Additions and Corrections to the BGD: Losier, Bruyn and Brouwer

 There are three family profiles found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database that could benefit from some additional information that was not initially included during the years when the BGD was actively updated. This post addresses the families of Johannes Brouwer and Antje Lozier, the family of Benjamin Losier and Dina De Groot, and the family of Trientje Losier and Jakobus Bruyn. 

The family of Benjamin Losier, whose name is variously found in records as Losier, Lozier, Luzier, Lizier, Lezier, Lazier and more, is missing a full list of his children and their baptism records. "Benjamin Lezier, y.m. born and living at Hakkensak and Dina De Groot, widow of Petrus Brouwer, born and living at Schraalenburgh," were married at the Schraalenburgh Dutch Reformed Church in Bergen County, New Jersey, 8 February 1734. Benjamin was not yet 26 years old when married. His wife, Dina De Groot, a widow, was three years his senior, and in her 29th year. They had four children baptized at Schraalenburgh:

1- Trynntijn, bapt. 15 December 1734; parents: Benjamin Lesier, Dina De Groot; witnesses: Niclaes Lesier, Antje, his wife. (She married Jakobus Bruyn).

2-  Petrus, bapt. 26 December 1737; parents: Benjamin Lesier, Dina De Groot; witnesses: Pieter Demarest, Osseltjin, his wife.

3- Antjin, bapt. 29 March 1741; parents: Benjamin Luzier, Dina De Groot; witnesses: Joannes Akkerman and wife. (She married Johannes Brouwer).

4- Niclaes, born 24 February 1745, bapt. 17 March 1745; parents: Benjamin Lizier, Dina De Groot; witnesses: Pieter Westervelt, Belitje Brouwer.

Source for the above baptisms and the Lezier-De Groot marriage:  First Reformed Church (Hackensack N.J.). Records of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, New Jersey. New York: Collections of the Holland Society, 1891.

The above baptism records update the estimated dates of birth for both Trientje (Trynntijn) and Antje (Antijn) that are found on the BGD.

Dina de Groot had previously been married to Peter Brouwer, son of (10)* Abraham Brouwer and Lea Demarest, and had three Brouwer daughters (Maria, Beeltje and Lea) baptized between 1724 and 1730. They of course are half-siblings of the four children she had by her second husband, Benjamin Losier. Benjamin's will, written 31 July 1772 and proved 24 March 1785, mentions his wife Dinah, but only two of their children, Trientje and Antje (called Anita in the transcription of the will, perhaps an error on the transcriber's part) and appoints his two sons-in-law, "John Brower and Jacobus Brown," as executors.

Trientje Losier: The BGD shows her birth as "say 1742." This convention of using "say" when an actual record of a birth or baptism date is not found has come into style, so to speak, over the past couple of decades among those who publish in the leading genealogical journals. Personally, I don't care for it, it sounds a bit too flippant, and I regret having used it in the past. I prefer to use, "perhaps born about ___" and to augment that with a life event (like a marriage) to at least somewhat legitimize the estimate. At any rate, change Trientje's date of birth from "say 1742" to baptized 15 December 1734, as per the above mentioned record. Obviously, I was off by a good deal with my initial estimation, and the reason for that being that I did not have a full picture of the family of Trientje Losier and Jakobus Bruyn at the time the BGD was last updated, which was late 2015. And so within this paragraph a lesson on the pitfalls of an incomplete family genealogy.

Trientje married Jakobus Bruyn with a New Jersey license dated 5 October 1754 (Nelson, William. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Volume XXII. Marriage Records, 1665-1800. Archives of the State of New Jersey. First Series:34). The transcription here calls them Jacobus Brown, New York and Catharine Leasear, New York, meaning that both were living in New York at the time. The marriage was also recorded by the Reformed Dutch Church at Second River (Belleville), Essex Co., New Jersey. This image taken off of Ancestry.com which cites "Holland Society of New York; New York, New York; Second River, New Jersey and New Town, Long Island, Book 58," as the source. The entry is second from the bottom.

 The BGD shows this couple with three children. This is incomplete, they had ten children, all baptized at the New York Reformed Dutch Church between 1755 and 1776. But first, we'll back up a bit and look at Jakobus Bruyn himself.

