Unplaced Genetic Descendants of Adam Brouwer Who are Positive for the SNP E-FTC5921

 The Brewer DNA Project, initiated back in the early 2000s when FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) first came online has since grown to 434 members (or participants) dispersed among 23 different groups of genetically related participants. That is to say, those participants within any one group are related to one another in genetically, through comparison of Y-DNA test results, within a genealogically meaningful period of roughly the past 400 years. In other words, the Brewer DNA Project includes 23 genetically different families named BREWER, or some variation of the name such as BROWER, BROUWER, BRUER, etc. The 23 groups can be seen on the Project's public results or "Y-DNA Colorized Chart" page. With the advent of FTDNA's Big-Y tests, back in the early 2010s, and with increased participation, the Brewer DNA Project has been able to sub-divide a few of the larger groups, which are seen as "Sub-Units" on the public chart page. This post is focused on one such Sub-Unit within the Adam Brouwer, Gowanus, L.I. group.

Brewer DNA Project: Adam Brouwer Group: Sub-Unit A: E-FTC5921. Multiple lines from the most recent common ancestor, a son or grandson of Adam Brouwer

As the title suggests, the participants assigned to this sub-unit have all taken the advanced Big-Y test (either at the initial 500 STR marker level or at the more recent and improved 700 STR marker level), and all are positive for the SNP E-FTC5921. The remaining attribute that all here have in common is that of the current 16 participants, all of whom are certainly genetic descendants of Adam Brouwer, none have been able to complete their direct paternal (Brewer/Brower/Brouwer) line back to Adam Brouwer. The 16 participants found in this sub-unit are descendants of a number of different Earliest Known Ancestors (EKAs). The pages of this blog, over the years, has included information, profiles, etc., on all of the EKAs. The purpose now, with this post, is to consolidate the known EKAs into one place, with brief descriptions, and in a follow up post we'll suggest possible directions to take for concentrating efforts of traditional genealogical research, with the ultimate goal of identifying the connection to Adam Brouwer. As noted in the title, the common ancestor for the 16 participants is one of the known sons of Adam Brouwer (i.e. they all are descendants of the same son) or one grandson (i.e. a grandson of Adam Brouwer who is a son of the thus far unidentified son from which all 16 are descendants). To be clear, it is possible, that the participants in this sub-unit are descended from more than one son of the unidentified son, meaning, they may be descendants of different grandsons of Adam Brouwer. 

In Short - the sixteen participants who are all positive for the SNP(haplogroup) E-FTC5921 share as their common paternal ancestor one of the seven sons of Adam Brouwer. The sixteen may be descendants of just one individual grandson of Adam Brouwer, OR they may be descendants of multiple grandsons of Adam Brouwer.

E-FTC5921 is the parent SNP (haplogroup) for this Sub-Unit. All of the participants in the group are positive for E-FTC5921. As of this writing six of the sixteen members seen on the public results page show E-FTC5921 as their haplogroup. The other ten are identified by haplogroups that are sub-branches (sub-clades, sub-haplogroups) of E-FTC5921. There are seven EKAs for the sixteen participants. They are:

1. Benjamin Brewer, born 24 April 1755, died 6 May 1834 in Washington Co., Indiana. He married Catharine Mellinger, 18 May 1781 in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He is found on a tax roll at Tyrone Twp., then in Westmoreland County in 1783. In 1785, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania is formed and Tyrone Twp. is found in this new county. Benjamin, along with his wife Catharine, are last recorded in Tyrone Twp. on 9 Feb 1797 when they executed a deed for land in Tyrone Twp. to Joseph Alexander. In 1800, Benjamin Brewer is recorded on a tax roll in Jefferson Co., Kentucky (est. 1780). A War of 1812 Militia Roll places Benjamin Brewer in Harrison Co., Indiana (est. 1808 when Indiana was a territory). We find Benjamin Brewer on both the 1820 and 1830 U.S. census records in Washington Co., Indiana (est. 1814 out of Harrison and Clark Counties). In 1832 Benjamin applied for a pension for his service during the Revolutionary War stating that he served in the militia out of Fayette County in a company under Capt. Huston. Both Benjamin and Catharine (d.1839) are buried in Cooley-Brewer Cemetery inn Washington Twp., Washington Co., Indiana. Benjamin Brewer can be found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD). Please keep in mind that the BGD was last updated seven years ago in late 2015, and information found there today may be outdated. The BGD shows Benjamin Brewer with a possible father, Benjamin(?) Brewer. This is a suggestion, it is not fact. As of this writing Benjamin Brewer's father is not known. Also see the post of November 16, 2013, "Some Unplaced Brewers of Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky." Again, some statements found here are now outdated. Two participants identified by E-FTC5921 are confirmed descendants of Benjamin Brewer and Catharine Mellinger. Both are descendants of their son Benjamin Brewer (1792-1861) and his wife Rebecca Blair. One participant is a descendant of their son Peter Brewer (1814-1869, m. Mira M. Lutz) and the other is a descendant of son Benjamin B. Brewer (1831-1878, m.1 Nancy A. Westfall).
2. Peter Brewer, age 70-80 on the 1830 U.S. census and age 80-90 on the 1840 U.S. census so born during the decade of 1750-1760, died between 2 November 1840 and 19 April 1841, dates when he wrote his will and when it was proved (Hardin Co., Kentucky Wills E:48-9). He married Margaret Hobach. Peter Brewer is on the tax roll of 1783 in Huntington Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He is on tax rolls there in 1785, 1786 and 1787 as well. I do not find him on the 1790 U.S. census in Westmoreland Co., nor is he found on the 1800 U.S. census. He is found on the 1810 U.S. census at Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Kentucky. In 1820 he is at Little York, Hardin Co., Kentucky. On the above referenced 1830 and 1840 censuses he is at Hardin Co., Kentucky (specific town or location not indicated). A profile for Peter Brewer is on the BGD. Also see the post of November 16, 2013. The July 5, 2018 post, "A Suggested Ancestry for Peter Brewer of Hardin Co., Kentucky," might also be of interest, but it must be emphasized - this is a speculative suggestion that is not proved by acceptable genealogical research standards, nor by genetic genealogy. Four descendants of Peter Brewer have tested positive for E-FTC5921. All are descendants of Peter's son Valentine Brewer (b.ca.1808-will proved 27 July 1885). The four are first cousins and have a common identifying SNP E-BY6245. This SNP would have first formed sometime between the generation of Valentine Brewer and the participant's common grandfather (early 1900s). 
3. Henry Brewer, age 80-90 in 1840 so born in the decade of the 1750s. Since the last BGD update in late 2015 we have consolidated two men named Henry Brewer into one. The two are found on the BGD here and here. This paragraph is then in effect a correction to the BGD. The decision to consolidate the two Henry Brewers into one is based on BigY test results of four participants, one, a descendant of the first linked Henry Brewer and three descended from the second. Together, the four share a unique SNP, E-FT40569, a sub-branch of E-FTC5921. There is uncertainty regarding the wives of Henry Brewer. He had at least two, and possibly three. The baptism of Henry's son, also named Henry, 10 October 1788 at the German Church in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, names Henry's wife as Anna Maria ____. Henry's sons Benjamin Brewer (1796-1883, of LaPorte Co., Indiana) and John Wesley Brewer (1806-1890, of LaPorte Co., IN and Burt Co., Nebraska) both are said to be sons of Henry's wife Jane ____, who was previously identified as Jane Hurdley or Hundley, but this identification has since been questioned. All three of the just mentioned sons are represented by advanced Y-DNA testing. A wife named Honour ___, has also been attributed to Henry, but evidence of her existence has yet to be found. Son Benjamin was born in 1796 in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. In 1810 Henry is in Donegal, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania (U.S. census). In 1820 he is at Charlestown, Clark Co., Indiana. In 1840 he is found at Clay, Owen Co., Indiana where he is said to have died (date not found). Note that there is an eight year gap between sons Henry and Benjamin and then a ten year gap between sons Benjamin and John Wesley (with an eighteen year gap between Henry and John Wesley). There may well have been other, yet identified, children of Henry Brewer.
   
