Children of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn: Thomas Brewer

Thomas Brewer, born about 1817 in Vermont (age 33 in 1850), is probably a son of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn. Thomas is recorded as Thomas G. Bruer on the 1850 U. S. Federal census at Highgate, Franklin County, Vermont. He is a farmer and is enumerated as the head of household no. 460, immediately following Schuyler Brewer who is the head of family no. 459.

Other then U. S. census records no other records have been found concerning Thomas Brewer. His wife was named Jane, and the research of others has stated that her name was Jane E. Hardy. I have been unable to confirm this with an independent record. No record of marriage has been located. Jane is aged 33, born in Vermont on the 1850 census; age 43, born in New York on the 1860 census; age 55, born in New York on the 1870 census; and age 65, born in New York on the 1880 census. The household of Thomas Brewer is found in 1860 at St. Albans, Franklin Co., Vermont. In 1870 they are back in Highgate, and in 1880 the family is in Newport, Orleans Co., Vermont. Orleans County is the county immediately east of Franklin County and borders Canada as well. The 1880 census is the last record thus far located for Thomas Brewer.

Two children have been identified. A son, George M. Brewer, was born in November 1849 (1900 U. S. census) and his found on the census records with his parents in 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. On the last his relationship to Thomas Brewer (the head of household) is stated to be son. George M. Brewer was married to Elmira H. (or A.) Cane on 25 March 1885 at Newport, Vermont. They are found on the 1900 census at Hooksett, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire with son Orlando Brewer, age 14. In 1910 they are at Manchester, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. The household includes son, Charles O. Brewer, age 24. George and Elmira appear to have had just one child. The 1900 census records George's wife as Harriet E. Brewer, and records that she has had one child. She was age 39, born in April 1861 in Vermont. The birth record of her son records her as Elmira H. Dwire. The son, Charles Orlando Brewer, was born 26 March 1886 at Charleston, Orleans Co., Vermont. The record of his birth is recorded in the Vermont vital records. He was married to Mabel A. Partridge on 31 March 1915 at Newport, Vermont (Vermont Vital Records). Charles O. Brewer died 22 July 1956 in Placer Co., California. It is not known if they had children. Neither George M. Brewer nor his wife, Elmira, have yet been located after 1910.

The second child of Thomas Brewer and his wife Jane, was a daughter, Sarah R. Brewer, born about 1853 in Vermont (age 7 in 1860). The 1900 census states that she was born in September 1852. Sarah was married twice. On 26 December 1877, at Derby, Orleans Co., Vermont, she was married to Orlando Griffin. They had one child, Laura Griffin, born in 1883. The 1900 census records that she had one child (that being Laura, age 17). Orlando Griffin died 22 September 1912 at Derby, Vermont, and on 9 April 1913, Sarah married Levi O. Corliss at St. Albans, Vermont. Sarah died on 28 December 1914 at Derby, Vermont. Her daughter, Laura Griffin, has not been researched any further.

Source citations for Thomas Brewer and his descendants can be found at the Brouwer Genealogy Database website, and at Ancestry.com (see Thomas Brewer).

Additional, verifiable information on Thomas Brewer is welcomed.

"The Paper Trail of Elazarus Brewer"

A few weeks back I received a copy of the May 2012 (vol. 23, no. 5) issue of The Monmouth Connection, a publication of the Monmouth County (New Jersey) Genealogical Society. Of interest in this publication is an article researched and written by Lawrence Lippert titled, "The Paper Trail of Elazarus Brewer." The editor of The Monmouth Connection, and the author of the article have generously given me permission to make it available through this website.

Elazarus Brewer was born in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, the son of Adam Brewer and his first wife, Deborah Allen. The date of his birth varies depending on the source considered. I've seen both 23 June 1730 and 23 May 1731 as dates for his birth. No record of baptism exists for Elazarus (his parents were members of the Society of Friends). He is a great-grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island.

