Elizabeth Brouwer is most likely a daughter of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth Drinckvelt of Beverwijck (now Albany, New York). There are very few records that survive regarding Elizabeth. There is no surviving record of her baptism and her father did not leave a will. Her placement as a daughter of Willem Brouwer and Lysbeth Drinckvelt is based solely on circumstantial evidence that revolves around baptismal sponsorships.
Elizabeth Brouwer was married to Claas de Graaf. There is no surviving record of their marriage or banns. The earliest baptism record for any of their children, is that of son Isaac who was baptized 4 August 1691 at Albany. One of the sponsors was Lysbeth Rinkhout (the above Lysbeth Drinckvelt recorded with the surname of her second husband). It appears that the couple had six children prior to Isaac for whom no record of baptism survives. See the family group sheet for Elisabeth Brouwer and Claas de Graaf, for source citations.
Much of what has been accepted as the current make-up of the family of Elizabeth Brouwer and Claas de Graaf comes from Jonathan Pearson, Contributions for the Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Patent and City of Schenectady, from 1662 to 1800 (published in 1873, hereafter as First Settlers of Schenectady). The family is found on page 54. Unfortunately, Pearson did not provide sources for his conclusions. His account does have contradictions, and we are left today with some questions, with regards to Claas de Graaf, the identity of his father, his birth date, and two of his claimed children.
Jonathan Pearson refers to Claas de Graaf, with a patronymic, calling him Claas Andriesse de Graaf. This implies that Claas was the son of a man named Andries de Graaf. Pearson does not cite a record in which Claas is found with this name, and in the few records that I have found in which Claas is mentioned, is name is given only as "Claas de Graaf," or "Claas Graven" (or some variation thereof). I have yet to see the patronymic, Andriesse, in a record. We are left with the question as to where Pearson found, or came up with, the patronymic, Andriesse.
Pearson also gives a year of birth for Claas as 1628, and a year of death as 1697. For the year of birth, he apparently cites "Deeds, 2:88; Albany Co. Recs., 234" (this found in his account of Claas in History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times (Albany: J.W. McMurray, 1883): 107). Perhaps this record provided Pearson with the patronymic? In 1697, Elisabeth Brouwer was recorded on the census at Schenectady as a head of household with "no man, one woman, and seven children." As Elizabeth is recorded as the head, it is near certain that Claas was in fact deceased in or before 1697.
When Willem Brouwer came to New Netherland, he boarded a ship at Amsterdam with a wife and three children. If we accept the three children who boarded as Arnoldus, Eva and Hendrick, all of who have baptism records in the Netherlands, it is then apparent that Elizabeth was born in New Netherland after her parents arrival and probably between the years of 1655 and 1665. It appears that she had children born between the years 1680 and 1696 (a sixteen year span) and this range of childbearing years would be consistent with a woman's birth year range of 1655 to 1665. With Claas being said to have been born in 1628, this places him anywhere from 27 to 37 years Elizabeth's senior! All the more reason to question Pearson's claim as 1628 for a birth year for Claas.
Pearson leaves us with two more problems. In First Settlers of Schenectady he assigns two younger children to this family. They are Rebecca, born 28 February 1701, and Claes, born 4 August 1709. Both of these dates of birth are significantly past the year (1697) in which their father is stated to have died. No source is mentioned for either birth date, and I have found no record of baptism for either of the two claimed children. If these two individuals, Rebecca and Claes, did exist, then they cannot be children of Elizabeth Brouwer and Claas de Graaf.
The family of Elizabeth Brouwer and Claas de Graaf has questions that are still open one hundred and thirty-seven years after Jonathan Pearson's first published account of the family. I would be very much interested to hear from anyone who can provide documented evidence that supports Pearson's claims for Claas as having the patronymic, Andriesse, and/or the birth year of 1628. I would also be interested in seeing additional evidence supporting the existence of the children, Rebecca and Claes.
Please use the comment field below, or e-mail me.
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Sunset at Gowanus Bay
Sunset at Gowanus Bay, Henry Gritten, 1851
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Brower: Ohio Wills and Estates to 1850
Here is a short list of Browers found in Carol Willsey Bell, Ohio Wills and Estates to 1850: An Index (Columbus, Ohio: C. W. Bell, 1981). The names were extracted by William Bogardus and this document is from the William B. Bogardus Collection.
