Sunset at Gowanus Bay

Sunset at Gowanus Bay
Sunset at Gowanus Bay, Henry Gritten, 1851

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Brewer in Wayne County, Tennessee, Inventories, Settlements and Wills, 1856-1868

The following links are for persons named BREWER as found online in the Family Search Database titled, "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," and listed under Wayne County. This post focuses on the book of records titled, "Inventories, Settlements, Wills, 1856-1868"

Wayne County, Tennessee was created in 1817 from parts of Hickman and Humphreys Counties. It is found in the western half of the state, between Lawrence County to the east, and Hardin County to the west. The southern boundary is the state line with Alabama (Lauderdale County). Two men named BREWER (Cornelius Brewer and George Brewer) are found as heads of households in Wayne County on the 1820 U.S. census. The 1830 U.S. census includes nine BREWERs (Henry, Henry Jr., Julius, Solomon, James, Cornelius, and three men named George Brewer). The 1840 census finds 24 households headed by BREWERs. The families are headed by 22 men (Jno. H., Andrew J., Henry [2x], King, Sampson, William [2x], David, George [2x], George W., Hiram, Howell, Jones, Willie [2x], Joseph, Solomon, William J., John, and Cornelius, and by two women, Julia Brewer, and Martha Brewer. A searchable index at Ancestry.com for the 1850 U.S. census includes 151 persons named BREWER, and the 1860 census has 123 persons named BREWER.

Found in Inventories, Settlements, Wills, 1856-1868:

Index Page (image 4)

Sanderson Brewer, administrator of the estate of Enoch Brewer, settlement, page 32 (image 44)

Rial Brewer Guardian to Lucy Brewer, settlement, page 63 (image 59)

Lewis A. Brewer Guardian to Richard L. Brewer and Wm. H. H. Brewer, heirs of George W. Brewer, settlement, page 70 (image 63)

Henry J. Brewer, Inventory and account of sale, page 87 (image 71)

William R. Brewer, Letters of Administration on estate of Henry J. Brewer, page 100 (image 79)

A.J. Brewer guardian to Tennessee Hensley, Benjamin Hensley, minor heirs of Mary Hensley, settlement, pages 106-7 (image 82), also page 158 (image 108)

Louisa J. Brewer, widow of Henry J. Brewer, provisions from husband's estate, page 209 (image 133)

L. A. Brewer guardian to the minor heirs of G. W. Brewer, settlement, page 245 (image 150)

Rial Brewer, Inventory of estate, pages 292-93 (image 175)

George M. Brewer, Receipt to guardian received of Sanders Brewer, page 294 (image 176)

Sanders Brewer, Letters of Administration on estate of W. R. Brewer, page 295 (image 176)

James H. Brewer, Letters of Administration on estate of J. P. Broomly, page 296 (image 177)

L. A. Brewer, Inventory and sale of estate, page 309 (image 183)

W. R. Brewer, Inventory and sale of estate, signed by S. Brewer, page 371 (image 214),
also page 381 (image 219)

H. J. Brewer, administrator of the estate of Henry Brewer, settlement, page 449 (image 254)

Solomon Brewer, Inventory and sale of estate, sworn to by Lott Daniel, administrator, pages 459-60 (image 259 and 260)

A. J. Brewer, Guardian settlement, page 506 (image 284) [see above]


The Brewers of Wayne County, Tennessee are believed to be, and very likely are, descendants of George Brewer of Brunswick, Virginia. A handful of descendants of the Wayne County, Tennessee Brewers have participated in the Brewer DNA Project, and results of Y-Chromosome DNA tests closely match others who are, or who believe they are, descendants of George Brewer. However, the complete line of ancestry for many of these Brewers, back to George Brewer, has not been proved by traditional genealogical research. It is hoped that additional research, and advanced Y-DNA testing will eventually identify the complete ancestries for the descendants of the Brewers of Wayne County, Tennessee.

BGB 456


4 comments:

  1. I am searching for the father of Lucinda Brewer, born 1830, TN. Her mother was Eliza maiden name unknown to me, she was 1805, NC. Eliza, was married to Elie Renfrow in the 1850 Census of Lewis County, TN. She had 7 Brewer children, Elie Renfrow had 4 Renfrow children, so they had a total of 11 kids in their household in 1850.
    Lucinda Brewer, born 1830, TN, married Stephen Vincent Dabbs, of Wayne County, TN. They are my great, great grandparents.

    Catherine Brewer, born 1809, died 1890. married Sylvanus Walker Blakburn, born 1809, died 1890. Is connected to Lucinda Brewer born 1830, perhaps her aunt.
    Any information appreciated.