The article was published by the Monmouth County Genealogical Society in four parts, in their newsletter, The Monmouth Connection, beginning with volume 23, no. 5 (May 2012), and continuing in volume 23, no. 6 (July 2012), volume 24, no. 1 (September 2012) and ending with volume 24, no. 2 (November 2012). The four parts have been arranged into one PDF for convenience. Descendants of Elazarus Brewer will certainly be interested, and those researching other Monmouth County, and particularly Shrewsbury families, will likely find the article to be of interest as well.

"The Paper Trail of Elazarus Brewer," by Lawrence Lippert, The Monmouth Connection vol. 23, no. 5 (May 2012). The article begins at the bottom of the right hand column and is preceded by a brief profile of the author.

Thanks to Rick Geffken for bringing this article to my attention, to Judy Bretzger, editor of The Monmouth Connection and to Lawrence Lippert, the author for their permission to make the article available, and to Liz Johnson for creating the PDF.

Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, GMNJ vol. 38

The final installment of records of the Reformed Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, were published in the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, volume 38 (1963). They appear in issue No. 1 of that volume and are concluded.

The records start with baptisms, continuing from volume 37, with the last date given there being 28 May 1843. They continue to 26 April 1851. In most cases the birth date of the child is also recorded. Witnesses and/or sponsors are not given. The baptisms are followed by a list of Members beginning with the year 1839 and continuing for each year until 1851. The list of members is then followed by Marriages beginning with the year 1839 and covering each year through 1851. Finally there is a correction to the member list from volume 37, which adds the names of some members who were omitted from the list published in volume 37.

Records Dutch Congregations Freehold and Middletown, GMNJ v. 38 (1963)

Children of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn: Peter Earl Brewer

Peter Earl Brewer is a presumed son of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn of Highgate, Vermont. As with his siblings, no record of birth has been found for Peter. He was born about 1810. The U. S. census records for the years 1850 and onward consistently record his age as 40 in 1850, 50 in 1860, 59 in 1870 and 70 in 1880. All of the records state his place of birth as Vermont.  Peter E. Brewer died on 17 February 1894 in Richland Co., Wisconsin. His death is registered with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and can be found in the Wisconsin Death Index.

Peter Earl Brewer married prior to 1843, Lucy Edson. She was born about 1815 in Vermont. I have not made an attempt to trace her ancestry. In 1850 Peter and Lucy are found on the census at Highgate, Vermont, with their surname recorded as Bruer, and in the household are sons (although not specified as such on the census) Henry, age 6, Peter, age 4, and Lowren (Loren) age 1. Also in the household is Eliza Edson, age 17.

By 1855, Peter had moved his family to Richland County, Wisconsin, where he is found on the state census of that year. He remained at Richland Center, Richland County, Wisconsin for the remainder of his life and as mentioned above, can be located on the U. S. census there in each of the years 1860, 1870, and 1880. Peter is buried in the Richland Center Cemetery. Lucy Edson, who died 6 April 1884, is buried there as well.

Peter and Lucy had seven known children, all of who appear with them on various census records. They were born between 1843 and 1861, and all but the youngest two were born in Vermont. All seven married and children and descendants have been found for five of Peter and Lucy's children.

The eldest child, Henry Brewer, was born about 1843, presumably at Highgate, Vermont, and was married to Matilda Davis on 9 March 1874 at Sylvan Twp., Richland Co., Wisconsin. Henry and Matilda had two children, William Seth Brewer (married Lillie B. Conkle and had four children), and Nina Jane Brewer (married Ransom L. Johnston and had five children). Henry Brewer died at a relatively young age in 1885. His wife, Matilda, outlived him by fifty years (died in 1935) but never remarried and remained in Richland County.

The second child, Peter Sylvester Brewer, was born in Vermont on 28 January 1847 and died at Freeport, Stephenson Co., Illinois on 9 March 1929. He was married to Anna Rebecca Rodefer (1847-1928) on 12 August 1869 in Richland County, Wisconsin. The couple is found in Richland County through 1905, and in 1910 are at Monroe, Green Co., Wisconsin and in 1920 are living in Dubuque, Iowa. The couple had five sons born between 1870 and 1884. A descendant has recently joined the Brewer DNA Project and we are awaiting the results of his Y-DNA test.