4. Henry Brewer, born May 1765, died 20 February 1829 in Adams Co., Ohio. Henry married Sarah Hawke, 14 February 1786 in Berkeley Co., Virginia which is today in the State of West Virginia (admitted as a state 20 June 1863). Henry Brewer filed an application for a pension on his service during the Revolutionary War, stating that he served out of Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., Virginia. In 1810 Henry is found on the U.S. census in Berkeley Co., Virginia (census records for 1790 and 1800 in Virginia are lost). As Henry Brower he is found on the 1820 U.S. census at Jefferson, Adams Co., Ohio. His record of marriage in 1786 records his name as Henry Bruer. A D.A.R. membership application of a descendant calls him Hendrick Brower. Henry Brewer is on the BGD. Also see the post of May 9, 2013, "Henry Brewer of Berkeley Co., Virginia and Adams Co., Ohio." One direct male descendant has participated and is identified by E-FTC5921. He is a descendant of Henry's son Charles Brewer (ca.1802-liv.1860, m. Hannah Cook).
5. Mathew Brower/Brewer, probably born between 1755 and 1760, date of death unknown but found on the 1820 U.S. census at Richhill, Greene Co., Pennsylvania, age over 45. His wife was an Emery, as stated in an 1898 memoir of his grandson James A. Brewer. Her given name has been suggested as Elizabeth, or as Mary Magdalena. In 1793 a Mathias Brewer is found on a tax roll in Lebanon, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. As Mathew Brewer he is on the 1800 U.S. census at Bethel and Belfast, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania. In 1810 he is at Morris, Greene Co., Pennsylvania. And as stated, in 1820 he is at Richhill, Greene Co., Pennsylvania. Mathew Brower is found on the BGD. The note regarding an application dated 17 July 1815 for land in Buffalo, Union Co., Pennsylvania does not apply to this Mathew Brower. It belongs to a younger man of the same name (mentioned below under Thomas Brewer). Also see the post of September 11, 2013, "Mathew Brower of Greene County, Pennsylvania." Three descendants of Mathew Brower have been identified with the SNP E-FTC5921. One is a descendant of Mathew's son Conrad Brewer (1798-1854, m. Rachel Anderson). The other two are brothers who are descendants of Mathew's son John B. Brewer (b.ca.1794 in New Jersey). The two brothers are further identified by the SNP E-BY114218. This sub-branch was therefore formed sometime between the generation of Mathew Brower's son John B. Brewer and their father's generation.
6. Thomas Brewer, is found on the 1820 U.S. census at Annville, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania, his age given as between 26 and 44 years, so born between 1776 and 1794. In the household are two males under age 10, one female under age 10, and one female age 16-25, no doubt his wife, one young daughter and two young sons. Thomas was living on 18 April 1828 (a deed executed between heirs of his father-in-law John Stroh) but was deceased by 1830 when his wife Mary Brewer was enumerated as the head of a household on the U.S. census at Annville. She was also there in 1840. She was Anna Maria Stroh, born 6 October 1795, baptized 8 February 1796 at Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Annville, daughter of John Stroh and Anna Maria Muese. Her birth in 1795 may suggest that Thomas was closer in age to 26 years than to 44 years when enumerated on the 1820 U.S. census. One descendant has participated. He is a descendant of Thomas' son Israel Brewer, born at Annville on 8 Dec 1826 (and so NOT counted on that 1820 census), died 4 April 1897 at Carthage, Jasper Co., Missouri. The descendant is identified by the SNP E-FTC5921 (the parent SNP for this group). Thomas is not included on the BGD. In 1810, a Thomas Brewer (probably this one) is found on the U.S. census at East Buffalo, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, a male age 16-25, with no other household members. He is enumerated next to a Mathias Brewer (or Brower) and the older (than Thomas and Mathias) John Brewer, who was born 4 July 1749 in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. See the post of October 28, 2012, "Unplaced: John Brewer, Revolutionary War Patriot of New Jersey and Pennsylvania," with the caveat that the suggestion that John Brewer was a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. is now unlikely, as stated in the post of February 25, 2022, "Update: John Brewer, Revolutionary War Patriot of New Jersey and Pennsylvania." This latter post also introduces Thomas Brewer. It is conceivable that both Thomas Brewer and Mathias Brewer, found in 1810 in East Buffalo, PA, are sons of the older John Brewer and his wife Hannah Timpson.
   
7. Daniel Brewer, age 60-70 in 1830, so born 1760-1770, perhaps closer to 1760 as his wife is age 70-80 in 1830, U.S. census at Mahoning, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. His wife is said to be Margaret Bennett. His will dated 31 January 1842, proved 14 March 1842, Belmont Co., Ohio (Belmont Co., OH Wills G:321) names eleven children but not his wife. In 1800 he is found on the U.S. census at Washington, Northumberland Co., Indiana along with Paul Brewer (age 45+), Henry Brewer (age 26-44) and a second Daniel Brewer (age 45+). In 1810, 1820 and 1830 the U.S. census places him in Mahoning, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. In 1840 he may be the older male in the household of his son Daniel Brewer (1790-1854) at Union, Belmont Co., Ohio. Daniel Brewer is NOT found on the BGD, nor is he mentioned within the pages of this website. Daniel is a newly discovered descendant of Adam Brouwer. There are two direct male descendants in the Brewer DNA Project, one of whom just recently took the BigY-700 test, his results showing a positive for E-FTC5921. This participant is descended from Daniel Brewer's son Daniel (1790-1854, Belmont Co., OH, m. Mary Brady). The other participant (standard STR marker test) is a descendant of the elder Daniel's son Peter Brewer (1792-1852, m. Letitia Work) lived at East Mahoning, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. The 1880 U.S. census record for the elder Daniel Brewer's daughter, Margaret (Brewer) Hendricks (1812-1895), at Washington, Harrison Co., Iowa, records that her (Margaret's) parents were both born in New Jersey. It must be taken into account that Northumberland County, Pennsylvania in 1792 was a much larger county than it was in 1850. It encompassed much of the northern half of the interior of Pennsylvania in 1792. In 1795 Lycoming County was created out of Northumberland, taking much of interior Pennsylvania. In 1806 Indiana County was created out of both Lycoming Co. and out of Westmoreland Co.
    

Before moving on we also want to mention one Benjamin Bruer (as his name is spelled in the one record that we have found for him) whose estate was administered in the extinct county called Yohogania, then within the jurisdiction of the Virginia Colony. Administration on his estate was granted there on 25 May 1778 to Mary Bruer. Joseph Beeler, Sr., Christopher Hays, John Mellander and John Morecroft were ordered to make an inventory of Benjamin's estate. The inventory was returned by the appraisers on 26 October 1778, and this is the last we here of it. In the post of July 5, 2018 and before that the post of June 29, 2018 (under Peter Brower) I suggested that Benjamin and Mary (___) Bruer could be parents of, in particular, no. 2 above, Peter Brewer, and also of of 1. Benjamin Brewer and 3. Henry Brewer, and that this Benjamin Bruer may be one and the same with the Benjamin, bapt. 11 February 1728, at the New York Reformed Dutch Church, son of Pieter Brouwer and Elizabeth Quackenbosch. It has to be emphasized here that this is a possibility and NOT fact. It is a potential lead for a situation in which to date we have no other leads. No evidence has yet been found that would in prove this notion as fact. For one, we have no idea how old Benjamin was when he died in 1778. For all we know he may have been a young man. Perhaps he was a brother to one or more of our EKAs above. Perhaps he was a first cousin to some. Perhaps even a second cousin. Perhaps there was no relationship between Benjamin Bruer and the others. I doubt this last possibility, but without more evidence, it cannot be ruled out.

Moving on. Based on Y-DNA test results of the direct male descendants of the above seven EKAs, it has been concluded that all share one of (1) Adam Brouwer's seven sons as a common ancestor. Which one of those seven sons is not certain, however, we can with help from Y-DNA test results conclude that this common son of (1) Adam cannot be (7) Abraham Brouwer, and that it is very likely not (8) Nicholas Brouwer. (4) Willem Brouwer is also very unlikely as it may well be that he does not have any direct male descendants living today. (3) Matthys Brouwer also has to be considered as unlikely (no confirmed tested descendants are in the DNA Project). (2) Pieter Brouwer and (5) Jacob Brouwer are possible candidates, however, to date none of the tested descendants of either (2) Pieter or (5) Jacob are positive for E-FTC5921. To this we add, that not all of either (2) Pieter's or (5) Jacob's sons (Adam Brouwer's grandsons) have direct descendants who have taken a BigY DNA test. The search here would benefit from advanced BigY testing of more descendants of both (2) Pieter and (5) Jacob. (6) Adam Brouwer, despite the fact that we to date have no confirmed descendants in the Brewer DNA Project, also remains a possibility, and based on the fact that his one known son (26) Hendrick Brouwer had sons baptized at Raritan in Somerset Co., New Jersey and at Three-Mile Run in Middlesex Co., New Jersey leads me to believe that both (6) Adam Brouwer and (26) Hendrick Brouwer should be strongly considered as ancestors to the seven listed above. But again, and as with (3) Matthys Brouwer, no confirmed descendants of (6) Adam Brouwer are in the DNA Project. The western counties of New Jersey (Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex included) were after all, during the second half of the 1700s, a stepping off place for migration into the interior and western regions of Pennsylvania.

Future posts will focus on the 24 grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer. In the meantime it might be helpful to get an idea of just where in time and in which generation or generations the above seven EKAs might connect with the sons and/or grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer. With the exception of 6. Thomas Brewer, the EKAs above were apparently born between the years 1750 and 1770. Assuming that their fathers were at least 20 years old when any one of the EKAs were born and maybe no more than 50, we might assume that the fathers of these six EKAs were born between 1700 and 1750. We know that (1) Adam Brouwer's sons were born between the years 1646 and 1672, and this largely rules them out. What I'm saying here is that none of our EKAs are themselves grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer. The 24 grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer were born between the years 1673 and 1707. It is conceivable that one or more of the younger grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer could be a father to one or more of the EKAs. The sons of the grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer (i.e. Adam's great grandsons) were born between about 1700 and about 1740 or so. The next generation, sons of the great-grandsons of (1) Adam Brouwer, in other words his great-great grandsons first appear in the early 1720s and a large number of them were born prior to 1750. These last two mentioned generations, the great grandsons and great-great grandsons, or generations 4 and 5 in a standard compiled genealogy of (1) Adam Brouwer's descendants, are the most likely places where the father's of the EKAs above will be found.

