William B. Bogardus (1929-2020)

This morning I received a note from Perry Brewer from up in New Brunswick, Canada, informing me of the passing of William B. Bogardus. You can find his note in the comments on the post of August 15, 2012. Bill died a few weeks ago on December 5th. An obituary can be found online here. 

 Those who frequent this website would have encountered the mention of Bill's name in many posts. And of course there is the "William B. Bogardus Collection," which bears his name. He didn't give it that name. I did. But I'm sure he didn't mind. Bill very generously gave me physical possession of the very large collection of material he laboriously collected over many years. It consisted of published pieces, notes, and mostly correspondence between Bill and his uncountable "Cousins." His intent was to compile and publish a genealogy of the descendants of Adam Brouwer, of which he was one. However, along about 2008 he came to the realization that he would not be able to complete that quest, and so he passed the material on to me. It was a lot of stuff. In the pages of this blog, somewhere, you might find my comments on just how much. Even with all that, he mentioned to me that it was but a fraction of the material and correspondence that he had collected regarding his foremost mission, a genealogy of the descendants of Anneke Jans through seven generations, which sadly too, he apparently did not get to finally publish. 

  I spent countless hours over many, many months with this material. Much of it was correspondence, and to put it all in context you have to remember that Bill started this work back in the 1960s, long before there was an internet and email and terabits of digitized documents and publications available online. Everything had to be done the "old fashioned way" through handwritten or typed letters, travel to and from libraries and archives and court houses, spending hours over and money on copy machines. You get the idea. I very often found myself stopping in the middle of whatever it was I was looking at to just think about and marvel at how much time, effort and money Bill had to have spent accumulating it all. The most impressive part was the correspondence with his "Cousins." It started in the late 1960s and went right through to the early 2000. Hand written letters with questions and queries, literally hundreds of them. I can imagine that when his Anneke Jans correspondence was added in he had perhaps a few thousand correspondents sending questions and requests from all over. And as far as I can ascertain, he answered everyone of them! And not just with a short note, but with a letter, sometimes a rather lengthy one, typed out on his stationary. I was amazed. I would just try and imagine the amount of time he spent just answering his mail. I don't know that I could have done it. I don't know that too many people out there could have done it. And sometimes the correspondence would go back and forth over a period of months and even years. He always answered. That's what stuck with me the most. He always answered.

  In 1996 Bill published, Dear "Cousin": A Charted Genealogy of the Descendants of Anneke Jans Bogardus (1605-1663) to the 5th Generation. If you are a researcher of Anneke Jans and her descendants it is the place to start (search online and you'll find copies for sale). As mentioned, Bill had hoped to expand this work to seven generations of descendants and to publish it in a traditional journal type format. Bill was also a co-author with Richard Brewer and Scott Kraus on "DNA Analysis: Adam Brouwer Berckhoven, Elias Brouwer of New Jersey and John Brewer of Ohio," which was published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record in 2007 (Vol. 138, no. 4). This work was groundbreaking in that, as far as I can tell, it was the first article accepted and published by one of the "major" genealogical journals that focused on using DNA analysis to sort out lines of paternal ancestry. It demonstrated that Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. and Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. were not in anyway related and that anyone living today who was uncertain as to which one their Brower or Brewer ancestry would lead, could settle the question with a simple Y-DNA test from a direct male ancestor. The article was there as a seminal part of the early years of the Brewer DNA Project, and I also have to mention that Bill was, unsurprisingly, very generous with his time in helping and answering questions of the earliest participants in the Project. Myself included. 

And so, for myself, and I'm sure for many others who have accessed some of Bill's collection through the pages of this website, and who had the chance to correspond or speak to him, I'd just like to thank Bill for all the selfless work and effort he put into solving so many genealogical questions. The fruit of Bill's efforts will hopefully live on.

Merry Christmas Bill.

Merry Christmas everybody.

BGB 699

BROWER and BREWER in American Biography: A New Cyclopedia

 I may or may not have previously made this file from the William B. Bogardus Collection available online. I came across it again while working on cleaning up and reorganizing all that I've collected over the past two decades. So, in the event that I haven't done this before, here is a link to a twenty-six page PDF of pages from American Biography: A New Cyclopedia. This is a large multi-volume work spanning many years and you can find a bit more, including links to various volumes, online at Hathi Trust Digital Library. Volumes are also probably available through Google Books and the Internet Archive and perhaps other websites. You'll have to poke around.

William B. Bogardus collected the pages pertaining to men named BROWER and BREWER, and I scanned them all into one PDF document with Bill's index card notes at the forefront. There are eight or nine different profiles here. Some also appear in other late 19th and early 20th century works that are similar in scope to American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, but I don't believe any of the others have as many men profiled. The PDF I created is now online and available here with this link. 

BGB 698

New, New Netherland History Page of Links

 Here is a new page of links to pages and websites that cover varied aspects of the history of New Netherland and early New York. This list was sent to me by Jennifer Fuller who is a history tutor. One of her students, Thomas is his name, came across a webpage with where these (and a few other) links had been posted. That site is a commercial website for a law firm (Parker/Waichman LLP) which also included links for legal services, and because of that fact I'd rather not provide a direct link here (but you, the reader, can certainly search for it if you so desire). At any rate, I looked through and selected many for inclusion on the new page, "History of New Netherland" links. Some pages are more scholarly, more in depth than others. Some are rather basic, and a couple are just fun. Many are pages within larger websites and certainly those websites may be of interest to many as well. 

Thank you Jennifer, and Thomas, (and Parker/Waichman LLP).

BGB 697

Correction to the Family of William Goulding/Goulder

The Brouwer Genealogy Database includes a profile of William Goulding/Goulder whose grandson, Joseph Goulder, married Hannah Daws who in turn had previously been the wife of Derck Brouwer, son of Jan Brouwer and Jannetje Jans. Although this correction does not effect the descendants of Derck Brouwer, it should still be addressed as the notion originated with a published account of William Goulder.

The correction is in regards to the possible son of William, named Jacob (or Yacum) by Richard W. Cook in, "The Golder Family," published in the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey in volumes 29 and 30. In volume 29, at page 51, Cook suggests that Jacob Gouldt who with his wife Jannetje Cousart, had a son, Frans, baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church on 29 November 1691, is possibly a son of William Goulder. Further research is conclusive in demonstrating that Jacob "Gouldt" is not a son of William Goulder, but is instead Jacobus Goelet who was a school-master in New York City and later a book-seller and stationer.

Jacobus Gouleth, j.m., Van Buyck Sloot, and Janneken Cocher, j.d., Van N. Yorck, both living there (New York) had marriage banns published 28 December 1687 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church. They were married on 10 January 1688. The couple had ten children baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church between 1689 and 1708. In the baptism records, Jacob's surname is variously spelled as Goulet (1689-1696) Gouldt (just once, 1691, the record referred to by Cook, and this may simply be a typo or transcription error with e misunderstood or mistranscribed as d), and Goelet (1699-1708). Janneken's (or Jannetje's) surname varies as Sozard (1689 and just this once), Cousart (1691, 94), Coussaert (1696), Cosaer (1699, 1701), and Cosaar (1700, 02, 04, 08). She has been identified as the daughter of Jacques Casjou whose surname appears in numerous records from this period with varied spellings too numerous to go through here, but among them, Cousart. Her mother was Lydia Willems who appears as a witness for the baptism of Janneken's first child (Jacob) in 1689. I have not looked into Lydia Willems ancestry. All of the ten baptisms include names of witnesses (sponsors) and none are named Goulding/Goulder, nor do any appear to be associated with members of the Goulding family. Many of the witnesses' names do repeat, but they appear to more likely be close friends and associates of Jacob Goelet, rather than relations. That is the impression I get anyway, and perhaps someone with a greater interest in this family would prefer to research this further.

The will of Jacob Goelet of New York City, stationer, shopkeeper, "and now in good health," was written 15 September 1722. It was proved 2 September 1731 and is found in New York Wills 11:167. In his will, Jacob mentions his wife, "Janitie," and five children, Jacob, Jan, Raphael, Aefie and Phillipus. The abstract is found in New York (County) Surrogate's Court. Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Vol. III 1730-1744). Collections of the New York Historical Society. New York: Printed for the Society, 1894): 37. Here the editor notes (38-9) that Jacob Goelet's place of business in New York was called the "Sign of the Bible," and also his dwelling place was located at what is now Hanover Square directly opposite 114 Pearl Street. And that "for many years before his death (was) the clerk of the Dutch church, and the records of baptism, etc. are in his handwriting." With this, I would suggest that Jacob's surname is most accurately, Goelet.

In short, Jacob Gouldt, actually, Jacob Goelet, the father of a son Frans who was baptized 26 November 1691, is not a son of William Goulding/Goulder. Whether or not William Goulder did have a son named Jacob (or Yacum) as per Cook, who may be found elsewhere, is something I have not investigated and cannot comment on one way or the other.

