsylvania in 1726. He can be found online at Ancestry.com in the Hubert Brower database.]

The Will of Alvira Brower of Gloversville. Fulton Co., NY Wills 25:237. Dated 21 February 1900. Debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Legacy to the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association. Wearing apparel to Julia W. Brower, wife of son Franklin G. Brower of Gloversville. All real estate, and residue of personal property to husband, William H. Brower, and after his decease to son Franklin G. Brower. Husband, William H. Brower appointed executor. Proved by Wesley H. Maider, 4 December 1925. [Alvira (sometimes Elvira) is a daughter of Peter Warner and Elizabeth Brown, and the wife of William H. Brower who is a son of David and Betsey Brower. See her page on Ancestry.com in the Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. database, and here for her husband William H. Brower.]

The Will of William Brower of Mayfield. Fulton Co., NY Wills 25:245. Dated 11 November 1920. Just debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Use of all real and personal property to wife Martha so long as she lives and after her death and just debts are paid, to daughter Flora, all the real estate consisting of two farms, also the premises bought from my son William C. Bank account with Fulton Co. National Bank to daughter Jennie ($200), son William C. ($200) and son Jacob ($200), remainder to daughter Flora. George W. Haines of Mayfield appointed executor. Signs with his mark. Witnesses: G. W. Haines and Alex Lennox, both of Mayfield. Proved 11 January 1926. [William Brower is a son of Jacob Brower and Paulina Toman. The social security application for his daughter Flora, names her mother as Martha Deronde, which suggests to me that she too is a descendant of Adam Brouwer.]

BGB 622