19th Century Wills Recorded in New York County During the 1870s

Continuing with abstracts of New York County Wills for testators named BROWER, BREWER, and other variations, along with links to digital images of the wills found on FamilySearch.org, in their collection titled, "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 > New York County." This post covers probate records dated in the decade of the 1870s.

Lucretia Brewer, 6 July 1871, Vol. 188, p. 401. Dated 2 October 1860. Lucretia Brewer of the Township of Marlboro, Monmouth County, New Jersey. All just debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Leaves to beloved son Bela Brewer and Mary Ann, his wife, all property which I may posses both real and personal "at the time of my decease during their natural lives and after their decease then to Arastus Van Pelt, and his oldest heir, and if the said Erastus Van Pelt should die and leave no heirs, then to his sister Sarah Van Pelt." Appoints as executor, "beloved son Bela Brewer." Signs with her mark. Witnesses: John Bennett, George Schultz, John Lewis. Proved 7 Jun 1871 by George Schultz. [Lucretia Campbell was the wife of Bela Brewer  (1789-1827) who was a son of Solomon Brewer and Rene Benton, and a descendant of Daniel Brewer who came to Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632. Many members of this family are buried in the Old Sleepy Hollow Dutch Church Burying Ground in Tarrytown, Westchester County. This, despite the fact that they were not members of the Reformed Dutch Church, nor were they descendants of one of the New Netherland Brouwer families].

Anthony Brower, 26 April 1872, Vol. 202, p. 290. Dated 24 December 1869. Anthony Brower of the City, County and State of New York, Gentleman. All household furniture, stores, goods, etc. to beloved wife Janet Lovett Brower. Wife to also receive any income from real and personal estate. Wife to receive one third of estate. Remainder of estate to children, Marie Antoinette Simmons, John Lovett Brower and Thomas LeFoy Brower, to be divided equally. Daughter Marie Antoinette Simmons to receive her share as income during her life and after her death her share to go to her child or children. Instructions to the executors for selling real estate, etc. Appoints wife Janet Lovett Brower and sons John Lovett Brower and Thomas LeFoy Brower executors. Sons appointed trustees of daughter Marie Anoinette Simmons. Proved 26 April 1872. [Anthony Brower is a son of Thomas LeFoy Brower and Magdalena Van Aulst. I don't know of a baptism record but he was age 39 on the 1850 U.S. census. He married Jennette (Janet) Lovett on 26 Nov 1839, and their three known children are mentioned in the will. His profile on the BGD does not include this abstract].

John L. Brower, 22 October 1872, Vol. 212, p. 205. Dated 5 January 1865. John L. Brower of the City of New York, late Mahogany dealer. To wife Elizabeth as her absolute property all household goods...watches and jewelery, etc. Also an annual annuity of $5000 paid quarterly (instructs executors on how to invest proceeds from sale of properties). Mentions property on Washington, Hubert and West Streets now occupied as a mahogany yard with the water fronts attached (to be sold)...for the benefit of my children who shall survive me to be divided in equal shares (mentions daughters and sons but not by name). Appoints brother-in-law Isaac C. Ogden, nephew Anthony Brower and wife Elizabeth Brower, all of New York City, as executors. Nominates his wife as guardian of children under the age of 21. Witnessed by Albon P. Man of 106 East 30th St., N.Y.C.; Jno. E. Parsons of 68 West 35th St., N.Y.C.; William P. Man of 106th East 30th St., N.Y.C.
Six Codicils dated, 7 Sep 1866; 28 Nov 1866; 13 Sep 1867, appoints son John L. Brower, Jr. as an executor; 7 Dec 1867; 4 Feb 1869, appoints son Abraham T.H. Brower as an executor and removes nephew Anthony Brower as executor; 10 Sep 1872, appoints John B. Hunting of Jersey City, New Jersey as one of the executors. Proved 17 Oct 1872. [This is a long, detailed will. John L. (the L. apparently is for Lafoy) Brower was a son of Gerrit Brower and Mary La Foy].