Jacobus, child of Anthony Bruyn and Ariaentie Joraleman, was baptized 6 September 1730 at the Dutch Reformed Church at Second River (Belleville), New Jersey ["Baptismal Register of Second River (Belleville) Dutch Reformed Church, 1727-1794," The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol. 3 (1927):44]. The record gives his date of birth as 25 August 1730. The witnesses were Jacob Joraleman and Pietertie Cuyper. They were the child's maternal grandparents. Jakobus was the younger of two children of Anthony Bruyn and Ariaentie Joralemon. Anthony appears to have died around 1732. Ariaentie married Gerrit Wouterse by 1735. Jakobus' older sister, Margrietje, was born 17 December 1728 and baptized 22 December 1728 at Second River ["Baptismal Register of Second River (Belleville) Dutch Reformed Church, 1727-1794," The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol. 3 (1927):42]. The witnesses were Hendrik Bruin and Margrietje Lacomby, the child's paternal grandparents. Both Jacobus and Margrietje are mentioned in the will of their grandfather, Hendrick Brown, Sr., of Second River, blacksmith, dated 24 January 1745/46 and proved 14 March 1757. Jakobus is called "Jacobus Brown," and Margrietje is called, "Margaret King" [Honeyman, A. Van Doren. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, First Series Vol. 32; Calender of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc. Vol. 3 1751-1760:43, abstracting Lib. F:453]. A genealogy of the early generations of the Bruyn (Brown) Family of Second River was published in 1964 - Kent, George F.. "Bruyn (Brown) Family of Second River (Belleville), N. J.," The American Genealogist Vol. 40 (1964):116-26, 172-77. This account tells us that Margrietje married Arien Kening (Koning, King), 4 June 1744 [Kent, TAG 40:119]. It doesn't tell us where, I haven't investigated it further myself, but I don't doubt it and I would suggest to anywhere to cares to follow Margrietje further to start with the Second River Church records. Reconstructing the first two generations of this Bruyn family is difficult. They were early in Bergen and/or Essex Counties, New Jersey and records of the Second River Church do not begin until 1727. The earlier, Bergen Church records are somewhat incomplete, and while there is a bit of conjecture in George F. Kent's account, he does a pretty good job and it does make sense when looked at in it's entirety. There is one error of note though (that I find, see below for an additional error). Kent tells us that Jacobus married, second, "Sally Smith, widow" 10 March 1781 at Acquackanonk and that they had a daughter, Tryrntje baptized there 18 July 1790 (born 29 March 1790). The Acquackanonk Church records include the marriage of "Jacobus Bruyn, wid., and Selly Smith, wid. of Mr. Immory." While the second marriage for Jacobus is probably correct, the placement of the child, Tryntje here, doesn't appear to be correct. The Acquackanonk record names her parents as Jacob Bruyn and Engeltje Van Es. [Kelly, Arthur C.M.. Vital Records of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk (Passaic, New Jersey) 1727-1816. Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship, 1992: 228, no. 505 (for the marriage); 85, no. 1842 (for the baptism)]. One further note - Jakobus Bruyn's father, Anthony Bruyn's maternal grandparents were Anthony Lacomba and Steyntje (Christina) Jans and Kent refers us to TAG 35:246, where we find an inquiry from none other that the eminent genealogist Donald Lines Jacobus requesting "further details" on the family of Anthony Lacomba. I'd suggest to anyone wishing to pursue this further, to start with D. L. Jacobus' inquiry.

Back to the children of Trientje Losier and Jakubus Bruyn. Records of their baptisms are found in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York (City). I'm using the following source for that information: Wright, Tobias Alexander (ed.). Baptisms from 1731 to 1800 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York. Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 3. New York: Printed for the Society, 1902. The number in brackets preceding the baptism record refers to the page number in this volume on which said record is found. Ten children (followed by a brief note):

1- [203] 11 June 1755, Anthonie; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Losier; sponsors: Benjamin Losier, Dina de Groot, z.h.v. (Kent, at TAG 40:172, tells us that he married Elizabeth Francisco at Acquackanonk, 24 November 1781, and served in the Revolutionary War from Essex County, NJ, 28 May 1777. He lists the baptism records of seven children, saying the first was at New York, the last six at Acquackanonk, but I find all at Acquakanonk and none in New York).

2- [218] 8 April 1757, Benjamin; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lesier; sponsors: Petrus Lesier, Antje Lesier, j.d. (not followed further by Kent).

3- [240] 20 January 1760, Petrus; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntje Lesier; sponsors: Johannis Brouwer, Ariaantje Jeronimo, Wed. v. Gerrit Wouterse. (Not followed further by Kent. Petrus is on the BGD. The sponsor, Ariaantje Jeronimo is the child's paternal grandmother, Ariaentje Joraleman).

4- [253] 7 October 1761, Hendrik; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lesier; sponsors: Lukas Lesier, Annetje Vellok, z.h. (He died young, a second Hendrik is baptized in 1771).

5- [271] 5 February 1764, Jakobus; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lesier; sponsors Nicholas Lesier, Fytje Klokkenaar, z.h.v. (He died young. A son James is baptized in 1765. Jacob and James being equivalent names. Jakobus is on the BGD).

