New Publication From David V. Brewer, "Brewer Families of Moore, Chatham, and Randolph Counties, North Carolina"

 Just released and placed online last night, the full title: "Brewer Families of Moore, Chatham, and Randolph Counties, North Carolina: In Search of the Descendants of George Brewer of Brunswick County, Virginia," is the latest work from David V. Brewer, a co-administrator of the Brewer DNA Project who oversees the Project's Group known as "Lanier-Brewer." David has very generously made his 357 page paper available with the link below. But first, I suggest you read through David's preview and synopsis as originally posted on the Brewer DNA Project's Activity Feed page:

"In 2018, I wrote a paper about the Brewers from Moore and Southwest Chatham Counties, North Carolina, mainly because I knew that my ancestors haled from there. I finished too quickly, missing many details, clues, and family connections. I also made the mistake of thinking I needed to publish something on paper, which I've learned makes it even harder to correct mistakes. Since then, picking up more leads and confronting mistakes where I'd been too quick in the curves, helped me appreciate the value of patience in this hobby. So, the link below will take you to a broader, hopefully more carefully researched, yet still hopelessly incomplete effort to sort out and trace the Brewers of the tri-county region (Moore, Chatham, Randolph). Unlike the first version, this version of the paper discusses in detail the Haw River Brewers, including Henry, Oliver, and Nathaniel Brewer, as well as the descendants of Nicholas Brewer and several Brewer families from northern Chatham County, including the families of John, Samuel and Abel Brewer, who were closely associated with the other Brewers in the area. The paper also discusses in detail descendants of the tri-county Brewers who moved to Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina in the early decades of the 1800's. 

 "I'm now even more convinced that most of the sons of George Brewer (1680?-1744?) of Brunswick County, Virginia moved to the tri-county region in the 1750's and 1760's. Among those sons, Howell (I), Lanier (I), and probably John and their offspring settled in southwest Chatham, northern Moore, and southeast Randolph Counties. Henry, Oliver, and probably Nathaniel settled in the Haw River area of central and northern Chatham County, as did sons of Nicholas Brewer (I). In fact, the only two branches of George's supposed male descendants that didn't move to the tri-county region in that era were William and George Brewer Jr. and their children. Interestingly, DNA evidence has shown that several Brewer Project members who credibly trace their ancestry to those two men, unlike the descendants of Lanier (I), Howell (I), John, Henry, and either Oliver or Nathaniel, aren't positive for haplogroup I-Y82422. The significance of that variance remains unclear. 

"As before, this paper is not a list of family trees or pedigrees. All you need to do is poke at the pedigrees in hundreds of Brewer family trees purporting to date back to the 1700's that are posted on Ancestry.com to see that the vast majority of them simply are not adequately supported by credible data. In my view, the certainty that we all understandably seek isn't possible at this stage of our collective knowledge. There simply are too many record gaps in virtually all the lines under study. Instead, my goal has been to compile and integrate existing research about the obscure period between 1750 and 1850 with some newer information, including the early results of YDNA genetic testing of male line descendants of the Brewer families from this region. At most, this is just a next step in the process of filling gaps in our knowledge. 

"But that doesn't mean we should demand too much certainty before drawing tentative conclusions. For example, the paper addresses two questions that researchers of the extended Brewer families of the tri-county region must confront. How do we know whether Howell Brewer I was the father of Howell Brewer II, and how do we know whether Lanier Brewer I was the father of Lanier Brewer II. The simple answer to both questions is we don’t know. But that’s a bit of a dodge as more layers of genetic evidence have been unpeeled, most of them in the last decade. The fact is that we have three distinct subgroups of closely related Brewer descendants who can trace their ancestry to the tri-county region and, from there, most probably to George Brewer of Brunswick. The first, haplogroup I-Y15300, subclade I-Y182422, Brewer DNA Project subgroup A, probably consists of descendants of John Brewer, the son of George Brewer. In addition, there are two more defined branches of subclade I-Y182422 that probably are more than 250 years old years old. Descendants of Willis Brewer (born in the 1760’s), Royal Brewer (born about 1770-1775), Henry Brewer (born about 1780), Solomon Brewer (born about 1785), Wiley Brewer (born about 1790), Jenkins Brewer (born 1812-1815), and Andrew Brewer (born about 1818) all have tested positive for subclade I-Y29640. The common ancestor of these men almost certainly was born in the early to mid-1700’s, and no later than the 1740’s. As discussed in the paper, we have an even further refinement of this line showing that another sub-branch, SNP FTD55716, probably arose in the mid-1700’s. Lanier Brewer II, likely born in the 1740’s or 1750’s, probably wasn’t positive for that mutation, but I suspect that a sibling of his was. That man, in turn, probably was the grandfather or great grandfather of Willis, Jenkins, and Andrew Brewer. 