Loren Edson Brewer was born 16 April 1849 in Vermont. He was married to Hannah Dorgan on 2 June 1874 in Richland County, Wisconsin. Loren E. Brewer died 20 November 1932 in Richland County. Hannah Dorgan, who was born in 1857, died on 1 August 1941 in Richland County. The couple is believed to have had three children, two of who are known by name. Daughter Katherine, born about 1877, was married to John Eugene Wallace. Son Francis Leo, born 7 April 1888, was married to Mary Margaret Kelly. On the 1900 U. S. census, Hannah is stated to have had three children with two of them currently living. Both Katherine and Francis Leo had children.

Heber Brewer, also recorded as Heber R. Brewer and as Michael H. Brewer, was born 8 August 1851 in Vermont and died 17 March 1934. He is buried at Richland Center, Wisconsin. Heber was married to Maria Dorgan (1851-1938) on 30 October 1875. Maria was a sister of Hannah Dorgan, the wife of Heber's brother Loren. Heber and Maria had four children, two daughters (Josephine and Lucy) and two sons (Jeremiah Gregory and William Jennings Bryan) and lived most of their life in Richland Center, Wisconsin. The 1910 census, however, finds them at Black Earth, Dane Co., Wisconsin, and although they are back at Richland in 1920, in 1930 they are in Madison, Wisconsin. All four children were married and descendants have been found for all except son William J. B. Brewer.

Eliza Lillie Brewer was born about 1854 in Vermont. She was married to Lewis Richardson on 5 April 1874 in Richland County, Wisconsin. The couple had three known children and are found on the 1880 census in Richland County. The family has not yet been found on the 1900 U. S. census, and dates or places of death have not been discovered for either Eliza or her husband.

Lydia H. Brewer was born in November 1858 in Wisconsin (1900 census). She was married to David H. Blakeman on 11 January 1880 at Richland Center, Wisconsin. The couple had two daughters, Ida M. Blakeman (b. Dec 1880, m. Thomas Peterson) and Idonia Blakeman (b. 6 June 1884, m. William J. Stewart/Steward). Lydia can be found in Richland Center through 1920, and in 1930 is in Lyle, Mower Co., Minnesota in the household of her daughter, Ida Peterson. Both are widows. David Blakeman had died in 1926 in Mower County, Minnesota. A date of death has not been found for Lydia.

Ellen S. Brewer was born 5 February 1861 at Richland Center, Wisconsin. She died 15 October 1923 at Richland Center and is believed to have been married twice. Her first husband was David Davis who was deceased by 1891. No marriage record has been located. Ellen was married in September 1901 to Hans H. Lien who was born in Norway in 1864, and lived until 1945. No children have been found by either husband.

Some details and source citations for Peter Earl Brewer and Lucy Edson, and their descendants can be found on the Brouwer Genealogy Database website. I have, however, recently researched the descendants further using Ancestry.com, and much more info on descendants can be found below Peter E. Brewer at the tree created at Ancestry.com (See Peter E. Brewer).

Unplaced: Henry Brewer of Berkeley Co., Virginia and Adams Co., Ohio

Henry Brewer of Berkeley Co., Virginia and Adams Co., Ohio was born in March 1765 (location unknown) and died 20 February 1829 at Adams Co., Ohio. A descendant has participated in the Brewer DNA Project, and the results of his Y-DNA test have confirmed that he, and his earliest confirmed direct ancestor, Henry Brewer, are descendants of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island.

Original records or documents pertaining to Henry Brewer are few. The one to begin with is his Revolutionary War Pension Application which he filed while living in Adams County, Ohio in 1818. This application is the source for his month and year of birth (March 1765), but unfortunately, it does not name the place of birth, nor does it name his parents. The date of his death (and that of his wife) comes from a claim for bounty lands filed by his heirs in 1830. In his application Henry Brewer states that enlisted for service during the Revolutionary War in December 1779 at Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., Virginia (this location is today in the state of West Virginia). He served for two years in Capt. John Melon, or Malon's Company of Col. Joseph Crockett's Virginia Regiment. He enlisted again in April 1782 and served as a private in Capt. Shaffner's Company, Col. Armand's Legion, and was discharged in the fall of 1782. His pension was executed on 13 June 1818, when Henry was a resident of Adams Co., Ohio. It appears that Henry dictated the information on his pension and signed it with his mark. In November of 1820 he submitted an inventory of his property which totaled $151.37 1/2, and again signed with his mark. On 15 April 1830, Elijah Brewer, one of the heirs at law of Henry Brewer, now deceased, applied to the United States Government to receive bounty lands that were due Henry. This application lists the heirs of Henry Brewer as Mrs. Polly Davis of Romney, Virginia; Mrs. Peggy Hansberry or Handsberry, of Fairfield Co., Ohio; Mrs. Sally Williams, Anna Boldman wife of James Boldman, Elijah Brewer, Susan Brewer and Charles Brewer, all of Adams Co., Ohio.

