Abstracts of Hunterdon County Probate Records (Continued)

For links to online probate records available at FamilySearch.org for Hunterdon County, New Jersey, please see the posts of May 6, 2020, and April 29, 2020. The information gathered below from the examination of the various probate records can be used to update and/or clarify info found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD).

8. Elizabeth A. Brewer. Petition for Administration 2:334, as found in the General Index, however this record is not found in the volume, nor is it listed in the volume's index. It is found in Petitions for Probate 2:334 and is listed in the index in that volume. Petition of Charles Hamm of Franklin, Hunterdon County, estate of Elizabeth A. Brewer, late of the Township of Union, Hunterdon County, who departed this life intestate, 20th January 1885. Next of kin and heirs at law: Charles Brewer (son, of Pittstown, NJ), Martha Baker (daughter), Mrs. Wm. Bellis (daughter), Mary Ann Stout (daughter of Philipsburg). Dated 7 February 1885. Letters of Administration 7:69. 7 February 1885. Granted to Charles Hamm of Hunterdon County. Administrators Bond 4:321. 7 February 1885. Bond of Charles Hamm. Minutes of the Orphans Court 16:781. April 1885 term (4 May 1885). Order to sell real estate to pay debts. MOC 17:99. Report of the sale made by Charles Hamm. House and lot in the Township of Alexandria, sold to Peter M. Taylor, the highest bidder. Dated 14 December 1885. Accounts 6:464. Among those who purchased from the estate is Mary A. Bellis. [Elizabeth Brewer can be found on the 1880 U.S. census at Alexandria, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, age 64. In the household are her husband, David Brewer, age 70, and son Charles Brewer, age 22. Elizabeth's family name has not been discovered. The ancestry of her husband, David Brewer, has not been learned. Limited info on the family is found on the BGD. I would gather that her husband died prior to 1885, although his name is not found in the General Index to Probate Records.]

9. Cornelius Brewer. Petition for Administration 1:86, by Washington L. Brewer of Kingwood, Hunterdon County, on the estate of Cornelius Brewer of Kingwood, 19 October 1889. Heirs and next of kin named as Mary Brewer (mother, of Baptistown, NJ), Washington G. Brewer (brother, of Baptistown, NJ), John W. Brewer (brother, of Flemington, NJ). Letters of Administration 7:215. Granted to Washington L.(T?) Brewer. [Find-A-Grave memorial for Cornelius L. Brewer (1841-11 Oct 1889). The memorial includes an image of his death notice, which does not mention relations, but describes the unfortunate way in which he died. He is found on the BGD here, apparently a son of Thomas Brewer whose ancestry has not been discovered.]

10. Leonard Brewer. Petition for Administration 1:12, filed by Elizabeth A. Brewer of Raritan, 4 June 1888, asks for LOA to be granted to Henry R. Brewer, David W. Ewing and Wm. E. Trewin. Leonard Brewer died in the Township of Raritan, 17 May 1888. Heirs and next of kin: Elizabeth A. Brewer (widow, of Flemington), Margaret C. Brewer (daughter of Flemington), Eliza B. Ewing (daughter of Grandin), Alice Trewin (daughter of Flemington). Letters of Administration 7:172. Granted 4 June 1888, on the estate of Leonard Brewer of Hunterdon County, to Henry R. Brewer, David W. Ewing and William E. Trewin, of Hunterdon County. Administrator's Bonds 4:534. $2800 by the above administrators with Jonathan Higgins and Granville Classon. Accounts 8:35. [Leonard Brewer is a son of William Brewer (no. 6 on the May 6th post) and Elizabeth Young. He is found here on the BGD. Information in the probate records provide a date of death and a husband for daughter Eliza, both previously unknown. Daughter Margaret was married to Henry R. Brewer, one of the administrators, and a son of Israel P. Brewer (no. 3 on the May 6th post).]