6- [287] 22 December 1765, James; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lesier; sponsors: Harmanus Taalman, Beletje Brouwer, z.h.v. (Kent does not follow him further. The sponsor Beletje Brouwer is a daughter of Dina de Groot and her first husband, Peter Brouwer, and half sister of the child's mother. James is on the BGD. I have not followed him further).

7- [311] 4 Jun 1769, 311, Tryntje; parents: Jakobus Bruin, Tryntje Losier; no sponsors recorded. (She died young. A daughter Catharine was baptized in 1776. The surname, transcribed here as BRUIN, is an example of a y simply being replaced by an i. This is something that you will frequently encounter in colonial period records written by a person whose first language was Dutch. Y and I were used interchangeably. The name would not have been pronounced bru-in, as in a bear or the hockey team in Boston. Substitute an i for a y but pronounce the name as if you are reading a y, which essentially is silent, BRUN).

8- [323] 22 July 1771, Hendrik; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lesier; sponsors: John Van Weert, Catharina Taers, z.h.v. (the second Hendrik, he also died young. Any familial relationship between the sponsors and the parents is not immediately apparent. The couples did sponsor children for each other on several occasions. Perhaps they were close friends).

9- [337] 26 September 1773, Hendrik; parents: Jakobus Bruyn, Tryntie Lezier; sponsors: Jan Van Weert, Catharina Toers, z.h.v. (the third Hendrik. Not followed further by Kent).

10- [350] 7 January 1776, Catharine; parents: Jacobus Brown, Catharine Lasier; sponsors: Harmanus Taulman, Catharine Blauvelt. (Second Catharine/Tryntje, the names being English and Dutch equivalents of each other. The sponsor, Harmanus Taulman is the same Harmanus Taalman who sponsored James in 1765. Catahrine/Katrina Blauvelt being his second of three wives. The family name here is recorded as BROWN, an English equivalent of the Dutch, BRUYN. Kent suggests that she died young, but that is because he mistakenly gave Jakobus a third daughter Tryntje, by his second wife, which upon examination was in error. I have not followed this Catharine/Tryntje, further, she may not have died young).

Jakobus Bruyn  is recorded as a member of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York in 1756 ["Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New York - Church Members List," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 61(1930):170]. 

Both Jakobus and Trientje were sponsors for the baptism of Maria, daughter of Johannes Brouwer and Antje Lesier, 16 October 1763 [Baptisms, NY RDC, 269]. Here Jakobus is recorded as Jakobus BROUWER. Perhaps this was an error when first recorded back in 1763, i.e. as found on the original, or, more likely it was an error made during the transcription of the original record. There are errors in the transcribed records that we all use as the "primary" source when working on these colonial period families. They only become apparent when we can find and consider all, or at least sufficient multiple records regarding any one individual. Another example of this will presented in a soon to be published post on this website. So stay tuned.

7 December 1766, Jakob Bruyn and Catharina Lesier, z.h.v. [zyn huis vrouw (literal translation: his house wife)], were sponsors for Maria, daughter of Jan Van Weert and Catharina Toers [Baptisms, NY RDC 294. Thus reciprocating the role of sponsors preformed by Jan and Catharina in two baptisms seen above]. 

30 November 1771, Administration on the estate of Hendrick Brown of Essex County, died intestate, was granted to Jacobus Brown, "nephew to the said deceased" [Honeyman, A. Van Doren. Documents Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, First Series Vol. 34; Calender of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc., 5:68, Abstracting Lib. K:412. This Hendrick Brown, a brother of Jakobus Bruyn's father, Anthony, was likely the eldest son of Hendrick Bruyn and Margrietje Lacombe. He apparently never married. Kent, TAG 40:119 which incorrectly states that he married a Martha Mead/Meet; Royse TAG 41:148, which corrects this error, and alerts us to the potential pitfalls of relying solely on the published abstracts of probate records]. 

13 July 1772, In a mortgage deed, John Brown of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, conveys to Jacobus Brown of New York, carpenter, for one hundred and twenty five pounds, a parcel of land that Hendrick Brown, deceased, formerly bought of John Gardiner as appears by a deed of conveyance from said John Gardiner to Hendrick Hendricksen Van Rane, dated 12 November 1692. [Kent, TAG 40:116, Abstracting Essex County Mortgages A:383 (and further condensed by me, so please consult the original). Kent uses this conveyance for the starting point of discovering the origin of the Bruyn family at Second River, concluding that the progenitor of the Bruyn Family was Hendrick Hendricksen van Reine].

31 July 1772, Benjamin Lazier, of New York City, carman, executed his will naming his sons-in-law, Jacobus Brown and John Brower, executors. [see above and the BGD]. 

10 March 1781, the marriage of Jacobus Bruyn, wid. and Selly Smith, wid. of Mr. Immory, mentioned above. [Is "Immory a rendering of Emory or Emery???].