BGB 741

Theoretical Computed Paths for Sub-Groups of the Brewer DNA Project

 The links below will take you to "Theoretical Computed Paths," of ancestral migration as computed by Hunter Provyn (the Phylogeographer) and available on his website "mygrations." He has a YouTube channel as well. They were first posted by Hank Graham to the Activity Feed at the Brewer DNA Project website, but since that page is only available to members of the Brewer DNA Project, and as it was posted back in January and is now getting buried in the feed, I figured I'd transcribe the links here. Hopefully they will reach a wider audience and perhaps inspire a few BREWERs, BROWERs, BROUWERs and BRUERs (etc.) to join the Project. So, here goes:

Listed in order of Brewer DNA Project sub-groups as they appear on the Project's Y-DNA Results Page.

Adam Brouwer, Gowanus, L. I., E-Y19643

Ambrose Brewer (born ca. 1753), R-CTS1751 (see YTree links below)

Arthur Brewer, J-Y18401 (see below)

Hubert Brower, Immigrant to Philadelphia 1726, R-Y84707 

Jan Brouwer (of Flatlands, L.I.), I-Y7214 

John Brewer of Great Waltham near Coggeshall, Essex, England, R-A298 

John Brewer of Sudbury, Massachusetts, R-FGC46823 

Lanier-Brewer (includes descendants of George Brewer of Brunswick Co., VA and others), I-Y15031 

Sackfield Brewer, b. 1634 Berkshire, d. 1699 Virginia, R-FGC11784 (see below)

Under Consideration L - Group includes a non-Brewer surname (Campbell), BigY proven haplogroup match beyond the Genealogical Period, I-Y57730 (see below)

Under Consideration M - Ancestor: John Brewer, b. 1775 GA, d. LA, and Patience Sibley, R-ZP85  (see below)

What can I say, it's all just kind of fun to watch and imagine. Thanks to Hank for the original post and to Hunter Provyn for creating this wonderful visual tool. And to YFull, whose published YTree is the basis for the "paths."

Just for good measure here are links to the above haplogroups on the YFull YTree. Some of these are sub-clades of haplogroups whose Theoretical Computed Paths are included above. The Phylogeographer has not created paths for every SNP found on the FTDNA and/or YFull trees.

Adam Brouwer

Ambrose Brewer - R-Y53883 which is a sub-clade of R-CTS1751

Arthur Brewer - J-Y18828 a sub-clade of J-Y18401

Hubert Brower

Jan Brouwer

John Brewer of Great Waltham

John Brewer of Sudbury, MA

Lanier-Brewer haplogroups

Sackfield Brewer - R-FTA60564 a sub-clade of R-FGC11784

Under Consideration L - I-A6543, equivalent to I-Y57730

Under Consideration M - R-FTA10684 a sub-clade of R-ZP85

BGB 725

Updating the Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L.I. Branch on YFull's Y-Tree: E-Y19643 (E-BY6201)

 The current version of YFull's Y-Tree is v10.02.00. It is dated 6 April 2022. The branch of the greater tree which is populated by descendants of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. and identified by the SNP E-Y19643, is found here. Y-DNA testing by FamilyTreeDNA's BigY-700 test supplies the data used by YFull to create the E-Y19643 branch of the Y-Tree. FamilyTreeDNA's reported results show the SNP E-BY6201 as the identifying SNP for all descendants of Adam Brouwer. YFull does not include this SNP in its database. In effect E-Y19643 and E-BY6201 represent the same place on the larger Y Haplotree. When you test at FamilyTreeDNA (through the Brewer DNA Project), your reported results will include the SNP E-BY6201. Should you submit your data to YFull for inclusion on the Y-Tree, they will show this SNP as E-Y19643. The SNPs identifying the sub-branches of E-Y19643/E-BY6201 are shown with the same identifying numbers by both FTDNA and by YFull. They, as of this post, are: E-BY173116, E-BY52688, E-BY6312 and E-BY6313, E-FT90657, E-FTC5921, E-BY6245, and E-FT40569. A summary of the ancestors of those whose Y-DNA tests have "discovered" these SNPs follows.

As stated, E-Y19643, identified by FTDNA as E-BY6201, is common to all descendants of Adam Brouwer. If you are one who is researching your Brouwer, Brower or Brewer ancestry, and you suspect but are not certain that you may be a descendant of Adam Brouwer, a BigY-700 test with the Brewer DNA Project will definitively answer your question, yes you are a descendant, or no you are not. The less expensive STR marker tests with FTDNA will give you a predicted result of either E-M35, or some other SNP. A predicted result showing positive for E-M35, coupled with your traditional genealogical research, will inform you to some degree (dependent on the accuracy of your traditional research) whether you are or are not a descendant of Adam Brouwer. Any other predicted result tells you that you are not. E-M35 is a deep ancestry SNP. It was formed, as calculated by YFull, 34,700 years before the present (ybp). The time to the most common ancestor (TMRCA) as calculated by YFull, is 23,900 ybp. Needless to say, there are very many lines that descend from E-M35 to the present day, and not every present day individual testing positive for E-M35, who also has the surname Brouwer, Brower or Brewer, is a descendant of Adam Brouwer. We have a couple of examples of this among the members of the Brewer DNA Project. The BigY-700 test will provide certainty. The standard STR marker tests may not.

As listed above, we now have eight SNPs identifying sub-branches (sub-clades) of E-Y19643/E-BY6201. These SNPs would have first come into being during the years between Adam Brouwer's life and the present day. Adam Brouwer's sons were born during the period of 1646 to 1672, and so we are looking of a span of some 376 to 350 years from present to past as the earliest time in which these SNPs first came into being*. They define descendant lines from Adam Brouwer. I have created this Descendant Chart illustrating the sub-branches of E-Y19643/E-BY6201 by combining the results of BigY tests with the traditional genealogical research that has accumulated over many years and is the basis for our present understanding of the descendants of Adam Brouwer. In using this descendant chart it is essential that you consult the endnotes. They are critical to understanding and applying the chart to the search for placement of unconnected ancestries among the sons of Adam Brouwer. 

Adam Brouwer had seven sons, all of whom reached adulthood and left male descendants. As of this post, the Brewer DNA Project includes confirmed descendants of four of those sons, Pieter, Jacob, Abraham, and Nicholas. The latter two, Abraham and Nicholas, are now represented by sub-branches on the YFull tree. The descendants of sons Pieter and Jacob have not yet been defined by an identifying SNP and are shown under the main branch (E-Y19643). The Descendant Chart that I created includes a branch for Pieter and Jacob simply to illustrate the fact that known descendants of the two are among the participants whose test results create the YTree. The latter can be used by members of the Brewer DNA Project in conjunction with the sub-unit groups for the Adam Brouwer group that are found on the DNA results page (the Y-DNA Colorized Chart). We do not have confirmed descendants for Adam Brouwer's other three sons, Mathew, Willem and Adam. I'll just briefly summarize the sub-branches here.

The YTree's main branch (E-Y19643) is comprised of five tests which include two confirmed descendants of Pieter Brouwer, one confirmed descendant of Jacob Brouwer, along with a second participant who we believe is a descendant of Jacob Brouwer but whose ancestry back to Jacob has not been confirmed by traditional research methods to the degree we would like to have. The fifth is a participant who does not share the Brouwer/Brower/Brewer surname, but who is by virtue of his Y-DNA test is a genetic descendant of Adam Brouwer. This participant's connection to a Brouwer ancestor has not been discovered, although current opinion is that he is likely a descendant of Adam's son Nicholas Brouwer. At the Brewer DNA Project at FTDNA, we currently have four participants who are confirmed descendants of Pieter Brouwer (two of the four have not joined YFull). We also have six other confirmed descendants of Pieter Brouwer who have not upgraded to the advanced BigY-700 test. Should some or all of them do so, we may be able to discover SNPs that would identify new genetic sub-branches of the E-Y19643 tree. This in turn may help those who have not been able to confirm their line among Adam Brouwer's descendants do so.

As with Pieter Brouwer, Jacob Brouwer's descendants, one of whom is confirmed by traditional genealogical research, the other is suspected to be a descendant but has one unconfirmed link in his ancestry, are found on the E-Y19643 main branch. The Brewer DNA Project includes STR marker (basic YDNA tests) results for two other confirmed descendants of Jacob Brouwer (one of whom is since deceased). Finding SNPs that will define a specific branch for Jacob Brouwer will require finding more direct descendants of Jacob who are interested in joining the Project and taking a BigY-700 test.