"A somewhat similar pattern exists for descendants of haplogroup I-Y15300, I-Y182422, subclade I-Y23708. Descendants of Isaac Brewer (born 1763), Harmon Brewer (born mid-1760’s), and Cornelius Brewer (born early 1780’s), as examples, all are positive for subclade I-Y23708. The first-hand account of Isaac Brewer stated that his father was Howell Brewer (II), who almost certainly was born before 1745. Isaac Brewer stated that he had an Uncle John Brewer, and more than 100 years ago, Street Brewer passed on the family history that Harmon Brewer’s father was John Brewer. If that information is correct, and there’s no reason apart from sheer fussiness to ignore it -- especially in light of YDNA evidence that descendants of Harmon and Howell II are both positive for subclade I-Y23708 – then the grandfather of Isaac and Harmon Brewer also probably would have been positive for subclade I-Y23708. That man would have been born no later than the early 1720’s and, based on what we know about the earliest Brewer migrants to the tri-county area, there are three reasonable possibilities: Howell I, Lanier I, and John Brewer. 

"Again, the paper argues that descendants of George Brewer's son John probably fall into Haplogroup I-Y15300, I-Y182422, Brewer Project Subgroup A. If that's right, this leaves Howell I and Lanier I. Because subclade I-Y23708 probably arose in their generation, and membership in that subclade and subclade I-Y29640 is mutually exclusive, those two subclades most likely are separate YDNA branches representing those two sons of George Brewer. True, we can’t yet say to a reasonable probability whether subclade I-Y29640 arose in the first or second generation after George Brewer. But that doesn’t undermine the essential point that these two subclades probably are distinct earmarks for descendants of Howell I and Lanier I. 

"As discussed in the paper, there are generations of old stories in the families of Solomon (born about 1785), Wiley (born about 1790), and George Brewer (born about 1775) that the father of those men was named Lanier Brewer. Those stories, shared among geographically separated family clusters whose descendants all are positive for subclade I-Y29640, ultimately tip the scales for me. If we conducted a civil trial where the proponent’s burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence, most jurors would give the answer common sense suggests is correct: Descendants of Howell Brewer I are positive for subclade I-Y23708, and descendants of Lanier Brewer I are positive for subclade I-Y29640, with one of his sons (not Lanier II) probably having been the source of the further downstream mutation of SNP FTD55716. The same evidence wouldn’t satisfy the criminal law standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. But my instinct tells me that, in time, more evidence will. And, if not, there will be many opportunities to reconsider. 

"With that peek under the hood, here's the link to the current version of the paper:

 

Brewer Families of Moore, Chatham and Randolph Counties, North Carolina: In Search of the Descendants of George Brewer of Brunswick County, Virginia

 

I look forward to your comments, questions and corrections."

 

Thank you David.

 

David can be contacted through the Brewer DNA Project website. And a little note of my own: The paper is a relatively large file, should it not completely load on your computer, close it, then try again. It should then load.