11. William Brewer. Petition for Probate 1:51. Petition of Elisha W. Brewer and William W. Brewer. Heirs listed as Gertrude B. Brewer (widow, of Ringoes, NJ), Elisha W. Brewer (child, of Ringoes), William W. Brewer (child, of Ringoes). [Ringoes is an unincorporated community within East Amwell Township]. Wills 15:398. William Brewer of the Township of East Amwell. All debts and funeral expenses to be paid. Executors to erect a suitable headstone. To beloved wife Gertrude Brewer all household goods and furniture. To son William W. Brewer, $350. Should either of my sons, William W. Brewer or Elisha W. Brewer hold and notes or book accounts against me at my decease they shall be paid out of the estate before final settlement. My sons shall have my farm, "and I prefer that they should agree on the price for the same without selling at a public vendue." Instructions to executors should it be sold. Executors to sell all personal property. Residue to be invested with interest to be paid to wife Gertrude V. Brewer. Upon her death, residue to be divided equally between my two sons, Elisha W. Brewer and William W. Brewer, who are also appointed executors. Dated 1 November 1888. Witnesses: P. C. Young, Oliver I. Blackwell. Proved 11 March 1889. Minutes of the Orphans Court 18:89 (Just two lines about the middle of the page). Accounts 8:348 (a line item under the date of April 2, 1889 reads, "Est of Jeremiah Brewer" and a second line item reads "Jeremiah Brewer Est note & int". Also, mentions of notes involving W. H. and Wm. H. Brewer). [William Brewer is on the BGD, he is a son of William Brewer and Elizabeth Young, and brother of Leonard Brewer (no. 10 above)].

12. Jeremia Brewer. Letters of Administration 7:174. 17 July 1888, Administration on the goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of Jermina Brewer, late of Hunterdon County, who died intestate, granted to William Brewer and Peter Brewer, of the County of Hunterdon. [I may have missed this individual when browsing through the General Index, but noticed an entry in the index for volume 7 of Letters of Administration. The rendering of this individual's name in the U. S. census records has caused some confusion as to his or her gender. On the BGD I have "her" as Jemima, a daughter of William Brewer and Elizabeth Young. The 1850 U.S. census at Delaware, NJ has "her" as Jemima, age 28, female (line 21). The 1860 census, at Delaware, NJ, has "him" as Jeremiah, age 40, male (line 35). The 1870 census at Delaware, NJ, has "him" as Jermina, age 48, male (line 3). I have not found him/her on the 1880 U. S. census. A Find-A-Grave memorial for "Jemima Y. Brewer," describes her as female and the photo of the gravestone shows the name as Jemima Y. Brewer. However, the gender is apparently based on the 1850 census record, which is included on the memorial page. Date of death is given as 10 March 1888, age 67, although this cannot be clearly seen on the photograph of the gravestone. The accounts of the estate of William Brewer (no. 11 above) include the estate of "Jeremiah Brewer," which could reasonably be that of a son, although it does not directly state this. Despite the fact that the gravestone is engraved, "Jemima," I am inclined to believe that this individual was a son of William Brewer and Eliza Young, and not a daughter. He apparently did not marry or leave known heirs.]

To be continued

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Abstracts of Hunterdon County Probate Records

In the April 29, 2020 post I listed the BREWERS found in the Hunterdon County, New Jersey  General Index to Estates. Below are abstracts to those records. Again the records can be found online at FamilySearch on the New Jersey Probate Records page for Hunterdon County. My notes, comments, are in brackets that follow. Twenty-four individuals were found in the index. We'll look at a few at a time and will stay mostly in chronological order.

