The Will of Philip Cortland Brewer of Ulysses, Tompkins County, New York

Philip Van Cortlandt Brouwer, born 7 March 1808, died 14 April 1876, a 3-great grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island, can be found here on the Brouwer Genealogy Database. We can update his profile with the addition of his will and a bit more on his descendants.

Philip was a son of Nazareth Brouwer (1756-1817) and his third wife, Deborah Wiltsie (b. 1776) who were married 26 March 1802. Philip was baptized at the New Hackensack (Dutchess County, New York) Reformed Dutch Church on 27 March 1808, the entry in the register includes his date of birth. No witnesses are recorded [Tower, Maria Bockee Carpenter. Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Hackensack, Dutchess County, New York. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000 (org.1932):71]. He married Sarah Lawless on 25 October 1828 at Poughkeepsie, New York where is name is given as Philip C. Brewer. This is the name he is primarily recorded by in subsequent records.

The will of Philip Cortland Brewer of the Town of Ulysses, County of Tompkins, State of New York can be found in Tompkins County Wills, vol. N, p. 483, available online here at FamilySearch.org. The probate record begins on p. 481 where the proof is found. The will was proved 26 June 1876 by Henry Brewer of Enfield, Tompkins County and by Edgar Brewer, also of Enfield. Henry was Philip's brother. Edgar was a son of Henry. Philip's date of death, 13 April 1876, is recorded on this page. Philips, gravestone gives the date as 14 April 1876. He was buried in Grove Cemetery in Trumansburg, New York (Trumansburg being a village in the town of Ulysses). There is a Find-A-Grave page for Philip C. Brewer, but it does not include a photo of his gravestone.

In his will, Philip instructs his executrix to pay all just debts and funeral expenses. He leaves to his wife, Sarah Brewer, the interest on all real and personal property so long as she remains his widow for her use and support. He gives his executrix full power to sell and convey his real estate, but in he event that his wife should no longer be his widow (i.e. should she remarry or die) then two-thirds of all property is to be divided equally among his five children named: George I. Brewer, Sarah Jane Brewer, Rebecca wife of Samuel Manning, Susan Brewer and William H. Brewer, or their heirs. He appoints his wife, Sarah Brewer, executrix. The will is dated 25 March 1859, he signs as Philip Cortland Brewer, and is witnessed by the above mentioned Henry Brewer and Edgar Brewer, both of Enfield.

Administration on the estate of Philip C. Brewer was granted to Susan (Brewer) Farrington, "one of the Residuary Legatees," on 16 April 1886 (Tompkins Co. LOA 41:578 1/2). Philip's wife, Sarah (Lawless) Brewer had died in late March 1886, and letters of Testamentary were granted to Susan Farrington on 5 April 1886. (Tompkins Co. Executor Records 5:112 and 113).

The will of Sarah Brewer, widow, is found in Tompkins Co. Wills S:423. Sarah is of Trumansburg. She leaves bed, bedding, table spoons and tea spoons to her daughter Sarah J. Hall. To Carrie Brewer, daughter of William H. Brewer, bed and bedding. To Cortie Brewer, daughter of George I. Brewer, bed and bedding. Rest and residue to daughter Susan Brewer who is appointed executrix. The will is dated 4 April 1876. Sarah signed with her mark X, witnessed by D. S. Biggs and J. D. Smith. Proof is found on the proceeding page, 5 April 1886. Her date of death is stated as "on or about" 3 February 1886.

Final Settlement of the estate of Philip C. Brewer, by Susan Farrington, administratrix, is found in Final Settlements 13:376-377, dated 8 July 1887. The surviving heirs with their places of residence are recorded with the date 30 August 1887. Listed here are Mrs. Sarah J. Hall of Santa Clara, California; George I. Brewer of New York City; Rebecca Manning of Trumansburg; and William H. Brewer of Ithaca.

With the wills and records of the settlement of the estates of both Philip C. Brewer and his widow, Sarah Brewer, we can update the profile of Philip Van Courtland Brouwer as found on the BGD, which was last updated in April 2016, by adding children Sarah Jane Brewer and George I. Brewer, and the additions of spouses for daughters Rebecca and Susan. We will follow up with more details on the children and descendants in a separate post.

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