Searching for the Right Brewer Family

Children of  George Brewer

John Brewer

 On 6 Dec 1736 we find the first record of John Brewer, when he was ordered to assist in the clearing of the road from William Wall's to Beaver Pond Creek. With him are his father, George, and his brothers: Howell, William, and Lanier.

On 21 Jul 1761 a John Brewer received a patent on 487 acres in Johnson County, NC.

In 1763 he was residing in Northampton County, NC.

But on 7 Jul 1763 a John received a patent for 200 acres on the south side of Beaver Pond Creek in Brunswick County, VA.

Later, on 10 Oct 1763 Oliver Brewer conveyed to John 200 acres in Brunswick County, VA on the south side of Beaver Pond Creek.

Then on 12 Jan 1767 in Brunswick County, John Brewer of Orange County, NC sold 200 acres to Richard Woodruff of Meherrin Parish.

There is a Land Grant for a John Brewer in Orange County, NC issued on 1 Nov 1784.

There is a John Brewer in Martin County NC in 1779.

The question is, did John move that many times or is there another John Brewer. We don't know when he died. 

Nicholas Brewer

On 2 Oct 1737 Nicholas witnessed a deed of William Rainey of Surry County to James Judkins of Brunswick County, VA.

Then on 7 May 1741 in Brunswick County there was a petition of Drury Stith administrator of Drury Stith dec'd against Nicholas Brewer for 3 pounds, 5 shillings.

On 20 Aug 1748 Nicholas received a patent for 254 acres on the lower side of Beaver Pond Creek. 

27 Sep 1756 Nicholas Brewer of Brunswick County to John Hill of Southampton County 100 acres on the south side of the pine Log Road. This was part of a tract Nicholas received 5 Jul 1751. His wife Sarah relinquished her dower. 

In 1767 Nicholas and Sarah sold 200 acres that was part of the patent of 1485 acres.

Nicholas was on the 1768 Poll List for Brunswick County, VA.

In 1770 Nicholas began conveying land to his sons. On 21 Jul he conveyed to Nicholas Brewer Jr 166 acres and to William Brewer 200 acres. On 24 Jul he conveyed to Benjamin Brewer 175 acres.

Nicholas is found on the tax list of Brunswick County, VA in 1782.

In 1782 Greensville County Va was formed from Brunswick County.

Then on 28 Jun 1787 there is a deed from Nicholas Brewer to William Brewer in Greensville County, VA, proven by Benjamin Brewer.

In 1791 there is a deed Nicholas to Benjamin Brewer for 100 acres.

On 19 Jul 1792 two deeds were recorded; one to William Brewer for 100 acres and then to Benjamin Brewer for 100 acres.

There is a Thomas Brewer that witnessed deeds between Nicholas and his sons, there is a possibility that he is another one of Nicholas's sons. But there is not a record to confirm this relationship.

There is a James Brewer in records. Benjamin Brewer was the executor of James Brewer's estate. Could he be another son of Nicholas?

At this time I have not found a will or estate files. I do not know when Nicholas died. 

Nathaniel Brewer

After finding Nathaniel in the will of his father, George Brewer, in 1741 the next record is in Chatham County, NC. On 11 Feb 1773 Nathaniel Brewer of Chatham County is indebted to Richard Kennon & Co. for 20 pounds.  In May of 1774 there is a deed of trust from Nathaniel Brewer to Richard Kennon & Co..

On 5 Aug 1774 it appears that Nathaniel buys land for his son Daniel in Chatham County.

In 1781 Nathaniel is appointed overseer of a road in Chatham.

In 1783 he is included with several men ordered to lay out a road from the court house to Haw River.

The next year 1784 he is on a jury. 

On 7 Aug 1787 Nathaniel Brewer received a Land Grant on the waters of Haw River, for 100 acres.

A Nathaniel Brewer is on the 1790 Census in Chatham County. In this household were 6 males under 16 and 2 males over 16. There were no females living in the household.

In 1796 he  was given leave to build a water grist mill on his own land on the branch of Drummond Branch.

On the 1800 Census Nathaniel Brewer is in a household with 3 males 10-15, 1 male over 45, 1 female 10-15 and 1 female over 45.

On 4 Jun 1800 Nathaniel received another Land Grant  for 13 acres on waters of Dry Creek.

This is the last record, since he was not on the 1810 Census, he probably died between 1800 and 1810.

Thanks for stopping by!

There are more children of George Brewer and I plan to write about them in my next post.

Pattie

Searching for the Right Brewer Family

George Brewer

son of George Brewer

George Jr stayed in Virginia. He married Abigail Wyche the daughter of Henry Wyche.  In 1728 he received a patent for 530 acces in Brunswick County, Virginia. George can be find in many records in Brunswick County. He died in 1760.

George Jr and Abigail's Children:

James was born about 1736. There is a sale of land from George to his son James. James is not mentioned in George's will. There is no record of estate or will for James.

Sarah married John Vincent.

Frances married Henry Wyche.

John migrated to Georgia.

Will and his wife Anne in 1773 sold land reserving the graveyard that his mother and father are buried in. 

Elizabeth is only found in George's will. 