[Note: Administrator's Bonds in Vol. 3 starts here with image 311. The space on the film prior to image 311 is filled with Guardian's Bonds. Also note that Inventories and Renunciations are not found online]

1. Christian Brewer. Letters of Administration 1:159. 6 May 1813. Administration of the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were of Christian Brewer, late of the County of Hunterdon, deceased, granted to Samuel Fiauss. Sureties: Gideon Moore and Peter Moore. [The handwriting is difficult with regards to the administrators surname, however, NJ Calendar of Wills, Administrations, etc., 12:47, has the name as Samuel Fauss. Christian Brewer is unplaced. The name is common among the descendants of Hubert Brower. Profile at the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD). Witnessed the will of Jonathan Burroughs, Sr., of Amwell, dated 6 Dec 1810, as Christian Bruer].
2. Ann Brewer. Letters of Administration 3:141. The index lists her as Ann Brewer. The image of the record calls her Anna Brewer, although the handwriting is poor and it is not to clear to me that the surname name is Brewer. Anyway, dated 8 August 1832 (the index listing was confusing here as well), administration on the goods, chattels, rights and credits of Anne Brewer(?) deceased, late of the county of Hunterdon, who died intestate, granted to Richard Opdyke. Fellowbondsmen are Richard Barri(?) and Samuel H. Britton. This record is followed by that of William Opdyke, deceased, of Hunterdon County, 1 September 1832, granted to Benjamin Opdyke. [Perhaps an Opdyke/Updyke family researcher may be familiar with Ann/Anna Brewer].
3. Israel P. Brewer. Letters of Administration 5:98. 17 March 1852. Administration of the goods, chattels, rights and credits that were of Israel P. Brewer late of the County of Hunterdon, who died intestate, granted to Henry Runyan of Hunterdon County. Bond of $1000 with Augustus Hunt and Jeremiah Young. Inventory of Executor/Administrator 10:470 (not available online). Minutes of Orphans Court 11:58. April term 1852. Henry Runyan administrator. Estate insolvent. Administrator to give public notice for claims against the estate within six months, in the Hunterdon Gazette. No mention of the children. [Israel P. Brewer can be found on the BGD. Born 2 June 1818, he was a son of Thomas West Brewer and Esther Poulson, and was a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L.I. His wife was Elizabeth Runyan. Three known children including a son Henry Brewer who left descendants].
4. Margaret Brewer. Letters of Administration 6:35. 3 October 1864. Administration on the goods and chattels, rights and credits that were of Margaret Brewer, late of the County of Hunterdon, who died intestate, granted to Daniel Dilts and William Brewer of Hunterdon County. Bond of $900, with Jeremiah Emmans. Administrator's Bonds 1:385. Daniel Dilts, William Brewer and Jeremiah Emmans, all of the County of Hunterdon. Bond of $900. Dated 3 October 1864. [Margaret Brewer is found on the BGD. She is enumerated at Readington on the 1850 and 1860 U.S. census along with an Elsey/Elshe Brewer. She was born in 1778 (g.s), so learning who her parents are, and whether or not she was married, may help us find a link to the colonial period. Learning who William Brewer is should provide clues. A search of the 1860 census for William Brewers in Hunterdon County, turns up four of that name].
5. Jacob Brewer. Letters of Administration 6:388. 17 April 1876. Jacob Brewer, late of the County of Hunterdon, died intestate. Administration granted to William I. Brewer and William Brewer, of Hunterdon County. Bond of $4500. Administrator's Bonds 3:366. William I. Brewer, William Brewer (administrators), Caleb H. Quick, William W. (?), all of Hunterdon County. 17 April 1876. Minutes of the Orphan's Court 15:309 (see this index page which gives the pages as 118, 116, 105, 100, 96, 94. You will have to rotate the images). Jacob Brewer's widow, Elsey Y. Brewer mentioned on 15:100, and 118. No mention of children on these pages. [Jacob Brewer is found on the BGD. He was at East Amwell on the 1860 and 1870 U. S. census. Jacob was born in 1827, his wife Elsie (whose surname has not been discovered) was born in 1825. A son William, born in 1853 is likely one of the administrators, the other likely a brother].
6. William Brewer. Letters of Administration 6:379. 7 January 1876. William Brewer of Hunterdon County, died intestate. Administration granted to Leonard Brewer, William Brewer, Jacob Brewer and Peter Brewer all of Hunterdon County. Bond of $10,000, with Adam W. Bills, surety. Administrator's Bond 3:352. Accounts 3:221. [William Brewer is found on the BGD. Born in 1792, he died 8 January 1876. His wife was Elizabeth Young. He is the father of the above Jacob Brewer who died in March of 1876. A transcript of a Family Bible Record is available online].
7. Sarah Brewer. Letters of Administration 6:439. 26 October 1877. Sarah Brewer of the County of Hunterdon, died intestate. Administration granted to William Brewer (her husband) of said County. William Rittenhouse, surety. Administrator's Bond 3:460. William Brewer, sole administrator. Also William Rittenhouse. $200. Dated 26 October 1877. [I believe Sarah Brewer, would be Sarah Moore, wife of William S. Brewer, found on the BGD here. The couple is found on the 1870 U.S. census at Delaware, Hunterdon Co., NJ, lines 2 and 3 on this image, back up a page and you will see that they are enumerated in the household of Thomas W. Brewer (the couple's son)].