BGB 696

A Bit of Brower Ephemera

This piece of a letter, bearing the letterhead of John Brower, Hardware, 81 Murray Street, New York, and dated 1884, was forwarded to me by Richard Brewer (former administrator of the Brewer DNA Project).

It was found at a flea market by an individual (who wishes to remain anonymous) who in turn contacted Richard. We thank that individual for, first off, contacting us, and secondly allowing us to make a digital image available online to others who may have an interest in such things.

The year is 1884, and 81 Murray Street is on Manhattan's lower west side in the block between Greenwich St. and West Broadway. It's just a couple of blocks or so northeast of One World Trade Center (which of course was not there in 1884). Google the address and you can get a present day street view of the address.

We thought we'd might try and figure out just who this John Brower might be. Hank Graham (current administrator of the Brewer DNA Project) suggested he was John Brower, born 8 September 1839, died 18 December 1900, son of John I. Brower and Sophia Wyckoff Olcott. The younger John Brower is found on the 1880 U. S. census at Fanwood, Union County, New Jersey (p. 15, line 18), where his occupation is recorded as "Hardware Merch(ant)." He is enumerated with his wife, Sarah, and six children (lines 19-25).

1880 U.S. Census, Fanwood, NJ (NARA, download from Ancestry.com)

Steve Eustis (who has contributed to this blog), a descendant of John Brower's brother, Henry Wyckoff Brower (1844-1880) confirmed this identification and added that John's father had owned the hardware business and in his later years it was known as "John Brower and Son Hardware." The senior John Brower died in 1878. An incomplete profile of John Brower can be found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD) here. You can add to the three children listed on the BGD, an additional three (Catharine, Samuel and Theodore) found on the above census record. John Brower is a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island. He is an eighth generation descendant and his direct line back to Adam Brouwer can be seen here.

John Brower's wife was Sarah Louisa Beckley. Updating the BGD, she was born 13 November 1843 in New York City and died 9 March 1921. She is buried in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York. Her Find-A-Grave memorial gives her parents as Samuel Marvin Beckley and Margaret De Milt Van Antwerp.

John Brower had pre-deceased his wife by 21 years, and he is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. He lived in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey when he died.

In addition to the children added from the 1880 census, the Find-A-Grave memorials add a daughter, Margaret DeMilt Brower (1883-1921). A son Van Antwerp Brower (1879-1889) who is buried with a young cousin, Grace Van Antwerp (1879-1880) would undoubtedly be the Theodore Brower, age 6 months on the 1880 census which was taken in June of that year. Steve Eustis provided the gravestone photos seen on the Find-A-Grave pages.

Thanks once again to the finder of this little piece of ephemera from 136 years ago. We're always on the lookout for such items, and should anyone have or find such items, and would like to share them with other Brower/Brewer descendants, please don't hesitate to contact us, or leave a comment.

And thanks to Steve for helping us with the identification of John Brower.

BGB 695

More on the Browers of Lee, Oneida County, New York

It's been some time since I've had the chance to work on the BROWERs of Lee, New York. Following up on the post of June 20, 2019 where the early Browers of Lee, Oneida County were identified primarily through the use of the early U. S. census records, we now what to examine land records in Oneida County for deeds involving these individuals.

Land Records for Oneida County, New York can be found online at FamilySearch.org through their online catalog. See this page. There is a link for "New York Land Records available online," which takes you to a new page from which you can gain access to land records by county. However, select Oneida County here and you will see that the complete catalog of land records for Oneida County is NOT available on the page selected. Go back to the page accessed via the catalog, scroll down, and you will find the complete list of films, which can, by clicking on that little camera icon on the right, be viewed online. There are indexes for Grantors and Grantees covering various periods of years. The indexes are followed (as you scroll down) by the numerous deed books. (Apparently the deed books for Oneida County are located on the page for Herkimer County when accessed through the "New York Land Records" collection).

I first want to look at the Grantees index with the hope of finding the earliest land buyers in Lee. Remember from the June 20 post, the first appearance of Browers in Lee is on the 1830 U. S. census. Is there a record of a Brower in Lee prior to 1830? The Grantee Index A-B, 1791-1884 is found here.  This index is alphabetized by the first three letters of the last name, and then chronologically. Grantees beginning with BRO begin at page 229 (image 371).

The earliest dated deed for a Brower is not found until 1839 (Grantee index image 378) which is the date it was recorded. There are two deeds for purchases of land by John Brower from Catherine Muller. The deeds are found in Oneida Co. Deeds vol. 88, pages 455 and 457. The first (p. 455) is dated 10 February 1837, whereby Catharine Muller, late of the City of New York, conveys to John Brower of Lee, Oneida County, New York, for the sum of fifty dollars, a certain parcel of land being in Mullers Tract, so called, in the Town of Lee...distinguished as part of the northeast corner of lot no. 48, which lies north of the road leading to Lawrence Mills...containing 32 acres more or less. It is witnessed by A. H. Muller who as Adrian H. Muller, acknowledged the deed on 13 May 1837 in Ontario County, New York, A. H. Muller being a resident of the Village of Batavia at the time. The deed at page 457 is dated 22 August 1835. Here, Catharine Muller of Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York, formerly of Geneva, Ontario County, conveys to John Brower of Lee, Oneida County, for fifty dollars, a parcel of land in the northeast corner of lot no. 48 in the Town of Lee, containing 36 acres and 65/100s of an acre of land. It is also witnessed by A. H. Muller who acknowledges on 7 May 1836 in Ontario County as a resident of Geneva in Ontario County. Both deeds were recorded in Oneida County on 22 February 1839.

Vol. 98, p. 147. Dated 26 Jan 1841. Charles A. Mann and Emma his wife of the City of Utica, to Edward Brower of the Town of Lee. For ninety dollars, a certain parcel in the town of Lee distinguished by a survey made by C. Guiteau in the year 1795 and on a map of said land filed in the Clerk's Office of Oneida County by being part of lot eight (8) that part of Outhout's patent called the Mappa Tract**. Bounded north by the center road, east by land deeded to Charles Ufford and now in possession of Robert Ourns, south by the south lot of said lot no. 8, and west by the west line of said lot no. 8, containing 33 acres.

Vol. 111, p. 485.  Dated 11 Dec 1841 (recorded 13 September 1843). Sarah Hubbard of Royalston, Polly Smith of Spencer, Oliver Harding and Elizabeth Harding of Barre, Alfred Browning and Elizabeth A. Browning both of Spencer, Richardson H. Browning and Abigail M. Browning his wife of Paxton, and Reuben Browning of Holden, all in the County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, Henry Westcott and Almira Westcott his wife of the Town of Killingly, County of Windham, State of Connecticut, first part, by their attorney Nathaniel Wood, to John Brower, of the Town of Lee, County of Oneida, State of New York of the second part. For the sum of $227, a parcel of land in the Town of Lee, being lot number 56 in the six thousand acre tract Seribas(?)* Patent...containing 105 acres more or less (see deed for full description).

Vol. 129, p. 377. Dated 1 Apr 1847. William Martin and Mary Ann his wife of the town of Lee, to Abraham Brower of the same place. For $945, a certain piece of land conveyed to James Martin bearing date 18 July 1843 executed by Elijah Ward containing forty acres being part of lots 15 and 18 Mappa's Tract** in the Town of Lee, also another piece of lot 15 conveyed to William Martin and James Martin, 8 March 1842, by Joshua Terry containing thirty acres excepting a piece deeded to Zachariah Shaver... Recorded 25 May 1847.

Vol. 136, p. 331. Dated 26 January 1848. James Eames and Mary Eames his wife of the Town of Verona, Oneida County, to Calvin Bishop, Lyman Wilcox, Justus E. Gillett, George Benedict, Morris P. Brower, Henry Dodge, Henry Pollard, Seldon Johnson, Samuel Hills, Samuel G. Brewster, Chauncey Brown (Brower?) and Almon Halcomb. For the sum of $20, a parcel of land containing seven to eight rods, in Verona Village.

Vol. 139, p. 159. Dated 31 July 1848. John Butler of Paris, Oneida County, to Cornelius Brower of the same place. For $125, a parcel of land in Paris, containing 102 rods of land.

Vol. 150, p. 215. Dated 16 November 1849. Jotham Worden and Hannah his wife of Annsville, Oneida County, to John Brower of the same place. For $300, a parcel in the Town of Annsville, part of lot 41, Fish Creek Reservation east side...containing five and 88/100 acres with a right of way twelve feet wide south of the house direct to the road. Also the pantry of the dwelling house...

Vol. 154, p. 509. Dated 14 March 1851. Edward Brower and Harriet his wife of the town of Lee, to George C. Brower of the town of Lee. For $300, a piece of land in Lee distinguished by a survey made by C. Guiteau in the year 1795 and on a map filed in the Clerk's Office of Oneida County, being part of lot no. 8 in that part of Othout's Patent called the Mappa Tract**, west part of said lot...containing 30 acres more or less. [See above].