The other record found regarding Henry Brewer is his marriage to Sarah Hawke on 14 February 1786 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). He is recorded here as Henry BRUER, and his wife as Sarah HAWKE (see West Virginia Vital Research Marriage record results).

Federal census records for the years 1790 and 1800 for the State of Virginia, do not exist. On the 1810 census, as Henry "Bower," he is found in Berkeley Co., Virginia, with a household of 4 males under 10, 2 males 10-15, 2 males 16-25, 1 male over 45, 2 females 10-15, 1 female 16-25, 1 female over 45. In 1820 he is found, as Henry Brower, at Jefferson, Adams Co., Ohio, with a household of 2 males 16-26, 1 male over 45, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 16-26, 1 female 26-45, 1 female over 45, 3 persons engaged in agriculture.

The above is all we have of the hard records regarding the life of Henry Brewer, who is referred to as Bruer or Brower in three of the four. Below is an image of Henry Bruer's marriage record as recorded in the Berkeley Co. register. Henry is seventh up from the bottom, above the marriage of Tunis Quick (another surname that would be familiar to anyone who has spent much time researching colonial New York and New Jersey families).

Henry Bruer - Sarah Hawke Marriage (courtesy Robyn Brewer-Ritz)

Back on January 15, 2012, I posted "Discovery of an Abraham Brewer in Berkeley County, Virginia." I now believe that this Abraham Brewer is most likely the Abraham Brouwer, probably born about 1745, son of Daniel Brouwer and Marietje Koning. He would be a great-grandson of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Long Island. Abraham was married twice and his first known wife was Sara Van Orden. No record of marriage has been found, but the couple had their first known child, Daniel, baptized on 24 Aug 1770 at Schraalenburgh, Bergen Co., New Jersey. Abraham and his family were among a number of Dutch families that left New Jersey for a new settlement at Conewago (then in York Co.), Pennsylvania. Abraham and Sara's son, David, was baptized there in 1775. In 1774, an Abraham Brewer is found on a list of tithables at Berkeley Co., Virginia (see the January 15, 2012 post).

An important read for anyone researching families that settled in the areas of Kentucky and Ohio (which are separated by the Ohio River), is "The Low Dutch Company, A History of the Holland Dutch Settlements of the Kentucky Frontier," by Vincent Akers, published in de Halve Maen, in four parts beginning with volume 55 (1980) no. 2. In this article, Mr. Akers mentions that "Beginning about 1769 and continuing through the early 1770s, several Conewago families moved to Berkeley County, Virginia (now Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia) about forty miles southwest of Conewago. They settled near present-day Shepherdstown." Although the name Brower (or Brewer) is missing from his short list of families who settled at Shepherdstown, this information does provide us with a reason and an opening for Abraham Brewer, who is known to have been at Conewago at this time, to have the opportunity to acquire some interest in and/or possibly settle at Berkeley County, Virginia. Therefore, this Abraham Brouwer, originally from Schraalenburgh, New Jersey, and then Conewago, Pennsylvania, is the best, and apparently only candidate, to be the Abraham Brewer who was assessed in Berkeley County, Virginia in 1774.

Our Abraham Brouwer, later seen as Abraham Brewer, eventually went on to settle at Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, along with other Dutch families from Conewago, Pennsylvania and Berkeley Co., Virginia. In Mercer Co., Kentucky, Abraham married his second known wife, Mary Wells, on 6 June 1817. Abraham and Mary had three children. He wrote his will there on 16 September 1825 and mentioned a number of children, but does not mention a son named Henry. (See Daniel Brewer and Abraham Brewer Wills).

Although it may appear that Abraham Brouwer/Brewer, later of Mercer County, Kentucky, is the best known candidate for the father of Henry Brewer, we still lack the evidence to claim this relationship as factual. The fact that Henry is not named in Abraham's will is a strike against the idea, however, it has to be remembered that not every child of the testator is necessarily named in every will. Abraham Brouwer/Brewer is a descendant of Adam Brouwer through Adam's son Pieter Brouwer. We do have four confirmed descendants of Pieter Brouwer who have participated in the Brewer DNA Project and the descendant of Henry Brewer matches three of the four on 36 of 37 markers (the fourth only tested twelve markers). That is a very close match, and it may be that Henry, if not a son of Abraham Brouwer/Brewer may be a nephew, or some other close relation, and also descended from Pieter Brouwer. (See Adam Brouwer DNA results page at the BGD website).

Over the past few years more and more vital and other records have become available online, primarily through FamilySearch and Ancestry.com. Over the past couple of months I have revisited the problem of Henry Brewer, and although I have been unable to locate anything that would verify his origins, I have been able to locate a large number of descendants. These can be seen on a Family Tree created at Ancestry.com (Henry Brewer of Adams Co., Ohio). This same Family Tree includes some descendants of Margaret Brewer (married John Williams), Mary Brewer (married Patrick Timmonds) and Sophia Bruer (married Alexander Cameron), three woman who have been claimed as sisters of Henry Brewer, however, it must be emphasized that evidence for the claims has not been discovered.

Margaret Brewer
Mary Brewer
Sophia Bruer

Each of the three (Margaret, Mary and Sophia) has a "story" which provides a basis of information for each. It should also be mentioned that Margaret Brewer (whose son James Williams married Sarah Brewer, daughter of Henry Brewer) was not a wife of James Williams (1759-1842, Revolutionary War veteran) as shown in the current version of the Brouwer Genealogy Database. Further research on the early Williams families in Ohio have satisfied me that James Williams was married first to Nancy Piatt and second to Elizabeth (Murphy) Miller, and could not have married Margaret Brewer. John Williams has been stated to be the husband of Margaret Brewer and we will go with that claim with the caveat that no original records have been located to substantiate the claim, and any relationship between John Williams and James Williams (1759-1842) has not been determined.

The question of Henry Brewer's origins remains unanswered. Unfortunately he lived during a time (1760-1830) and at places (Berkeley Co., Virginia, and the Ohio River Valley area) where few records were made and few have survived. Most reliable data on families from this period is found in "Family Records," Bible records and memoirs that have been carefully handed down from generation to generation (the provenance of such records is important to document). However, second and third hand accounts of the early settlers can also be found. This second category is less reliable, and often the claims and statements, which may have well been believed to have been true by the original authors, do not hold up when compared with first hand information that can be located. I'm afraid that many present day descendants of Henry Brewer have been steered off course by such accounts. Perhaps the day will come when some long lost family record of Henry Brewer's will be discovered and made available for his descendants to consider. Until then, or until some other original discovery, Henry Brewer will just have to remain in limbo.

Hillsborough (Millstone) Reformed Church Baptisms

The Hillsborough Reformed Church in Somerset County, New Jersey was organized in 1766. A baptism register, with a brief introduction, was published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly, volume 7 (1918). The baptism register begins in 1767 (only two baptisms) and continues uninterrupted through 1807.

Hillsborough Reformed Church Baptisms, SCHQ v. 7 (1918)

Neshanic Reformed Church Baptismal Records

The baptism records of the Reformed Church called the Neshanic Reformed Church, 1762 to 1796, were published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly, volume 1 (1912).

The Neshanic Reformed Church is in Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey. It was originally established in 1752. The baptism records as published by the SCHQ are arranged alphabetically. There is a short introduction to the records. Many family names familiar to those researching the original families of Kings County, Long Island, are found among these baptism records.