 To be continued

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BREWERs Extracted From the Hunterdon County, NJ General Index to Estates

Those with the surname BREWER found in the Hunterdon County, New Jersey General Index to Estates (FHL film #818214; DGS #5662933). Surnames beginning with the letter B begins with image no. 184.

Abbreviations: PP= Petition for Probate; PA=Petition for Administration; LOA=Letters of Administration; R=Renunciations; AB=Administrators Bond; AsB=Assignees BondREB=Real Estate Bond; IE=Inventory, Executors & Admins; AsI=Assignees Inventory; Ac=Accounts; RR=Releases & Refunding Bonds; MOC=Minutes and Orders of Orphans Court

• Ann Brewer (1830?): LOA 3:141
• Arabella P. Brewer (1925): PP 9:258; Wills 31:596
• Christian Brewer (1813): LOA 1:159
• Cornelius Brewer (1889): PA 1:86; LOA 7:215; AB 5:12; IE 21:162; Ac 8:377; RR 20:352
• Elizabeth A. Brewer (1885): PA 2:334; LOA 7:69; R 1:121; AB 4:321; REB 1:61; IE 19:567; MOC 16:781, 17:99; A 6:464; RR 18:249
• Estella S. Brewer (1912): PA 4:361; LOA 8:413; AB 8:520; 
• Elizabeth Ann Brewer (1922): PP 8:290; LOA 29:557; IE 30:550; A 18:121; RR 39:10-11
• Gideon M. Brewer (1900): PP 3:84; Wills 20:4; IE 24:336; A 12:207
• Hannah Brewer (1906): PP 4:137; Wills 22:342; IE 26:133; A 14:36; RR 30:363
• Israel P. Brewer (1852): LOA 5:98; IE 10:470; MOC 11:58
• Jacob Brewer (1876): LOA 6:388; R 1:44; AB 3:366; IE 17:237, 241; MOC 15:309, 337, 338, 405; A 3:446
• Leonard Brewer (1887): PA 1:12; LOA 7:172; R 1:149; AB 4:534; IE 20:614, 702; A 8:35; RR 20:123, 125
• Margaret Brewer (1864): LOA 6:35; AB 1:385; IE 13:803
• Mary Brewer (1890): PA 1:114; LOA 7:230; AB 5:60; IE 21:288; A 8:582; RR 21:44
• Mary Brewer (1893): PA 1:323; LOA 7:343; AB 5:510
• Peter Brewer (1905): PP 4:70; Wills 22:71; IE 25:641; A 13:491
• Phoebe Ann Brewer (1913): PP 5:392; Wills 25:50; IE 28:85; A 16:183
• Sarah Brewer (1877): LOA 6:439; AB 3:460
• Sarah Jane Brewer (1916): PP 7:81; Wills 27:219; A 17:14
• Thomas W. Brewer (1893): AsB 1:159; AsI 3:95; A 9:479
• William Brewer (1876): LOA 6:379; AB 3:354; IE: 17:175; A 3:221
• William Brewer (1889): PP 1:51; Wills 15:398; IE 20:770; MOC 18:89; A 8:348
• Washington T. Brewer (1898): PA 2:232; LOA 7:505; R 1:249; AB 6:306; IE 23:572, 574; MOC 19:428, 462, 488, 490; A 12:593
• William R. Brewer (1928): PP 11:27; Wills 34:480(? could be 400)

The FHL films that include the records referenced above can be found on this page at FamilySearch.