Brower in Ohio Wills and Estates to 1850
Carol Willsey Bell's work can be found in the Family History Library Catalog, and is available in both microfilm and microfiche editions (film #1035679, item 5; fiche #6051289. In addition, the catalog has a link to an online edition. In my own experience with this link I found that it took a relatively long time to download the online copy, which is large PDF.
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Brower in Ohio Wills and Estates to 1850
Carol Willsey Bell's work can be found in the Family History Library Catalog, and is available in both microfilm and microfiche editions (film #1035679, item 5; fiche #6051289. In addition, the catalog has a link to an online edition. In my own experience with this link I found that it took a relatively long time to download the online copy, which is large PDF.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Brewer: Index to Kentucky Wills to 1851
From the William B. Bogardus Collection, BREWER pages from Index to Kentucky Wills to 1851: Testators, compiled by Ronald V. Jackson, Gary R. Teeples and David Schaefermeyer (1977) is now online.
BREWER in Index to Kentucky Wills to 1851
There are no BROWERs in this index. All are recorded with the surname BREWER. We do know that the two from Mercer County, Abraham and Daniel, are descendants of Adam Brouwer. As easterners of Dutch ancestry migrated to the Ohio River Valley area in the years after the Revolution, we do find a tendency towards an "Americanization" of surnames. Those descended from Adam Brouwer of Gowanus and Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, who moved west of, say, central Pennsylvania, are more likely to be found with the surname, BREWER, rather than BROWER.
In addition to descendants of Adam Brouwer and Jan Brouwer, the Ohio River Valley received migrants descended from German Pennsylvania families named BROWER (BRUER), from southern families named BREWER and from New England BREWER families. Finding a BREWER ancestor in Kentucky in the early 1800s does not guarantee he was a descendants of one of the New Netherland Brouwers. Finding documentation suitable for proving a connection from an ancestor in Kentucky back to the families of New Netherland can be very difficult and frustrating. More often then not, the evidence simply does not exist. In such cases, DNA testing if direct male BREWER descendants may be the only way to determine, or narrow down, a researcher's correct ancestry. See the Brewer DNA Project.
Family Search has made available an un-indexed (browse only) database of Kentucky Probate records. These are images of documents. I believe it is not yet complete and would expect more to be added in the future. Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977.
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BREWER in Index to Kentucky Wills to 1851
There are no BROWERs in this index. All are recorded with the surname BREWER. We do know that the two from Mercer County, Abraham and Daniel, are descendants of Adam Brouwer. As easterners of Dutch ancestry migrated to the Ohio River Valley area in the years after the Revolution, we do find a tendency towards an "Americanization" of surnames. Those descended from Adam Brouwer of Gowanus and Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, who moved west of, say, central Pennsylvania, are more likely to be found with the surname, BREWER, rather than BROWER.
In addition to descendants of Adam Brouwer and Jan Brouwer, the Ohio River Valley received migrants descended from German Pennsylvania families named BROWER (BRUER), from southern families named BREWER and from New England BREWER families. Finding a BREWER ancestor in Kentucky in the early 1800s does not guarantee he was a descendants of one of the New Netherland Brouwers. Finding documentation suitable for proving a connection from an ancestor in Kentucky back to the families of New Netherland can be very difficult and frustrating. More often then not, the evidence simply does not exist. In such cases, DNA testing if direct male BREWER descendants may be the only way to determine, or narrow down, a researcher's correct ancestry. See the Brewer DNA Project.
Family Search has made available an un-indexed (browse only) database of Kentucky Probate records. These are images of documents. I believe it is not yet complete and would expect more to be added in the future. Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977.
