Peter Brewer (1826-1887) of Franklin, Warren County, Ohio

Peter Brewer, born 22 October 1826 in Ohio, died 4 January 1887, presumably at Franklin, Warren County, Ohio, is found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database as a possible son of Peter Brewer (b. c.1797) and his wife Mary (___). He is shown as a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. At least some of this is incorrect and we want to take the time with this post to update and correct what is known regarding both Peter (1826-1887) and the Peter Brewer (b. c.1797) shown as his possible father. Research here was done using both Ancestry.com and probate records found for Warren County at FamilySearch.org.

It can be stated without a doubt that Peter Brewer (1826-1887) is not a possible son of Mary (b. c.1808) who can now be identified as Mary McFeters (or McFeeters). Peter Brewer (b. c.1797) married Mary McFeters on 28 February 1833 in Warren County, Ohio (Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, see image that follows). Peter Brewer, born 1826, was of course born about six years and four months previous to this date.

Ohio, County Marriage Records, from Ancestry.com. The Brewer-McFeters marriage is on the left page at the bottom

This coupled with the 1860 U. S. census for the household of Peter Brewer, age 63, born in New Jersey, which includes wife Mary, whose age is given as 42, and (assumed) children George, Ida Anna, and Amanda, as well as John McFeeters, age 24, leads me to believe that this marriage does belong to the elder Peter Brewer (see the image that follows). The marriage is seven years after the younger Peter Brewer's birth and so rules out Mary as a possible mother. While it remains possible that the elder Peter Brewer may be the younger Peter Brewer's father, by a previous (yet unknown) marriage, I tend to doubt that that is the case. Despite the fact that both Peters lived in Franklin, that in of itself is not evidence that they are father and son. As we will eventually see, there is another Brewer family in Franklin. It is still possible that Peter Brewer (1826-1887) is a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I., but we need to learn more before we can say so (or not) with more certainty.

1860 US census Franklin OH, p. 70 (NARA via Ancestry.com)

Peter Brewer (1826-1887) was married to Julia Swartzell on 12 October 1853 in Montgomery County, Ohio which bounds Warren County on the north. There is a record of their marriage in which Julia's surname is recorded as "Swatzley."

Peter Brewer - Julia Swatsley record of marriage, Montgomery Co., Ohio (Ohio County Marriage Records at Ancestry.com)

 The couple can be found in Franklin, Warren County on the 1860 U. S. census, without any children, on page 23 (the elder Peter Brewer and his family is found on page 70, see above). Peter and Julia can be found in Franklin on both the 1870 and 1880 U. S. census records. The 1870 household includes Maggie Brewer, age 10 and Lilly Brewer, age 4. The 1880 census includes daughters Maggie Brewer, age 20, Lilly Brewer age 14, and Emma Brewer, age 9. The 1880 census also includes Andrew Baird, age 78, born in New Jersey, widower, who is described as "father" in the relationship column (to head of household, Peter Brewer) but we will soon see that this is not correct. Andrew Baird is not Peter Brewer's father (he also is not Julia's father).

1880 U.S. census, Franklin, OH (NARA via Ancestry.com)

The will of Andrew Baird can be found in Warren County Wills, volume 21-R, beginning at page 538 (image no. 1329 in this film at FamilySearch.org). The will records in this volume are nice in that they include more than just the wills. A list of heirs with their kinship to the testator are included here on page 539. There is no son named Peter (either Brewer or Baird) listed (and no daughter named Julia Brewer either). Andrew Baird's will was dated 18 October 1878 (neither Peter or Julia are mentioned in it in any capacity). It was proved 5 September 1881. In between, in June of 1880, Andrew Baird was, for whatever reason, enumerated in the household of Peter Brewer. Andrew is buried in the "New Jersey Presbyterian" Cemetery in Carlisle, Warren County (Find-A-Grave memorial #58943582) as is Peter and Julia Brewer (Find-A-Grave memorial 31893475). They were members of the same church. Perhaps the Brewers simply took in an elderly fellow church member for a period of time. Whatever the reason for Andrew Baird's enumeration in Peter Brewer's household in 1880, it is apparent that he was not Peter's father.

As seen from his gravestone, Peter Brewer died 4 January 1887. I have not found a probate record in Warren County for Peter Brewer. Julia lived another 29 years and died in 1916. She did leave a will.

