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