Henry stays in Brunswick County until about 1781 when he sold land in Brunswick and was listed as being from Orange County, North Carolina. His wife was Cinthia.

Abigail married Sterling Cato and moved to Georgia.

My Brewer line was in North Carolina, Henry is the only one of George Jr's children that migrated to North Carolina..

John Brewer

son of George Brewer

John was born about 1700 - 1715. In 1760 and 1761 John received land patents in Johnson County, North Carolina.

 In 1760 John is listed as being adjoining property in a deed in Northhampton County, North Carolina.

 In 1763 there is a John Brewer residing in Northhampton County, North Carolina. But in 1763 there is a John Brewer that received a land patent in Brunswick County, Va.

Then there is a land sale in Brunswick by John Brewer of Orange County, North Carolina. His records end in 1763.

Lanier Brewer

son of George Brewer

Lanier was born about 1700 - 1715. In 1736 Lanier is listed as assisting in the road from the river to Beaver Pond Creek along with his father and several brothers. He would have been of age to be included in this road order.

He is in his father's will in 1741.

In 1748 he received a patent for 300 acres on the south side of Beaver Pond Creek.

In 1750 and 1752 he and his wife, Joana, sold land in Brunswick County.

After 1750 if you refer to the Ingersoll Lanier, A Genealogy of a Family Who Came to Virginia there is a family story that Lanier's son, Lanier Jr. was married twice and had a concubine that produced thirty sons and three girls. His son George claimed to be the son of an Indian woman.

Broyhill and Varner's books claim that Lanier moved to present day Monroe County North Carolina where he died between 1790 and 1800. A Will has not been found or a document/Bible that names the children of Lanier.

William Brewer

son of George Brewer

Again William's birth is listed between 1700 - 1715 as his brothers mentioned above. William is listed on the road order in 1736 with Lanier, John, and Howell. 

In 1743 he received a patent in Brunswick for 250 acres. 

In 1748 he is on the Poll List in Brunswick.

From 1751 to 1769 he is in several records selling and receiving patents for land. 

His wife Mary is listed in some of these land records.

William is believed to have died between 1774 and 1776 in Brunswick County, Virginia.

Land deeds and John Brewer's will gives us the names of his sons; 

William  who stayed in Brunswick Va. 

James who also stayed in Brunswick Va.

John  who died in Brunswick Va was single with no living children according to his will.

Henry died in Brunswick Va. His will seems to indicated only one daughter, Rebecca.

Jesse also remained in Brunswick Va. 

Henry Brewer

son of George Brewer

Henry was born around 1720 in County, Va. He married Mary, last name unknown. 

In 1752 Henry is in Orange County, North Carolina. 

Patent given to Henry on 12 Nov 1756 in Orange County for 456 acres.

On a 16 May 1757 he received a warrant for 640 acres in Orange County along the Haw River. 

In Feb 1759 Henry received a patent for an additional 585 acres.

 

On 2 Feb 1767 Henry conveyed to John Vick (his sister Sarah's husband) in Brunswick County 384 acres.

In 1771 Chatham is formed from Orange County.

In 1772 Henry is on the roll of the Chatham County militia.

In 1778 Henry resided in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Henry Brewer had a mill located on the Haw River later known as Pace Mill. 

In 1779 Henry's will was proven in Court. 

Children of Henry and Mary:

George who lived and died in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Henry who lived and died in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Ann who married ______ Parker.

Mary is mentioned in Henry's will.

Hubbard moved to Sampson County, North Carolina.

Sarah was mentioned in Henry's will.

Rebecca was mentioned in Henry's will.

Frances was mentioned in Henry's will.

Isaac appears to have remained in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Alison was mentioned in Henry's will.

Oliver in 1828 Henry gave him land on the Haw River. 

There is an Oliver Brewer living in Warren County Tennessee after 1828. 

In 1850 he is on the Federal Census for Warren County aged 44 and born in North Carolina. 

In the next post I am planning to cover the other 5 children of George Brewer. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie

Searching for the Right Brewer Family

The Brewer Family Line

I am currently researching the Brewer Family. I have links to them on both my mother and father's line. This is a family that migrated from Virginia to Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and more. 

I started with Ancestry and then moved to other sites. One of the sites I discovered has been around for several years and provides documentation and DNA analysis.

http://brouwergenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-family-of-george-brewer-of.html

The creators of this site is gathering DNA evidence to prove the Brewer lineage. Then they compare the DNA with published information about the family. According to the DNA research my George Brewer is NOT the son of John Brewer of Jamestown. Basically what this website is saying is that most of the information found on Ancestry and other genealogy sites is incorrect. Hmmm

With all this conflicting information I began my own research. I have found so much information about the Brewer family that I am overwhelmed to say the least. 

George Brewer is where I will begin. 

 The document to begin research with is his will. (Sorry it is in four parts) His Will is in Brunswick County, Virginia and names his children.

The legacy transcribed:

"I give Devise and bequeath unto my Son William Brewer that parcel of Land whereon he now Dwelleth beginning at the branch on this side of his house and w on the South side thereof to him & his heirs forever."