Gardner Brewer, 19 March 1875, Vol. 230, p. 268. Dated 17 August 1874. Proved 19 February 1875. Gardner Brewer of the City of Boston, County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Merchant, of sound and disposing mind. To my beloved wife Mary Brewer if she shall survive me and if she does not survive me I give to my daughter Caroline Abigail Brewer absolutely my watches, jewelry, horses, carriages, harnesses, household stores, fuel and all other articles in and about my residence in Boston. To wife, and then to daughter Caroline Abigail, household items (long list). Wife to have house at Newport, Rhode Island. Also mentions stables in Boston. To my wife an annuity of fity thousand dollars to be paid in quarterly sums during her lifetime. Residuary property to be held in trust for the benefit of "my two daughters the two children of my deceased daughter Ellen Amory." Wife to have use of "my pew in Kings Chapel," afterwards to daughter Caroline. Dwelling house in Boston on Beacon Street numbered twenty nine. Estate at Newport, Rhode Island "which I have occupied during the summer months of the year," subject to the life interest of my wife, to my daughter Caroline Abigail Brewer... Also to daughter Caroline a lot at Mount Auburn numbered twenty five hundred and ninety six, with a strip of land. A gift to the Proprietors of the cemetery at Mount Auburn. Also mentions his stable at thirty two Myrtle Street in Boston; land on Centre Street in that part of Boston formerly called Roxbury, which for many years had been held by my wife's family (mentions deed of Benjamin Weld to his daughter Mary Weld "who is now my wife," recorded at Dedham. Mentions other deeds. Daughter Mary Elizabeth Penniman, wife of George H. Penniman of the City of New York. Appoints nephew Francis Willard Brewer, Trustee as my successor to an indenture recorded in the Office of the Register of the City of New York, liber 1115, page 384 (apparently a deed invovling the Pennimans). Names daughter Caroline Abigail Brewer, executrix. Again mentions late daughter Ellen Amory and names her two daughters Caroline Brewer Amory and Anna Sears Amory. To daughter Caroline, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to be held by her in trust (for the granddaughters). To Caroline Abigail Brewer, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for her own use. Nephew Francis Willard Brewer to have the sum of one hundred thousand dollars in trust, to pay the interest to daughter Mary Elizabeth Penniman. To my partner William F. Brewer and to my nephew Francis Willard Brewer the sum of two thousand dollars each for "the purchase of some token of remembrance of me and to testify my affection and gratitude for their kindness." Leaves legacies to a number of friends. (And so on). Should daughter Caroline Abigail Brewer not survive me, appoints William M. Brewer and Francis Willard Brewer as executors. Witnesses William W. Tucker, Charles H. Dorr, Geo. W. Wales. [You will find what little I previously had on Gardner Brewer on the BGD. This post adds his will, two more daughters and two granddaughters. It goes without saying that Gardner is the wealthiest pre-twentieth century Brewer that I've yet encountered, at least by the testimony of his will. The will is very long, it goes on for ten pages and includes twenty-four items, some rather detailed. Gardner was born 1 May 1806, as recorded at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was the son of Thomas Brewer (1781-1859) who in turn was the son of a James and Jane Brewer who I have not traced. Thomas Brewer's death is mentioned in the New England Historic and Genealogical Register, vol. 13 (1859), p. 369].


John I. Brower, 23 November 1878, Vol. 261, p. 181. Dated 19 February 1876. John I. Brower of the City of New York, Hardware Merchant. Directs that funeral expenses and debts be paid. "I give devise and bequeath unto my Executors hereafter named all my estate and property real and personal of which I may die seized in Trust, to be by them converted into money and divided and distributed as follows: One third to my wife if she should survive me and the remaining two thirds to my five children share and share alike, and if my wife should not survive me then the whole shall be divided and distributed to my said children share and share alike." The executors are also empowered to sell any real estate and distribute the money as above. Appoints as executors his three sons John, Henry W. and William L. Witnesses: Geo. S. Still, John H. Still, Wm. H. Brown. On 23 October 1878, John Brower of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, appeared in the New York County Surrogate's Court. The heirs and next of kin are named as John Brower, Henry W. Brower, William L. Brower, Catharine H. Brower, Charles H. McCreery, John Brower McCreery, Charles Reuben McCreery and William Barker McCreery. Proved 23 Noember 1878. [John I. Brower, born 7 January 1804, was a son of John Brouwer (1773-1804) and Magdalena Duryea. His wife was Sophia Wyckoff Olcott. Their daughter Cornelia Leverich Brower was married to Charles McCreery and died before her father on 22 November 1877].

Elizabeth O. Brower, 27 August 1879, Vol. 266, p. 388. Dated 12 July 1879. Proved 27 Aug 1879. Elizabeth Ogden Brower of the City of New York being of sound mind and memory. To my executors hereafter named all that certain breakhead wharf or dock on the westerly side of west street in the City of New York between Beach and Hubert Streets...to sell and dispose of the same either at public or private sale. Proceeds to cover indebtness to the estate of my deceased husband, John L. Brower. Leaves various described pieces of furniture, etc., to children named as son John Lefoy Brower, daughter Marion, daughter Florence, son A. Thew H. Brower, daughter Effie, son Ogden, son Charles DeHart Brower. Executors to divise remaining property among children. Mentions granddaughter "Bessie." Mentions daughter-in-laws Adelia and Mary W. Grandson John Lefoy Brower. Mentions a few friends. Names sons Ogden Brower and Charles DeHart Brower executors. Witnesses: Walter S. Brower of 304 Madison Ave, Albany, NY and S. (Sperry) D. Brower of 12 Plum Street, Albany, NY. [This is a long, tedious will that mentions a good deal of mid-19th century household items. The handwriting is a bit difficult but it may be of interest to those interested in the household of a 19th century New York City household. Elizabeth (Ogden) Brower was a daughter of Joseph Ogden and Hannah Insley. She was the wife of John L. Brouwer/Brower (above), a son of Gerrit Brouwer and Mary LaFoy. This will is not included in Elizabeth's profile on the BGD].

BGB 639