Some BREWER Wills, Etc., In Kentucky: Mercer County

 Mercer County, Kentucky was formed in 1785 out of what was then Lincoln County, Virginia (and is now Lincoln County, Kentucky). Kentucky was admitted to the Union as a state, June 1, 1792. Harrodsburg, the county seat of Mercer County, was first settled in 1774. Below are BREWER wills and other probate records found in the books of Mercer County, Kentucky and available on FamilySearch.org, "Probate Records 1786-1865; General Index, 1786-1946," Kentucky. County Court (Mercer County).

1. Daniel Brewer.* 1791. 1:49. Will.

2. Daniel Brewer. 1799. 2:134. Guardian Account.

3. David Brewer. 1819. 6:214. Will.

4. David Brewer. 1819-20. 6:230, 232. Inventory.

5. Dilly Brewer. 1820. 6:333. Dower.

6. Daniel A. Brewer. 1822. 7:333. Guardian Account.

7. John Brewer. 1826. 8:324. Inventory.

8. David Brewer. 1826. 8:395. Settlement.

9. John Brewer. 1828. 9:113. Settlement.

10. Abraham Brewer. 1828. 9:137. Will.

11. David Brewer. 1828. 9:149. Settlement

12. Abraham Brewer. 1828. 9:151. Inventory.

13. David Brewer. 1833. 10:66. Settlement.

14. L. D. Brewer. 1851. 14:36. Guard. Settlement.

15. H. R. Brewer. 1853. 14:204. Guard. Settlement.

16. Robert Brewer. 1854. 15:36. Guard. Settlement.

17. Abram A. Brewer. 1858. 15:527. Will.

18. A. A. Brewer. 1858. 15:527. Inventory.

19. A. A. Brewer. 1858. 16:43. Exor. Settlement.

20. L. D. Brewer. 1882. 18:336. Will

21. Ethelinda Brewer. 1882. 18:339. Renunciation.

22. Ethelinda Brewer. 1899. 19:102. Will.

This post has been in the draft file for some months now. My original plan was to include an abstract of the above records. At this time that project would be too time consuming and is not possible within the foreseeable future, so rather than have this much of the post linger in the draft file, perhaps this can serve as a head start for anyone researching the Brewers of Mercer County, Kentucky.

*Daniel Brouwer/Brewer (1719-1791) is a great-grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I. (Adam>Pieter>Abraham>Daniel).

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A List of BREWER Deeds in Kentucky: Hardin County

 Hardin County, Kentucky was formed in 1792 from land partitioned from Nelson County, which itself was created from Jefferson County in 1784. Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the 15th State on June 1, 1792. Prior to that it was known as the Kentucky District and was within the jurisdiction of Virginia. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1774 by James Harrod at the site of present day Harrodsburg in Mercer County. On 4 March 1843, the southeast portion of Hardin County was set of to form LaRue County. 

The Family History Library has filmed and since digitized the deed books for Hardin County. Digital images can be accessed from a home computer at the FamilySearch.org website: Hardin County, Kentucky Deeds, 1793-1902; index 1795-1904. A list of deeds involving persons named BREWER.

1. Mark Brewer from Benjamin Chastee, G:71 (1819)
   
2. Mark Brewer from John Brewer, I:15 (1823)
   
3. Isaac Brewer from John Willett, T:385 (1841)
   
4. John Brewer to Stephen French, T:41 (1840)
   
5. Isaac Brewer from Edward Sutton, T:380 (1841)
   
6. Isaac Brewer to Nathaniel Whitehead, V:221 (1841)
   
7. Uriah Brewer from Henry F. McBride by Comr., Y:247 (1850)
   
8. John Brewer from L & N Rail Road Co., Z:388 (1852)
   
9. Uriah Brewer to Felix J. Fowler, 2:431 (1854)
   

This post has been in the draft file for some months now. My original intention was to abstract these deeds. Plans have changed, I will not be doing that at this time. Perhaps this list will serve as a bit of a shortcut to anyone who may be interested in the Brewer families of Hardin County, Kentucky.