RDC Neshanic, Somerset Co., NJ, Baptisms 1762-1796, SCHQ v. 1 (1912)

Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, GMNJ vol. 37

Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown (Monmouth Co.) New Jersey, continue in volume 37 of the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey. The records begin with Church Officers in 1765, 1766, 1767, 1787, 1789 to 1799, 1801 to 1806, 1808 to 1817. This is followed by a short description of the Pastorate of Samuel A. Van Vranken, 1818-1834. Baptism records are then included for 2 May 1818 and 28 June 1818 which are comprised of twelve baptisms that include birth dates. This is followed by Marriages 1818 to 1824. There is then a brief description of the Pastorate of James Otterson, 1834-1838. Baptisms then pick up with the year 1835 and run to 1839. We then have marriages from 1834 to 1838, followed by a list of members recorded December 1834. A "Statement of the Congregation of Freehold in Novr. 1836," at 37:22 includes the number of children in each member's family. This list also includes the location at which each member lived. A description of the Pastorate of Aaron A. Marcellus, 1839-1851 follows at 37:138, then baptisms continue with 29 June 1839 and end with 28 May 1843 (dates of birth are included). All and all, a lot of different records for the community for a period of time in which records from Monmouth County are otherwise scarce.

Reformed Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middltown, GMNJ vol. 37 (1962)

Children of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn: Sylvester Brewer

Sylvester Brewer, born 12 August 1804 at Highgate, Vermont, is believed to be a son of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn. The date and place is from the History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, page 639, which does not state the names of his parents. Sylvester Brewer's death certificate in Wisconsin gives his date of death as 18 or 19 December 1879, age 75, but then records his date of birth as 12 August 1819, the year clearly being incorrect and inconsistent with his age at death. The place of his birth and names of parents is not stated. He died in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. It is possible that Sylvester is a son of one of Peter Brewer's brothers, such as Jacob Brewer. But since few records can be found to substantiate Jacob Brewer's family, and since Sylvester did name a son, Peter, we place Sylvester as a probable son of Peter Brewer and Hannah Sanborn pending the appearance of any evidence to the contrary.

Sylvester Brewer was married twice and may have had as many as thirteen children between his two wives. He lived at Highgate, Vermont, in Pennsylvania, in Trumbull Co., Ohio, and finally at Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Sylvester Brewer is found on the 1830 census at Highgate, Vermont, with a household of 1 male under age 5, 1 male age 10-15, 1 male 20-30 (himself), 1 female 10-15, 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 60-70. The two children aged 10-15 illustrate the difficultly in working with the earlier census records in which only the head of household is named. The ages given tell us that these two children were born between 1815 and 1820. Sylvester himself, born in 1804, was only sixteen in 1820, and therefore these two children cannot be his.

Sylvester's first wife was Elizabeth Armstrong, and according to the above mentioned History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, which was published in 1879, the year of Sylvester's death, they had four children: Alphonso, Franklin, Horatio and Elizabeth, with Alphonso and Horatio deceased prior to 1879. Sylvester probably provided this information to the publisher himself, although some of it has been difficult to confirm through other records. Missing from this biography is Sylvester and Elizabeth's first child, a son named Sidney Howard Brewer who is buried in Highgate, Vermont with the inscription: "This Lonley Babe so Young & Fair / Cut Off By Early Doom / Just Come to Shew, How Sweet a Flower / In Paradise Would Bloom" son of Sylvester and Elizabeth Brewer, "who departed this life August 10th 1831 aged 17 months and 4 days." (McLellan Cemetery Records  for Franklin Co.. Vermont Historical Society, Barre, Vermont).

Of the four children mentioned, Franklin and Horatio Brewer can be traced. Neither Alphonso or Elizabeth are recorded with Sylvester's family on the 1850 census (at Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin), nor has any other record, that can be attributed to either one, been identified. We accept their existence based upon the account found in the History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (1879) and have to assume that they were born some time between 1832 and 1842, and either died at a young age, or left home as teenagers.