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Friday, April 6, 2012
Two Brewers in Richmond County (Staten Island) Wills
Over the course of time I have found very few references to persons named BREWER or BROWER in Richmond County (Staten Island), New York. There are mentions of two Brewers in the probate records at the Surrogate's Court at St. George, Staten Island. Abstracts can be found in a typescript titled, "Wills of Richmond County, N. Y., 1787-1863, originals on file Surrogate's Office, St. George, Staten Island, New York," compiled by Frances S. Fast in 1941. A copy of the pages pertaining to Brewers taken from this typescript was included in William B. Bogardus' collection, and it is now online:
Wills of Richmond County, N. Y. by Frances S. Fast
The first mention is in the will of Ann Robbins, widow of Robert Robbins of New York City, deceased. Ann's will was dated 29 August 1844 and proved 18 September 1847. She died on 30 September 1846. In her will she leaves her property at Castleton and Southfield (both on Staten Island) to her daughter, Christiana Ann, the wife of Benjamin P. Brewer. In addition, Benjamin P. Brewer is appointed as the only executor of the estate. The probate hearings record (among others) the children of Benjamin P. Brewer and Christiana Ann, naming them as Daniel R. Brewer (of age), Benjamin, Robert, Ann, Caroline, Andrew J. and John N. Brewer. This Benjamin P. Brewer would be Benjamin Prince Brower, born 2 May 1801, son Nicholas Birdsall Brower and Ruth Prince. Benjamin is a descendant of Adam Brouwer. n 1860 he was Post Master of the the New Brighton Office on Staten Island.
The second mention is the will of Samuel Brewer who died 3 December 1861 at Westfield, Staten Island. His will is dated 25 September 1861 and was proved 12 February 1862. He leaves his estate to a Sarah Carlock "as long as she stays unmarried." On her death or remarriage, the estate is to go to the children of his brother, Hastings Brewer, except a watch, which is to go to Abraham Riker Kelsey. The probate hearing also records sister (sisters?), Mary Eltting, Hannah Smith, Maria Mayhew, Eliza Edwards, Sarah Brewer, and sons of Thomas Brewer, deceased, names unknown, and brothers Hastings Brewer, Henry and William. Determining just who this Samuel Brewer was took a little digging, which started with finding Sarah Carlock on the 1860 census. She was age 55, living in Westfield, Richmond Co., New York, as a housekeeper in the home of "James" Brewer, age 64, born in England. Perhaps James was a brother of Samuel, or perhaps he is Samuel with his name erroneously recorded as "James." In 1850, Sarah Carlock, age 45, was living with Samuel Brewer, age 59, born in England, in Ward 12, New York City, New York. In the household was a Mary Brewer, age 61, and adults John Carlock, James Carlock, George Carlock and Henry Carlock. In searching for Hastings Brewer, the only one found, was living in 1860 in Southfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. He was age 49, born in England. This Hastings Brewer had married Fedilia Bunnell on 11 September 1842 at Harwinton, Connecticut. The 1860 census includes, Fedilia and six children aged 4 to 16 years. The family can be found at New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts in 1850, 1870 and 1880. Hastings Brewer's death is recorded in the New Marlborough Town Records, the date being 27 December 1890. So, it appears that the Samuel Brewer who left a will in Richmond County, New York, was an immigrant to the U. S. from England sometime during the first half of the 1800s. He was not a descendant of either Adam Brouwer of Gowanus or of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands. Likewise, the Hastings Brewer of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, is not a descendant of one of the New England Brewer families who are found that county throughout the 1800s. As for Sarah Carlock, she apparently was a widow prior to 1850. In 1880 she is found enumerated as "mother" in the household of Robert Carlock, age 53, blacksmith, in New York City.
The typescript mentioned above is available through the Family History Library, FHL film #860323, items 2-4.
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Wills of Richmond County, N. Y. by Frances S. Fast
The first mention is in the will of Ann Robbins, widow of Robert Robbins of New York City, deceased. Ann's will was dated 29 August 1844 and proved 18 September 1847. She died on 30 September 1846. In her will she leaves her property at Castleton and Southfield (both on Staten Island) to her daughter, Christiana Ann, the wife of Benjamin P. Brewer. In addition, Benjamin P. Brewer is appointed as the only executor of the estate. The probate hearings record (among others) the children of Benjamin P. Brewer and Christiana Ann, naming them as Daniel R. Brewer (of age), Benjamin, Robert, Ann, Caroline, Andrew J. and John N. Brewer. This Benjamin P. Brewer would be Benjamin Prince Brower, born 2 May 1801, son Nicholas Birdsall Brower and Ruth Prince. Benjamin is a descendant of Adam Brouwer. n 1860 he was Post Master of the the New Brighton Office on Staten Island.