Julia Brewer can be found on the 1900 U. S. census in Franklin, Ohio, age 65, born December 1834 in Ohio, widow, as the head of a household which includes daughter Margaret B. Brewer, age 40, born May 1860, single, and Anna Miller, age 32, born in Ohio, relationship recorded as "servant." In 1910, Julia Brewer, age 75 is found in Franklin as a widow, living off income, owns her home, but no other household members are recorded. Julia Brewer's death is recorded in Ohio as 20 May 1916.

Julia's will is found in Warren County Wills vol. 33, beginning at the bottom of page 174 (image no. 773 at FamilySearch.org, Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996, Warren, Wills 1910-1916 vol 31-33). Her date of death is confirmed as 20 May 1916. The probate hearing was opened on 27 May 1916 and her will was proved on 2 June 1916. Here again we have the benefit of a list of her heirs with their relationship to Julia and their address (p. 175). What stands out is that none of her children are listed. However, we do find brothers Elijah J. Swartzel, Henry A. Swartzel and Isaac M. Swartzel, and a list of nephews, nieces and a grandnephew among whom we find, Lizzie E. Brewer, niece, Dayton, Ohio. Perhaps Lizzie is a clue to Peter Brewer's family? We will have to look into that possibility. The will itself begins on page 178. She refers to herself as Julia Brewer of Carlisle, Warren County. Executors are to sell all real estate and when her entire estate is "reduced to money," it is to be distributed to her legatees. Not all of those found on the list on page 175 are mentioned by name in the will. The will was dated 21 May 1907. Her brother Isaac M. Swartzell of Germantown, Ohio, and M. A. Reiter of Miamisburg, Ohio were appointed executors.

Of primary importance here is the fact that none of Peter and Julia Brewer's three known daughters are mentioned in either the will or in the probate proceedings. It looks as if all three died prior to their mother who wrote her will in May of 1907. And, we have a clue in the individual named Lizzie E. Brewer, living in Dayton, Ohio in May of 1916, to be investigated as a possible link to Julia (Swartzel) Brewer's husband, Peter Brewer (1826-1887).

To be continued...

BGB 652

Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, Madison County, New York (continued)

Continued from the post of May 7, 2019.

In his will dated 18 April 1867 (Madison Co. Estate File 2916), Cornelius Brower mentions his wife, Mary A. Brower, and three children - sons Charles A. Brower and Norman Brower, and one daughter, Artemisia Edwards. It is apparent from land records and census records that his wife, Mary A., was a second wife who was not the mother of his children. As the profile for Cornelius Brower on the Brouwer Genealogy Database is very much incomplete, we'll fill in more details regarding his descendants here. Research on the descendants was largely conducted on Ancestry.com and a "tree" for Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, New York can be accessed here (subscription to Ancestry.com required). The basics will be filled in on this post, but to access source citations you will need access to the Ancestry.com tree.

As stated in the probate file, Cornelius Brower died 4 December 1869. He is buried in Graham Cemetery in Hubbardsville, which is a hamlet in Madison County, New York, just east of Hamilton. A Find-A-Grave memorial (#110932890) includes a photo of his gravestone. His first wife, Roxie (Roxy/Roxa) is buried with him. She died in 1863, and her Find-A-Grave memorial (#11093922) gives her maiden name as Phillips, but I have yet to find other evidence to support this identification (I don't believe that her maiden name is engraved on the gravestone, which is worn). Roxie is the mother of Cornelius' three children and she is found with Cornelius on the 1850 and 1860 U. S. census at Madison, Madison Co., New York, as well as the 1855 New York State census where the location is given as Hamilton. From the census records it appears that both Cornelius and Roxie were born about 1808 or 1809.

Cornelius Brower's second wife, called Mary A. Brower in his will, is identified as Mary A. Burdick, daughter of Samuel Burdick and Polly Beal by John Cortland Crandall in Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island and His Descendants (New Woodstock, N. Y.: J. C. Crandall, 1931) at page 11. Cornelius is listed here as Mary A. Burdick's second of three husbands. Her first husband was Jonathan W. Green (c.1824-1863) who died in Louisiana during the Civil War. Her third husband was Charles J. Brabazon (1832-1909). Mary (Burdick) (Green) (Brower) Brabazon died 31 July 1896 and is buried with her third husband in Mount Hope Cemetery, Norwich, Chenango Co., NY (Find-A-Grave memorial #146747577, but no photo of the grave marker). It appears that Mary A. Burdick did not have any children by any of her three husbands. She can be found, as Mary A. Brower, with Cornelius on the 1865 New York State census at Hamilton, New York. She is also mentioned in a few of the deeds involving the family.