The son Franklin, is found almost exclusively in later records as Frank B. Brewer, with one source stating his name as Frank Bradley Brewer. As mentioned in the biography of Sylvester Brewer, he was a physician, apparently the first of many among the descendants of Sylvester Brewer. Frank B. Brewer was born on 6 August 1831, most probably at Highgate, Vermont. In 1850 he is found as a single man in Fountain Prairie, Columbia Co., Wisconsin, enumerated in the household of Marvin Sturges, a farmer. No occupation is recorded for Frank. Probably in 1860, he married Josephine Miner, who was only sixteen at the time. She was born in New York, probably in Cayuga County (central New York, Finger Lakes region), a daughter of James and Arminda Miner. Frank and Josephine lived at Hebron, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Fairbury, Livingston Co., Illinois; and Evanston, Illinois. They had two sons, Frank Miner Brewer (1864-1911) and Clyde S. Brewer (1874-1925), both of who were physicians, were married and have descendants. Numerous members of the these families are buried at Hebron Cemetery in Hebron, Wisconsin. Frank B. Brewer died 12 May 1908, and Josephine died 25 January 1925.

Horatio Brewer, according to census records, was born about 1836 in Pennsylvania. He served during the Civil War as a private in Company E, Wisconsin 28th Infantry, from 15 August 1862 to 8 June 1865. He was married to Submit Lockwood, lived in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, had two children, and died 8 April 1869. His children were Irene M. Brewer, born Nov 1859, married John H. Wait and relocated to Portland, Oregon, and Robert C. Brewer, born about 1862, married Carrie Quick and lived at Fort Atkinson, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin. Horatio's wife, Submit Lockwood, later married Charles J. Collier in Wisconsin and was living in 1900 in Portland, Oregon.

Sylvester Brewer has not yet been located on the 1840 U. S. census. However, he did marry his second wife, Sarah Hake, on 7 May 1840 in Trumbull County, Ohio. There are a number of Hake heads of households found in Trumbull Co. in 1840, and perhaps Sylvester and his new wife are included within one of those families. Sylvester and Sarah (Hake) Brewer had eight children, and the dates of their birth are given in the History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (1879), page 639. From at least 1850 onward, Sylvester and Sarah lived at Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin.

Of the eight children of Sylvester and Sarah, only daughter Leah did not marry. She was born in 1841 and died in 1868.

Of the remaining seven children, son Daniel (1843-1933) married first Rosetta C. Smith, from whom he was divorced. He married second, Lottie Jean Rogers, and they had one daughter, Bethel R. Brewer who married Andrew Bertrum Claudon. Daniel was a physician and lived at Fairbury, Livingston Co., Illinois.

Margetta Brewer, who's name also is recorded as Maryette and Marietta, was born in 1843, according to her Wisconsin death certificate, or in 1845, according to the biography in History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin. She died in 1907. Margetta was first married to Fredrick Gustave Weber (or Webber) and they had four or five children. In 1870, the couple is enumerated in the household of her father, Sylvester Brewer, at Jefferson, Wisconsin. With them are two sons, William, age 2, and Arthur, age 1. Their surname is spelled WEBBER, and her husband is recorded as Gustavus Webber. In 1880, Fredrick G. Weber and Margett Weber are found in Chicago, Illinois with daughters Edith and Mary Weber, ages 8 and 4 respectively. In the same year, the sons William and Arthur are recorded as William BREWER and Orlow BREWER, and are enumerated in the household of the widow Sarah (Hake) Brewer in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Fredrick G. Weber may have died during the decade of the 1880s, and in 1891 she married, as Mariett Weber, Thomas Spry, who was a widower and about 20 years her senior. In 1900 they are found at Koshkonong, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin and in the household are her daughters, Edith Barton, called a widow, and Mary Webber, single, age given as 17. In 1905, as Maryetta Spry, divorced, she is the head of household at Fort Atkinson, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin, with daughters Edith BREWER, age 34, and Mary W. BREWER, age 22. The sisters, Edith and Mary, apparently lived together for the remainder of their lives and are found together on the census records of 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 in either Fort Atkinson or Koshonong, Wisconsin. Curriously, Edith is always called Edith BREWER, while Mary is Mary WEBBER. Mary died in 1940 and Edith in 1946. As mentioned, the sonWilliam Webber, died in 1923 at San Antonio, Texas. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Whether or not he married has not yet been discovered. The son Arthur, or Orlow, Webber, was married to Mary Alice McLean, usually referred to as simply, Alice, on the census. They were at Chicago, Illinois in 1900, at Goldfield, Esmeralda Co., Nevada in 1910, and back in Chicago in 1920. One daughter, Hester Lilly Webber, was born on 18 March 1902 in Cook Co., Illinois. There is a badly worn gravemarker in Evergreen Cemetery, for which a submitter to Find-A-Grave posted the deceased as "Orion O. Brewer, 1869-1903." This may be Arthur/Orlow's grave, though he was clearly alive in 1920. A bit more research, and a look at the records of the cemetery, is needed here. I suspect that Margetta had two daughters named Mary. One appears on the 1880 census age 4, and she probably died young, as all records pertaining found later pertaining to Mary Webber, point to her being born in 1883.

