Status of the Adam Brouwer Sub-Group of the Brewer DNA Project

Hank Graham, Administrator of the Brewer DNA Project provides the following update and status on the Adam Brouwer sub-group of the Brewer DNA Project, found at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). [My comments in italics. In some cases, segments highlighted in bold are mine]:

Below are the seven sons of Adam Brouwer along with the five BigY (now called the BigY-500 since being upgraded to include over 500 STR marker testing) participants with known pedigrees (back to four of Adam Brouwer's seven sons). [To date, 14 members of this sub-group have taken FTDNA's BigY-500 test. Five of those members have proven pedigrees extending back to Adam Brouwer. The remaining nine have either unconfirmed pedigrees or theorized pedigrees back to Adam Brouwer which have not been proved through traditional genealogical research means].

1. Pieter (b.1646), kit #688377, complete FTDNA BigY results, no YFull results.
2. Matthys (b.1649, d. bef. 1726), NO KNOWN participant in the Project with a proven pedigree.
3. Willem (b.1651), NO KNOWN participant with a proven pedigree.
4. Jacob (b.ca.1655, d. bef. 1706), kit #443252, complete BigY and YFull results.
5. Adam (b.1662), NO KNOWN participant with a proven pedigree.
6. Abraham (b. by 1667), kit #161350 has complete BigY and YFull results. Kit #458438 has complete BigY results and partial YFull results.
7. Nicholas (b.1672, d. bef. 1749), kit #491946, complete BigY results, no YFull results.

[Also see the DNA Analysis page for the Adam Brouwer sub-group at the Brouwer Genealogy Database website. There are links to charts showing direct ancestries, as submitted by participants. Included are most, but not all, of the kit #s mentioned below. Some names found below have links that will take you to that individual's profile on the BGD. The BGD was last updated in late 2015, and newer members to the Brewer DNA Project have not been included. Unfortunately, I can no longer update the BGD].

The BigY results from members of the four known lines (above) were used to create modal values for Adam Brouwer at each of the approximately 500 STR markers. After the STR modal values for Adam were determined, BigY tests for all 14 men were compared to the modal values and any variation from the modal value was noted for each person. For two members (kits 485539 and 597589) there are no Y-DNA results between YDNA67 and YDNA111* which could minimize the variation observed for those two men. Over the approximately 500 STR markers for each person the maximal variant markers observed was seven for kit #443252 and kit #65385. The least variation was zero for kit #688377. The typical result was 3 or 4 variants per tested individual. When these rare variant results match it is very significant and is a strong indication of a common line back to a single son of Adam, but it is not absolute proof that they share a MRCA (most recent common ancestor) between Adam and the present. In some cases, multiple men shared two or more variants in the BigY test - these men descend from a common ancestor and one of Adam's sons.

Let's look at the BigY results from the 14 participants

7. Nicholas (b.1672, d. bef. 1749) - kit #491946 descends from Nicholas through his son Adolphus (b.1693) and grandson Nicholas Adolphus Brouwer (b. 1714). The man is identified as belonging to haplogroup E-BY6201** which is the common halpogroup for the Adam Brouwer sub-group. None of the other 13 tested members had a matching novel SNP with any of his novel SNPs. There are six variant STR markers in his YDNA111 and BigY results, including DYS439(=14) from the YDNA37 panel, and FTY58(=11) from the BigY-500 panel.*** Of the 13 other tested men only two match any of #491946's six variant markers. These two men, kit #N142947 with five variant results and kit #65385 with seven variant results, match both DYS439 from the YDNA37 panel and FTY58 from the BigY-500 panel - both descend from Nicholas (b.1672). To date, only kit #N142947 has completed the YFull part of the analysis. Since all three men (#491946, #N142947 and #65385) are not thought to descend from the same son of Nicholas (b.1672) both markers DYS439 and FTY58 first appeared in Adam Brouwer's son, Nicholas (b.1672).