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Mathew Brewer/Brower in Hunterdon County, NJ Miscellaneous Court Records

Following up on the "Miscellaneous Court records, etc." mentioned in the post of April 26, 2020, "Hunterdon County Probate Records," I started poking around a bit, beginning with Mathew Brewer, whose index card we find here. It tells us to find Mathew Brewer in file no. 514 of the Miscellaneous Court records (DGS #008351172, image 519).

The first page is a cover page of sorts. Joseph King v. Mathew Brewer, Debt, August Term, 1764. The second page tells us that the case is from the Hunterdon Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and we have the complaint. Here's an image of that page:

FHL DGS#008351172 image 520

"Matthew Brower otherwise called Matthew Brewer of the Township of Bethlehem in the County of Hunterdon, Province of New Jersey, yeoman was summoned to answer Joseph King of a plea that he tender unto him twenty pounds current money of the Province of which to him he owes..." Joseph Thing has an attorney, whose name is a bit difficult to read, but I believe it is Jasper Smith. Forward one image to no. 521, and we learn from this document that Joseph King was of Amwell. The date of this document, which binds Matthew Brewer to Joseph King for twenty pounds, is dated 30 June 1763. This is the last image for this file.

Back on September 11, 2013, and then on September 18, 2013, we focused on Mathew Brower of Greene County, Pennsylvania. We also have him on the Brouwer Genealogy Database. The records we have for Mathew Brower are limited and the estimate for the range of his years of birth is handicapped by that limitation. The estimate of 1755-1760 is based on the birth date of his first known child, which is 1778, and 1800, 1810 and 1820 U. S. census records, specifically the 1800 census which gives is age as 26-44, which, if correct, would place the earlier year of his birth at 1756. We also have strong reasons to believe that Mathew Brower of Greene Co., Pennsylvania came there from Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, and do know of a Mathias Brewer on the 1793 militia roll at Lebanon in Hunterdon County. [We do know that this Mathew Brower/Brewer is a descendant of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L. I., because of Y-DNA testing of direct male descendants].

If this record, found in the Miscellaneous Court Records of Hunterdon County, belongs to Mathew Brower (later) of Greene Co., Pennsylvania, we would have to change the estimation of the years of his birth. The agreement between Matthew Brower/Brewer and Joseph King is dated 30 June 1763, and this tells us that Matthew has to have been of legal age by this date. That would then move his year of birth earlier in time to "by 1742" (1742 at the latest). However, this would be in conflict with the 1800 census which, if correct, tells us that Mathew was born in or after 1756.

There is another Matthias Brewer/Mattheus Brouwer, who had two daughters (Elizabeth and Maria) baptized at the North Branch (Readington) Reformed Church in Hunterdon County in 1750 and 1753*. This Matthias Brewer (his wife in the records is called Elizabeth) was clearly born before 1742, and so more likely is the Matthew Brower/Brewer of Bethlehem, New Jersey who is indebted to Joseph King.

A second index card for Matthew Brewer directs us to file nos. 30940 and 34187. No. 30940, from the February Term, 1767, is a continuation of this issue between Joseph King and Matthew Brewer, involving a twenty pound debt. No. 34187, is from the August term, 1764. Joseph King and Matthew Brewer, with J. Smith, attorney for Joseph King. On the matter of the twenty pounds owed, the Sheriff is "commanded" to take Matthew Brewer, otherwise Matthew Brower, and to deliver him to the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, at Trenton, the first of August, to answer to Joseph King (the order is dated 10 May 1764).