Vol. 168, p. 205. Dated 28 October 1851. Caleb Evans and Betsey his wife of Annsville to John Brower of the same Annsville. For $350, a parcel of land set the the said Evans and wife in right of the wife from the estate of Warren Douglass, deceased, part of lot no. 41 Fish Creek Reservation, east side...containing 15 30/100 acres of land.

Again, the idea here was to search out early, particularly pre-1850, records of BROWERs in Lee County, and to use this information in conjunction with the post of June 20, 2019. The deeds, unfortunately, do not include a David Brower, who we found in Lee on the 1830 U. S. census. Nor do we find Richard Brower. This post only considered those found through the Grantee Index. We should next take a look at those listed in the Grantor Index.

*Perhaps this is the Sadequahada Patent of 6000 acres. See 103 on Our County and It's People, Colonial Land Patents (Oneida.nygenweb), or perhaps the Servis Patent (104) but this patent was for 2000 acres.
** See 111 on the above page.

BGB 694

BREWER and BROWER Mentions in Dutchess County, NY Court Records

This is a follow up to the post of October 10, 2013, which features a file from the William B. Bogardus Collection. I'm in the process of reorganizing my own files and as I'm finding items that I haven't looked at for some years now, I think there is an opportunity to bring attention to some of them again. Should I come across any that were overlooked, I will add them as well in future posts.

The original 2013 post provided a link to a PDF of this file uploaded to RootsWeb. That link is still good, here it is again, but in the event that the link should fail at some point in the future, here is a second link to the PDF on Google Drive.

This file is an extraction of BREWERs and BROWERs found in the records of the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas in Dutchess County, New York. As mentioned seven years ago, the Family History Library has filmed these records, they are on microfilm and are cataloged here online, however, as was the case back in 2013, the FHL has not yet digitized the microfilms for online use. As the FHL is no longer in the business of lending microfilms out to local Library Centers, the only way in which one might access the records is to visit the main library in Salt Lake City. Alternatively, one might be able to access the originals with a visit to the Dutchess County Clerk's Office in Poughkeepsie, New York. Some of the cases are, apparently, also found in the Dutchess County, "Ancient Documents," and can be accessed rather easily online, from home. I'll give an example, but first here is a list of the BREWERs and BROWERs found in the file (the file also includes some with the BOGARDUS surname which are not included below).

• Vol. A, p. 156; May 15, 1744; John Sackett vs. Mathew BREWER
• Vol. A, p. 244; Oct. 17, 1749; Peter Colwell vs. Hendrick BREWER (bail to Samuel BREWER)
• Vol. B, p. 10; May 21, 1751: Jury verdict against Nicholas BREWER
• Vol. B, p. 26; May 21, 1751; Samuel Dusenbury vs. Hendrick BREWER
• Vol. B, p. 283; Oct. 18, 1757; Nicholas BREWER vs. John Bookhout and Ann his wife

 After this the volume isn't given but a date and page number is provided. I would guess that the records are likely found in FHL film #0565228 in volumes C or D (the film covers volumes B-D). The date would be the date of the Court session.

• Oct. 16, 1759, p. 1; John Bookhout and Ann his wife vs. Nicholas BREWER
• May 20, 1760, p. 1; Nicholas BREWER vs. John Bookhout; p. 2 Dolf BREWER witness for plaintiff (note: Dolf would be a variation of Adolph or Adolphus).
• May 17, 1763, p. 22; Nicholas BROWER vs. Robert Soul Butcher
• May 17, 1763, p. 23; Michael Surfelt by William Surfelt vs. Jacobus BROWER
• Oct. 18, 1763, p. 13; Michael Surfelt vs. Jacobus BROWER
• Oct. 18, 1763, p. 15; Nicholas BREWER vs. Robert Soul Butcher
• Oct. 1, 1765, p. 2; Henry Chase vs. Isaac BREWER
• Oct. 1, 1765, p. 20; Isaac BREWER vs. Henry Chase

To the Ancient Documents available online at the Dutchess County Government website. Go to the Search page and enter a name. I'm going to try Hendrick Brewer and when I do I get this result. And when I click on Document Number 2561 (highlighted in blue) this image appears. It's a PDF and can be easily downloaded. This is actually a lot easier then searching through the digitized microfilms of the Ancient Documents of Dutchess County found on the FamilySearch website. However, it appears that not all of the documents mentioned above are found in the Ancient Documents files.

BGB 693

Corrections to Johannes (John) Brouwer and Perkins Lambert

An incomplete profile of Johannes Brouwer (a.k.a. John Brower or Brouwer) and his wife Perkins Lambert is found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD) here. Newly found records forwarded to me by Sara Brower corrects data found in this profile for John and Perkins, their son Thomas, and especially their daughter Susannah.

Regarding son Thomas, placed as a son with the stipulation, possible, a baptism record for "a son" of "John & Pirkins Brouwer from New York," is found in the baptism records of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The date of baptism is recorded as June 13, 1779. The entry records the child as "son." A given name is not recorded. The identity of this son as Thomas, therefore still needs further verification. However, it is apparent that John and Perkins did have another son born after the five children whose baptisms are found in the New York Reformed Dutch Church between 1769 and 1776 (see the BGD profile for citations).


John and Perkins (Lambert) Brouwer's daughter, Susannah, baptized 11 August 1776 at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, is shown on the BGD as the Susannah Brower who married David Osborn (Osburn, Asburn) on 16 November 1800 at Poughkeepsie, New York (First Reformed Church), and with a date of death of 21 September 1873 and a burial at the New Hurley Reformed Dutch Church cemetery. This marriage, date of death and burial are incorrect.

Records of the Old Swede's Church, Philadelphia, include an entry under December 1795, which reads: "Joseph Cole, son of Andrew Cole in N. W. Jersey, and his dec'd wife Latitia, twenty five (and) Susannah Browers, dr. of the dec'd John and Perkins Browers, heret. of Philadelphia, nineteen."

Therefore, the Susanna Brouwer who married David Osborn, is not a daughter of Johannes (John) Brouwer and Perkins Lambert. In addition to Susanna's profile on the BGD, a Find-A-Grave memorial for Susannah Brower Osborn is also incorrect in placing her as a daughter of John and Perkins (Lambert) Brouwer. Although David Osborn did marry a woman named Susannah Brower (they had a daughter, Sally, baptized at Poughkeepsie, 23 August 1801, that Susannah is not a daughter of John Brouwer and Perkins Lambert. The marriage record of Joseph Cole of Salem Co., New Jersey and Susannah Browers (sic) of Philadelphia, tells us otherwise. The identity and parents of Susannah Brower, wife of David Osborn, is now unknown. She is, however, the Susannah Osborn who died 21 September 1873 and is buried in the New Hurley Reformed Church Cemetery (with her husband) and the Susannah, John and Perkins Brouwer's daughter, is not buried there. In that regard the Find-A-Grave memorial is correct and it does include a photo of David Osborn's gravestone (a repair of the stone apparently obscures his wife's name).

The marriage record also tells us that John and Perkins Brouwer, both died prior to December 1795. John did not die in 1823 as shown on the BGD. The Find-A-Grave entry for Johannes Brouwer is therefore incorrect. I'll note that the Find-A-Grave page for Johannes Brouwer cites the BGD, and you know, if you are creating a Find-A-Grave memorial you really shouldn't do that! Find-A-Grave was intended as a website were one could post memorials, backed up by actual graveyard records and photos obtained through visits, and not as a place to post genealogical summaries that were previously published elsewhere, whether online or in printed format (books or genealogical journals) without ever visiting the graveyard to see if some certain individual is in fact actually buried there. I could go on regarding this but I won't except to say that Find-A-Grave started out as a good, well intentioned idea, but it's become a site that unfortunately propagates a terrific amount of incorrect information. There is in fact a terrific amount of incorrect burial information regarding descendants of Adam Brouwer (including Adam Brouwer himself) found on Find-A-Grave. It's unfortunate, but enough said.

Sara sent me images of published transcriptions of these records. The marriage record of Joseph Cole and Susannah Brower can be found online at FamilySearch.org in "Early marriage records of Pennsylvania Churches: Old Swedes Church..." by Mildred C. Williams, p. 39, where the year is incorrectly transcribed as 1775 (which is impossible based on Susannah's baptism date). I imagine that the complete record as quoted above can also be found here, although this digitized film can only be viewed at a Family History Library location. I would gather that the 1779 baptism record for "a son" of John & Pirkins Brouwer from New York, can be found in this digitized film, again only viewable at a FHL location.

The marriage record of David Osburn (sic) and Susannah Brower in found in Kelly, Arthur C. M., Poughkeepsie Reformed Church Marriages, 1746-1824. Rhinebeck, N. Y.: Kinship, p. 25, no. 546. Parents names are not recorded. The baptism record for their daughter Sally is found in Kelly, Arthur C.M., Baptism Records - Poughkeepsie Reformed Church, 1716-1824. Rhinebeck,N.Y.: Kinship, 1998, p. 102. (Sally, b. 3.13; parents: Davis Asburn, Susannah Brower; no witnesses recorded).

Much thanks to Sara Brower.

BGD 692

Nicholas Brower and Mary A. Green, Widow of Levi Green

If this post was on Wikipedia it would be called a stub. It's been sitting in the draft file for nearly a year now and it appears that I'm not going to have the time to explore the issue further, so perhaps I should just get what little I know out there to see if anyone else might be able to contribute.

The question here is who is the Nicholas Brower who married Mary A., the widow of Levi Green sometime between 29 April 1841 and 2 December 1841. The two abstracts that follow explain this choice of dates.

The following deed is found in Oneida County Land Records Vol. 103, p. 482:
Nicholas Brower and Mary A. Brower (late Mary A. Green) widow of Levi Green late of Rome, Oneida County, deceased in consideration of the sum of five hundred forty nine dollars and sixteen cents paid by John Stryker, Surrogate of the County of Oneida...being the sum in gross set off to the said Mary A. Brower (late Mary A. Green) for her right and claim of Dower in the real estate of said Levi Green, deceased, lately sold by the order of said Surrogate... Dated 2 December 1841. Recorded 5 January 1842. Signed by Nicholas Brower and Mary A. Brower, witnesses: Wm. C. Pease, Jm. P. Barney, late of Michigan, Kalamazoo County (this last name is not entirely clear).

The issue of the estate of Levi Green was taken up in the Surrogate's Court of Oneida County on 29 April 1841 (Oneida Co. Administrations 1:116). Administrators of his estate were Alva Whedon and James Merrill. Calvert Comstock was special guardian of the minor children of Levi Green, named as DeWitt Clinton Green, Henry Green and Sam Green. Mary A. Green is mentioned as administratrix. An accounting of the payments made by the administrators is found at 1:118. This entry is dated 7 December 1841.

What little I have been able to learn about Levi Green comes from History of Oneida County, New York; With Illustrations..., by Samuel W. Durant (1878), pages 174, 207, 465 and 627. He apparently was in Oneida County by 1814 when he owned a building that was store at Nisbett Corners in Lee Center later owned by Charles Stokes. On 3 August 1816, in Oneida County, Charlie Wylie and Lucretia his wife, Parker Hallick and Levi Green, all of Rome sold a parcel of land to Treadwell Soper, land in Lynchville in the Town of Rome Oneida Co. Deeds 30:79). On 20 May 1836, Levi Green and Mary his wife, of Rome, sold a parcel in Rome to John B. Bradt and Seth Roberts (Oneida Co. Deeds 76:69-70).

From the above we know that Levi Green was an adult by 1814; he had property in Lee Center in 1814; lived in Rome in 1816 and 1836; and was married to Mary prior to 20 May 1836. He died prior to 29 April 1841, and he had three children, all minors in 1841, namely DeWitt Clinton Green, Henry Green and Sam Green. Thus far I have been unable to identify with any degree of certainty, any of the three in later records. I come across the names in searches, but can't conclude that the search findings correspond to any of the three named children. Curiously, I have also been unable to identify Levi Green as a head of household on any of the U. S. census records from 1820, 1830 or 1840, when he should be found in Oneida County. Perhaps he, and his family, lived in a household headed by another, perhaps one of Levi's parents or even one of Mary's parents. Mary's maiden name is not known. We would like to lean what it was.

I find even less regarding Nicholas Brower. In fact other than the deed noted above, I find no mention or record of a Nicholas Brower in Oneida County. He and Mary may have lived elsewhere (outside of  Oneida County) when the deed was written. The deed itself does not say where they lived. It only states that Levi Green was "late of Rome."

We would like to identify this Nicholas Brower, and learn the family name of Mary, the widow of Levi Green, and wife of Nicholas Brower prior to 2 December 1841. Should anyone have any knowledge of the couple, or any potential leads, please share them using the Comments for this post. Thank you.

BGB 691

Who Is The William Brewer Whose Estate Was Administered In New Jersey, January 31, 1729/30?

The June 20, 2020 post, "The Earliest Brewers of Hunterdon County, New Jersey," left us with a couple of early William Brewers who we would like to identify. Here we will take a look at a couple of men named William Brewer (nos. 1 and 3 in the June 20th post) and then work through the roster of known men named William Brewer (Brouwer, Brower, Bruer) to see if we can find a fit.

From the June 20, 2020 post, No. 1 is the administration of the estate of William Brewer of Hunterdon County, yeoman. A second record of this administration (in "Hunterdon Wills") tells us he was of Amwell. William Brewer is obviously deceased shortly before 31 January 1729/30, and since he has an estate that needs administrating, he had to have been an adult and therefore born prior to 1708/09 (age 21 or older in Jan 1729/30). No. 3 is a William Brower/Brewer of Readington, who was an adult by 15 December 1733, when he was involved in a court action regarding a debt he owned to Casparus Vanorstandt of Somerset County. This William Brower/Brewer would have been born by 1712 and is certainly not the same William Brewer (no. 1) who died by 31 January 1729/30. There are two men named William Brewer (Brower) who we seek to identify.

The known candidates, i.e. men named Willem Brouwer, William Brower or Brewer, known to have lived in colonial New Netherland/New York/New Jersey and born prior to 1712, are:

A - We'll start by quickly eliminating Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck who was buried 3 August 1668, and his reputed son Willem/William Brouwer/Brower who lived at Schenectady and later Stone Arabia, New York and wrote is will in February 1757. This latter had a son Wilhelmus (William) baptized at Schenectady in 1725, which is clearly too late for him to be considered. The elder Willem Brouwer had a son Hendrick  (bapt. 1652 in Amsterdam) who in turn had a son Willem who was born and baptized in January 1704 at Schenectady. We have no further record of this Willem (William) Brouwer. He is not mentioned in his father's will of 1706, however, that will only mentions by name the eldest son (Johannis) and does not mention by name his other sons, Pieter, Jacob, Cornelis and Hendrick, all of whom were known to be living at the time the will was written. Although we have no evidence that any of the descendants of either Hendrick Brouwer or the younger Willem Brouwer (will 1757) ventured from the Albany/Schenectady/Mohawk Valley region of New York to Hunterdon County, the fact that Hendrick's son Willem is otherwise not accounted for by a known marriage, death, burial or probate record, does leave him as a possibility for either No. 1 or No. 3, but we would have to find evidence that he relocated to Hunterdon County, and thus far that evidence has not been found.

B - Willem Brouwer, baptized in 1651, son of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon (on the BGD here). A death, burial or probate record has not been found for this Willem Brouwer. He is last recorded in a deed dated 7 May 1708, when he was "of Brooklyn," and conveyed a lot in Brooklyn. What became of Willem, after 1708, has not been found. If he lived, he would have been aged 78 in January 1729/30. We have no record of him having a son named William.
Of his known sons, Samuel (bapt. 1706, Breuckelen Dutch Reformed Church) is tentatively identified as the Samuel Brewer, who with wife Margaret/Maregrita had two daughters baptized  at Raritan in Somerset County, they being Annate (22 Oct 1732) and Anate (19 Jan 1735). The surname is rendered as "Brouer" and no witnesses are recorded for either baptism. This Samuel was an innholder at Millstone (in Somerset County) in 1766 when he and his wife Margaret took out a mortgage from Peter Schenk. Samuel of Millstone is identified as the son of Willem, only because all other known Samuels born early enough to have married by 1732, are accounted for. However, Samuel Bruer (with William Post and Cornelis Willemse) witnessed the will of John Bruer of Somerset County, 29 October 1732, and this "John Bruer" is Jan Brouwer (bapt, 1695) a son of Derck Brouwer and Hannah Daws, and a grandson of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. There is no record of a Samuel having been born into the families of the descendants of Jan Brouwer early enough to have been an adult by 1732. A witness to a will need not be a relation, even if he or she has the same surname. To place Samuel within a family descended from Jan Brouwer would force us to create an individual for whom no other known record exists that explicitly connects him as a relation to a family descended from Jan Brouwer. I don't believe that it is sound practice to do that, and I suggest that the best identification for Samuel Brewer/Bruer/Brouer of Millstone is as the son of Willem Brouwer (bapt. 1651) and grandson of Adam Brouwer. 
Not wishing to digress much further here, Willem Brouwer did have a son Johannes baptized in 1687, recorded in the Breuckelen Dutch Reformed Church records. Hoffman, in "Brouwer Beginnings" (TAG 23:205) places Johannes as the "John Bruer" whose is discussed above. But this does not appear to be a correct placement. See no. 4 on the post of September 2, 2012.
Two of Willem's daughters, Lysbeth (married Herman Van Sant) and Catharina (married Joshua Cresson) relocated to Bucks County, Pennsylvania sometime during the first decade of the 1700s. Lysbeth's son, William Van Sant, was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1708. Willem Brouwer's son, Adolphus, was witness to a deed in Bucks County in 1704, but nothing further has been found regarding him. Hunterdon County was, for lack of a better term, a "stepping stone," for people migrating from the New York City area to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, including Bucks County. Finally, Willem's daughter Jannetje (bapt. in 1702 at Breuckelen), may well have been the Jannetje Brouwer who married Jan Losee, was at Jamaica, Long Island in the mid 1720s, but then had a daughter (Marya) baptized at Raritan (Somerset County) in 1730, and a son (Cornelius) baptized at Readington in 1732, about the time that William Brower/Brewer of Readington was involved in a court action regarding a debt.
All in all, it is conceivable that Willem Brouwer could be either the William Brewer (No. 1) whose estate was administered in January 1729/30, or the William Brower/Brewer (No. 3) involved in the court action in 1733. What gives me hesitation through is, first off, his age. Willem Brouwer would be approaching 80 in 1729/30, and age 82 in 1733, in other words, very long-lived for that period of time. Secondly, the estate of William Brewer (no. 1) is administered by James Chambers, a person who is not known to have been a relation, even through marriage, to Willem Brouwer. As Willem clearly did have children living in 1729/30, we'd expect one of them to administer his estate. I also note that the inventory if the estate amounted to "a bond from John Hamilton, late of Trenton, for £25, and interest for two years, £4 money at 8s the ounce" [Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. I, 1670-1730. (Paterson, N.J.: The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1901):60, citing "Hunterdon Wills"]. This estate is rather small. I would have expected an aged man to have had a much larger estate. What I take away from this exercise of reviewing Willem Brouwer, is that not enough is known regarding either him or (most) of his children to draw less than questionable conclusions regarding what became of him after 1708. I am very hesitant to assign this record of administration and inventory to Willem Brouwer, son of Adam Brouwer. Possible, but, "I just don't know."

C - Willem Brouwer, a.k.a. William Brower and William Brewer, baptized 8 May 1687 at Breuckelen, son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus. He is a grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. William married Maritje Van Oort (Van Noordt) daughter of Goosen Van Oort and Maria Peeck. She was born at Schenectady, and had previously married Pieter Hennion (two daughters). William and Maritje were married 19 May 1709, recorded in the New York City Reformed Dutch Church where they had three daughters baptized (1710, 1712, 1714). He was at Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey by 14 March 1720 when his earmark was recorded. Deeds have him at Middletown in 1721, 1725, 1726, and 19 June 1746 (the last one) when he deeded land to Jacob Brower. On 10 April 1735, William Brewer, late of Monmouth County, was to answer at the Monmouth County Court of Common Pleas for debt to Jacob Janeway and John Broughton, merchants (see nos. 58-60 here, which are followed by nos. 61 and 62 involving William Brewer of Readington's debt to Casparus Vanostrandt). I set off "late of Monmouth County" in bold because it implies that William is not living in Monmouth County in 1735. Where he is living, however, is not stated. There is a twenty year gap between 1726 and 1746 in which William has not been found in records in Monmouth County which state that he is living there. A record of death or burial, nor a record of probate has been found for William Brewer. He was certainly living after January 1729/30, so he cannot be No. 1. As he is not living in Monmouth County in 1735, and was last recorded there in 1726, it is conceivable, perhaps likely, that he was the William Brower/Brewer of Readington that owed a debt to Casparus Vanorstrandt in 1733 (No. 3).

D - Willem Bouwer, son of Samuel Brouwer and Grietje Smith, who lived in Westchester County, New York and were members of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow in Tarrytown. No record of his baptism has been found, but he married Annatie Namburgh on 6 November 1725 (Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, New York), and so was likely born around 1700 to 1705 (I have "bef 1704" on the BGD). William and Annatie's son Samuel was baptized 15 April 1727 (Sleepy Hollow) and his parents, "Samuel Brouwer and Grietie his wife," were the witnesses. A daughter, Anna was baptized 29 March 1729 at Sleepy Hollow. William was deceased by 22 August 1730 when his wife married Jeremiah Mabie (Sleepy Hollow). The marriage record calls her the widow of Willem Brouwer. Obviously he is not No. 3. His daughter's baptism does not refer to him as deceased. The date of the baptism is likely in the new style, meaning it is prior to the 31 January 1729/30 date of No. 1. His death prior to 22 August 1730 creates a window between the dates of his daughter's baptism and his wife's remarriage during which both William died and the estate of the William Brewer of Amwell, Hunterdon County was administered, but as this William was a member of a large family (he had ten siblings) that was anchored in Westchester County, New York, I think it highly unlikely that he is No. 1. As with A, above, we would need to find other evidence that he ventured to Hunterdon County. I doubt such evidence exists.

And that is it. There are only four known men named Willem/William Brouwer/Brower/Brewer who could vie for the two spots we seek to fill, one of which is the William Brewer, of Amwell, Hunterdon County, whose estate was administered on 31 January 1729/30, and the second, a William Brewer/Brower of Readington, who on 15 December 1733 was named as a debtor in a court case in Monmouth County, New Jersey. To recap and condense what is above, they would be:


A - Willem Brouwer, born and baptized in January 1704 at Schenectady, New York, son of Hendrick Brouwer and Maritie Pieterse Borsboom, grandson of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth Drinkveldt. No further known record after his baptism, so possible (for either record), but unlikely unless evidence connecting one of the William Brewers of Hunterdon County, to Schenectady, New York, can be found.

B - Willem Brouwer, baptized 5 March 1651 at New Amsterdam, son of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon. Living on 7 May 1708 when he and his wife, Martha, of Brooklyn, conveyed a lot in Brooklyn to Cornelius Sleght of Newtown, Long Island. No record after this date has been found. He would be aged 78 on 29 January 1729/30 and aged 82 on 15 December 1733. He could be (although I'm not comfortable saying that it is likely) the William Brewer of Amwell who had administration of estate granted 29 January 1729/30 to one James Chambers. But why administration was not granted to a child, a number of whom were living, some as close as Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a question that needs to be answered. The presence of C (below) leaves me to think it doubtful that he is the William Brewer/Brower of Readington on 15 December 1733.


C - Willem Brouwer/William Brower/William Brewer, baptized 8 May 1687 at Breuckelen, son of Jacob Brouwer and Annetje Bogardus and grandson of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon. He lived at Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey from at least 1720 through 1726, but is called "late of Monmouth County" on 10 April 1735. No record of death or probate, but he was living on 19 June 1746 (deed). Certainly not the William Brewer of Amwell, 29 January 1729/30. He is the best candidate to be the William Brower/Brewer of Readington, indebted to Casparus Vanorstrandt, 15 December 1733, as per a court action held in Monmouth County.

D - Willem/William Brouwer, son of Samuel Brouwer and Grietje Smith. He is a grandson of Matthys Brouwer and Marietje Pieterse (Wyckoff) and a great-grandson of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon. Living 29 March 1729 but deceased by 22 August 1730. Although the date of the administration of William Brewer of Amwell's estate falls between these dates, we have no evidence that Willem/William lived anywhere outside of Westchester County, New York, and without that evidence we cannot assume that he was at Amwell. He is certainly not the William Brower/Brewer who was indebted to Casparus Vanorstrandt.

A final possibility could be that either, or both, of these records, No. 1 (the 29 January 1729/30 administration) and No. 3 (the 15 December 1733 court case) belong to one or two men named William Brower or Brewer who otherwise have not been identified by any known record found anywhere within colonial New Jersey or New York prior to 1729/30 or 1733. This might especially be the case for record No. 1 (the administration of the estate of William Brewer of Amwell). If this, to date unknown William Brewer (or two) is a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island, he would have to be placed either among Adam's grandsons, or perhaps among his earlier great-grandsons. I'll just note here that Adam's son, Willem (B above) is not known to have had a son named William. If  he (or they) are descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, Long Island, a place for him (them) would have to be found among Jan Brouwer's grandsons. However, it is conceivable that one of the William Brewers, could be a yet unidentified son of Jan Brouwer (but I would be extremely hesitant to create another son for Jan Brouwer without any additional evidence). Neither of the William Brewers would be found among Jan Brouwer's great-grandsons. All of Jan Brouwer's known grandsons were born too late to have fathered a son in the time period we're looking at. And of course, the possibility remains that one, or both, of the William Brewers could be someone completely unrelated to either of these two early Brouwer families.

We welcome any additional information or clues on this puzzle. Please use the Comments option.

BGB 690

"Sites of Historic Interest," Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Hank Graham (administrator of the Brewer DNA Project) sent me a link to this PDF, "Hunterdon County Master Plan, Sites of Historic Interest," published in November 1979. Recent posts have focused on Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and I think that this 550 page publication will be of interest to anyone researching Hunterdon County.

The purpose of the report is explained on page 5, which is essentially to identify, with the intent of preservation, historic sites in Hunterdon County. Hank points to pages 13-28 for information on early settlement and formation of the county during the colonial period. Page 15 has a map showing how the boundaries of the county changed over the years. An important point here is that the city of Trenton, now the site of the capitol of the State of New Jersey, and within Mercer County, was during the colonial period, within the bounds of Hunterdon County, and was the county seat until 1785. The character of the early settlements and settlers who came to Hunterdon County can be found on pages 14-16. The area was initially settled by diverse groups along both ethnic and religious lines. Maps on pages 20 and 21 show the location of townships in 1739 and 240 years later in 1979.

I found an interesting map at page 41 which illustrates the movement of people and settlements during the colonial period along the entire eastern seaboard. Four "centers" of migration are identified with origins in New England, southeastern Pennsylvania, Chesapeake Bay and southern North Carolina to eastern Georgia. If you are interested in historic architecture you will finds a concise overview with lots of illustrations in the pages that follow.

As the purpose of the report is to identify historic sites and develop a plan for their preservation, a good deal of the pages are devoted to an inventory of sites. This begins at page 104 and is arranged by present day (1979) townships and boroughs. There is some brief historical info in the short introductory paragraphs and some may find family names of interest listed among the numerous properties mentioned. Maps showing locations of the properties are included. There is no "name index" to the properties, but if you have interest in the earlier families of Hunterdon County, and some time, scrolling through the pages will no doubt yield names, and properties, that will catch your attention.

Hunterdon Co., NJ, 1851 (Library of Congress; Cornell, Samuel C, and Lloyd Van Derveer. Map of Hunterdon County, New Jersey: entirely from original surveys. [Philadelphia?: Lloyd Van Derveer & S.C. Cornell, 1851])

Thanks again Hank.

BGB 689

The Earliest Brewers of Hunterdon County, New Jersey

A survey of some of the earliest mentions of persons named BREWER (etc.) found in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. This will be focused on those who lived (were born) during the colonial period, say before 1780. Some years back I extracted all mentions of the names Brouwer, Brower, Brewer, etc. found in the series "New Jersey Calendar of Wills." That document can be found online here and it will be a source for some of those found below. Another is this list of New Jersey Tax payers 1778-1797 that was compiled by a company called T. L. C. Genealogy back in 1990 (before the days of the internet) and came to me by way of William B. Bogardus.  

We still have a number of unconnected Brower and Brewer lineages that can be traced back to the early 1800s or late 1700s but go no further. We know from Y-DNA testing that their ancestor was either Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I., or Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. , or neither (so someone else, yet to be identified). Research of the Brewer and Brower surnames in Hunterdon County show that there are a good number of families named Brewer living there during the 1800s, but how they relate to one another is just not clear. In addition there are a number of families who ventured westward during the late 1700s and early 1800s and settled in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, areas which are now in West Virginia and western Virginia, and eventually beyond, who we suspect had their origins in Hunterdon, or surrounding counties. Recent posts have focused on some of the probate and land records that can be accessed (with a little work and effort). However, they are from the post colonial period, the 1800s, and it may be well worth it to just back up here a minute and get a roster, or picture, of just who the fore-bearers of these post colonial families might be. 

My comments in brackets [   ].

1. 31 January 1729/30, administration on the estate of William Brewer of Hunterdon County, yeoman, was granted to James Chambers. Bond of James Chambers, as administrator, with Malkem McQuarry as fellow bondsman, both of Middlesex County. Same date, the inventory of the personal estate of William Brewer, of Amwell, consisting of a bond from John Hamilton, late of Trenton for £25, and interest for two years, £4 money at 8s., the ounce. Sworn to by James Chambers. Source: Nelson, William. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXIII, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. I, 1670-1730. (Paterson, N.J.: The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1901):60, citing West Jersey Wills Lib. 3, p.40 (administration) and Hunterdon Wills (inventory). [As this is the earliest record of a Brewer in Hunterdon County, and this individual is deceased by the date of administration of his estate, it would be of great help if he could be identified with certainty. We will address the possibilities in a separate post].

2. 29 May 1732. Date of the will of John Severns of Trenton, Hunterdon County. An inventory of the estate, dated 4 March 1732/33 includes a long list of debts due. Among the debtors are "Bruer of Allentown" (which is in Monmouth Co.) and "Bruer of Amwell." Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. II, 1730-1750: 424, citing West Jersey Will Lib. 3, p. 202. [See no. 4 below.]

3. 15 December 1733.  Monmouth County Court for holding of pleas. Casparus Vanostrandt complaint against William Brower otherwise called William Brewer of Readington in the County of Hunterdon, yeoman in custody of Bernardus Verbryck, Esq., High Sheriff of the said county of Monmouth, regarding a debt of fifty pounds eight shillings for what whereas the said William the 15th day of December 1733 at Freehold in Monmouth County within the jurisdiction of this court, acknowledged he was bound to said Casparus for fifty pounds to be paid to the said Casparus... (This followed by a document): “That I William Brewer of Readington in the County of Hunterdon, yeoman, am firmly bound unto Casparus Vanorstandt, blacksmith, in the County of Somerset in the sum of fifty pounds and eight shillings...signed and sealed 15 December 1733 by William Brower (his signature). [See no. 61, with note, here. An adult by 1733, so born by 1712, we'd like to identify this man, who must be a different William from no. 1 above. Perhaps he is no. 5 below.]

4. In a survey dated 3 November 1738, for Benjamin Smith, of 100 acres at Neshaning Brook, Amwell Twp., William Brewer was named as owner of adjoining land. In a second survey bearing the same date, for William Bollowsfelt, 95 acres, same location, adjoining land owners were named as William Brewer, and Benjamin Smith. Book M, Part 2 (West Jersey Surveys): Folio 294 (PWESJ004) online at State of New Jersey, Dept. of State, Early Land Records, 1650s-1900, searched using "Brewer" and "Hunterdon County." [Is he the same, or is a different William Brewer from no. 3? I would lean towards different, see no. 2 above.]

5. A "List of Letters remaining in the Post Office at Trenton, September 28, 1754," published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, October 17, 1754, included William Brower, R:ddentown (sic). [Perhaps no. 3 above?] 

6. The will of Nathaniel McFarson of Kingwood, Hunterdon County, yeoman, dated 30 Sep 1788, was witnessed by Samuel McFarson, Uriah Bonham and David Brewer. It was proved 19 January 1789. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. VII, 1786-1790: 144, citing New Jersey Wills Lib. 32, p. 19.

7. The will of John Barber of Amwell Twp., dated 22 February 1795, proved 5 August 1795, was witnessed by William Taylor, Samuel Brewer, and William Naylor. The inventory, dated 1 August 1795, was made by Samuel Brewer and William Taylor. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. VIII, 1791-1795: 26-27, citing File 1699J.

The List of Taxpayers in Hunterdon County, 1778-1797

This document (obtained from William B. Bogardus) is online here. It is arranged alphabetically and I'm going to just rearrange the names by Township. What is important to note here is that the individuals found on this list would have been adults in the year in which they were recorded, and so (assuming they were of age 21 or older) were born at the latest in the late 1750s or 1760s, and possibly (for some) earlier, perhaps by decades. I am standardizing the varied spellings, Brewar and Brewr, to Brewer. The spelling, Brower, is only found twice, both in Reading.

Reading (which I would assume to be Readington):

  Daniel Brewer, 1779, 1780; Daniel Brower, 1781

  Daniel Brewer, Sr., 1789, 1790

  Daniel Brewer, Jr., 1785, 1789, 1790 

  Henry Brewer, 1785

  William Brewer, 1778, 1779, 1785; William Brower, 1781

  William Brewer, Jr., 1778

Lebanon

  Mathew/Mathias Brewer, 1778*, 1780, 1784

  Mathias Brewer, Sr., 1779

  Mathew/Mathias Brewer, Jr., 1779, 1780

     *Both a Mathew Brewer and a Mathias Brewer are recorded in 1778 (probably one is the Sr., the other the Jr. of 1779)

Bethlehem

  Mathias Brewer, 1785 (twice, Matthias and Mathies), 1786 (once)

  John Brewer, 1785, 1786

  Tevis Brewer, 1786 [I've not seen this name before and suspect that it is a mis-transcription. Tevis? Could this be Thys, a diminutive for Matthys? There are two Mathiases in 1785 but only one in 1786]

Amwell

  Richard Brewer, 1780, 1784

  Samuel Brewer, 1786, 1789 [see no. 7 above]

Kingwood

  Richard Brewer, 1778

  Samuel Brewer, 1778, 1780

  David Brewer, 1779 [see no. 6 above]

  Powal Brewer, 1785

  Wright Brewer, 1789

In addition to the above, there are records of various churches in Hunterdon County to consider. The most available records for the 1700s being baptisms and church memberships. But that is a bit more complicated as some who had children baptized at (for example) at the Reformed Church at North Branch (Readington) may have lived in adjoining Somerset County. There is enough here for a separate post. For a start, this page has a list of Hunterdon County churches and includes a date of when the church was formed. The earliest were Zion Lutheran of Oldwick (Tewksbury Twp.) in 1714, First Presbyterian of Amwell in 1715, the Dutch Reformed Church of Readington, a.k.a. North Branch, in 1718, and St. Thomas (Episcopal) in Alexandria Twp. in 1723. There was also a Friends Meeting (Quakers) at Quakerstown in Franklin Twp., established in 1720. Records (if available) from all the churches extant in Hunterdon County during the Colonial Period should be scoured for mentions of Brewers, Browers, etc. A job for a future post.