E-BY6312 and its sub-branch E-BY613 on the YTree represent descendants of Adam Brouwer's son Abraham Brouwer. All three are positive for E-BY6312. Abraham Brouwer had two sons, Jeury and Abraham, and both left descendants. The individual shown on the branch labeled E-BY6312 is a descendant of Jeury Brouwer. The two found on the sub-branch, E-BY6313, are an uncle and nephew, and they are direct descendants of the younger Abraham Brouwer. Testing positive on a BigY-700 test for E-BY6312 will confirm that the tested individual is a descendant of Adam Brouwer's son Abraham Brouwer. Also testing positive for E-BY6313 will confirm that you are a descendant of Abraham Brouwer's son Abraham.

Adam Brouwer's son Nicholas Brouwer is represented by three sub-branches on the YTree. The three are identified by three different SNPs: E-BY173116, E-BY52688 and E-FT90657. Each of these SNPs is unique to a single line of descendants beginning with a specific son of Nicholas. The current data, however, does not tell us if that SNP originated with that one specific son. A SNP that can be identified as unique to all descendants of Nicholas Brouwer while being unique from Nicholas' brothers, has not been identified. This means that when looking at these three branches on the YTree, we see them as sub-branches of E-BY19643 and on the same level as E-BY6312 (Nicholas's brother Abraham) and this might be a bit misleading when trying to understand actual genealogical relationships among the descendants. The Descendants Chart that I created is a more accurate picture of how these lines are in fact related. E-BY52688 has two tested descendants, one of whom is a confirmed direct descendant of Nicholas Brouwer's son Adolphus Brouwer (1693-1742). E-BY173116 includes two tested descendants, one of whom is a descendant of Nicholas Brouwer's son Jurge Brouwer (1701-?). The third SNP, E-FT90657 has three tested descendants, one of whom is a descendant of Nicholas Brouwer's son Nazareth Brouwer (probably b. between 1702 and 1710). The other two in this last branch are descendants of a Daniel Brewer (b. ca. 1771) who lived at Lee, Oneida Co., New York. Please see Endnotes 23, 26 and 29 on the Descendant Chart.

This leaves us with the sub-branch E-FTC5921 which includes nine tested individuals and represents either a son or grandson of Adam Brouwer who is a common ancestor of all nine. That common ancestor has not been identified as all nine members of this branch have been unable to complete their ancestry completely back to Adam Brouwer. Of Adam Brouwer's seven sons, we can eliminate Abraham and Nicholas. The nine would not be descendants of either of those two. We are then left with Adam's sons Mathew, Willem and Adam, none of who have any confirmed direct male descendants among the participants in the Project, and Pieter and Jacob, both of whom do have confirmed participating descendants (see above) but of those participants, none show a unique match with any of the nine who form E-FTC5921. Below E-FTC5921 we have two sub-branches, E-BY6245 and E-FT40569. E-BY6245 is represented by three descendants of Peter Brewer (b.1750-60, d.1840/41) of Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania and later Hardin Co., Kentucky (see Endnote 13). The three seen on the YTree (a fourth has yet to take the BigY-700 test) are first cousins (they share a common grandfather). E-FT40569 is represented by three descendants of Henry Brewer (b. 1750-60. liv. 1840) of Fayette Co., Pennsylvania and later Clark and Owen Counties, Indiana. Two of the three share a great-grandfather (see Endnote 16). Of the three who are grouped under E-FTC5921, two are descendants of Benjamin Brewer (1755-1834) of Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pennsylvania and later Washington Co., Indiana. The third is a descendant of Mathew Brower of Greene Co., Pennsylvania. Not shown on the YTree, but shown on the Descendant Chart is a third sub-branch, E-BY114218. This SNP, while not identified by YFull, is identified by FamilyTreeDNA as a unique SNP to the descendant of Mathew Brower (post of September 11, 2013)** and the participant's brother who was also tested by FTDNA but has not submitted his results to YFull and so is not on the YTree. Also not yet seen on the YTree are two other participants at FTDNA who are identified by E-FTC5921, one a descendant of Henry Brewer (1765-1829) of Berkeley Co., Virginia (now W. Virginia) and later Adams Co., Ohio, and the other a descendant of Thomas Brewer (d. by 1830) of Annville, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania (see the post of February 25, 2022). The current version of the YTree includes nine tested participants, while at the Brewer DNA Project, we have twelve members in this group with another two awaiting BigY-700 test results. What all of the participants have in common, besides having incomplete lines back to their genetic ancestor Adam Brouwer, is the fact that all of their known lineages can be traced in time back to the late colonial/early post Revolutionary period, and to locations in Pennsylvania and northern Virginia (areas now within West Virginia) with indications of prior origins in New Jersey. 

This post has gotten kind of long so we will explore some possible connections for the incomplete lineages within the known descendants of Adam Brouwer, using the Y-DNA test results and matches described above in combination with the traditional genealogical research that has been accumulated over the course of many years, in a follow up post (or two). In the meantime please also refer to the posts of November 6, 2013 and December 20, 2013, as well as those linked above.

*To be clear, the SNPs identifying the various sub-branches would have first come into being sometime between 350 to 376 years ago and the present. Some may have been first come into being sometime within the past one or two hundred years. TMRCA estimates are calculated by YFull. Also see the YFull's simple chart for E-Y19643.

**The tested descendant is NOT a descendant of Mathew Brower's son Conrad Brewer who is mentioned in the follow up September 18, 2013 post. He is a descendant of Mathew's son John B. Brewer.

BGB 720

 

Update of the Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. Branch on YFull's Y-Tree

 This post takes a quick look at the Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. branch as found on YFull's Y-Tree v10.02.00 (6 April 2022 (classic view). This link takes you to the live view, which includes tests that have come in since the previous update, but have not yet been completely analyzed. The simple chart very clearly illustrates the relationships of the sub-branches within the Jan Brouwer branch. 

As of this post, the Jan Brouwer sub-group at the Brewer DNA Project (FamilyTreeDNA which is not directly associated with YFull), has 40 members, 23 of whom have taken the BigY test (either the original 500 SNP version or the newer BigY-700). The current Y-Tree at YFull includes 19 of the 23 who have taken FTDNA's BigY test.

Those who are familiar with what has been published on this website over the past eleven years of existence know that descendants of Jan Brouwer are identified by the SNP I-Y7214. Learning as to whether or not an individual is positive for I-Y7214 requires taking a BigY-700 test. Those who take the less expensive STR marker tests will see a "predicted" results identifying them as I-M223*. This SNP dates much further back in time. YFull calculates that it was formed 17,400 year before present (ybp), and the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for those within this branch (or clade) is 14,600 ybp. When we look at I-M233 on the YTree we see that it includes many different sub-branches, I-Y7214 being only one such branch. YFull's estimation for the formation of I-Y7214 is 4200 ybp. Their estimated time to most recent common ancestor (which thus far only includes individuals who we know are descendants of Jan Brouwer) is 250 ypb. We have, for a number of years now, estimated Jan Brouwer's birth as "ca. 1628." He apparently died in late 1702 or perhaps 1703, and so actually lived between 320 and about 394 ybp.

We now have four sub-branches of I-Y7214 that have been identified by BigY tests. This is best seen on the simple chart that was mentioned above. Eight of the Project's 19 BigY tested members, who are also on the YFull YTree are identified by the "parent" branch I-Y7214. The four sub-branches are identified by the SNPs I-Y87452, I-FT175879, I-FT135755, and I-Y41503, which is itself a sub-branch of I-FT135755.

I-Y87452 is identified by two members of the Project. Their known, or at least strongly believed, common ancestor is Elias Brower/Brewer who was likely born during the decade of 1725-1735 and is certainly a great-grandson of Jan Brouwer. See the post of April 3, 2022 and No. 20 in the "Summary of the Male Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. during the Colonial Period."

I-FT175879 is identified by three members of the Project. Their known paternal ancestries lead back to three different men who lived in Hunterdon County, New Jersey during the mid to late 1700s. The three are Phineas Brewer, Wright Brewer, and Richard Brewer who is likely a son of a William Brewer. Phineas, Wright and William are likely brothers. See the post of April 12, 2022.

I-FT135755 is identified by six individuals, two of whom also identify the sub-branch I-Y41503. Of the six tested individuals, one is a direct descendant of Richard Brower (Oneida and Oswego Counties, New York) who is believed to have been a son of David Brower of Lee, Oneida Co., New York. See the post of April 12, 2022. A second individual has the surname Embody, but as evident from his Y-DNA tests, is unquestionably a descendant of Jan Brouwer. Where the "non-paternal event" (NPE) occured between his Embody ancestor and a male descendant of Jan Brouwer, has not been determined. See the post of April 3, 2022. The remaining four individuals are all descendants of John Rose. The two individuals who identify I-Y41503 are both descendants of John Rose's son Anthony Rose (1792-1857). I-Y41503 is now a SNP that will help descendants of John Rose confirm whether or not they are also descendants of John Rose's son Anthony Rose. See the post of March 28, 2022.