A few things then, regarding both this set of records in general, and then specifically Matthew Brewer. In general, first with regards to using the Miscellaneous Court records, in just what little time I have spent with them, my first note is that the file numbers are not chronological. In other words, lower file numbers do not correspond to earlier dates. The three files I looked at for Matthew Brewer demonstrate this - file no. 514 takes place in 1763; file 30,940 takes place later in 1767, but then file 34,187 is earlier, in 1764. I also found on an index card for a Samuel Brewer, a file no. 51, and when I quickly looked at it, I discovered that the event occurred in 1817. So, file number does not equal place in time. Secondly, the first film I looked at, the one which included no. 514, the individual files were collected in folder (manila folders) ten to a folder. But in the films which had numbers 30,940 and 34,187, there were twenty individual files to a folder. The fact that the files are arranged in folders is very helpful in locating them within each film where the digital image numbers do not correspond to the file numbers. To locate a specific file I just zoomed out, scrolled down the film counting through the images that had a manila folder until I figured that I was about at where the file number I was looking for might be, zoomed in, if the folder was the one I was there, if not I just figured out how many folders away, forward or backward, my folder might be, zoomed out, and tried again. The manila folder images do a nice job of breaking down each film into smaller segments.

The value in the information found in these folders may lie principally in the fact that they will place individuals at a location within time. We know, now, that Matthew Brewer was living at Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey in 1763, 1764 and 1767. We also know that he was an adult by 1763, and so was born sometime prior to 1742. Other than church records in which an individual might appear as a parent or witness to a baptism, or as a bride or groom in a marriage, we don't have many, if any, other records that simply place individuals in time at places in Hunterdon County. There are the land records, and the probate records, but not nearly everyone is found in either. There are no census records in New Jersey until 1830. There may be people, who lived in Hunterdon County during the 1700s and early 1800s for whom that only record which demonstrates their existence there during that time, is found within these Miscellaneous Court records.

Regarding the Matthew Brewer who was pursued by Joseph King for a debt of twenty pounds. I would guess that he is most likely the Mattheus Brouwer/Matthias Brewer who, with wife Elizabeth, had two daughters baptized at the North Branch (Readington) Reformed Dutch Church in 1750 and 1753. As he was married by 1750, he may have been born around 1725 or earlier. It is conceivable that he is also the Mathew Brower/Brewer who lived at Lebanon, Hunterdon County, in 1793, and was afterwards in Bedford and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania, and living in 1820, but I tend to doubt it. If there is but one Matthew Brewer, he found have had two families, one earlier in life and one later in life, and his life would have spanned nearly a century. Possible, but not likely. I think that they are two different men, and it is possible, especially given the fact that they have the same name, and are found in locations in Hunterdon County (not a large area to begin with) that are close to each other, that the older of the two is the father of the younger of the two. But, of course, having the same name and being in the same location, is not proof of a relationship. It's just a hint on where to look for more evidence.

In time I'll likely look through more of these files. If anyone out there does the same, and finds anything that might solve or break open one of our many Hunterdon County mysteries, please let us all know.

*The baptism record for Elizabeth can be seen on the BGD. The record for Maria was found later, the citation: "Readington Church Baptisms From 1720," Somerset County Historical Quarterly vol.4-5 (1915-16), 5:56, Maria; parents: Brouwer, Mattheus and Elizabeth.

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Hunterdon County, New Jersey Probate Records

We've recently looked at the land records for Hunterdon County, New Jersey that are available online. It's probably a good time to review the probate records for Hunterdon County as well. Once again we turn to FamilySearch.org and here again we're going to use their catalog search to look up Hunterdon County, New Jersey. There are a couple of categories here that are of interest: Probate Records, with five titles, and Probate Records - Indexes, with one.