Cornelius Brower had three children. Two sons and one daughter, who follow:

Son, Charles A. Brower was born about 1834 in New York, although whether or not that was in Madison County cannot be ascertained. He died in 1887 and is buried in Graham Cemetery in Hubbardsville under the name of Albert C. Brower (Find-A-Grave memorial #37967014). He is also called Albert in the 1860 U. S. census at Hamilton. Otherwise he is mostly recorded as Charles or Charles A. Brower, whether that be on the federal and state census or in Madison County deeds. He married, probably about 1858, Eliza Smith who was born in England in 1837 or 1838. She outlived her husband by about 36 years and does not appear to have remarried. She died inn 1923 and is buried with her husband in Graham Cemetery. The gravestone includes her maiden name of Smith (Find-A-Grave memorial #110932961). Charles and Eliza had three daughters. The eldest, Alice A. Brower (1859-1928) married King C. Thornton in 1880 (1900 U. S. census) and had one son, Olin A. Thornton (1886-1950) who married Hattie Babcock and had one son of his own. Daughter Hattie C. Brower (c.1871-1963) was married twice, first to Dealton Taylor (1852-1932) and later in life to Earl D. Keith (1864-1957). There is no evidence that she had children or left descendants. Daughter Cora J. Brower (c.1873-1962) married Edward W. Price (1870-1933) and had a daughter Doris B. Price (1909-1992) who was a graduate of Syracuse University and apparently remained single her entire life. The Price family lived in Syracuse, while the other children and grandchildren of Charles and Eliza remained in Madison County or adjacent Chenango County.

Son, Norman Brower was born about 1835. The 1900 U. S. census gives his birth as March 1835. Norman was married three times. His first wife, Mary E. (c.1840-1881) is the mother of his only known child, a son Addison DeForest Brower (c.1865-1943) who appears to have never married and has no known descendants. Addison lived in Madison County until the 1930 census when he is found in Utica, Oneida County. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Hamilton (Find-A-Grave memorial #93350753). Mary E.'s family name has not been determined, but perhaps her son's name is a clue. Norman's second wife, whom he married on 23 December 1886 at Hamilton (N.Y. State Marriage Certificate #17868) was Fidelia A. Abell, a widow of William Witherman Staples whom she married in Knox County, Ohio in 1876. Fidelia was born at sea aboard the ship Fidelia, off the coast of Newfoundland in July 1854. Norman and Fidelia were not married long, perhaps less than a year (one tree on Ancestry.com gives their date of divorce as 22 December 1887). Fidelia can be found on the 1900 U. S. census, at Hamilton, under her first married name as Fidelia Staples. Norman's third wife was Ruth J. who according to the 1900 U. S. census was born in New York in March 1849. The same census gives their marriage as having occurred in 1894. Ruth's family identity has not been discovered. Norman does not appear to have any living descendants.