BigY participant #65385 has five additional variant results that can provide additional information. In addition to matching marker DYS439, variant markers DYS446(=13) and DYS568(=11) appear in the YDNA67 panel and are shared with members #107708 and #285309. Looking at the pedigrees, #65385 and #285309 have a pedigree that includes Peter Brewer (b.1779) son of Jeremiah Brower/Brewer (b. 1738) and a proposed line through Jurge Brouwer (b.1701, a son of Nicholas, b. 1672). The third man does not have a pedigree that descends from Peter Brewer (b.1779). This indicates that the two markers, DYS446 and DYS568 first appeared in Nicholas' son thought to be Jurge (b.1701), or in Nicholas' grandson, Jeremiah (b.1738).**** All three of these men (#65385, #285309 and #107708) descend from Nicholas (b.1672) and one of his sons, who is thought to be Jurge (b.1701).

6. Abraham (b. by 1667) - kit #161350 has complete BigY and YFull test results, and his (known) relative kit #458438 has complete BigY results and partial results from YFull. They are in haplogroup E-BY6312 which was one of their five matching novel SNPs (the other four being BY6313, BY6315, BY6316 and Y56389) and first appeared at various times over eight generations in their common line from Abraham (b. by 1667) to their MRCA, Leon Brower (b.1893). Kit #161350 has four variant markers and #458438 has only one variant marker, which they share, DYS572(=10). They descend from Abraham Brouwer (b. by 1667) and his son Abraham (b. 1706). Another member of the Project, kit #818228 descends from Abraham (b. by 1667) and his son Jeury Brouwer (b.1700-1705). All three men are the only men of 29 tested beyond YDNA37 to have DYS572, a STR marker that first appears with Abraham Brouwer (b. by 1667). For completeness, of the three variant markers not shared with kit #458438 that appeared in the line of kit#161350 after MRCA Leon Brower (b.1893), one marker, CDY(=30-35) appears independently in the line of kit #65385. This marker is typically variable and this mutation appeared independently in two different lines (i.e. in lines descended from two different sons of Adam Brouwer).

4. Jacob (b.ca.1655, d. bef. 1706) - Kit #443252 has complete BigY and YFull results. He is in haplogroup E-BY6201 which is the common haplogroup of the Adam Brouwer sub-group and none of the 13 other members of the group had a matching novel SNP with any of his novel SNPs. He has seven variant markers, three appear in standard YDNA37, 67 and 111 panels and four from the BigY-500 panel. First, in the YDNA37 panel, his variant marker, DYS570(=18) matches kit #50688, who is a known relative with a MCRA of Isaac Brock Brower (b. 1843). This variant first appeared somewhere in the six generations from Jacob (b.ca.1655) down to Isaac Brock Brower (b.1843).

Of his seven variant markers, four are from the BigY-500 panel. Marker DYS551(=13) matches one of the two variant markers of kit #342692. This single match appears to be an early marker in the line of Jacob (b.ca.1655) but it is not currently possible to place the exact place that this marker appeared. A variant match is very significant and a strong indication of a common line back to a single son of Adam Brouwer, in this case, Jacob (b.ca.1655), but it is not absolute proof. Kit #342692 does not have any variant markers with any of the other 12 BigY tested participants and he certainly does not have the markers DYS439 or FTY58 which are associated with Nicholas (b.1672), or DYS572 which is associated with Abraham (b. by 1667).

1. Pieter (b.1646) - Kit #688377 has complete FTDNA BigY test results, but  YFull results are not yet in. He has zero variant results from the modal value of Adam Brouwer as created by me based on equally weighting the values of each separate group of men and not just averaging all members. Although both results would be similar, the equally weighted method gives a better modal value for each STR marker of Adam Brouwer.

Six other members (three in haplogroup E-BY6245 and kits #485539, #597589, #669995) - This group of six does not have the markers DYS439 or FTY58, associated with Nicholas (b.1672) or DYS572, associated with Abraham (b. by 1667). None of the matching variants within this group of members is common with any of the groups examined. This group will be discussed in a separate report.

This update of BigY results for the Adam Brouwer sub-group is not a static report but will expand as more BigY participants are tested and YFull results are added. [The Adam Brouwer sub-group needs additional members to invest in taking the BigY-500 test, and it needs those who have tested but have not yet sent results to YFull to do so. Please contact the Brewer DNA Project if you have any questions on how to proceed]. "If any one reading this notices any numerical transpositions or similar errors, or omissions that should be included, please contact Hank through the Brewer DNA Project website (you may also use the Comments option for this post). I look forward to comments and will provide an analysis of the Six Member Group (mentioned above) very soon. Please encourage other Adam Brouwer sub-group members to take the BigY-500 test, or to upgrade to the YDNA67 or YDNA111 level. Several non-BigY results were helpful in better understanding the proper placement of some variant STR markers."