 

BGB 747 

Henry Brewer and Mary Wickoff, New Jersey Marriage License

 The January 13, 2023 post, "New Jersey Marriage Records, 1665-1800: BREWER and BROWER," includes an entry for Brewer, John, Hunterdon, and Mary Wickoff, taken from"Index to Marriage Bonds and Marriage Records in the Office of the Secretary of State at Trenton," found in Nelson, William. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Volume XXII. Marriage Records, 1665-1800. Archives of the State of New Jersey. First Series. Paterson, N.J.: Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1900:32. I followed this up with a note that the New Jersey State Archives Searchable Database for Colonial Marriage Bonds, shows the couple as Henry Brewer, of Hunterdon (County) and Mary Wickoff. So, which one is it? Was it a John Brewer, or was it a Henry Brewer who had a license to Mary Wickoff dated April 5, 1783?

For a small fee a copy, either physical or digital, can be ordered from the New Jersey State Archives. I did just this. Turn around time was fairly quick. And the original license shows that it was a Henry Brewer who married Mary Wickoff with a license dated April 5, 1783. I received via email a digital copy which was delivered as a PDF, which you dear reader, can now view here. The bond of five hundred pounds for the license was put up by "Henry Brewer of Hunterdon County and Jacob Johnston of the same place yeomen." The marriage license itself does not state the residence of the bride, Mary Wickoff.

A quick search at FamilySearch.org's database titled, "New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985," using the name, Henry Brewer, gives us a bit more info into the couple. The search results tell us that Henry was born in Hunterdon County and that his father was named Daniel Brewer. Mary Wickoff's place of birth is not recorded, but the record names her father as William Wickoff. 

William F. Wyckoff, in "Notes On The Wyckoff Family," published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly volumes 2 and 3 (1913-1914) at 3:202, tells us that the above mentioned William Wickoff, whose wife was named Mollie or Mary (see 3:42), had children Nicholas (the eldest), Phebe (m. Sickles) and Mary (m. Brewer). It is also stated that William Wickoff "moved to Central New York and died there in 1812 at Fayette, Seneca County." The previous entry for William Wickoff (at 3:42) had omitted these three children, but had included a son Edward, baptized 12 April 1772 at the North Branch Reformed Church in Readington, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. This baptism can be found in Readington (North Branch) Baptisms in SCHQ 5:305, where the parents are recorded as Williem Wickoff and Mollie, but no witnesses/sponsors are given.

If we assume that both Henry Brewer and Mary Wickoff were young adults when married, it is probable that they were both born in the early 1760s, or perhaps the late 1750s. William F. Wyckoff presumably did not find baptism records for Mary or the other two children included in his followup piece. I have not looked for such baptisms myself. Perhaps he learned the names of these children from some probate record, but if so, he does not mention it specifically. His "notes" do not provide source citations. I have not had the opportunity to check the Seneca County, New York probate records.

There is a Daniel Brouwer, variously recorded as Brouer and Brower, who along with his wife Maria/Marya had six children baptized in the Raritan River valley Reformed Churches, one in 1755, then a gap of nine years, followed by five more 1764 through 1770, which includes two, Daniel and Maria (perhaps twins, but not specifically stated as such) on 24 June 1764 at Readington (SCHQ 5:146). The previous post of February 25, 2023, mentions this baptism. I have not found a record for the baptism of a son named Henry, however as just mentioned, there is a nine year gap where other children may have been born, but who were either not baptized, or for whom baptism records have not been found, at least not among the Reformed Dutch Church records. This Daniel Brouwer is not found on the BGD, and perhaps we'll look into him a bit more in a future post.

An important take away from all of this is off course the fact that transcribed records, even highly regarded and frequently cited ones such as William Nelson's "Index to Marriage Bonds and Marriage Records..." can have errors. In this case the error clearly is on the part of the transcriber/compiler. The original record, once sought out, reveals that is was a Henry Brewer, and not a John Brewer, who married Mary Wickoff with a bond dated April 5, 1783.

BGB 746

More Corrections to the Brouwer Genealogy Database (BGD)

 Four of the corrections that follow were discovered while conducting research focused on the Brouwer families found in the records of Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. The fifth from some further research into the family of Johannes Brouwer and Perkins Lambert.