The addition of the BigY-700 test to FamilyTreeDNA's lineup of Y-DNA tests, and the increased participation of members of the Brewer DNA Project taking this test has very much enhanced our ability to reconstruct the earlier generations of Jan Brouwer's descendants. It is certain that if the members who have not yet upgraded to the BigY-700 test would do so, we would likely be able to solve the problems of the still broken and uncertain lines of ancestry for many of the participants. And of course new members are always welcome. Please contact the administrators of the Brewer DNA Project if you have an interest, and with any questions. 

For those who would like to see an animation of the theoretical computed path of migration of I-Y7214, see this page at the Phylogeograher's "mygrations" website.

From this end I hope in the coming weeks to find the time to review the Adam Brouwer branch, E-Y19643 on the YFull Y-Tree. I would also like to begin working through a still large number of unidentified BROUWERs, BROWERs and BREWERs from the colonial period that I have some information on.

*There is a group project for I-M233 at FamilyTreeDNA.

BGB 719

Reviewing the Unplaced Genetic Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. Revisited (Part VI)

 We continue from the post of April 3, 2022 with Part VI of the series that began with the March 19, 2022 post will cover a few unplaced genetic descendants of Jan Brouwer that were discovered since the original 2015 review was published. Again, you will also want to consult the new Summary of the Male Descendants of Jan Brouwer, published March 24, 2022. Y-DNA testing and analysis referred to is done through the Brewer DNA Project, Hank Graham, administrator. It is suggested that anyone interested in either upgrading their current Y-DNA tests to the advanced BigY-700, or considering the use of Y-DNA testing to augment their traditional genealogical research, contact the Brewer DNA Project and Hank directly through email available on the Project's webpage. 

Richard Brower, b. ca. 1804 (age 46, born in New York, on the 1850 U.S. census at Lee, Oneida County, New York. He was living in 1870 at Albion, Oswego County, New York, age 65. I have not found a record of probate for Richard Brower. Research done to date is summed up in the post of June 20, 2019, "Early Browers of Lee, Oneida County, New York." It is conceivable that Richard Brower is a son of David Brower, said to have been born about 1771 (unverified) and was married to Roxie Williams (also unverified) who would have been aged 40-50 years in 1830, assuming she is the female of that age range found in David Brower's (age 50-60) household at Lee, New York. David Brower is also in Lee, New York on the 1840 U.S. census (age 60-70). Here the oldest female (presumably Roxie) is age 50-60. David Brower is said to have died in 1845 at Lee Center. He is not found on the 1850 U.S. census. The new information here is Y-DNA test analysis from the results of a direct male descendant of Richard Brower who took the BigY-700 test with the Brewer DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA. The BigY-700 test results identify the SNP I-FT135755 as a sub-branch of the Jan Brouwer group. The direct descendant shares this SNP with the members of the group who are descendants of John Rose (March 28, 2022), and with the Embody descendant (April 3, 2022). No other descendants who have the Brower surname have yet to be identified (there are a number who have not upgraded to the BigY-700 test). Analysis of the Y-DNA test results by Hank Graham, administrator of the Brewer DNA Project, and as relayed to me by Hank, tells us that Richard Brower's tested descendant, and therefore Richard Brower himself, is a descendant of Pieter Brouwer (No. 9 in the Summary), and that the SNP I-FT135755 is an identifying SNP for descendants of Pieter Brouwer (No. 9). In addition, analysis of a values for a certain STR marker (FTY466) suggest that the tested descendant is a descendant of Abraham Brouwer (No. 25). Assuming this is correct, Richard Brower, b. ca. 1804 would likely be a grandson of Abraham Brouwer (No. 25) who was baptized in 1734. Richard Brower's claimed father, David Brower, said to have been born about 1771, would then be a son of Abraham (No. 25). Finding traditional genealogical proof to verify these proposed relationships should be searched for in Oneida and Schenectady, and Albany counties. 

Three new unplaced descendants of Jan Brouwer form a new genetic sub-branch. The three, having joined the Brewer DNA Project in just the past couple of years, have all taken the BigY-700 test. The results identified a common SNP, I-FT175879, that is shared by all three. The three participants each trace their known direct paternal ancestries back to ancestors who lived where born in the second half of the 1700s, and who lived in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The three ancestors are Wright Brewer, Phineas Brewer, and Richard Brewer, who is said to be a son of William Brewer and his wife, Anna King. Wright Brewer, William Brewer and Phines Brewer are all three, found in the 1792 Hunterdon County Militia roll at Amwell Township (see the post of March 3, 2020). Wright Brewer was probably born during the decade of 1755-1765 (age on various census records, see the March 3, 2020 post). In 1850, Phineas Brewer is found on the U.S. census at Roaring Creek, Montour Co., Pennsylvania, age 81, born in New Jersey. William Brewer is found on the 1830 U.S. census at Alexandria, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, age 60-70, so born during the decade of 1760-1770. The marriage of William Brewer and Anna King, 14 July 1803, in Hunterdon County, is recorded in the Haverford, Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Records, 1710-1895. William Brewer's son, Richard Brewer was age 40, born in Pennsylvania, on the 1850 U.S. census at Raritan, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. His wife was Miriam Lundy, and they were married 1 October 1842 in Hunterdon County. In 1880, Richard Brewer is recorded as age 67, born in Pennsylvania, with both parents born in New Jersey (U.S. census at East Amwell, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey). Richard Brewer was probably born around 1810. He died 10 December 1889 at Alexandria, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Only cursory research has been attempted on these three (Wright, Phineas and William) but it is apparent from the Y-DNA test results that they are clearly closely related, probably brothers, and that they would fit in as fifth generation descendants (great-great grandsons) of Jan Brouwer. The Brewer DNA Project's assessment currently places the three as probably sons of Dirck Brouwer (No. 27), a son of Jacob Brouwer (No. 10). 

This concludes the series of six posts that began with the post of March 19, 2022. As time permits I will follow up in the future with a review of the Jan Brouwer branch (I-Y7214) of the Y-Tree at YFull, and perhaps additional posts on research in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. I would ask that any one using these posts to further their own research to please share any new information by using the Comments feature that is available with each individual post. Thank you.

BGB 716

Reviewing the Unplaced Genetic Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. Revisited (Part V)

 This series of posts began with the post of March 19, 2022. The previous post is from March 30, 2022. Relative reports to this series are the 2015 Review of the Early Generations of Descendants of Jan Brouwer..., and Summary of the Male Descendants of Jan Brouwer..., which was published March 24, 2022. You'll want to refer to both when using this post. We continue with...

Richard Brouwer on pages 13-14 of the 2015 review. His name appears variously in records as Richard Brewer, Derick Brewer, Richard Brower, Richerd Brauer, and Rishert Brauer. He married Mary Blann prior to 1779, their eldest known child being baptized 31 January 1779 at Schenectady, New York. He is at Duanesburgh in Albany County in 1790 (U.S. census), and then at Walton, Delaware Co., New York on the 1800 U.S. census, where he is age "over 45." In 1810 and in 1820 he is at Tompkins, Delaware Co., New York, his age given as "over 45" on both census. He is not found on the 1830 census and is presumed to have died before then. A record of probate has not been found. A biography of Richard's son of the same name, Richard Brewer (also Derick Brewer), baptized in 1795 at the Helderbergh Reformed Church at Guilderland, Albany Co., New York, died in 1890 at Florence, Erie Co., Ohio, and published in "Firelands Pioneer" by the Firelands Historical Society in 1878 states that the elder Richard had fourteen children, and that the younger Richard was the youngest. We've been able to account for six of the fourteen. If Richard was the youngest, then the unknown eight had to have been born prior to 1779 which might push Richard Brouwer and Mary Blann's marriage back another 14 or more years to 1765 or earlier. Since Richard is over age 45 in 1800, he was at least born by 1755. If married by say 1765, he could have been born in the decade of 1735-1745, and in 1820 would have been 75 to 85 years old. We have not found any new information since the 2015 review was published. One direct male descendant has taken a Y-DNA test (he is a descendant of the younger Richard Brewer). Unfortunately he has only tested at the initial 37 STR marker level, which does confirm that he is a descendant of Jan Brouwer, but does not provide enough data to analyze and search for any closer relationships within the group. An upgrade to the BigY-700 is recommended. Pieter Brouwer who follows was also found at Duanesburgh, as was his father, Abraham Brouwer (No. 25). Abraham's younger brother, Dirck (No. 26) who was baptized in 1743 at Readington, could be Richard Brouwer, who did name a son, Petrus (Peter). An alternative could be that he is Dirck (No. 27) who was baptized in 1737. All things considered, the former of these two possibilities is favored. An a BigY-700 test could very well confirm this possibility.