Thank you for supporting the Brewer DNA Project. - Hank Graham

*Family Tree DNA's Y-Chromosome DNA tests have been gradually expanded over time since the company began offering such tests. The original Y-DNA test consisted of 12 STR markers, numbered for convenience as 1 through 12, and is referred to (at FTDNA) as YDNA12, with the results being reported as Panel 1 on the customer's STR marker results page. Subsequently, markers numbered 13-25 were offered as YDNA25 and Panel 2; markers 26-37 as YDNA37 and Panel 3; markers 38-67 as YDNA67 and Panel 4; and markers 68-111 as YDNA111 and Panel 5. During the course of the past year, FTDNA upgraded their BigY test (which initially was advertised as an advanced SNP test) to include markers 112-561 and is referred to on each members STR marker results page as Panel 6 by FTDNA, and (by me) as "the BigY-500 panel" in this post. Those members who have taken the BigY-500 but are missing the results for markers 68-111 (panel 5) should order the YDNA111 Upgrade through their FTDNA account page. I (not a descendant of Adam Brouwer) fit into this same situation (have taken the Bigy-500 but am missing panel 5) and so ordered one for myself just today (the date of this post), and the price was $29.

**A haplogroup is named for a SNP that identifies, or determines, that it is a unique haplogroup. See this page at the ISOGG Wiki. In your own direct patrilinial (or matrilinial) ancestral line you will be defined, or belong to, a succession of different haplogroups, each one being a sub-clade of the previous haplogroup when working backwards from the present to the distant past. This might best be seen at the YFull YTree page for E-Y19643. The tabs at the top of the chart, when read from right to left, are the various haplogroups, moving back in time, that define Adam Brouwer's genetic ancestry. I will also note here that while YFull uses E-Y19643 as the SNP to identify the haplogroup that (thus far) only includes Adam Brouwer's descendants, FTDNA uses E-BY6201. The two are equivalent. That is to say they both represent the same location on the YTree.

***DYS439 and FTY58, as well the other similar designations mentioned in the post, are simply alpha-numeric labels that identify individual STR markers. The number seen in parenthesis (following an = sign) is the number of repeats reported for that particular STR marker. This number is known as the allele value. DYS446 has an allele value of 14, while FTY58 has an allele value of 11.

****Jeremiah Brower/Brewer (b.1738) is assumed to be a son of Jurge Brouwer (b.1701). This belief has not been proved by traditional genealogical research and after years of searching myself, I think it highly unlikely that such proof will ever be found. This placement, however, fits best with all known facts regarding both Jeremiah and Jurge. See the post of January 26, 2013.

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Adam Brouwer Descendants on the New YFull YTree v5.06

YFull has released their latest version of the YTree, this version being v5.06. Although no new branches have been identified, there are now seven members of the Adam Brouwer sub-group of the Brewer DNA Project who appear on the tree. This branch (subclade) of the YTree has been identified by YFull using the terminal SNP E-Y19643. The subclade is online here. YFull lists 17 additional SNPs that are unique to the subclade (18 total SNPs). The 18 are E-Y19643, E-Y19644, E-Y19645, E-BY6342/E-Y12019, E-Y12120, E-Y20121, E-Y20122, E-Y20123, E-Y20124, E-Y20125, E-Y20126, E-Y20127, E-A9482, E-A9483, E-A9484, E-A9486, E-A9487, E-A9488.

In addition, two of our members are identified as a sub-branch (subclade) of E-Y19643. They are identified by the terminal SNP E-BY6245. While the two share the above SNPs with those who are identified by E-Y19643 (etc.), the SNP E-BY6245 is unique to them and so sets the two off as a subclade. The two members are known to be first cousins, and therefore this common identifying SNP would have to have first appeared somewhere in their paternal ancestry between their grandfather who lived during the first half of the twentieth century and Adam Brouwer. But just where in that line, cannot be learned from the present data.

All members of this subclade are descendants of Adam Brouwer who was born at Cologne (a city in modern day Germany) sometime during the decade of 1610 to 1620. He served in Brazil as a soldier employed by the Dutch West India Company (WIC) in the early 1640s, and went from there to New Amsterdam probably in 1644. Adam Brouwer settled at Gowanus on the western edge of Long Island (now a neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City) where he died in early 1692. His seven sons all left descendants. Adam Brouwer's ancestry, and the names of his parents, is not known.