1. Daniel, baptized 24 June 1764 at the North Branch Reformed Dutch Church in Readington, New Jersey, son of Daniel Brouer and Marya (___). The BGD places Daniel in the family of Daniel Brouwer (bp. 5 Jul 1719, d. 15 Jan 1791) and Marietje Koning (bp. 22 March 1724, d. ___). This placement is incorrect. Daniel (bp. 24 June 1764) belongs in a different family not found on the BGD. The family of Daniel Brouer/Brower/Brouwer and his wife Maria/Marya (____) will be covered in a future post pending further research. [A correct citation for the baptism is: "Readington Church Baptisms From 1720," Somerset County Historical Quarterly vol.4-8 (1915-19) 5:146. Daniel and Maria; parents: Daniel Brouer and Maria; no witnesses recorded]. In addition, Daniel did not die before February 1768. He may well have lived into adulthood. Eight of Daniel Brouwer and Maria Koning's (remaining) ten children, including their own son Daniel (bp. 28 Feb. 1768) were baptized at Schraalenburgh. This one baptism at Readington is an outlier and belongs in a different family. To be clear: There are TWO distinct families headed by couples named Daniel Brouwer/Brouer and Maria (in one case, Marietje Koning and in the other Maria/Marya (___) found in New Jersey during the same period of time. The family of Daniel Brouwer and Marietje Koning originates in Bergen County, New Jersey (ten children with eight baptized at Schraalenburg between 1744 and 1768), then removed to the Conewago settlement in York (now Adams) County, Pennsylvania during the mid 1770s, and then on to Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Kentucky where Daniel Brouwer died in early 1791. The family of Daniel Brouer and Maria/Marya (___) had six children baptized in more than one of the Reformed Churches of the Raritan River valley area in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey between 1755 and 1770. This family IS NOT found on the BGD and will be covered in a future post.
   
2. Hendrick Brouwer, had daughter Sara baptized 25 October 1727 at Harlingen, Somerset Co., New Jersey, the mother being Rachel Bon. The profile here places this Hendrick as a possible son of Pieter Brouwer and Annetje Jans. Scratch that. The reasoning supplied on the BGD was that a Hendrick Brewer witnessed the will of Johannes Luyster (3 Aug. 1766). Johannes Luyster lived at Middletown in Monmouth County, New Jersey and the Hendrick Brewer who witnessed that will is more likely one who we do know was living at Middletown at this time (he being this Hendrick Brewer). This one record of the baptism of a daughter (Sara) is the only confirmed record for Hendrick Brouwer that we have in the Raritan River valley region of central New Jersey. We do not know Hendrick Brouwer's ancestry, and we have no evidence to make a reliable suggestion. It is best to leave his ancestry open to all possibilities until  additional records and evidence can be found. We hope to have more regarding Hendrick Brouwer and Rachel Bon, as well as the multiple Hendrick Brouwers of Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex Counties in a future post. For now, remove Hendrick Brouwer from the family of Pieter Brouwer and Annetje Jans. We have NO evidence that this couple had a son named Hendrick.
   