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Some BREWER Wills In Kentucky: LaRue County

 We're looking into some potential connections between some BREWER families, primarily descended from Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island, who settled in Kentucky during the late 1700s and/or early 1800s. Below are some abstracts/transcriptions by myself with links to digital images of the will books at FamilySearch.org (you will need to log in to FamilySearch to view them. There is no fee). This post includes four will found in the LaRue County Will Books. LaRue County was formed March 4, 1843, set off from the southeast portion of Hardin County.

1- Samuel Brewer, Larue County. Larue Co. Wills 1:54-55. Dated 18 October 1852. Samuel Brewer "now in a bad state of health but of sound mind." To Charity Howell and Samuel Howell daughter and son of Elizabeth Howell my sister dec., my part of the land on the Swel Woods & Otter Creek, Larue County, Ky that was willed to me by Peter Brewer dec., equally. Also said Charity is to have one heifer that was given to her for her services and attention on her grand mother when sick & in her last moments & dying. Also the above Samuel is to have my  cloth suit & hat. I give and bequeath unto Phebe Brewer the daughter of Isaac Brewer, dec. my brother my (?) cow & bequeth unto Mary Jane Brewer the (?) heifer. I also appoint John Baird as my executor if consistent with the laws of our land to divide the above property to the different legatees without administration. Also the said Baird is requested to sell all the rest of my goods and chattels to the highest bidder & discharge all my legal debts and expenses then the balance if any I give to my brother Benjamin Brewer. Signs with his mark. Witnesses: John Baird, William ? Baird. Proved 30 Nov 1852. [This is Samuel Brewer, b. ca. 1796 in Kentucky, d. 8 November 1852, a son of Peter Brewer and Margaret Hobach].

2- William F. Brewer, Larue County. Larue Co. Wills 1:103-4. Dated 18 May 1861. William F. Brewer of the County of Larue, State of Kentucky being of sound and disposing mind & memory but weak & infirm knowing once that it is appointed once to all men to die and being desirous of disposing of what little estate I have been blessed with to my satisfaction I do make, ordain & establish this as my last will & testament... All just debts and liabilities to be paid by my executor. To my wife Mary Brewer one feather bed and furniture to be well furnished with all her fine quilts six in number & one square table forever. My property, all both real & personal, land, stocks, kitchen and house hold furniture be sold in a twelve month credit by my executor, and after paying all liabilities loan out all the money that may be left of my estate and the interest of the same be paid to my wife Mary for her support during her life. (Instructions for the executor to also pay out principal should the interest be insufficient to support his wife). Appoints friend, Jisse P. Bryant sole executor. Signed William F. Brewer. Witnesses: Saml. P. Lasley, James M. Hausbury. Proved 26 August 1861. [William F. Brewer is not found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database. I do find a Wm. Brewer with (inferred) wife Mary on the 1850 U.S. census in Hamiltons, Larue Co., KY, both age 26, born in Kentucky. In 1860, W. F. Brewer, age 37, born in Kentucky with (inferred) wife Mary, age 41, Kentucky are enumerated in Larue County (no township or city stated). On this same census sheet are a Michl Brewer (age 31, KY) and an Isaac Brewer (age 20, KY) both married with one child each. A Peter Brewer (age 34, KY) is in the household of Michl (I assume Michael) Brewer. There is a Kentucky marriage record for William Brewer and Mary Hatfield, both age 21, dated 12 November 1846 in Hardin County (Larue/LaRue County was set off from Hardin County, 4 March 1843). Additional research on this Brewer family, due to length and complexity, will have to be reserved for a future post of its own].