    Thanks, Jo Ann Crafton Boyce

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HelloJo Ann, I see you have commented on the information given at Rentfro(w) Cemetery Find a Grave regarding the Brewers. Although I am not related, as far as I am aware, I am interested in the family becase Eliza Unknown Brewer married my Great Great Great Grandfather, Eli Rentfrow some time between 1840 and 1850. I am wondering if you have proof that Lucinda and her siblings were the children of Daniel Brewer. I have seen so much information that he is, but no proof. I also have seen where he and Eliza divorced (or otherwise) and he removed to East Tennessee and North Carolina where he had a second family. I do not believe these are the same Daniel Brewers. Looking at the 1840 census for Daniel Brewer, head of the household, it appears that he could be an elderly man (60-70) with a number of younger people in the household, one being a 35 year old male. Also in the household is an older woman who matches the age of the 74 year old Elizabeth Brewer in the 1850 Lewis County, Census living with Daniel and Nancy Churchwell who also have 2 Dobbs/Dabbs children living with them. Now as for a big divorce between Eliza Unknown Brewer Rentfrow and the Brewer who could be Daniel, what causes me to pause is why in the world would my great great great grandfather and his second wife name their first son after him. Makes no sense to me. Understanding mistakes are and have been made, has me not readily accepting this scenerio. Please check out that 1840 census and let me know if I am seeing something that is not there or not seeing something that is.

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    2. Here is what I know. My g-g grandmother was Mary Ann Dabbs, she was the daughter of Stephen Vincent Dabbs and Lucinda Brewer? Dabbs, of Wayne County, TN. Mary Ann Dabbs had two children prior to marrying my great grandpa Alvis B. Visor/DeVasier. The two children Mary Ann Dabbs had prior to her marriage to Visor, were Wm Dabbs,born 1878, and Melissa Dabbs, born 11/11/1876, Wayne County, TN. Wm and Melissa were raised by their grandparents Stephen Vincent Dabbs and Lucinda Brewer Dabbs. Melissa Dabbs, was married about 3 times. #1 husband was a Douglas; #2 was S. W. Voorhies, #3 was Thomas B. Totty.
      Melissa Dabbs Totty's death certificate dated 3/6/1960 Davidson, TN, gives her parents as Steve Dabbs and Lucinda Brewer of Wayne County, TN. (they were actually her grandparents)

      In the 1850 census of Lewis TN (familysearch.com) household #69
      Eli Rentfrow is listed in the census as Eli Russo, age 43, b. TN. head of household.
      Eliza Renfro, age 45, born NC
      Thomas J. Renfro, 20 IL
      James M. Renfro, 17, TN
      Geo. W. Renfro, age 15 TN
      Elizabeth Renfro 13, TN
      Lucinda Brewer, 20, TN, married Stephen V, Dabbs (my paternal great grandparents)
      Susan Brewer, 20, TN
      Elizabeth Brewer, 18, TN
      Catherine Brewer, 15, TN
      Mary C. Brewer, 10, TN
      Eli Brewer, 8, TN
      Daniel N. Brewer, 6, TN.
      If these last three kids of Eliza's were Renfro's why are they listed as Brewer?

      household#68 is Daniel Churchwell, 21, and Nancy J. Churchwell, 18. Nancy J. was a Dabbs. Daniel
      B. Churchwell's mother was Aramanda Brewer. So, Nancy Brewer, born 1770's was his maternal grandmother. In the 1860 census of Wayne County, TN his mother Aramanda Brewer Churchwell is listed as Manda Turner, age 57, born NC. she is living in the houehold with Daniel and Nancy J. Dabbs Churchwel, in Wayne County, TN. two households from them are my g-g grandparents Stephen Vincent Dabbs and Lucinda Brewer Dabbs.

      My DNA profile at Ancestry matches as cousins to the Eli Renfrow's descendants, Hensley descendants, Crowell descendants and DeVasier descendants"
      and just about everyone else living around that area. My dad said he had to leave TN, to find a wife that wasn't related to him. So, he went to Arkansas and married my mother, Martha Mangum, her people were from Hickman/Lewis, Wayne and Hardin Counties, TN.

      No, I have no proof that Eliza was married to Daniel Brewer. Maybe the old man Daniel Brewer from the 1840 census had a son Daniel Jr. The old man Daniel would have been about 30/40 years Eliza's senior.


      Jo Ann Crafton

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  2. I know my family decendants are from Wayne county TN. My last name is Green but my grandmother's mother was a Brewer. They are buried at Highland Methodist church cemetary on Hwy 64 right off The Natchez Trace.

    ReplyDelete

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