Most of our members represented in the current YTree cannot (as of this writing) cannot identify their complete paternal lineage back to Adam Brouwer. However, we do know that they are descendants of Adam Brouwer based upon the results of Y-DNA STR marker tests comparing them to members who do know their complete paternal line back to Adam Brouwer. The seven who are found in the current YTree v5.06 represent the following Earliest Known paternal Ancestors (EKA):

YF10565 = Benjamin Brewer (1796-1885, PA, IN, m. Elizabeth Rony)
YF10057 = John Brewer (1796-1849, Broadalbin, NY, m. Elsie Mosher)
YF08704 = Benjamin Brewer (1755-1834, PA, KY, IN, m. Catherine Mellinger)
YF04988 = John G. Brewer (1795-1886, Greene Co. OH, m. Sarah Miller)
YF03732 = Adam Brouwer through his son Abraham Brouwer
YF08703 = Peter Brewer (1750s-1840/41, Hardin Co., KY from PA, m. Margaret Hobach)
YF05152 = Peter Brewer (1750s-1840/41, Hardin Co., KY from PA, m. Margaret Hobach)
(Nos. 6 and 7 represent the subclade E-BY6245 mentioned above and are first cousins)

Currently in the works are four additional members who are awaiting results and/or analysis. Of the four, two are descendants of Adam Brouwer's son Nicholas Brouwer, one is a descendant of Adam Brouwer's son Jacob Brouwer, and the fourth is a descendant of Mathew Brower/Brewer of Greene Co., Pennsylvania whose ancestry back to Adam remains unknown. With any luck the results and analysis of these four tests will be up online by the end of the year. The Project seeks additional descendants for testing.

The Y-DNA test used here is the Big-Y which is offered by Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). Analysis of the test results and placement on the YFull YTree is done by the company YFull which is independent of FTDNA. Current members and those interested in becoming new members are welcome to contact the administrators of the Brewer DNA Project for information on testing.

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YFull's YTree v5.04

YFull's YTree v5.04 has been published with the date May 16, 2017. No changes to the arrangements of the subclades that represent members of various sub-groups within the Brewer DNA Project.

The Adam Brouwer sub-group continues with five tests and is represented by the terminal SNP E-Y19643, with two of the five tests in the subclade E-BY6245. Those two being first cousins. In addition we have one more just completed Big-Y test representing a descendant of Mathew Brewer of Greene Co., Pennsylvania which will hopefully be added to the YTree over the next few months. And we have another test on order which will represent a descendant of John Brewer of Broadalbin, New York. The sub-group needs help from fellow members who can trace their ancestry completely back to Adam Brouwer to further participate by taking the Big-Y test. The sub-group includes descendants of Adam's sons Pieter, Jacob and Nicholas Brouwer, and if we could have one or two descendants from each of those sons to take the Big-Y test we may be able to help those whose lineages are incomplete get a better idea of where to focus their search.

The Jan Brouwer sub-group also has five tests. They are all identified by YFull with the terminal SNP I-Y7214. No subclades of I-Y7214 have yet been separated out. One more test of a member is on order and their results should be added in sometime over the next few months. Here too, Big-Y testing of more members is needed.

The Brewer-Lanier (a.k.a. Lanier-Brewer) sub-group has fourteen tests on the current tree. The sub-group is identified by the terminal SNP I-Y15031, and includes three subclades identified as I-Y21524, I-Y29640 and I-Y23708. Brewer-Lanier has been the Projects most successful sub-group to date and that is due to strong participation from existing members. In addition to the fourteen tests on the current YTree the sub-group has one other whose Big-Y results have just been reported at FTDNA. Hopefully these results will show up on the YTree within a couple of months. AND the sub-group has seven Big-Y tests on order. When completed the sub-group will have 22 tested members and a more useful Y-DNA tree to help them solve the open questions involving certain lines of ancestry from George Brewer of Brunswick Co., Virginia.

Big-Y testing is done through FamilyTreeDNA which is host to the Brewer DNA Project. Further analysis and placement on the YTree is through the independent company, YFull, which is not associated with FTDNA.

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