3- Michael Brewer, Larue County. Larue Co. Wills 1:212. Dated 30 June 1869. Michael Brewer of Larue County, Kentucky being feable in body but sound in mind and memory. After my death my body be decently buried and my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. To my son William, a certain tract of land lying in Larue County on the waters of the southfork of Nolin (River) and bounded as follows...127 1/2 acres (see original). To Milley Brewer the wife of my son Peter M. Brewer, two dollars. To grandson John W. Brewer and Washington R. Brewer and Thomas B. Brewer, 157 1/2 acres, more or less, to be divided equally among my three grandsons, the land lying on the west of my son William above mentioned. Appoints friend Baylor Henderson sole executor. Signs with his mark X. Witnesses: Saml. S. Kirkpatrick, Eliza F. Alfney. Proved 24 August 1874. [Michael Brewer is found on the BGD website. This will adds to his profile and narrows down the time range for his date of death to between 4 August 1870 when he appears on the U.S. census at Buffalo, Larue County, and 24 August 1874 when his will was proved. He is a son of Peter Brewer and Margaret Hobach and a brother of Samuel Brewer, above].

4- Valentine Brewer, Larue County. Larue Co. Wills 2:73. Dated 3 November 1883. Valentine Brewer of Larue County, "am well and in my right reason." To my wife Rachel Brewer my land during her natural life - to have the entire control of. "She must rent it each year for the third of what can be raised on the farm. Whoever rents the farm must bind themselves to keep the farm in good repair." To son William A. Brewer the "refusal of renting the above named farm." "I want my land sold at my wife's death." Son William to have two thirds of the money that the farm brings. Daughter Lucinda J. Howell to have one third of the money the farm brings. If William dies before Lucinda, Lucinda is to have William's two thirds share. Wife Rachel to have all of "my property out of doors to dispose of at her will and that she have all the household and kitchen furniture her life time and at her death it is my will that my daughter Lucinda Howell have it all." Signs with his mark X. "And I also want W. M. Baird to be my administrator." Witnesses: Philip R. Scott, W. M. Baird. Proved 27 July 1885. [Valentine Brewer can be found on the BGD website. This will adds to the notes found there and provides a date range for his time of death which would be sometime between 3 November 1883 and 27 July 1885. He is a son of Peter Brewer and Margaret Hobach and a brother of Samuel Brewer and Michael Brewer above].

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Some BREWER Wills in Kentucky: Hardin County

 We're looking into some potential connections between some BREWER families, primarily descended from Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island, who settled in Kentucky during the late 1700s and/or early 1800s, and some unplaced BREWER ancestors who we suspect may be descendants of Adam Brouwer (see the post of January 18, 2023). Below are some abstracts/transcriptions by myself with links to digital images of the will books at FamilySearch.org (you will need to log in to FamilySearch to view them. There is no fee). We start with a look at Hardin County which was formed in 1792 from land partitioned from Nelson County. In 1843, LaRue County was created from a portion of southeastern Hardin County.

1- William Brewer (Hardin Co. Wills E:18-19). Dated 12 February 1838. William Brewer of the County of Hardin and State of Kentucky, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory. Debts and funeral expenses to be paid. To my wife Eliner Brewer, all the balance of my estate both real and personal for her use in the case of my children during her natural life or widowhood, but in case she does marry there I bequeath unto her a third part of all estate and the balance or two thirds to be for my six children Nancy Ann, Urias, Elizabeth, Henry, Mary Jane, Martha Ann to be divided equally between them all. But in case my wife should die and not marry then the estate to be divided all equally with the six above named children as they come of age. Signs with his mark X. Witnesses: Joseph Ryan, John Stader. Proved 21 Jan 1839. [Note with regard to the list of children - the commas are mine, there was no punctuation in the original. William twice stated that he had six children and this seemed to be the most logical way to differentiate those with compound names (i.e. Nancy Ann, Mary Jane, Martha Ann). [William Brewer is not found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database website (BGD). Some quick research finds that he is a son of Mark and Catharine Brewer, originally from Maryland, and then of Hardin County, Kentucky (see 3-John Brewer below). They are not related to the BREWER descendants of Adam Brouwer who are found also found in Hardin County].