3. Annatje Brouwer and her supposed sister Catherine Brewer are placed respectively as probable and possible daughters of Pieter Brouwer and Annatje Jans, the same couple in no. 2 above. Remove both Annatie and Catherine from the family of Pieter Brouwer and Annetje Jans. The 2007 article, "Jan Brouwer of Flatlands and Descendants," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.138 (2007) places Annatje, but not Catherine, as a daughter of Pieter Brouwer and Antje Jans. My own rationalization for this (back in 2007) was that Annatje was a daughter was based on the baptism record of Joannes, son of Pieter Brouwer and Antje Van Dyk at Freehold-Middltown (Monmouth Co.) dated 21 March 1756, with one witness: Antje Brouwer. Annatje who was known as the wife of Abraham Lane/Laen was placed as this witness and then assumed to be a daughter of Pieter Brouwer and Annetje Jans, only because there was no other Annatje known. At closer inspection, it is more likely that the witness for this baptism was the child's paternal grandmother, Antje (Van Dyk) Brouwer who was living at the time and had not yet remarried James Johnson (marriage license dated 24 March 1761). This leaves Annatje, the wife of Abraham Lane/Laen, with no identifiable parents (as of this writing, although I do have a much better alternative in mind). Catherine is known from only one record - in May 1734 at the Harlingen Reformed Church she was witness for the baptism of Lucretia, daughter of Abraham Lane and Hanatie Brouer, the witnesses being recorded as Pieter Janse and Katryntye Brouer. At this writing we have no other record for Catherine/Katryntye. With such limited info we cannot determine her correct relationship to Annatje with complete certainty. She could be a sister (I think very likely), but she might not be. She could be her mother (less likely but as of this writing cannot be ruled out). More work to be done here, however, without additional records it is prudent to remove Annatje and Catherine from the family of Pieter Brouwer and Annetje Jans. [Please also note that there are errors with regards to Abraham Lane and in particular, his father Adriaen Lane as they appear on the BGD. Researching the very large and complicated Lanen Van Pelt families in detail is beyond the scope of my own research. For a better understanding please see Mike Morrissey, "Notes on Descendants of Gysbert, Son of Matthias Lanen Van Pelt"]. Also see no. 4...
   
4.  Corrections to the family of Abraham Lane and Annatje Brouwer. Remove the daughter Petronelly. As Mike Morrissey points out in the above referenced piece, no record of baptism (as claimed by Honeyman in SCHQ 2:217) exists. He likely confused her with Peternlte, daughter of Abraham Lot and Yante, who was baptized at Harlingen, March (not May) 30, 1748 ["Reformed Dutch Church of Harlingen, Baptisms," Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, 17:86]. Remove Petronelly from this family. The placement of son Jan, not mentioned in his father's will, also can be questioned. The baptism record at Raritan, 6 Dec. 1730, lists his parents as Abraham Layn and Ariaentie (not Annatje). This baptism would conflict with that of his sister Jannetje who was baptized at Harlingen 15 April 1730, only eight months earlier. Yes, there are issues with estimating actual birth dates from the baptism dates at Raritan and the associated Reformed churches, but neither Petronelly nor Jan are mentioned in their claimed father's will. Mike Morrissey (again see the above reference) suggests that Jan is a son of Abraham Bodyn/Bodine and his wife Ariaentje Jans Van Nuys. I would suspect that he has good reasons for this statement. So, either the father's surname in the published record is incorrect, OR, the mother's given name is incorrect. For now I'll follow Mike's lead and suggest removing Jan from the family of Abraham Lane and Annatje Brouwer. The baptism record is found at "First Reformed Church Raritan (Somerville) Baptisms," Somerset County Historical Quarterly, 2:215. 
5. Thomas Brouwer. The BGD shows Johannes Brouwer (bp. 1747) and his wife Perkins Lambert with a son Thomas, born "say 1778." I don't recall my original source for this information, and you will notice that there is no citations involved with this profile. There is, however, a caveat stating that, "this placement is questioned." The Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia does record a baptism for a "son of John and Pirkins Brouwer, of New York" [Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Records, 1753-1914; (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Historical Society, 1982), FHL 973460 (DGS 7903469):48]. It is important to recognize that in this record the son's name is not recorded. Unless, or until evidence is found showing that Johannes and Perkins (Lambert) Brouwer had a son named Thomas, this profile should be changed from Thomas, to A son (name unknown). Please also not that the claimed death date of 1823 for Johannes Brouwer has not been verified.
   

In addition to the above there is a substantial correction to the family of Jan Brouwer and Helena (which is not her correct given name) Van Cleef  which will require a post onto itself to explain. Look for a future post on this important correction.

BGB 745

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].

BGB 744

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. 

BGB 743

Bergen, New Jersey Church Records: BROUWER

 The following entries are extracted from the records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Bergen, New Jersey as published in the Year Book of the Holland Society of New York in three successive Year Books: Baptisms in 1913, Marriages in 1914, Burials and Members in 1915. These are often referred to as "Bergen Books" Volumes 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Digital images of the Year Books can be found online at the Internet Archive. Use their website search tool.