Peter Brewer (1846-1938) was born in Ohio, lived at Jefferson, Wisconsin, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. He married Louise Pfiefer (1855-1934) in 1883. They had one daughter, Hazel Lulu Brewer, born 12 June 1889 at Jefferson, Wisconsin. She was married to John Paul Shultis (Schultis, Shultes, etc.) about 1912, and they had five daughters born between 1913 and 1924 (Viola, Mabel, Bernice, Ruth and June). Hazel Lulu and John Paul were divorced by 1930. She lived at Jefferson, Wisconsin and died there in 1976. John Paul Shultis registered for the draft in 1942, while living at Josephine, Oregon.

Sylvester H. Brewer (1852-1937) also lived his entire life at Jefferson, Wisconsin. He married Margarith Pfiefer (1858-1937) in 1879. Their one child, a daughter, Mary Brewer, was born 26 July 1886 at Jefferson. She married Raymond Jung (also spelled YOUNG) in 1905. He was born in 1884 and died in 1960. Mary died in 1983 and they lived at Jefferson, and had four children, Malvin/Melvin, Floyd, Wesley and Josephine.

Sarah Brewer, born 10 January 1853, was married to Elias J. Hayner on 13 October 1885 in Jefferson County. He died on 1 May 1896 in Rock Co., Wisconsin. I have been unable to locate Sarah after her marriage, and I have not found any children.

Cynthia Brewer (1855-1944) was married in 1879 to James W. Roe. They lived at Koshkonong, Wisconsin and had eight children, Arminda, Roy, Elias, Leonard, Jessie, Charles, Sidney, and James B. Marriages have been found for Arminda (to Bert Cunitz) and Leonard (to Christine Lemke), and there appear to be marriages for a few of the others.

Jay B. Brewer, born 13 January 1859, was married twice. First to Mary E. Koss in 1881, and they had two children. She died in 1906, and about 1908, Jay Brewer married Cora Ludemann. Jay B. Brewer was a physician and surgeon, and lived at Jefferson, Wisconsin. Further info on his daughter, Maude E. Brewer, born in 1884, has not been found after the 1900 census. His son Jay Claude Brewer (1889-1966) was also a physician and was married to Beulah Clark about 1924 (no children found). Jay B. Brewer died on 13 April 1932 from injuries sustained in a automobile crash in 1931. His second wife died in 1955. Jay Claude Brewer and his wife Beulah, were both killed in a car crash on 11 September 1966.

A good deal of the records and information gathered on the descendants of Sylvester Brewer and his two wives was gathered through the use of Ancestry.com. You are welcome to toggle through his descendants there (Sylvester Brewer). Additional info has been added to the Brouwer Genealogy Database which was updated yesterday.

Brouwer Genealogy Database Update

The Brouwer Genealogy Database has been updated.

This update includes the addition of a new participant in the Brewer DNA Project who is a descendant of Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, Long Island. The participant's earliest known ancestor is Isaac Brewer/Brower of Monmouth County, New Jersey who was married to Styntje Van Brunt. Isaac Brewer's ancestry back to Jan Brouwer has not been determined, however, the particpants Y-DNA test results confirm, without a doubt, that Jan Brouwer of Flatlands is their ancestor. The participant is most closely related (genetically) to those descended from Jan Brouwer and Aegje Sprong. The test results and a link to a chart can be found on the Jan Brouwer DNA Results page.