Daughter, Artimicia F. Brower was born about 1841 (March 1841 by the 1900 U. S. census) and died in 1918. She is buried in Graham Cemetery in Hubbardsville as Artimicia Brower (Find-A-Grave memorial #110932860). Artimicia was married three times and had children by all three husbands. In her father's will she is called Artimicia Edwards, and as we've seen, an earlier deed refers to her as Artimicia Holmes. Her first husband was Franklin Holmes (1835-1864) a son of Jabez Holmes and Harriet Smith. He died in service during the Civil War at Point City, Virginia of typhoid fever (New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Town Clerks´ Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865; Collection Number: (N-Ar)13774; Box Number: 32; Roll Number: 18). Their one child, daughter Hattie Viola Holmes was born 1 May 1862 (according to her Find-A-Grave memorial #100844241). She was married to Albert Truax at a young age (perhaps just 15) in 1876, as per U. S. census records in 1900 and 1910 (New York State did not implement vital record recording until 1881). She left descendants. Artimicia's second husband had the surname Edwards (Cornelius' will), but I have been unable to discover his given name. They had a son, William J. Edwards who was born in February 1867 (1900 U. S. census) who married Carrie Groat (1861-1937) a daughter of Philip A. Groat on 15 April 1901 (N. Y. State marriage certificate #6337). She had previously been married to Mason S. Simpkins who left for Beaverhead Co., Montana, leaving Carrie with a son Herbert Mason Simpkins. William J. Edwards and Carrie Groat did not have children of their own. He died 12 October 1938 at Florence, Oneida Co., New York (N.Y. Death Certificate #61466). William and Carrie are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Camden, Oneida County, New York (Find-A-Grave memorial #46862418). Artimicia's third husband was John H. Youngs whom she married by 1876. They had two children. The eldest, Bert Wellington Youngs was born 4 January 1876 at Florence, Oneida County (World War I Draft Registration and his Social Security application). The second child, daughter Lulu Youngs was born about 1878 and the family, with Artimicia's son William Edwards enumerated as "Willie Youngs," is found on the 1880 U. S. census at Florence, Oneida County. Artimicia is found as a "widow" on the 1900 U. S. census (Florence, N.Y.) indicating that her third husband was deceased by 22 June 1900, the date her household was recorded. However, no New York State death registration for John H. Youngs was found. There are a handful of trees on Ancestry.com that claim he was the John H. Youngs found on the 1900 U. S. census at Township 27, Cherokee Nation Territory with the age of 78, born in New York, a widow. The 1880 census record at Florence confirms that age and place of birth, so it may be that the family separated. John H. Youngs was considerably older than Artimicia, and if he is in fact the John H. Youngs who is in the Cherokee Nation Territory in 1900, then he had been previously married and had older children. This is a puzzle that still needs some work. Speaking of puzzles, anyone who enjoys them will have fun working on Artimicia's Youngs descedannts. Her son, and a few of his six children, all had multiple marriages (one granddaughter was married five times), to spouses who also had multiple marriages which added step-children to the confusion. Newspaper notices, including but not limited to obituaries, are needed to solve he puzzle of Artimicia's descendants through the 20th century.

From the above, it is apparent that there are no living direct male descendants of Cornelius Brower. That of course eliminates the possibility of locating and enlisting a male descendant interested in a Y-DNA test to help determine which ancestral family in New York Cornelius Brower is a member of. Cornelius Brower's ancestry has not been determined. Land records first place him in Madison County in 1837, and he is found on the 1840 U. S. census at Georgetown, Madison County, with a household of two males ages 5-9, one male age 30-39, one female age 20-29 and one female age 70-79, which would describe himself, his wife Roxie, sons Charles and Norman and perhaps a widowed mother or mother-in-law. Madison County, which was created in 1806 out of Chenango County and saw people and families settle there who came from the east via the Mohawk River and Erie Canal, some of whom had come from locations further downstate along the Hudson River (Dutchess County for example). The given name Cornelius is found among the descendants of both Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck and Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I., and our Cornelius Brower could belong to either. His birth year of circa 1808 or 1809 does not line up with any other Cornelius Brouwer, Brower or Brewer that I have in my database. A few trees on Ancestry.com claims that he is a son of a Cornelius Brower and  Betsey Prentice. I am not familiar with this couple and none of the trees provide credible sources. The elder Cornelius Bower is claimed to have been born about 1788. The only Cornelius Brower I know of that might match this was the son of Nazareth Brouwer and his first wife, Ginney Brouwer, who was born 13 September 1788 and baptized at New Hackensack in 1798 (when he was age 10). This Cornelius, however, died 8 April 1808, which would mean that he was not yet 20 years old. Still, it's possible he could have married and had a posthumous son born later in 1808 (the trees give Cornelius' birth as 19 November 1808, but don't site a source). Betsey Prentice is claimed to have been born c.1789, and died in 1834. But again, I have yet to encounter this couple independently in any reliable record. Perhaps this can be used as a clue, but for now, as of this writing, the parents and ancestry of Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, New York, is unknown.

BGB 651

The Elusive Mr. Davis - The Unidentified First Husband of Mary Brewer (1766-1813)

Mary Brewer, born 3 October 1766 and died 10 February 1813, was a daughter of Elias Brouwer/Brower/Brewer (1740-1812) and Femmetje (Phebe) Lucas (1749-1826). She is a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, Long Island, and can be found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database as Polly Brewer. To date, what has been known about Mary (Polly) Brewer's first husband, referred to as only "Mr. Davis," has essentially been nothing, except his last name, Davis, as evidenced by Mary's three known children, Elias Davis, Sarah Davis and Phoebe Davis. Mary Brewer's second husband was Jonathan Wolverton whom she married on 25 January 1806. There are no children of Mary Brewer and Jonathan Wolverton.