Starting with the Probate Records - Indexes, the one title is "Index to files including recognizances, indictments, affidavits, appeals, insolvents and miscellaneous." Scroll down and you'll see a number of films, arranged alphabetically and covering the years 1700-1900. They are available for viewing from home (access through that little camera icon). "Index to files Be-Ca, 1700-1900," will be where we find the BREWERs and BROWERs. This is the first time I've looked at this film. We're discovering what is in this film together, and what I see here is individual index cards with the name of an individual and some numbers which I assume are file numbers. There are 2410 individual images in this film and the first BREWER is at image 1221, Abraham Brewer. The BREWERs continue to image 1260, William P. Brewer. This image is followed by three or four with the name BREWERY, which may be transcription or typo error for BREWER. Fifty index cards to explore here. I find no BROWRs or BROUWERs. There is one card for a BRUERE, that is James Bruere at image 1617.
The film tells us (image 3) that the files indexed here, are at the Hunterdon County Court House Clerks Office. Go back to the main catalog page and look under the Court Records heading (12 items). You'll find the files among these various items. Some films are locked. Others are available at home. After just a quick check of a few index cards, it appears that unless otherwise stated on the index card, the file number refers to a file found in "Miscellaneous Court records, loans, etc., 1713-1816," which has dozens of films arranged numerically. Within each film you will find folders, each of which includes ten files. We'll have to try and explore some of these in the future.

There are five titles in the Probate Records category. "Britton Family Papers," was mentioned in the April 19, 2020 post. The same for "Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, New Jersey, Heirs to Estates," it is mentioned in the April 19th post. The three remaining titles:

• "Minors estates, 1800-1900." The images are accessible from home. The records are arranged by file number and the first film includes the index. Image five gives a brief description. The index is arranged by only the first letter of the surname, and then follows by order of file number. The first Brewer or Brower I come across is at image 12, file no. 81. Work your way image by image through the Bs to find any other files.
• "Probate Records, 1785-1919; General Index to Estates, 1804-1970." The films are viewable from home. Here is "General Index to Estates, A-B 1804-1870." The first page for the B surnames begins at image 184. This index, like one that we encountered in the Land Records, is arranged by the first letter of the given name of the individual whose estate is being administered. The pages cover the various and varied documents that were recorded for each individual and the location where they are found. Each image covers one page of the physical book, and each entry is taken up over two pages. So, the individual on line 1 on image 184 carries over to line 1 on image 185, and so on. 
• Finally, we have "Record of Wills, 1704-1900; 1J-10459J." This series of film is, unfortunately, locked. We can not view them from home. A trip to a Family History Library Center is required, which of course may not be possible for many at the present time. That's too bad, as many of the films here cover the colonial period which is where most of our broken lineages are.

You may have noticed that each of the pages above includes a link, found under the description, to New Jersey Probate Records available online. There is no search capability. The browse through images button takes you to a page with a list of counties. Hunterdon County opens up to this window and we find a long list of various titles. The list of films with the title of "Estates 442..." are the files of Minors Estates (see above).

So, just a quick overview with links. Now, get to work.

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The Parents and Family of Pieter Hessels

This quick post should be of interest to descendants of Uldrick Brouwer and his second wife, Adriantje Pieterse, a daughter of Pieter Hessel and Lysbeth Gerritse. I will refer you to Mike Morrissey's website, "New Netherland Ancestry," and his post of April 21, 2010, "The Parents and Family of Pieter Hessels of Bergen, N. J." for the full account.

The parents of Pieter Hessels have previously been unknown. Following up on a clue found in the will of Guert Coerten (of which an abstract can be found in Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Volume XXI, Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. First Series. [Paterson, NJ: The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1899]:41) where the testator mentions "the son of his sister Pieter Hesselse," Mike has located marriage and baptism records at the Reformed Church of Putten (in Gelderland), Netherlands, to identify Pieter's parents and his siblings.

Adriantje Pieterse was Uldrick Brouwer's second wife, his first having been Hester de Voe. Uldrick, probably born about 1673 at Schenectady, was the eldest son of Pieter Brouwer and Petronella Kleyn, and most probably the first grandchild of Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon of Gowanus, L. I. Descendants of Adriantje Pieterse now can take this line of their ancestry back another generation.

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