Pieter Brouwer (pages 14-15) mentioned just above, probably was born between 1755 and 1763, married Catrina Chrisler (Crisler and other spellings) bef 1783, their first child, son Abraham being baptized 25 June 1783 at Schenectady. Pieter Brouwer is also recorded as Peter Brewer, Peter Brower and Pieter Broer. We find Pieter on the U.S. census in 1790 and in 1800 at Duanesburgh, New York. He is on an 1802 tax roll at Princetown, New York, and in 1803 at Duanesburgh. I have not identified him after 1803. Pieter and Catrina had six known children baptized between 1783 and 1792 at the Reformed Churches at either Schenectady or Schoharie. Since the 2015 review, the Brewer DNA Project has seen the original Y-DNA tested descendant upgrade to the BigY test, and two additional descendants have joined, one being a son of the original participant. The father and son pair are descendants of Pieter's son Abraham who was baptized in 1783 at Schenectady. The third participant is a descendant of Pieter's son Lewis Brewer, baptized as Ludewig, son of "Pieter Broer and Cath.," at Schoharie in 1789. As mentioned in the new Summary (see Abraham, No. 25), the BigY-700 tests have given us a unique identifying SNP for this line, I-FT210419. As mentioned above, the tested descendant of Richard Brouwer would benefit by upgrading to the BigY-700 to see how the results would match those of Pieter Brouwer. We can confidently say that Pieter Brouwer is a fifth generation descendant of Jan Brouwer (a great-great grandson), and that his father was Abraham Brouwer (No. 25). The ancestry of this previously unplaced genetic descendant has been solved.

Embody (pages 15-16). As stated in the 2015 review, we do know the Y-DNA tested descendant's Embody ancestry back to Henry Embody, born in Berks Co., Pennsylvania in 1745 and later of Minden, Montgomery Co., New York. We also know that genetically the participant is not related through his paternal line to other male descendants of Henry Embody, but is instead related to male descendants of Jan Brouwer. Since the 2015 review, the participant has upgraded to the BigY-700 test and his results place him in the sub-branch I-FT135755, along with the descendants of John Rose and a descendant of a Richard Brower who was born about 1804 in New York, and lived in Oneida County, New York, 1830, '40, '50, '60, and then in Oswego County, 1865 and 1870. See the June 20, 2019 post. As with John Rose in the March 28, 2022 post, the Embody descendant is going to find his Brouwer link among the descendants of Pieter Brouwer (No. 9) who was at Bridgewater, New Jersey in 1753. 

William Brewer (pages 16-18). Born 4 September 1826 in Louisiana, died 30 May 1886. He married Caroline Hillebrandt, 3 January 1850 in Jefferson County, Texas. As mentioned in the 2015 review, finding William Brewer's ancestry back to Jan Brouwer is probably the most challenging and that has really not changed. We do have two descendants of William Brewer who have taken Y-DNA tests, one of which has now upgraded to the BigY-700 test. The identifying SNP here is I-Y7214, the same that identifies the entire Jan Brouwer group. No unique matches have been found with the other participants who have taken the BigY, and so we have no new leads from the genetic data. We also have no new traditional genealogical research to pass on. The most important clue here is the 1880 U.S. census at Precinct No. 3, Kimball Co., Texas, where it is recorded that William's father was born in New York, and his mother was born in Louisiana. How old he might have been, or in which year he came to Louisiana is still anyone's guess. A canvassing of BREWERs in Louisiana, in the decade of William's birth might be a place to start, but that could be a time consuming task with no guarantee of yielding results. Another clue mentioned in 2015, is that William did name a son Elias L. Brewer, and as we know, Elias is a common name among the descendants of Jan Brouwer. I also pointed out that travel to Louisiana in the early decades of the 1800s was by river, westward on the Ohio, then south on the Mississippi, and could be accomplished from as far as western Pennsylvania without ever having to step on land. Mentioned there too is that Samuel Brewer (b.1790, Pennsylvania) was known to have been a riverboat operator on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and did spend long periods of time from home. He had a brother Elias Brewer born in 1795. The brothers Samuel and Elias are sons of David Brewer who is covered on the March 28, 2022 post. I'd also point out that it is prudent to remember that the 1880 census claim that William's father was born in New York, could be incorrect, but I don't doubt that he was not born in Louisiana, and the fact that we know that William must be a genetic descendant of Jan Brouwer, tells us that if he was not born in New York, he was certainly born in either New Jersey, or western Pennsylvania/northern Virginia. Hank Graham, administrator of the Brewer DNA Project, adds that values at a pair of STR markers (DYS523=15->16, and DYS19=15) tells us that William Brewer is a genetic descendant of Elias Brouwer (No. 8) through one of his sons, either Dirck (No. 21) or David (No. 22), BUT NOT from Elias (No. 23). There are probably two generations between either Dirck (No. 21) or David (No. 22) and William. The possibility suggested above, that William, may be a son of Elias Brewer (b. 1795), would fit with this genetic evidence. An upgrade in the Y-DNA testing of the descendant of David Brewer (March 28, 2022 post), would help clarify this possibility. 

Elias E. Brewer (pp. 18-19) and Isaac Brewer (pp. 19-20) are going to be covered in one paragraph here. Elias E. Brewer was born about 1783 in New Jersey (1850 U.S. census, Marlboro, NJ) and died in 1855 at Marlboro/Marlborough. The middle initial, "E," is probably a patronymic rather than a middle name in the way middle names are given out nowadays, and the obvious guess is that Elias E.'s father was also named Elias. An Elias Brewer is found on a muster roll dated 29 December 1775 under Capt. Elias Longstreet's Co., First Regt., New Jersey Troops (in Monmouth County). Elias E. Brewer's father, Elias, is considered to be a brother of Isaac Brewer who was married by 1794 (Styntje Van Brunt), and was born in the decade of the 1760s (age 60-70 on the 1830 U.S. census at Freehold, NJ). Y-DNA tested descendants of both Elias E. Brewer and Isaac Brewer have upgraded to the advanced BigY test, and this has yielded an identifying SNP for this line, I-Y87452. Although we do not have hard traditional genealogical evidence, we place the two (presumed) brother's as sons of Elias Brewer and Elizabeth Palmer (see No. 20 in the new Summary). Outside of the appearance of some new evidence that might contradict this placement, we'll stick with it.

The next post in this series will look at the newer unplaced genetic descendants of Jan Brouwer that have been discovered (only with Y-DNA testing) since the original 2015 review was published.

BGB 715

Reviewing the Unplaced Genetic Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. Revisited (Part IV)

 This fourth installment continues the series that began with the post of March 19, 2022. The previous post was published March 28, 2022. Y-DNA testing is conducted through the Brewer DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA). We strongly urge any and all members who have yet to upgrade to the advanced BigY-700 to do so. Test results from this level have significantly improved our understanding of the colonial period descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, Long Island. Enough with the preamble, we continue here with a revisit/reassessment of the 2015 report, "A Review of the Early Genetic Descendants of Jan Brouwer..." so let's get right into it.