2- Peter Brewer (Hardin Co. Wills E:48-49). Dated 2 November 1840. Peter Brewer of Hardin County and State of Kentucky am sick but in my right reason. Unto my sons Samuel Brewer and Valentine Brewer my lands in the Levelwoods to be equally divided at their mother's death, Samuel the north and Valentine the south part of said survey By their giving their mother one third of what they raise to maintain her decently and in order also if either of the above brothers should become dissatisfied and wish to sell. Also I give and bequeath unto my wife Margaret Brewer all my personal property horses cattle farming utensils and house lot and kitchen furniture with hoggs and bee hives during her natural life then the surplus of the above personal estate is to be equally divided between the rest of my children Michael Brewer, Elizabeth Howell, Isaac Brewer, Benjamin Brewer and John Brewer. Signs with his mark X. Witnesses: John Baird Senr., Nancy Hobach, John Baird Jr. Proved 19 April 1841 and recorded 29 May 1841. [Peter Brewer can be found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database website (BGD). Also see the post of January 18, 2023. Direct male descendants of his sons Isaac and Valentine have participated in the Brewer DNA Project. They are descendants of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I.].

3- John Brewer (Hardin Co. Wills E:232-4). Dated 20 July 1852. John Brewer of Hardin County, Kentucky, being sick and weak but of sound mind and disposing memory. All debts and funeral expenses to be paid. The land that was part of the Mary Wise farm to be sold for that purpose (to pay debts) but if either of my heirs should wish to keep that place and furnish money to to its worth to pay the debts off they can have the privilege to do so. To wife Matilda Brewer all my house farm for her support and the support of my younger children viz. Rose Malvinia, James Elias, and Luinda C. Brewer during the time they continue with her. If they marry or leave her then my wife Matilda Brewer to have the houses and one third of the land of said farm. To my three daughters Mary Jane Ryan, Kitty Ann Hoskins, and Rose Malvina Brewer each a house (sic) worth fifty dollars or fifty dollars in cash in place of a horse Malvina also a cow a bed bedstead and furniture. Son James Elias a horse saddle and bridle worth seventy five dollars or its equivalent in cash. To daughter Luinda C. Brewer a horse saddle and bridle worth seventy five dollars and a cow a bed bedstead and furniture or its equivalent in cash to be put to interest until she marries or becomes at age. To Francis X. Brewer a lot in Pittstown for services rendered which may be his choice of two lots. I divine the other lot at Pitts Point and three acres and a quarter of land lying between John Hannes and Wielen Greenville to be sold at public sale. Further I have been of the opinion that my farm on Salt river Bullitt County was worth twelve hundred dollars if any one or more of my sons John Q. and Francis X. Brewer do wish to take it at twelve hundred dollars they are privilege to do so otherwise to be sold at public sale. A note payable to Luke Howlett perhaps ninety two dollars that I am in security for with James Ryan . If James fails to pay it then the executor discounts that much out of what I give to my daughter Mary Jane. I devise a public sale of all my personal estate consisting of household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils, stock, wagons, buggy, etc. I appoint my wife Matilda Brewer and my son John Q. Brewer executrix and executor. Signed John Brewer. Witnesses: Joseph Ryan, Dennis Pursell. "One thing more as it comes to my mind I want enough money of the estate applied to the schooling of James Elias and Luinda C. Brewer as will give them good schooling." Codicil (not dated) gives the balance after debts and expenses and wife Matilda Brewer's right to my children an equal part (named) Elizabeth Warren, Mary Jane Ryan, Kitty Ann Hoskins, John Q. Brewer, Francis X. Brewer, Rose Malvena, James Elias and Luinda C. Brewer, each to have an equal part of the residue. Proved 16 Aug 1852. Recorded 7 October 1852. [John Brewer can be found on the BGD. Please note that the reference here to a tree on Ancestry.com is no longer active. The "Unplaced Brouwer, Brower, Brewer, Bruer tree has been deleted from Ancestry.com. John Brewer was born around 1789 in Maryland and is a son of Mark and Catharine (___) Brewer. This family is not related to the Brewer families of Hardin County who are descendants of Adam Brouwer (see 1-William Brewer above)]. 

And that is the extent of the BREWERs who I find in the Hardin County, Kentucky will books into the mid-1800s. We'll be looking next at LaRue County, Kentucky which was set off from Hardin County in 1843. 

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