What was the Village of Bergen in the late 1600s and 1700s is today within Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey on the west side of the Hudson River and the Upper New York Bay across from the lower portion of Manhattan Island. The Introduction found in the 1913 Yearbook tells us that the first "municipality" was created here in 1661 with an inferior court subject to the general court in New Amsterdam. In 1662 a voorleser (reader) and schoolmaster, Englebert Steenhuysen, was engaged. There is also a subscription list from 1662 (see pp. 13-15 of the 1913 Yearbook). A church in full communion begins in 1664 with records found in the handwriting of Dom. Henricus Selyins, then the minister of the church at Breuckelen, Long Island (and after 1682 of the New York Reformed Dutch Church). The existing baptism record starts with the year 1666. They end in 1788. There is a break from 1669 to 1673 where baptisms were entered in the books of the New York Church, and in years after this you will find some baptisms recorded in the Bergen records also recorded in the New York records. The published records here also include some footnotes adding information such as "first child, first son," that was included in the original record book. The introduction tells us, however, that some of this ancillary information, such as "born on Thursday at midnight," has not been included. In addition, note is made of two instances where children were born "out of wedlock" wherein the surname of the child is not given, and that these entries where omitted "because of no genealogical value" (I think that most genealogists today would dispute that). Marriages in the 1914 Yearbook begin in the year 1665 and end with 1757. In most years there are just a handful and in the earliest years just one or two per year. The 1915 Yearbook has burials that begin with 1666 and end with 1788. Since this is a relatively small congregation it is easier to identify those in this burial register than it is to do so with the much larger New York Church register, ex.: "buried a child of John Brower" (ok, now which John Brower and which child?). The 1915 Yearbook also has the membership rolls which start with 1664 and are pretty much annual through 1690 but then become more intermittent as the years progress and end with 1769. This is followed by lists of elders, deacons and churchmasters for 1785, 86 and 88. There is an index included in each of the three Yearbooks. I have extracted those named BROUWER or an obvious equivalent of that name.

Bergen Members (YBHS 1915, Bergen Book v.3)

1- [70] 5 April 1712, nos. 918-919 Adriaantje Pieters, wife of Olrig Brouwer

Bergen Burials (YBHS 1915, Bergen Book v.3)

1- [30] 12 February 1700, no. 163 Newly born infant of Uldrick Brouwer

2- [34] 19 May 1710, no. 215 Esther de Vouw, wi. of Uldrick Brouwer. Bur. May 21st. 134th with pall

3- [34] 11 January 1712, no. 225 Bur. ch. of Uldrick Brouwer and Adriaantje Pieters

4- [50] 4 May 1776, no. 483 Lea Slot, wi. of Jacob Brouwer, (d. May 3)

5- [51] 8 November 1778, no. 515 Lea, da. of Jacobus Brouwer, (d. November 7)

6- [52] 9 November 1779, no. 534 Jacobus Brouer, (d. November 7)

Bergen Marriages (YBHS 1914, Bergen Book v.2)

1- [76] 28 March 1730, no. 210 Jacob Brouwer, Y.M., born at Bergen, and Lea Slot, Y.D., born at Ackinsack, both living at Bergen

2- [76] 8 October 1738, no. 221 Uldrick Brouwer, Y.M., born and living at Bergen, and Marya Vander Vorst, Y.D., born at New York, living at Bergen

Bergen Baptisms (YBHS 1913, Bergen Book v.1)

Parents; Child; Witnesses; Text Footnote; [my notes in italics]

1- [48] No. 346. Ulrick Brouwer, Hester Devou; son, bo. Jan 7, 1700; First child and first son

2- [49] No. 357. Uldrick Brouwer, Hester de Vouw; Abraham bo. Mar 9, bp. Mar 30, 1701; Tyme Jansen Valentyn, Susanna de Vous; Second child and second son. Baptized by Do. Bertollof