We begin this post with Aaron W. Brewer who is found on pages 10-11 of the 2015 PDF. He is largely accepted as and most probably is a son of Aaron Brewer and Polly McFarland who were married 10 September 1812 in Harrison County, Kentucky. A descendant of Aaron W. Brewer has taken the BigY test. His identifying SNP I-Y7214 is the marker which identifies all descendants of Jan Brouwer. Following Aaron W. Brewer on the 2015 review is Stephen Brewer on pages 11-12, who married Mary Melinda Whitsett, more often called Polly, on 26 May 1811, also in Harrison County, Kentucky. Although strongly suspected, but not proved, it is likely that Aaron Brewer and Stephen Brewer were either brothers, or perhaps Stephen Brewer was Aaron Brewer's father. A descendant of Stephen Brewer has also taken the BigY test, and his results also identify him as I-Y7214. We will address all three of these individuals in this one segment. First I'd like to highlight some important points that are not new. Aaron Brewer (the elder) is found on the 1850 U.S. census at Union, Madison Co., Indiana, his age recorded as 63 years, place of birth as Virginia. The age gives is year of birth as about 1787. The location, Virginia, has to be considered more carefully. Virginia in 1850 is not the Virginia we know today, and Virginia in 1787, was not the Virginia that existed in 1850 when the census was taken. A short time ago Hank Graham forwarded a link to this very useful map of county formation in Virginia over the years from 1617 to 1995. Click on the years just mentioned, along with 1863 (the year West Virginia was created) and say 1776 (a year prior to the formation of the United States) and you'll get an idea of what I am talking about. Aaron Brewer may have been born in what we today call Virginia. Or, he may have been born in what we today call West Virginia, or perhaps even western Pennsylvania. Or, he may have been born outside of this area, perhaps in New Jersey, and was moved to someplace in Virginia as a young child, and in 1850, is confusing the place where he was raised with the place he was born. Stephen Brewer, in 1850 is at Union, Grant Co., Indiana, his age given on the U.S. census as 78 years (perhaps understated), place of birth as Virginia. In 1860, at Fairmount, Grant Co., Indiana, his age is recorded as 96 years (perhaps overstated), and the place again stated as Virginia. What was just mentioned for Aaron regarding being born in Virginia, applies to Stephen as well. On page 11 of the 2015 review, we cite Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Sedgewick County, Kansas (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1901) page 469, which says that Stephen was born in a “suburb of New York City,” and served during the Revolutionary War, as a teamster, along with his father who was also named Stephen. This statement was probably provided to the compilers of this book by Stephen's grandson, Milton Brewer (1847-1932). This info suggests that Stephen Brewer may have been born, not in Virginia, but in a "suburb of New York City," which could include New Jersey. The service in the Revolutionary War, may also suggest that he was born at least a bit earlier than 1772 and implied by his age in 1850, but not necessarily as early as 1764 as implied by his age in 1860. Another issue regarding Stephen Brewer is that he married in 1811 when, if born in 1772, he would have been 39 years old. That's late for a first marriage. He may have had a previous marriage, and perhaps other children (we know of seven born to Stephen and Polly Whitsett between 1812 and 1825, and Polly, born in 1793, was considerably younger than her husband). Not included in the 2015 review, is the presence of a Stephen Brewer on the 1810 U.S. census at Washington, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. His household consists of 1 male age 26-44 (so born between 1766 and 1784) and 1 female age under 10. No adult female is enumerated in this household. Stephen Brewer does not appear in Harrison County, Kentucky until 1811 when he is married and when he first appears on tax rolls. He does not appear on the tax rolls in Harrison County in 1809 or 1810. Stephen Brewer may be the man of the same name found in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania in 1810, and as suggested, he may well have had a previous wife, and at least one child by her. We do know of other BREWERs, including at least one known descendant of Jan Brouwer (that being David Brewer) in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania (see the March 28, 2022 post). Another important piece of information from the 2015 review is the mention of a Stephen Brewer on the 1793 tax roll at Bernards Twp., Somerset Co., New Jersey. Considering the claim found in Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Sedgewick County, Kansas mentioned above, this could be Stephen Brewer, or perhaps his father, said to be a Stephen Brewer. We also know that Elsie Lewis, the first wife of John Brewer of Scioto Co., Ohio was from a family from Bernards Township (see the March 28, 2022 post). It also needs to be noted that the give name, Stephen, does not appear elsewhere among the known descendants of Jan Brouwer. The name may come in from a maternal line, in other words, from the family of a woman who married one of Jan Brouwer's descendants who we have little information on (of which there are quite a few). Recapping, starting with Aaron Brewer, assuming he was born in, or close to 1787, he is likely among the sixth generation of descendants of Jan Brouwer. Aaron Brewer's grandfather would be found among the fourth generation descendants (the great-grandsons) of Jan Brouwer (pages 3-9 of the new Summary). Aaron Brewer may be a brother of Stephen Brewer, or, depending on whether Stephen's precise year of birth can be determined, a son of Stephen Brewer. Stephen Brewer, therefore may be a sixth generation descendant, or a fifth generation descendant. Stephen Brewer's father has said to have been a Stephen Brewer. If the younger Stephen Brewer is born somewhere between the two ages we have for him (78 in 1850, 96 in 1860) he was born between 1764 and 1772. If his father, Stephen Brewer was in his 20s when the younger Stephen was born, we'd expect him to have been born between 1734 and 1752. The elder Stephen would then be among the fourth generation descendants of Jan Brouwer. As of now we do not know of a Stephen among Jan Brouwer's known descendants. This assumes that the name Stephen is correct for Stephen Brewer's father. Looking at the third generation on the Summary, we see that Hans (No.5) has a six year gap between children from 1725-1731. He may also have had children post 1731 that have not been discovered. Hendrick (No.6) while we're unsure if he is even a descendant of Jan Brouwer, he did exist, and his family and knowledge of him is very incomplete. Also possible are three sons of Derck (No.3) being Pieter (No.9), Jacob (No.10) and Dirck (No.11). Both Pieter (No.9) and Jacob (No.10) have children baptized at regular intervals between 1731-32 and 1745-47 that would not allow for the inclusion of some other child (although it is still possible that the elder Stephen could have been born prior to 1731-32, or a within a year or two after 1747. Additionally, new Y-DNA results at the Brewer DNA Project, do not match the descendants of Aaron and Stephen with tested descendants of Pieter (No.9), so it is probable that Pieter (No.9) is not the ancestor we are looking for. We have not identified any children, nor a marriage, for Dirck (No.11). It is suggested that he lived on Long Island, but as the account in Biographical Sketches... mentioned above says, Stephen "was born in a suburb of New York City," and not only would include New Jersey, but also Kings and Queens Counties, on Long Island. The 2015 review suggested that both Aaron and Stephen could be in a line descended from Jan Brouwer's son Derck (No.3). This might be wrong. They could be descendants of Jan Brouwer's son Pieter (No.2) who is a father of Hans (No.5) and perhaps Hendrick (No.6). IF they are descendants of Derck (No.2) then it is likely through Dirck (No.11) or perhaps Jacob (No.10).

John J. Brewer, (pp. 12-13, also the post of November 2, 2012) died 28 March 1848 at Williamson, Wayne Co., New York, age 57yrs. 6 mos. as per his gravestone at Lakeview Cemetery in Pultneyville. That would place his birth at about September 1790. His wife in these earlier writings is said to be Elizabeth Waters, with that identification coming from the direct descendant who has taken a Y-DNA test. Apparently that belief has changed, and I'm now finding claims that she was Eliza Jeffrey (perhaps Jeffries?). Other than this there is no new genealogical information to report. The participating descendant has upgraded to a BigY-700 test, however, the results have not identified a unique SNP that the participant shares with some other tested descendant of Jan Brouwer. There are still nine other members among the descendants of Jan Brouwer, with the surname BREWER who have not yet upgraded to the BigY-700. If those members would do so, we might well find some closer matches, not just for the descendant of John J. Brewer, but for other members as well. Based on a birth in 1790, we'd have to suggest that John J. Brewer is a sixth generation descendant of Jan Brouwer. His older children born between 1816 and 1825, were all born in New Jersey (as per various census records). The youngest known child, Aaron, was born in 1831, in New York, presumably at Williamson. Identifying and locating the place origins of Eliza Jeffrey could point to just where in New Jersey this family originated. A search for John J. Brewer's ancestry should then begin there. The 2015 review suggests a possible ancestry that places John J. Brewer as a son of John Brower (1762-1845) who married Deborah Errickson and had at least two sons, Aaron (b.1794) and Benjamin (b.ca.1800). John Brower (1762-1845) lived in Monmouth County, New Jersey and is a son of Aris Brower (No.12). This is still a viable possibility, but certainly not the only one. John J. Brewer's ancestry is still very much an open question.

To be continued... (April 3, 2022)

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Reviewing The Unplaced Genetic Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. Revisited (Part III)

 This post continues the series that begins with the post of March 19, 2022.

In this post we will focus on the 23 page PDF document that was put together in June 2015, and titled, "Review of the Early Generations of Descendants of Jan Brouwer and the Possible Placements of Known Genetic Descendants Whose Precise Ancestry is Not Known." I know, a mouthful. The Early Generations aspect was dealt with in the March 24, 2022 post, and so now we will move onto the unplaced genetic descendants. The order of unplaced genetic descendants will follow the order in which they were handled in the 2015 documents. The page numbers referenced here will refer to the page of the PDF. Numbers referring to the early generation descendants of Jan Brouwer, and so possible ancestors for the unplaced, refer to those found on "Summary of the Male Descendants of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. through the Colonial Period." This may take three or four posts to get through, so lets get right into it.

