William Brower and Others to Richard S. Burr, New York County Deed, November 4, 1830

The post of November 4, 2012, "New York County Deeds Index," has been updated with a direct link to the online images for the Grantors Index. Perhaps it's about time to start looking at some individual deeds with the hope of finding at least a few with some genealogical significance. I think I found one of interest with the last deed listed under BROWER in the index (see image 378).

The entry for a deed found in the Grantors index is recorded as William Brower and others (grantors) to Richard S. Burr (grantee). The deed was recorded 27 February 1845 in New York Co. Deeds, vol. 455, p. 480. The deed itself was dated fifteen years earlier, 4 November 1830. An image of the deed is found online here at FamilySearch.org (image 43 in New York Land Records, 1630-1975, New York, Conveyances 1845 vol 455-457).

The deed involves a Brower family from Monmouth County, New Jersey selling inherited property located in New York City. An abstract:

• This indenture made 4 November 1830, between James Pearce and Mary his wife, Joseph Shumard and Mary his wife, Joseph Fleming and Margaret his wife, William Brower, David Falkenburg and Hannah his wife, Britton Maxson and Sarah his wife, and John Brower, and Samuel Hulet and Ezediah his wife, all of the Township of Howell in Monmouth County, New Jersey of the first part, and Richard S. Burr, of the same place, of the other part. The parties of the first part, for a consideration of ten dollars paid by the said party of the second part hereby acknowledged have granted, bargained, sold, etc...all right title and interest of the said parties of the first part being descendants and heirs of William Brower of the aforesaid Township of Howell, deceased, of in and to all that certain parcel of land in the City of New York heretofore known as Domines Hook, together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging. The parties of the first part all sign, some with a mark. Witnesses were Benjamin H. Fielden and Samuel F. Allen who acknowledges on 7 February 1845 in New York, stating that he resides in Howell Township, and that at the time the deed was executed, James Pearce and Mary his wife, Joseph Shumard and Mary his wife, Joseph Fleming and Margaret his wife and Samuel Hulet and Ezediah his wife, resided in the Township of Howell, and that William Brower, David Falkenburg and Hannah his wife, Britton Maxson and Sarah his wife, and John Brower, resided in the Township of Dover, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.

Those above mentioned in the deed as the parties of the first part are all descendants of William Brower or Brewer, whose wife was Sarah Allen, and who was a son of Adam Brewer and Deborah Allen of Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Mary, the wife of James Pearce, was a daughter of William and Sarah, while the others mentioned were grandsons and granddaughters (with their husbands), children of William and Sarah's son, John Brewer/Brower, who had died in late 1811 or early 1812 (inventory of his estate taken 13 Jan 1812). William Brewer, said to have been born 9 May 1722 (a record of this has never been found) can be found here on the Brouwer Genealogy Database. A PDF of the descendants can be found online, those mentioned in the above conveyance are highlighted. Please note that the chart is not a complete account of William Brewer's descendants. Also note that the granddaughter, Ezediah, wife of Samuel Hulett is called Elizabeth in her father, John Brewer's will (the BGD also has her primary name as Elizabeth, but perhaps Ezediah is more correct). I think that this is the first time I've encountered that name, in any family). The grantee in the deed is Richard S. Burr, and the amount he pays for the property is a paltry $10. He is not described as a descendant, but the low sum does leave open the question as to whether or not Richard S. Burr somehow another descendant of William Brewer.

The conveyance calls the property being sold, "Domine's Hook," so the question arises, where is Domine's Hook? The only references to this name that I find refers to a place which is now known as Hunter's Point, which is in the Borough of Queens, which is of course today within New York City, but back in 1830 was not. Yet, the deed says that the land is in the City of New York. And the deed is recorded in New York County and not in Queens County. Domine's Hook is mentioned in the Minutes of the Executive Council of the Province of New York during the December 1670 session (see Volume 1 of the Minutes of the Executive Council of New York, p. 62). The editor's footnote (2) here tells us that Domine's Hooke is situated, "up the East River at the mouth of Mespath Kill (now Newtown Creek), and consisting of one hundred and thirty acres of upland and meadow, being the section of late called Hunter's Point," and adds, "This tract had been given to Domine Everardus Bogardus and was named from him." William Brewer was a great-great grandson of Everardus Bogardus and his wife Anneke Jans. So, now I'm wondering, was this sale somehow related to hype from this time over the rightful inheritance to an imaged fortune due the heirs of Anneke Jans?

At any rate, the deed itself is one involving persons living in Monmouth County, New Jersey, selling property in another state, New York, by a deed recorded in New York and it is useful in a genealogical sense as it could be used as proof of the relationship of those who were principals in the deed to William Brewer/Brower who is known to be a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus (and of the infamous Anneke Jans). If nothing else it serves as an example of the need to widen one's search area beyond the immediate vicinity when looking for evidence of family relationships.

This deed can also be found in Monmouth Co., New Jersey Deeds X2:144.

BGB 661