3- [50] No. 373. Uldrick Brouwer, Hester de Vouw; Isaack bo. between Jan 29 & 30, bp. Apr 5 1703; Thomas Fredrickse, Y.M., Jannetje Steynmets, Y.W.; Third child and third son

4- [53] No. 404. Uldrick Brouwer, Hester Du vouw; Jacob bo. Sept 11, bp. Oct 8, 1705; Jacob Swan, Annetje Jacobs, wife of William Day; Fourth child and fourth son 

5- [63] No. 517. Jacob Brouwer, Lea Slot; Johannis bo. Feb 6, bp. Apr 14, 1731; Johannis Pietersen and his wife; First child. Baptized. in New York by Do. Dubois

6- [66] No. 548. Jacob Brouwer, Lea Slot; Coobis bo. Sept. 30, 1735 [My notes: Coobis, or Cobus, is a diminutive for Jacobus. Only his date of birth was recorded. No date of a baptism. No witnesses recorded. William J. Hoffman in his manuscript notes wrote down a baptism date of October 13, 1735 at Bergen, but a record of this has not been found in either the Bergen or New York church records].

7- [69] No. 577. Uldrik Brouwer, Marya Van de Vorst; Johannes bp. June 18, 1739; Jacob Brouwer, Leja Slot, his wife; First son

8- [71] No. 605. Uldrick Brouwer, Maria van de Vorst; Abraham bo. July 26, bp. Aug 29, 1743; Abraham Brouwer, Eliesabet Ackerman, his wife

9- [72] No. 618. Uldrik Brouwer, Maria Vos; Thomas bo. Feb 3, bp. Apr 21 1746; Thomas Vos, Catharina Buis, his wife

10- [79] No. 683. Pieter de Groot, Hester Brouwer; Leya bo. June, bp. July 15, 1759; Jacob Brouwer, Leya Slot, his wife; First child

11- [81] No. 713. Johannis Brouer, Catrina Walderon; Jacop bo. Apr 13, bp. Apr 18, 1762; Jacop Brouer, Eva Slot

12- [83] No. 727. Johannis Brouer, Catrientie Walderon; Josep bo. Sept. 16, bp. Sept. 18, 1763; Josep Walderon, Antie Diederix, his wife; Second son

13- [85] No. 748. Johannis Brouer, Catrientye Walderon; Leeya bo. Dec. 25, (1765) bp. Jan 19, 1766; Pieter de Groot, Hester Brouer, his wife

14- [90] No. 808. Jakobes Brouwer, Jannetye van Saen; Yannetye bo. Dec 30 (1770), bp. Jan. 20, 1771; Ysack van Saen, Jannetye Ackerman

15- [91] No. 821. Hendrick van Winkel, Jannetye Brouwer; Catrina bo. Jan 26, bp. Mar. 1, 1772; no witnesses recorded

16- [101] No. 944. Jacop Brouer, Jannetye van Saan; Jacobes bo. Aug. 7, bp. Sept. 31(sic), 1783; no witnesses recorded

17- [105] No. 983. Benyamen Eth (or Etli), Pekkee Brouyer; Keetye bo. Mar 1, bp. June 4, 1786; no witnesses recorded; [You will not find these names on the BGD. This is the first that I have seen of this record. I am unsure if Brouyer is meant for Brouwer, or some other name]

Final note: All of those, with the exception of numbers 15 and 17 in the baptisms, are known to be descendants of (9) Uldrick Brouwer (son of Pieter Brouwer, grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, L.I.) and his two wives, Hester De Vouw and Adriaentje Pieterse. Jannetje Brouwer, the wife of Hendrick van Winkle (no. 15) is a daughter of Jacob Brouwer and Maria de Lanoy, and a great-great granddaughter of Adam Brouwer through his son, Jacob Brouwer. The last entry (no.17) is a curious one, I had not seen it before and I'm not certain that the name here, Brouyer was meant to be Brouwer (with the y a mis-transcription of a w). I am not familiar with this couple. I do not have a confident guess as to what the name Pekkee might refer to. Could it be Peggy, a diminutive for Margaret?

BGB 742