15 September 1782, Jacobus Bruyn and Sara Smith were witnesses, at Acquackanonk, to the baptism of Catharina, child of Anthony Bruyn and Elisabeth Francisco. [Kelly, Acquackanonk VRs 66, no. 1437. Sally is a diminutive for Sara. This records helps confirm that it was in fact "our" Jacobus Bruyn, who married as his second wife, "Sally Smith, widow" as suggested by Kent].

The just mentioned baptism is the last record that I have found for Jakabus Bruyn. I searched, but could not find a will or probate record in either the New York or New Jersey published abstracts. Kent does not mention an estate settlement nor does he offer a date of death or burial. The New York probate abstracts end in 1801, and the New Jersey abstracts in 1817. Jakobus would have been only age 52 in 1782, and would have turned 71 in 1801, so it is conceivable that he lived past both dates. I have not checked U.S. census records for New York in 1790 or 1800, and that might be a place for those interested to start. Census records in New Jersey for the years 1790, 1800 and 1810 are lost. It should also be considered that at the start of the Revolutionary War, when the British occupied New York City (late August 1776 until 1783) many families did leave the city, and many went to Bergen and Essex Counties in New Jersey, where the Bruyn family had its roots. Probate records for New York and New Jersey past the years 1801 and 1817 can be found online at FamilySearch.org, so again, interested individuals should search there.  

Before we move on I would just add that those interested in the Bruyn Family of Second River, beyond Jakobus Bruyn's line, in addition to Kent's article in TAG 40 (1964), also see Mrs. Dayton Royse, "Bruyn (Brown) Family of New Jersey," TAG 41 (1965): 148-52, which makes an important correction to Kent's article and expands the family a bit further. I mentioned this above, but I repeat it here. This is an important article illuminating a not to uncommon problem with abstracted records.

Antje Lozier. Change Antje's approximate date of birth from "circa 1740" to baptized 29 March 1741 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Schaalenburgh, Bergen Co., New Jersey, as mentioned above. In the case of Antje, we have a record of her death, November 1815, giving her age as 75 years, which allowed us a more accurate approximation of her birth date as compared to her sister, Trientje. Her actual baptism record improves upon that.

Johannes Brouwer. Currently we have nothing to add or correct on Antje Lozier's husband, Johannes Brouwer. However, in the interest is searching for potential male heirs that may have descendants who might participate in the Brewer DNA Project's quest for a more complete understanding of Adam Brouwer's heirs, I'll just review Johannes' will. A digital image of the will from NY County Wills 52:422-23 is online at FamilySearch. The will is dated 10 November 1812. It was proved 4 October 1815. He is called, John Brower of the City of New York, Gentleman. He had died in September of 1815, so the will was probated soon after his death. He mentions his wife, Ann (the English equivalent of the Dutch, Antje) Brower, who is to receive all real estate and all interest on bonds and mortgages, except $2000 "herein after disposed of." He then leaves a legacy of $120 annually to "Mary Anderson, whom I have brought up, and who now lives with me." Of the seven children for whom we have records of baptism (1760-1779) he only mentions two. The two are "my beloved daughter Mary (the wife of Benjamin Romaine of the said City, Gentleman) and Dinah (the wife of Peter Walker of said City, Taylor)." We know that the first child, Maria, baptized 17 September 1760, died young, as a second Maria (who married Benjamin Romaine) was baptized 16 October 1763. The four remaining children, two sons, Benjamin (bapt. 9 May 1762) and Samuel (bapt. 23 August 1779) and two daughters, Belitje (bapt. 15 February 1767) and Tryntje (bapt. 8 May 1774) are not mentioned, nor are any heirs of any of them mentioned in John's will. Now, it's possible that one, or more, of these children did reach adulthood and were living at the time John Brower wrote his will, and John Brower had given their "share(s)" of his estate at some earlier date, perhaps in the form of some conveyance of real estate. To see if this might be the case we'd have to check and search through New York City conveyances for some deed that may have been recorded there. You should also search for deeds that may exist in which the living heirs of John Brower sell inherited real estate (something that I have not yet done myself). Otherwise, it's more likely that all four unmentioned children died prior to their father's will of 1812, and did not leave heirs. John was a member of the Reformed Church in New York City at Greenwich in 1806, as was Mary Anderson, and we also should check for other members named Brower, or for burials of children of a John Brower that may have been recorded in the New York Reformed Church's record books, for further confirmation one way or the other. Lacking that research, I'd say that John Brower's line "daughtered out" and that the sons Benjamin and Samuel died without male heirs who may have left descendants living today.

 *See the post of September 24, 2022, "The Grandsons of Adam Brouwer: Prelude," for an explanation of the number (10). 

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