The second mention is the will of Samuel Brewer who died 3 December 1861 at Westfield, Staten Island. His will is dated 25 September 1861 and was proved 12 February 1862. He leaves his estate to a Sarah Carlock "as long as she stays unmarried." On her death or remarriage, the estate is to go to the children of his brother, Hastings Brewer, except a watch, which is to go to Abraham Riker Kelsey. The probate hearing also records sister (sisters?), Mary Eltting, Hannah Smith, Maria Mayhew, Eliza Edwards, Sarah Brewer, and sons of Thomas Brewer, deceased, names unknown, and brothers Hastings Brewer, Henry and William. Determining just who this Samuel Brewer was took a little digging, which started with finding Sarah Carlock on the 1860 census. She was age 55, living in Westfield, Richmond Co., New York, as a housekeeper in the home of "James" Brewer, age 64, born in England. Perhaps James was a brother of Samuel, or perhaps he is Samuel with his name erroneously recorded as "James." In 1850, Sarah Carlock, age 45, was living with Samuel Brewer, age 59, born in England, in Ward 12, New York City, New York. In the household was a Mary Brewer, age 61, and adults John Carlock, James Carlock, George Carlock and Henry Carlock. In searching for Hastings Brewer, the only one found, was living in 1860 in Southfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. He was age 49, born in England. This Hastings Brewer had married Fedilia Bunnell on 11 September 1842 at Harwinton, Connecticut. The 1860 census includes, Fedilia and six children aged 4 to 16 years. The family can be found at New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts in 1850, 1870 and 1880. Hastings Brewer's death is recorded in the New Marlborough Town Records, the date being 27 December 1890. So, it appears that the Samuel Brewer who left a will in Richmond County, New York, was an immigrant to the U. S. from England sometime during the first half of the 1800s. He was not a descendant of either Adam Brouwer of Gowanus or of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands. Likewise, the Hastings Brewer of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, is not a descendant of one of the New England Brewer families who are found that county throughout the 1800s. As for Sarah Carlock, she apparently was a widow prior to 1850. In 1880 she is found enumerated as "mother" in the household of Robert Carlock, age 53, blacksmith, in New York City.
The typescript mentioned above is available through the Family History Library, FHL film #860323, items 2-4.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Quebec, Lower Canada, Canada East, Eastern Townships
Below are some links that may be of help when researching ancestral lines that spent some time in the region that in the past was known variously as Lower Canada and Canada East, and today is the Canadian Province of Quebec.
The St. Lawrence River region was first explored by Jacques Cartier in 1534, and French settlements began to take hold in the area in 1609. This area, claimed by the French and known as New France, reached its peak in the first half of the 1700s. In 1763, the territory was ceded to Spain and Great Britain. It was at this time that the Province of Quebec, as a part of the British Empire, was founded.
In 1791, Lower Canada and Upper Canada were created (see the March 28th post). Lower Canada lived on as a political entity until 1841 when it was combined with Upper Canada to form the Province of Canada. What was formerly Lower Canada was, as of 1841, known as Canada East.
The 1867 act of Confederation divided the Province of Canada into the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Land purchases and Acts of the Canadian Parliament in subsequent years added more territory to the Province of Quebec, and today, it is the largest Canadian Province in terms of area. It is the second largest in terms of population.
The majority of the settlements and population during the colonial period and the post American Revolutionary War period was found along the St. Lawrence River and in the areas of close proximity to the American Colonies, later the United States. Many Americans who were Loyalists during the Revolution found new homes in Lower Canada after 1783. In addition, Lower Canada (later Canada East) received immigrants from the British Isles, especially from Ireland. During the 1800s the second largest ethnic population in the province, after the French, were the Irish.
The "Eastern Townships," refers to the area (within present day Quebec) lying south of the St. Lawrence River and north of the border with the U. S. states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. This area was settled by both Loyalist and non-Loyalist families from the American Colonies in the years following the American Revolution.