"I Devise and bequeath unto my son Oliver Brewer all the rest of this Tract of Land where on I now Dwell to him and his heirs forever."

"I give Devise and bequeath unto my son Henry Brewer all that Tract of Land between Fountain Creek and Rattle Snake Creek to him and his heirs forever."

"I give Devise and bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Brewer two hundred and fifty acres of Land lying on both sides of the old Roanoak Road to him and his heirs forever."

"I give Devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Vick one hundred and fifty acres of Land lying on both sides of the old Roanoak Road aforesaid to her and the heirs of her body forever."

"I give and bequeath unto Alice* my Dearly beloved wife this Estate whereon we now Dwell together with all my household goods and Stock both within Doors and without Doors for the maintainance of all my Younger Children that it hath pleased God to give me by her during her Life or until she marry again."

"I give unto my son Lanier Brewer a young steer." **

"I give unto my son George Brewer a young steer."

"I give unto my son Nicholas Brewer a cow and calf."

"I give unto my son John Brewer a cow and calf."

"I give unto my son Howl Brewer a young horse that we call Snip and Feathers to make him a bed."

"I give unto my son Henry Brewer a young horse that we call Patrick and a gunn."

"I give unto my son Oliver Brewer a gunn."

"I give unto my son Nathaniel Brewer a gunn."

"It is my true will intent and pleasure that when my wife die or marry again that my personal estate together with all my household goods and stock both within Doors and without Doors maybe equally divided among my younger children that hath pleased God to give me by her."

"And Lastly I do hereby Constitute make and ordain my Dearly beloved wife Alice my Exctx and my son Hoel Brewer my Excor of this my Last will and Testament..."

His wife, Alice was his second wife. His first wife was Sarah Lanier. We have no definitive proof of the marriage. It is through the Will of John Lanier, her father, that we know about Sarah. John wrote his Will on 5 Jan 1718 and left his daughter, Sarah Brewer, a cow or heifer of three years. This is all we know about Sarah. There is no evidence of her birth, marriage or death. 

 Louise Ingersoll’s, Lanier, A Genealogy of the Family who came to Virginia makes suggestions about Sarah's birth, marriage and death. But does not provide evidence.

Brewer Families of Colonial Virginia by Marvin T. Broyhill and The Long Brewer Line by Ben R. Brewer do not provide the reader with copies of the original documents.   

"Genealogy without proof is mythology" is a favorite saying of many genealogists. 

So, we look for proof..

From this point.. research the children, a daunting task.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie

Isaac Hunter

A Capital City for North Carolina

Before the Revolutionary War the capital of North Carolina was New Bern. Starting in 1766 New Bern served as the colony's seat of government. The Governor's residence was Tryon Palace. This was just too closely associated with the royal government. 

After the Halifax Resolves were ratified in April of 1776 the legislative bodies met in six different locations. In 1779 the General Assembly decided to begin the search for a new capital, yet it was not until 1788 that the Constitutional Convention held in Hillsborough chose the general location. They chose Wake County. However the representatives were a bit more specific, the new capital must be within 10 miles of Isaac Hunter's Tavern. Seven locations were nominated but Isaac Hunter's Tavern was named on the second ballot.  No further action was taken until 1792 because the opposition claimed Wake County was the wilderness and could never develop into a city. In January of 1792 the General Assembly ratified the action of the Constitutional Convention and permanently established the seat of government for the State of North Carolina in Wake County. 

The area began as a tiny crossroads hamlet named Bloomsbury. A planter named Joel Lane purchased thousands of acres in the area during the late 1760's.  As a large landowner he was drawn into politics and became a member of the General Assembly.

Nine commissioners were chosen to select the site in Wake County, survey and lay out the town and sell lots to citizens and determine the site for the State House.

The commissioners gathered at Isaac's Tavern in March of 1792 but soon adjourned to the nearby home of State Senator Joel Lane. His home was behind the tavern at that time. Several plots of land were considered. When the first ballot failed to show a consensus Isaac and his friend Joel decided to work together. The two of them held the grandest party ever held in the area. Joel introduced the commissioners to the "jammiest bits of local jam" while Isaac poured his Cherry Bounce Whiskey with a heavy hand. The festivities lasted all night and into the early morning.

Joel Lane Home

The next day they voted to purchase 1,000 acres of Lane's land to serve as the site of the new capital.

Raleigh has the distinction of being among the few capital cities to have been designed by the distance from a popular tavern.  

Isaac Hunter earned a reputation for clean beds, quality food and spirits. Hunter's tavern was located on the Cross Creek  to Petersburg stage road and was a popular stopping place. 

1969 Isaac Hunter's Tavern

William Christmas, another senator and a surveyor by profession drew the plan for Raleigh. 

1792 plan

The name for the new capital was suggested by Governor Martin in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh, who was responsible for sending the first colonists to North Carolina.

Today the Joel Lane House Museum 

http://www.joellane.org

Today: Isaac Hunter's Tavern

http://isaachunters.com/

Why did I blog about Isaac Hunter's tavern? His sister, Elizabeth, is my 6 times great grandmother. Their father is my 7 times great grandfather. (on my mother's side)

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie