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