We now have a very likely identity for "Mr. Davis." Scott Kraus, one of the co-author's of "DNA: Adam Brouwer Berckhoven, Elias Brouwer and John Brewer," which was published in volume 138, issue no. 4 (Oct 2007) of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (Richard D. Brewer and William B. Bogardus being the other authors), has conducted new research into the identity of Mary Brewer's first husband and has summarized his findings in a paper which he would like to make available. We are making in available online as a PDF which can be accessed and downloaded here.

In addition to identifying the very likely first husband of Mary Brewer, Scott has also added new information on Mary's descendants through her daughter Sarah Davis (b. 12 May 1788) and her two husbands, Israel Wilcox and Ephraim Squires. This adds to what is currently found for Sarah Davis on the BGD website.

Scott Kraus, "The Elusive Mr. Davis: Unidentified First Husband of Mary Brewer (1766-1813).

Thank you Scott.

BGB 650

Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, Madison County, New York

Digital images of the estate file for Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, Madison County, New York can be found online at FamilySearch.org in their collection of New York Probate Records. It is file number 2916 and is found among the Madison County Estate Records.

Cornelius Brower, Madison Co., NY Estate File 2916 (image from FamilySearch.org)

The file includes a copy of Cornelius' will, which begins here at image 415. The will is not very long. It is dated 18 April 1867. Here is an abstract:

Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, Madison County, New York, age 58 years. All just debts and expenses to be paid. To my wife, Mary A. Brower, the sum of two thousand dollars which shall be accepted by her in lieu of dower. To son Norman Brower, the sum of three hundred dollars. To my sons Norman Brower and Charles A. Brower and to my daughter Artemisia F. Edwards all the rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate of every description or whatsoever...to be divided equally, share and share alike. Appoints O. B. Lord of Hamilton as executor. Proved 18 Dec 1869 by Hiram A. Tuttle and Mary E. Tuttle.

A very incomplete profile of Cornelius Brower can be found on the BGD. This is based solely on information taken from the 1850 U. S. census at Madison, New York. The will corrects a couple of error found on the census sheet. In his will, written 18 April 1867, Cornelius states that his age is 58 years thereby placing his year of birth as 1808 or 1809. The 1850 census records his age as 31, implying that he was born about 1819 (which is shown on the BGD). The 1860 U. S. census (Madison, New York) records Cornelius' age as 51 (born ca. 1809) which falls in line with his will, and I would venture is the more accurate date. The 1850 census also records Artemisia as male (age 9), which is incorrect as in his will Cornelius calls her "my daughter Artemisia Edwards." Artemisia is found in Cornelius Brower's household on the 1860 census as Artenanec Holmes, age 19, along with Franklin Holmes age 25. Relationship to the head of household was not reported until the 1880 census, so we're making an assumption here (although one that is supported by other events, see below) but it appears that Artemisia was initially married to Franklin Holmes by 3 August 1860, the date the household was recorded. Norman Brower appears on both census records, age 14 in 1850 and age 25 in 1860. Roxa (age 31 in 1850) or Roxey (age 50 in 1860) also appears in the position that we would assume to be Cornelius' wife (again relationships are not spelled out in these years, but this is confirmed by a deed), and since Cornelius names his wife as "Mary A. Brower," in his will, and apparently Mary A. is a second wife and not the mother of his children. A Find-A-Grave page for Cornelius Brower places his burial in Graham Cemetery, Hubbardsville, Madison County, New York. There is a photo of the gravestone (a must for using Find-A-Grave listings as a reliable source, as there are hundreds of pages with errors on this website). Enlarge the image and you will find "Roxie" engraved on the stone as well, with a death date of 1863. Hubbardsville is a hamlet within the Town of Hamilton in Madison County. Roxie's Find-A-Grave page calls her Roxie Phillips Brower, but I would prefer to find more reliable sources for her before accepting Phillips as her family name (the gravestone does not give her family name).

Continuing with the estate file, on 21 December 1869, Norman Brower and Charles A. Brower were administrators of the estate, along with Henry Berry and Damon Richmond, all of Hamilton, put up bond. Norman and Charles A. had sworn to administer the estate on 18 December 1869, and their signatures can be viewed on these two links. The name of Cornelius' daughter, Artemisia F. Edwards, is confirmed in this document dated 13 December 1869. And the file ends at image 430.