Should other records and mentions be found in the future, I will add them to this post. Should anyone know of additional records, please inform us by leaving a Comment below.

BGB 688

 

  

Abstracts of Hunterdon County Probate Records (Concluded)

This is the final installment of Abstracts of Hunterdon County Probate records which began with the post of April 29, 2020, and continued with May 6, 2020, May 8, 2020, and May 10, 2020.

The remaining records of BREWERs found in the General Index for Hunterdon County Probate are from the early 20th century. Many of them have not been made available on the FamilySearch.org website. Perhaps in future years they'll show up, but for now we are limited and we will make due as best we can by simply abstracting those records that are available. A look at the main page for the available Hunterdon County Probate Records shows that most titles available end in the late 1800s or very early 1900s. Wills, which end with 1919, runs the longest. And so...

20. Arabella P. Brewer. Petitions for Probate 9:258. Wills 31:596. [The index tells us that these records are from 1925 and so are unavailable to view. A search of the New Jersey records on FamilySearch.org came up empty. Nothing for any Arabella Brewer is found. However, we do find a Belle S. Brewer on the 1920 U.S. census at Flemington, age 58, widowed, mother-in-law in the household of Andrew T. La Tourette, wife Inez, whom I believe would be this individual on the BGD, daughter of Charles W. and Belle Brewer. Picking up on this, we find that Chas. W. Brewer married Bella P. Scott at Flemington, 6 Junne 1884. Further research finds that Charles W. Brewer is a son of Richard Brewer and Miriam Lundy. (See nos. 23 and 24 below).]

21. Estella S. Brewer. Petitions for Administration 4:361 (not available). Letters of Administration 8:413. Dated 13 July 1912. Administration on the estate of Estella S. Brewer of Hunterdon County who died intestate granted to William M. Brewer of Hunterdon County. Administrators Bonds 8:520 (not available). [William M. Brewer and Estella S. Brewer, husband and wife, are found on the 1910 U.S. census at Frenchtown, Hunterdon County. Estella is age 50, born in New York. William is age 60, born in New York. They have been married for 29 years and have one child who is living. Also in the household are Asal A. Willcox, brother-in-law (to William who is the head of household), age 80, born in Massachusetts and Huldah Willcox, sister (to William, so wife of Asal Willcox), age 80, born in New York, married for 35 years, no children.]

22. Elizabeth Ann Brewer. Petitions for Probate 8:290. Letters of Administration 29:557. Inventory of Executor 30:550. Account 18:21. Releases and Refunding Bonds 39:10-11. [None of the records are available online. The Index gives the date as 1922. Therefore I would gather that Elizabeth Ann is the Elizabeth A. (___) who married Leonard Brewer (no. 10 on the May 8th post). A Find-A-Grave memorial tells us that she was Elizabeth A. Burdge, and died 17 March 1922, buried with her husband at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Flemington.]

23. Phoebe Ann Brewer. Petitions for Probate 5:392 (not available, but see Wills 25:52). Wills 25:50. (You will have to use the "tools" to flip the image. This is a typed copy). Phebe A. Brewer of the Township of Franklin, being of sound mind and memory. Executor to pay just debts and funeral expenses. To the directors of Locust Grove Cemetery, $100, placed in trust, the interest to be used to keep up my plot as a part of plot no. 44. To my sister Amy Goodfellow, my sewing machine. to my sister Eliza J. Long my watch and chain. To my above named sisters my wearing apparel, including a napkin ring marked W.R.B. If enough remains from my estate my executors are to erect a suitable granite monument on my plot with markers to my grave also to my Father and Mother... Appoints Clifford E. Snyder as executor. Dated 4 May 1912. Witnesses William Taylor, William Harvey Stout. Proved 15 October 1913. Clifford E. Snyder states that Phebe Ann Brewer died 20 September 1913. Inventory of Executor 28:85 (not available). Accounts 16:183 (not available). [Locust Grove Cemetery is in Quakertown, Hunterdon County. There are a handful of Brewer memorials for this cemetery on Find-A-Grave, but not one for Phebe. Cornelius L. Brewer (no. 9 on the May 8th post) as well as his brothers, John W. Brewer and W. T. (I assume this is Washington T.) Brewer are there (no real info on the page for W. T.). Also in the cemetery are Benjamin Brewer (1805-1875), and his wife Euphema Pownell, and their son, William W. Brewer, his wife, and son Howard Brewer. I am not finding a Phebe Ann Brewer on the 1910 U.S. census in Hunterdon County, however, I do find an Annie Brewer, at Franklin, age 68, single, border in the household of Burris Snyder. The household includes Burris' son, Clifford E. Snyder (the executor of Phebe's will) and William Taylor (one of the witnesses). Annie Brewer's occupation is "servant." In 1900 she is also enumerated as Annie Brewer, and is in Burris Snyder's household, a servant. Her birth date given as August 1843 in New Jersey. "Pheba" A. Brewer, age 6, is found on the 1850 census at Raritan, Hunterdon County, in the household of Richard and Miriam Brewer, of who an incomplete profile is found on the BGD. In just the past couple of years (since the time the BGD was last updated) a direct male descendant of this Richard Brewer has joined the Brewer DNA Project. His Y-DNA test results show that he, and therefore his direct male ancestor, Richard Brewer, are descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. Also since the last time the BGD was updated, I (and others) have done a bit more research on this family. If you have a subscription, you can find it on Ancestry.com here. Richard Brewer's parents are said to have been William Brewer and Anna King, who need further research, and the Brewer ancestry back to Jan Brouwer has not yet been found. Richard's daughter (Phebe Ann's sister) listed on the 1850 census as Anna W., is actually the sister Amy mentioned in Phebe's will. Amy married Samuel L. Goodfellow. The sister Eliza mentioned, was born in 1856 and married John Long. Any help from readers in completing this line back to Jan Brouwer would be greatly appreciated.]

24. Sarah Jane Brewer. Petitions for Probate 7:81(not available, but see Wills 27:220). Wills 27:219. Dated Yardley, Pa, May 29th, 1918. Sarah Jane Brewer, being of sound mind. All funeral expenses and other expensess to be paid first. To Locust Grove Cemetery at Quakertown, New Jersey, $50 for the perpetual care of my lot (sic). A headstone to be (e)rected (e)qually as nice as the one erected to my husband which is already there. All furniture at 939 Levere Ave., Trenton, N. J. belonging to me I bequeath to Alvin S. Brewer, my nephew, and all else at 939 Levere Ave. I bequeath Emma J. Brewer. My centre (sic) table at Hutchinson Road, N. J. to go to Orville W. Brewer who has it now in his possession. To Jennie Price, my niece at Hopewell, N. J., $25. My clothing to my sister Ellen Dilley, White House Station. All other goods to be divided between Ellen Dilley and Emma J. Brewer. Appoints Willard J. Parker of Flemington, N. J. as executor. Witnessed by W. P. Roberts and I. C. Wharton. Proved 12 June 1918 by Warner P. Roberts and Ivens C. Wharton. Testament of Willard J. Parker states that Sarah Jane Brewer died on 1 June 1918. Accounts 17:14 (not available). [Yardley is a borough in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania that borders the Delaware River and Ewing, Mercer Co., New Jersey. You will not find Sarah Jane Brewer, or the family members mentioned on the BGD. However, Sarah Jane Brewer has helped tie together some of those mentioned above. Sarah Jane Van Houten married Wesley R. Brewer at Flemington on 14 December 1878. Wesley R. Brewer is a son of Richard Brewer, the father of Phebe Ann, no. 23, above. Both Alvin S. Brewer and Orville W. Brewer, mentioned in the will, is a son of Willis L. Brewer and Emma J. Sigafoos. Willis L. Brewer is another son of Richard Brewer. Emma J. Sigafoos would be the Emma J. Brewer mentioned in Sarah Jane's will.]