We start with David Brewer found on pages 6-7. David is found on the 1850 U.S. census in Geneva, Jennings Co., Indiana, his age recorded as 88 years, birthplace recorded as New Jersey. This is the only record we have for his year of birth, which would then be about 1762. David is probably a fifth generation, great-great grandson of Jan Brouwer. David married Euphema Warner about 1785 (place not known, record of marriage not found). They had eight children born between 1787 and 1807. David's will, dated 24 February 1845, was probated in Jennings Co., Indiana, 4 August 1853. David's third child, son Samuel Brewer, said to have been born 14 February 1790, is found on the 1860 U.S. census in Harrison, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, age recorded as 77 (overstated compared to his claimed date of birth) and place of birth recorded as New Jersey. David's fourth child, Jacob Jennings Brewer, said to have been born 17 May 1792, is on both the 1850 and 1860 U.S. census records at Sand Creek, Jennings Co., Indiana, age given respectively as 58 and 68 years (which aligns with his birth date) and place of birth recorded as Pennsylvania in both instances. From this it appears that David Brewer was still in New Jersey during the 1780s, but was in Pennsylvania by 1792. The youngest child, daughter Sarah (b. 20 July 1807), married William Sawyer Riley, and is on the 1850 U.S. census at Geneva, Jennings Co., Indiana, age 42, born in Virginia, which as will be seen, at a place that is likely now in West Virginia. A new piece of information found since 2015, is the will of Nathaniel McFarson of Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, yeoman, written 30 September 1788 and proved 19 January 1789. The witnesses to the will were Samuel McFarson, Uriah Bonham and David Brewer (Abs. NJ Wills 7:144). David Brewer is on a tax list in Ohio County, Virginia in 1788 (Ohio Co. is now in West Virginia. It is on the panhandle that runs south to north between the southwestern counties of Pennsylvania and Ohio). In 1797 David Brewer's property in mentioned in a petition of citizens of Menhallen Twp., Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, asking for a division of the township. Redstone Twp. was created and David Brewer is found there on the 1800 U.S. census. In 1810, David Brewer is found at Elizabeth, Ohio Co., Virginia (now W.V.). In 1820 and 1830 he is enumerated in Tyler Co., Virginia (now W.V.). The most valuable piece of information regarding David Brewer is a biography written in 1899 by his grandson Jacob Jennings Warner Brewer, in which he states that his (meaning Jacob) great-grandfather was Derrick Brewer, "who was of Holland descent." Jacob J. W. Brewer was born in 1815 in Tyler Co., Virginia (his own words). His grandfather, David, was living when Jacob was an adult, and he may well have received the name of his grandfather's father directly from David himself. There really is no reason to doubt the statement. So, if born in 1762, David's father, perhaps in his 20s when David was born, was likely born himself between 1732 and 1742 give or take a few years on either side. Looking at the fourth generation of the Jan Brouwer family, the great-grandsons of Jan Brouwer, we have four Dirck Brouwers to choose from, No.19 (b.1729), No.21 (b.1732), No.26 (b.1743) and No.27 (b.1737). Eliminate No.19 as we know that he lived his life at Hempstead, L. I. and there is nothing that has been found to connect David to Hempstead. Of the three remaining, No.26 (b.1743), the youngest is the least likely as I'd suspect that he is the Derrick Brewer who died in 1769 with no mention of heirs when his small estate was settled. In 2015 we suggested No.21, the Dirck baptized 15 August 1732 at Harlingen, son of Elias Brouwer (No.8) and Helena Willemse. I would stay with that placement today, largely based on the fact that Derck (No.21) had a brother, David (No.22) he being the first male named David among Jan Brouwers's descendants. Dirck (No.27) baptized 29 May 1737 at Readington), son of Jacob Brouwer and Marike (___), could still be a possibility. One descendant of David Brewer, who is also a descendant of David's grandson Jacob J. W. Brewer, has taken the basic STR 37marker Y-DNA test. This test confirms the descendant as a descendant of Jan Brouwer, however, an upgrade to the latest BigY-700 test would add new genetic data that may better point the way towards the identity of David's father, and would certainly add new data beneficial to the group as a whole.

John Brewer of Scioto Co., Ohio is found on pages 7-9. Four direct male descendants have taken Y-DNA tests. Two of the four have taken FTDNA's Big-Y test. Their identifying SNP is I-Y7214 which is the identifying SNP for the Jan Brouwer Group as a whole. John Brewer first married Elsie Lewis by 1774 when their first child was born. If married during his twenties this would place his birth in the decade of about 1744 to 1754 give or take a few years. That would likely place John Brewer among the fourth generation and a great grandson of Jan Brouwer. Elsie Lewis' brother, Barnet Brewer, of Bernards Twp., Somerset Co., New Jersey, wrote his will 12 February 1807 (proved 19 Feb 1807) in which he mentions his sister Elsie as the "first wife" of John Brewer and their two children, Mary Brewer and Edward Brewer. John Brewer's second wife was Sarah Howell although I have yet to find confirmation of her family name. No record of their marriage has been found. Their first (of supposedly nine children) was born in 1779. In 1790 John Brewer is found on the U.S. census at Bullskin, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. In 1797, John Brewer and his wife Sarah, of Bullskin, sold land in Bullskin. In December 1801, John Brewer is in Adams Co., Ohio when he collected a $6 bounty on three wolves. Scioto Co., Ohio was created out of Adams County in March 1803, and John Brewer remained there and died by May 1808 by accounts regarding his estate found in court records at Portsmouth, Ohio. Administration on his estate was granted 19 February 1809 to a Samuel Lucas, whose relationship to John Brewer's family is not known. Perhaps he was a creditor, perhaps he had some relationship to John's second wife, Sarah, who is found in later records regarding the estate. Of John Brewer's 11 children, seven are sons. Three of the sons are ancestors of participants in the Brewer DNA Project. Among the sons is a Richard Brewer, who is called "Derrick Brewer of Scioto County," in an 1816 deed by which he and siblings sell land from their father's estate. If born between 1744 and 1754, it's likely that John's father was born earlier than 1724. The 2015 report places John Brewer as probably one of the sons of Derck Brouwer (No.3). Based on newer BigY-700 test results, the Brewer DNA Project now suggests that John Brewer could be a son of one of the sons of Elias Brouwer (No.8, wife Helena Willemse), either Dirck (No.21) or David (No.22). He cannot be a son of Elias (No.23) had a son named John Brewer, but who is otherwise accounted for. If David Brewer (above) is also a son of Dirck (No.21) it would be suggested that both the descendant of David Brewer, and the remaining two descendants of John Brewer, upgrade their Y-DNA tests to the BigY-700. Results might expose unique identifying SNPs that could link the two to a more recent common ancestor than Jan Brouwer (No.1) or Derck Brouwer (No.3).

John Rose is found on pages 9-10. John Rose died in Madison, Pickaway Co., Ohio in December 1830. Seven descendants of four different sons of John Rose, have taken Y-DNA tests and from the results it is clear that John Rose is a genetic descendant of Jan Brouwer. Since 2015 four of those descendants have taken BigY-700 tests and will cover the results below. I will not spend time reviewing the traditional genealogical research findings here, but will instead direct the reader to the original 2015 document. There are a couple of new items of info to add. One, in an email from June 2021, Marg Bond, who has does considerable research on the descendants of John Rose and on the investigation of his ancestry, informs us that John Rose's wife, Dorothy, was Dorothy Eva Sirk, born 1768 in York Co., Pennsylvania, daughter of Mathias Sirk. The Sirks were in Louden Co., Virginia by 1782 and by 1795 were in Frederick Co., Virginia. She has also found a John Rose on a tax list in Frederick Co., Virginia in 1792. By 1802 he was in Rockingham Co., Virginia. It's likely that John Rose and Dorothy Eva Sirk were married in Louden Co., Virginia, or perhaps Frederick Co., Virginia. Another item is the appearance of a John Rose on the 1792 Hunterdon Co., New Jersey Militia roll at Amwell Township (see the post of March 26, 2021). The John Rose of Frederick Co., VA in 1792, and the John Rose of Amwell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ in 1792, may or may not be the same man. Advanced DNA testing in the form of FTDNA's BigY-700 test has added helpful genetic data with regards to the placement of John Rose within the Jan Brouwer family. The new test results have created a new genetic sub-branch of the Jan Brouwer branch (I-Y7214), with this new sub-branch identified by SNP I-FT135755. This SNP is shared by the descendants of Joh Rose with two others in the project, they being the Embody descendant and a descendant of Richard Brower (b.ca.1804) who lived at Lee, Oneida Co., New York and later Albion, Oswego Co., New York (see the post of June 20, 2019). In addition, two of the descendants of John Rose can be further identified by a unique SNP I-Y41503. Both of the two descendants are descendants of John Rose's son Anthony Rose (1792-1857). I-Y41503 is then a sub-branch of I-FT135755 which in turn is a sub-branch of I-Y7214. This can be seen on the YFull Y-Tree of February 25, 2022. John Rose was probably born between 1766 and 1770 (from age ranges found on the 1810, 1820 and 1830 U.S. census records), and probably in New Jersey, although the 1880 U.S. census for his son Solomon Rose (at Pleasant Hill, Nebraska) records Solomon's father's place of birth as Virginia. Records this far removed from the actual event, and reported by someone other than the individual the record is in regard to, can be unreliable, but having said that, Virginia is a possible location, and if so I'd suspect that John Rose's birth took place in Frederick County. To be clear, what I'm saying is that John Rose could have been born in either New Jersey or Virginia. The date range for his birth would likely place John Rose in the fifth generation of descendants of Jan Brouwer (i.e. a great-great grandson). We would then look for his father among those of the fourth generation. The Brewer DNA Project's Y-DNA analysis suggests that John Rose is probably among the descendants of Jan Brouwer's son Derck (No.3) and likely a descendant of Pieter Brouwer (No.9) who was at Bridgewater, New Jersey in 1753*. His sons, possible father's for John Rose, would be Petrus (No.24), Abraham (No.25) and Dirck (No.26). Of the three, Abraham does have known descendants and we'll get to them in a future post. Descendants for Petrus and Dirck have not been discovered. I would also add that in the summary, under Dirck (No.26) we discuss the Derrick Brewer of Somerset County whose estate was administered in 1769, and mention the fact that no heirs are mentioned. That no heirs were named, does not necessarily imply that Derrick Brewer never had any children. He may still have had a child born out of wedlock, as John Rose may have been. In other words, Derrick Brewer who died in 1769 should not be ignored. Now, which Dirck Brouwer of the fourth generation this belongs to, is another matter, although I would suspect that it was the youngest of the four, which would be Dirck (No.26).

*The issue here isn't so much a question of whether John Rose is a descendant of Pieter Brouwer (No.9), but rather is Pieter (No.9) a son of Derck (No.3) or is he a son of Pieter (No.2). See Pieter (No.9) in the Summary PDF.

To be continued...

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