Archives of Quebec
Eastern Township Archives
Eastern Township Research
Frampton Irish
Hemmingford Historical Archives
Lower Canada Land Petitions
Missisquoi County Genealogy Research
Missisquoi Museum
Notarial Archives - Quebec
Projet GenWeb du Quebec
Quebec & Eastern Townships Genealogy Research
The links above, along with a few links to some specific cemetery transcriptions, can be found in the column of links to the right.
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The St. Lawrence River region was first explored by Jacques Cartier in 1534, and French settlements began to take hold in the area in 1609. This area, claimed by the French and known as New France, reached its peak in the first half of the 1700s. In 1763, the territory was ceded to Spain and Great Britain. It was at this time that the Province of Quebec, as a part of the British Empire, was founded.
In 1791, Lower Canada and Upper Canada were created (see the March 28th post). Lower Canada lived on as a political entity until 1841 when it was combined with Upper Canada to form the Province of Canada. What was formerly Lower Canada was, as of 1841, known as Canada East.
The 1867 act of Confederation divided the Province of Canada into the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Land purchases and Acts of the Canadian Parliament in subsequent years added more territory to the Province of Quebec, and today, it is the largest Canadian Province in terms of area. It is the second largest in terms of population.
The majority of the settlements and population during the colonial period and the post American Revolutionary War period was found along the St. Lawrence River and in the areas of close proximity to the American Colonies, later the United States. Many Americans who were Loyalists during the Revolution found new homes in Lower Canada after 1783. In addition, Lower Canada (later Canada East) received immigrants from the British Isles, especially from Ireland. During the 1800s the second largest ethnic population in the province, after the French, were the Irish.
The "Eastern Townships," refers to the area (within present day Quebec) lying south of the St. Lawrence River and north of the border with the U. S. states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. This area was settled by both Loyalist and non-Loyalist families from the American Colonies in the years following the American Revolution.
Archives of Quebec
Eastern Township Archives
Eastern Township Research
Frampton Irish
Hemmingford Historical Archives
Lower Canada Land Petitions
Missisquoi County Genealogy Research
Missisquoi Museum
Notarial Archives - Quebec
Projet GenWeb du Quebec
Quebec & Eastern Townships Genealogy Research
The links above, along with a few links to some specific cemetery transcriptions, can be found in the column of links to the right.
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Monday, April 2, 2012
Abstracts of Wills for Queens Co., New York, 1787-1850
Here is another selection from the William B. Bogardus Collection.
Brower and Brewer in Abstracts of Wills for Queens Co., NY, compiled by Ray C. Sawyer.
This is a large file of thirty pages. You may want to download it, which can be done from the drop-down file menu in the top left corner. The pages here contain abstracts that include persons with the surname BROWER or BREWER. There are many other names found on these thirty pages and therefore those researching families in Queens County, New York may find some other useful information.
The pages come from Ray C. Sawyer's four volume typescript titled Abstracts of Wills for Queens County, New York. Volume 1 (1936) covers 1787-1813. Volume 2 (1937) covers 1813-1828. Volume 3 (1937) covers 1828 to 1843. Volume 4 (1938) covers 1843 to 1850. Heritage Quest Online does not have these volumes available, and I have been unable to find another online location for the complete set. They are available on microfilm from the Family History Library on film #0860322. This film also contains other items regarding probate, burial and gravestones in Rensselaer County, New York.
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Brower and Brewer in Abstracts of Wills for Queens Co., NY, compiled by Ray C. Sawyer.
This is a large file of thirty pages. You may want to download it, which can be done from the drop-down file menu in the top left corner. The pages here contain abstracts that include persons with the surname BROWER or BREWER. There are many other names found on these thirty pages and therefore those researching families in Queens County, New York may find some other useful information.
The pages come from Ray C. Sawyer's four volume typescript titled Abstracts of Wills for Queens County, New York. Volume 1 (1936) covers 1787-1813. Volume 2 (1937) covers 1813-1828. Volume 3 (1937) covers 1828 to 1843. Volume 4 (1938) covers 1843 to 1850. Heritage Quest Online does not have these volumes available, and I have been unable to find another online location for the complete set. They are available on microfilm from the Family History Library on film #0860322. This film also contains other items regarding probate, burial and gravestones in Rensselaer County, New York.
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