25. William R. Brewer. Petitions for Probate 11:27 (not available). Wills 34:480 (? could be page 400, but not available online). [The date given in the Index for these records is 1928. William R. Brewer is buried in Union Cemetery, Grandin, Hunterdon County. His wife was Ella A. Housel who died in 1911. They were married about 1885 (1900 U.S. census at Alexandria, Hunterdon Co.). In 1910 they are found in Clinton, Hunterdon County, the census records that they did not have any children. In 1920, William R. Brewer, widower, is in Clinton. He was the son of Susan Brewer, who was born about 1841 in New Jersey, a daughter of David Brewer and his wife Elizabeth A., who is no. 8 on the post of May 8th. David Brewer was born about 1809/10 and is found in 1850 at Alexandria, Hunterdon County with wife, Eliza, and six children including Susan, age 9. On 10 January 1871, at Kingwood, Susan Brewer, daughter of David and Eliza Brewer, married William Bellis who was about 20 years her senior. In 1870, at Union, Hunterdon County, Susan Brewer, age 27, with William R. Brewer, age 7, is found in the household of the senior William Bellis, age 80, which also includes the younger William Bellis, age 48, and Henry Bellis, age 37, the later two being laborers. Susan is recorded as "House keeper." Susan and William Bellis had a son, John Bellis, born about 1877. It appears that William R. Brewer was born out of wedlock to Susan Brewer and was given his mother's surname. Susan was widowed by 1910 and was living in 1920 in the household of her son, John Bellis, in Union, Hunterdon County. We'll have to try and look for a probate record for both Susan and her husband, William Bellis. Here is the incomplete profile of William R. Brewer on the BGD.]

The above probate records from the early 1900s have helped tie up some lose ends that are found on the BGD. But there is much more work to be done in Hunterdon County. There are a number of different Brewer families (the surname, spelled as Brower, is completely absent although I do find Brewer individuals sometimes recorded with the name spelled as Bruer). It is not clear, how, or even if, these various Brewer families are related to one another.

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Abstracts of Hunterdon County Probate Records (Continued)

Continued from the post of May 8, 2020. Also see May 6, 2020, and April 29, 2020. The records being abstracted can be found at FamilySearch.org, under New Jersey Probate Records, 1678-1980, Hunterdon County. As with previous posts, my comments, notes, etc., are found in brackets [  ].

13. Mary Brewer. Petition for Administration 1:114. Petition of Washington T. Brewer on the estate of Mary Brewer of Baptistown, late of the Township of Kingwood, died intestate at Baptistown on 1 April 1890. Heirs and next of kin: Washington T. Brewer (son, of Flemington), John Brewer (son, of Flemington). Dated 13 March 1890 [which inexplicably is prior to the date of death as recorded in the petition]. Letters of Administration 7:230. Administration on the estate of Mary Brewer who died intestate granted to Washington T. Brewer, 13 March 1890. Administrator's Bonds 5:60 (not available online). Accounts 8:582. Final account of Washington T. Brewer, administrator. Filed 20 November 1890. [Mary Brewer was the wife (widow) of Thomas Brewer who appears to have died before June of 1880 when Mary is listed as head of household at Kingwood, New Jersey. A probate record for Thomas Brewer has not been located. Her family name has not been learned. On the BGD.]

14. Mary Brewer. Petition for Administration 1:323. Petition of Gideon M. Brewer of the Township of Delaware, the husband of Mary Brewer late of the Township of Delaware who departed this life at Oak Dale, Hunterdon County on the ____ day of ____ A.D. 1893. Heirs and next of kin: Gideon M. Brewer (husband, of Oak Dale). Dated 7 August 1893. Letters of Administration 7:343. Administration on the estate of Mary Brewer, late of Hunterdon County,, who died intestate, granted to Gideon M. Brewer, 7 August 1893. Administrator's Bonds 5:510 (not available online). [First wife of Gideon M. Brewer. See no. 15, below.]

15. Gideon M. Brewer. Petition for Probate 3:84. Petition of Gideon Moore, executor of the last will and testament of Gideon M. Brewer who departed this life in Delaware Township on Tuesday, 17th of July 1900. Surviving heirs: Hannah Brewer (widow). Dated 31 July 1900. Wills 20:4. Gideon M. Brewer of Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, revoking any previous wills. Executors shall dispose of all property both real and personal as soon as convenient. Just debts and funeral charges to be paid. My wife Hannah shall have paid to her (after debts and funeral charges are paid) the sum of $2000 and also in addition $200 for a note given by me to my wife for the amount of $200. Residue to be held in trust by executor for my wife Hannah during her natural life and she shall receive interest on the same. After wife's decease, and her funeral expenses are paid, residue to the Union German Baptist Church at Sand Brook, N. J. Gideon Moore of Stockton, New Jersey appointed sole executor. Dated 4 November 1897. Witnessed by J. H. Hoppock and Theo. H. Stout. Proved 31 July 1900. Accounts 12:207. Account of Gideon Moore, executor. Filed 13 October 1902. [Gideon M. Brewer was a son of William Brewer and Sarah Moore. Married twice. His first wife Mary Bearder (m. 24 Oct 1850, Delaware, NJ) (no. 14 above) died in 1893. He married his second wife, Hannah Bowman, 17 January 1894 at Sand Brook. See no 18 below.]

16. Thomas W. Brewer. Accounts 9:479. Final account of Oliver J. Blackwell, assignee of Thomas W. Brewer of the Township of Delaware, Hunterdon County. Filed 20 March 1894. Confirmed in court 9 April 1894. The entries in the ledger are dated from February 1893 to April 1894. Assignee's Bonds and Assignee's Inventories are not available online. [From this one record I am unable to determine who this Thomas W. Brewer is.]

17. Washington T. Brewer. Petition for Administration 2:232. Petition of Joseph Sergeant of Flemington on the estate of Washington T. Brewer who departed this life at Flemington, 19 April 1898. Heirs and next of kin: Lydia Brewer (widow of Flemington), John W. Brewer (brother of Sand Brook). Dated 27 April 1898. Letters of Administration 7:505. Granted to Joseph Sergeant, 27 April 1898. Administrator's Bonds 6:306 (not online). Minutes of the Orphans Court 19:428 (at the very bottom), 462, 488, 490. Personal estate is insufficient to cover debts. Matter regarding the sale of real estate in the Township of Raritan, Hunterdon County (land conveyed by the executor of the estate of Elijah Fleming) in which the widow, Lydia Ann Brewer, has dower rights. Accounts 12:593. Final account of Letitia H. Sergeant, administrator of Joseph Sergeant, deceased, who was the administratot of Washington T. Brewer, deceased. Ledger entries begin with 4 June 1899. Account filed 22 August 1904. [Washington T. Brewer was a son of Thomas and Mary (___) Brewer. His wife was Lydia Ann Gilpaugh or Gilbaugh. Apparently no children.]

18. Hannah Brewer. Petition for Probate 4:137 (not available online). Wills 22:342. Hannah Brewer of the Borough of Stockton, County of Hunterdon, being of sound mind, memory and understanding. All just debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Executors to dispose of all my property and estate where ever found. Leaves varied household items to Ida Rittenhouse, Wesley J. Bowman, Mary J. Williamson, Ada Bowman. Balance of property to be divided equally between my brother and sister namely Wesley J. Bowman and Mary J. Williamson. Appoints James J. Rittenhouse, executor. Dated 1902 (month and date not stated). Witnessed by John Bennett, Gabriel H. Leigh. Codicil dated 15 July 1902. Executor to buy and pay for a head stone for my mother Mary Bowman "as near like my father's as can (Amos Bowman) as can be got." Same witnesses as above. Signs with her mark, X. Proved 24 September 1906. Accounts 14:36 (not available online). [Hannah is the second wife of Gideon M. Brewer, no. 15, above.]

19. Peter Brewer. Petition for Probate 4:70 (not available online). Wills 22:71. (Begins at the bottom of this page, and pp.70-71 are filmed twice). Peter Brewer of the Village of Flemington in the County of Hunterdon, being of sound mind, memory and understanding. Just debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Executors to "place at my gave a headstone or tombstone of the exact pattern of the one at the grave of my former wife Catharine Sutphine Brewer." Executors to sell all real and personal estate. Executors to pay interest on the sum of $2000 to wife Sabie E. Brewer, annually during her natural life in lieu of her dower. After her death, the said $2000 to be invested for the use of my two daughters Cornelia  S. Morris, wife of Charles Morris, and Ella B. Brewer, or divided equally between them. Further instructions regarding this legacy. Daughter Ella B. Brewer to receive $500 before any division or distribution of residue. Leaves "my piano," to daughter Cornelia Morris. Residue to be divided into three equal parts or shares, to be distributed to daughter Cornelia Morris, daughter Ella B. Brewer and son Abraham S. Brewer. Upon the death of son Abraham S. Brewer, the share of equal residue to be divided equally between the two daughters. Further instructions regarding what to do should one or the other pre-decease the survivors, etc. Appoints his two daughters Cornelia S. Morris and Ella B. Brewer, executors. Dated 17 February 1904. Witnesses by J. H. Bullock and John L. Connet. Proved 21 October 1905. Accounts 13:491(not available online). [Peter Brewer is a son of William Brewer and Elizabeth Young, and was married twice. This will adds to his profile on the BGD.]

To be continued

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