Of Cornelius Brower's children, there is an estate file for Charles Albert Brower who died in 1887. It is file no. 5504. However, as of this writing FamilySearch.org has only made available online images up to file no. 3579 which is from 1875.

There are a number of deeds found in the land record books of Madison County that involve Cornelius Brower, including a number with and between his children. Index extractions for the years 1806-1853 are found in the post of April 5, 2019, while index extractions for the years 1853-1873 are found in the post of April 23, 2019.

The earliest deed involving Cornelius Brower in Madison County is dated 1 February 1837 and is found in volume AO, page 495. In this deed, Caleb Hall of the Town of Madison in Madison County, and Lydia his wife, convey to Cornelius Brower, also of the Town of Madison, for the sum of $400, a piece or parcel of land situate in the Town of Madison "known and distinguished as the south forty three acres of the south east subdivision of lot number ninety in Township number three bounded on the north by forty acres of said subdivision conveyed to Loring Lovejoy by deed dated the twenty ninth day of February one thousand Eight hundred and Twenty Eight..." On 9 May 1838 (AR:280) Cornelius Brower (indexed as Brewer) of Madison, Caleb Hall of Brookfield (Madison County) convey to Levi Ludden of Madison for the sum of ten dollars "a parcel of land in the Town of Madison being a part of the southeast subdivision of lot number ninety and being a piece of land cut off of the farm now owned by the said Cornelius Brower by the highway and bounded on the north by Loring Lovejoy's land, on the east by the highway, on the west the said Levi Ludden's land, containing half an acre." If we take a look at the 1840 U. S. census in Madison County, we can find Cornelius Brower in what Ancestry.com has transcribed as Georgetown, Madison County (I do not find the town name on the census sheets) enumerated immediately above Levi Ludden and two places below Benjamin Lovejoy. Cornelius is the twelfth name up from the bottom on the following image.

1840 US census, Georgetown, Madison Co. NY (NARA via Ancestry.com image 22 of 25)

Cornelius Brower's household consists of two males ages 5-10 (sons Charles A. and Norman were born in about 1834 and 1835 respectively), one male age 30-40 (Cornelius), one female age 20-30 (his wife, presumably Roxie) and one female age 70-80 (perhaps the mother of either Cornelius or his wife). As mentioned above, the family then appears on the 1850 U. S. census in the Town of Madison, along with the addition of daughter Artemicia who was born about 1841. I have been unable to find Cornelius Brower on the 1830 census or in any previous census in Madison County.

On 28 June 1852, Cornelius Brower of Madison deeded to Benjamin Barnard, Jr. of Madison, for the consideration of seven dollars and fifty cents, a parcel of land in Madison, being a part of lot no. 92, being a piece cut off by the public highway from the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of the said lot containing about a quarter acre. (This deed was not recorded until 25 March 1873 (Madison Co. Deeds 128:244) which was after Cornelius' death.

On 5 May 1856, Dennis Morse and Sarah Morse his wife of the first part conveyed to Cornelius Brewer of the second part, for consideration of the sum  of five hundred dollars, a parcel of land in the town of Brookfield known by subdivision no. 3 in the cedar swamp, bounded on the west by the town line between Brookfield and Hamilton, on the south by land formerly deeded to Samuel Bacon, on the west by lands formerly owned by Nathaniel Haskell and on the north by lands owned by Phillip Tompkins, containing five acres. (Madison Co. Deeds CK:404)

A series of deeds between Cornelius Brower and his children begin in the late 1850s with the first recording of these deeds happening in 1864.

•  17 September 1864  (recorded 21 November, 100:559). Cornelius Brower of the Town of Madison, to Artimicia F. Holmes of Hamilton, for $500, "a tract of land in Hamilton having been part of the south half of the north half of lot no. nine and bounded..." Those whose land bound the property include, to the north, Albert Brower (Albert is son Charles A. Brower). About twenty two acres.
• 1 September 1864 (recorded 21 November, 100:560). Franklin J. Holmes and Artimicia his wife of Hamilton, to Cornelius Brower of Madison, for $500, "a tract of land in Hamilton being a part of the south half of the north half of lot no. nine and bounded..." About twenty two acres. This parcel is the same property conveyed by Cornelius to Artimicia on the 17th of September (above). [Franklin Holmes enlisted for service during the Civil War on 31 August 1864, was mustered in on 1 September 1864, and died at City Point, Virginia on 26 December 1864 from typhoid fever].
• 22 January 1858 (recorded 28 November 1864, 100:596). Cornelius Brower and Roxa his wife of the Town and County of Madison, to Charles A. Brower of Hamilton. For $450, a parcel of land in the Town of Hamilton "being a part of lot no. nine and bounded as follows..." Seventy acres, with a reserve of ten acres on the east heretofore deeded to William Colson, five acres on the east deeded to Harvey Cowles, a piece of land deeded to Daman Bacon on the west end. [Roxa is also called Roxey in the deed. Charles A. (for Albert) appears to be the couple's eldest child. Records found for him most often call him Charles A., however his gravestone is engraved with the name, Albert Brower].
• 31 October 1864 (recorded 31 May 1865, 104:442). Cornelius Brower of the Town of Madison to Norman Brower, also of Madison. For $500, a parcel of land in Madison being a part of lot no. ninety two in the said town, bounded by Willard Sturtevant on the north. On the east by "the new road running by the dwelling house of Henry Adams." On the south by the town line between Hamilton and Madison. On  the west by "the highway running past the house of Benjamin Barnard." About fifteen acres more or less. [Norman is Cornelius' second son, born about a year or two after Charles A.].
• A deed between brothers, dated 3 January 1865 (recorded 31 May 1865, 104:441). Charles A. Brower and Eliza his wife of Madison, to Norman Brower of Hamilton. For $3000, a parcel in Hamilton being a part of lot no. nine, bounded as follows...containing seventy acres with exceptions for pieces deeded to William Colson, Harvey Cowles and Damon Bacon. [This is the same parcel Charles bought from his parents in 1858].
• 3 January 1865 (recorded 20 January 1868, 113:237). Cornelius Brower of the Town of Madison, to Charles A. Brower of the same place, for $4300, a parcel of land in Madison, bounded on the north by lands owned by Loring Lovejoy, on the east by lands now owned by Alyenas Lovejoy, on the south by the town line between Hamilton and Madison, on the west by the highway, containing thirty four acres, more or less. The premises being a part of lot no. ninety in the Town of Madison. Also a parcel of land in Madison being the southwest quarter or subdivision of lot no. 92, bounded on the north by lands owned by Willard Sturtevant and Loring Lovejoy, on the east by the highway and said Lovejoy's land, on the south by lands owned by Willard Sturtevant and the new road, on the west by the center of the new road, containing twenty six acres, more or less. [I believe that the first parcel described, is the parcel that Cornelius Brower bought of Caleb Hall back in 1837 (above)].
• Finally, 19 December 1868 (recorded 12 June 1877, 125:47), Charles A. Brower and Eliza his wife of Hamilton, to Norman Brower of Hamilton, for $150, a parcel of land in Brookfield being part of subdivision no. 3 in the Cedar Swamp. [This is the property Cornelius Brower bought of Dennis and Sarah Morse in 1856].

The last deed found for Cornelius appears to be the one dated 16 March 1865 (recorded 20 March 1865, 104:130), where Mary D. Plumb of Hamilton conveyed to Cornelius Brower of the same place, for consideration of five hundred and fifty dollars, a parcel of land in Hamilton being the southwest quarter of lot no. 64 (bounds then described). Twelve acres of land, the same more or less. The land was subject to a mortgage of six hundred dollars given by Mary D. Plumb to Sarah Fuller in the fall of 1860. "It is also sold subject to a bond mortgage of eight hundred fifty dollars given by Mary D. Plumb to Abigail Stephens bearing date November 29, 1860."

In Madison County Deeds 122:341, "Whereas my husband Cornelius Brower of Hamilton, Madison County, State of New York died on the 4th day of December 1869 leaving his last will and testament bearing date the 17th day of April 1867 that in said last will and testament he bequeathed to me the undersigned Mary A. Brower a certain legacy therein named..." In this document, Mary A. Brower accepts the sum of two thousand five hundred and forty four dollars paid by Norman Brower, Charles A. Brower and Artimicia Edwards, children "and residuary legatees mentioned in the said last will and testament to which the whole estate is given except my special legacy..." [Here, Mary A. Brower, the second wife and surviving widow of Cornelius Brower, is acknowledging payment, as specified in Cornelius' will, of two thousand plus dollars and is waiving all other rights (her dower rights) to the estate]. Dated 20 December 1869 and recorded 12 June 1871.

To be continued...

BGB 649