George Brewster grew up in the family of an agricultural labourer in Normanby le Wold, Lincolnshire. He immigrated to Canada in the 1850s and was living with his uncle, John Brewster, in Innisfil, in the 1861 census. After his marriage, he moved to Muskoka, where he acquired land on both sides of “Rocky Narrows” on the South Branch of the Muskoka River. He engaged in lumbering and farming. Despite having been baptized a Roman Catholic, all Canadian records show George to have been a Wesleyan Methodist during his time in Canada.
Events
Date of Birth: 9 September 1840.
Place of Birth: Normanby le Wold, Lincolnshire, England.
The date and place are given on George’s birth certificate. The date is also given on his baptism registration. His marriage registration gives his place of birth as “Normanby, England”. The 1851 census gives the place of birth as Normanby, Lincolnshire. His death registration gives the place of his birth as “Lincoln-shire England”.
Date of Baptism: 24 September 1840.
Place of Baptism: Osgodby (near Market Rasen), Lincolnshire (Osgodby Roman Catholic Mission).
The baptism is given in the Mission register.
Date of Death: 30 October 1888.
The date is given in his death registration and on his gravestone.
Place of Burial: Uffington, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada (Uffington United Cemetery)
A digital image of his gravestone from the Canadian Gravemarker Gallery.
Relationships
Father: Francis Brewster (1810 - 1882).
Mother: Mary England (1806 - 1840).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Jeannetta Greaves (1850 - 1913). Married 13 April 1865 in Innisfil, Simcoe, Canada West.
George’s marriage registration records his wife’s name as “Jane Graves”. Jeannetta Greaves is the name inscribed on her gravestone.
A digital image of her gravestone from the Canadian Gravemarker Gallery.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Mary Ellen Brewster (14 June 1865 Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario - 12 October 1931 Dorset) married William Samuel Crozier 23 September 1891 in Draper township, Muskoka.
Agnes Elizabeth Brewster (3 July 1868 Draper township, Muskoka, Ontario - 19 October 1918 Bracebridge, Muskoka) married John Crozier 16 May 1888 in Draper township, Muskoka.
Ann Brewster (born 2 May 1871 Draper township - died 5 May 1871).
Francis James Brewster (born 3 February 1873 Draper township - died (1)5 October 1892; buried in Uffington, Ontario).
Thomas George Brewster (born 24 March 1878 Draper township - died 9 July 1944 in Whitby, Ontario).
Jessie Jane Brewster (19 December 1883 - 7 January 1953) married William Gavin 3 May 1905 in Muskoka.
Evidence
George Brewster’s baptism registration (1840, Osgodby, Lincolnshire)
Georgius Brewster
Georgius Brewster natus fuit nono die Septembris 1840 & bap:zatus 24’o die Parentes Franciscus Brewster & Mari England. J.S.
Sponsas: Joannes Tearn, Eliza Seal
George Brewster’s entry of birth (GRO)
Registration District: Caistor
Birth in the Sub-district of Caistor in the County of Lincoln
When and where born: Ninth of September 1840 at Normanby
Name, if any: George
Sex: Boy
Name and surname of father: Francis Brewster
Name, surname and maiden surname of mother: Mary Brewster formerly England
Occupation of father: Labourer
Signature, description and residence of informant: Mary [her X mark] Brewster Mother Normanby
When registered: Tenth of September 1840
1841 census (Normanby on the Wold, Lincolnshire)
Francis Bruster, 30, Ag. lab. Y. [“Y” means born in Lincolnshire]
Anne do. , 8, Y.
Thomas do., 7, Y.
Francis do., 3, Y.
Elizabeth do., 2, Y.
George do., 1, Y.
Elizabeth do., 20, F.S., Y.
1851 census (Normanby, Lincolnshire)
Francis Brewster, Head, Mar, 42, Ag. Lab., [born Lincolnshire] Rasen
Elizabeth do, Daur, 11, Scholar, [born Lincolnshire] Normanby
George do, Son, 10, Ag. Lab., [born Lincolnshire] do
John do, Brother, 23, Ag. Lab., [born Lincolnshire] Rasen
Susan Dann, Servant, U, 40, Housekeeper, [born Lincolnshire] Crosby
Betsy do, Visitor, U, 16, Servant, [born] Hesanton, Yorkshire
George Brewster - Jane Graves marriage registration
Name: George Brewster
Birth Place: Normanby, England
Age: 21
Father’s Name: Francis
Mother’s Name: Mary
Spouse Name: Jane Graves
Spouse’s Age: 17
Spouse’s Birth Place: Scotland
Spouse’s Residence: Innisfil township
Spouse’s Father’s Name: James
Spouse’s Mother’s Name: Agnes
Marriage Date: 13 Apr 1865
Marriage County or District: Simcoe
1861 Census of Canada West, Simcoe, Innisfil, p. 44
George Bruster, [born England], [Wesleyan Methodist], 19, [male], [single], [Colored, Mulatto, or Indian (sic)], [male]
Land grant:
No 1026
Entered and registered this 1st day of March A.D. 1889 at 11 o’clock a.M. Charles Diggle Dep: Reg:
Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith … To all whom these presents shall come … Know ye that we of our special Grace certain Knowledge and … have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant under the authority of the Free Grant and Homesteads Act of 1868 unto George Brewster of the Township of Draper in the District of Muskoka yeoman his heirs and assigns for ever All that parcel or tract of land situated in the Township of Draper in the District of Muskoka in our said Dominion containing by admeasurement ninety six acres be the same more or less being composed of lot number Twenty seven in the eighth concession of the said Township of Draper Reserving the Road allowance along the Banks of Muskoka river for which George Brewster was located under the said act on the first day of March A.D. 1869 To have and to hold the said parcel or tract of land hereby granted conveyed and assured unto the said George Brewster his heirs and assigns forever, saving excepting and reserving nevertheless unto us our heirs and successors all gold silver copper lead iron or other mines or minerals and the free uses passage and enjoyment of in over and upon all navigable waters that shall or may be hereafter found on or under or be flowing through or upon any part of the said parcel or tract of land hereby granted as aforesaid Given under the Great seal of our Province of Ontario Witness, the Honorable John Crawford Lieutenant-Governor of our Province of Ontario at Toronto this twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy five and in the thirty eighth year of our Reign. By command of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
1871 Census, Canada, Ontario, Muskoka, Draper Ryde and Oakley, p. 15
Bluster George M 30 [born] England, C. of England, [origin] English, Farmer, [married]
[Bluster] Jane F 20 [born] Scotland, C. of England, [origin[ Scotch, [married]
[Bluster] Mary Ellen F 6 [born Ontario], [C. of England], [origin English]
[Bluster] Agness Elizabeth F 3 [born Ontario], [C. of England], [origin English]
Warrants [1881]
Grantee: George Brewster
Lot: 28
Concession: 8
Acres: 96
Township: Draper
Authority: Under Free Grants Act
Where sent: CLA Bracebridge
Remarks: Located 13th March 1872
1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, Muskoka, Oakley and Ryde and Draper, p. 5
Bruster George M 40 [born] England, [Church of England], [origin] English, Farmer, [married]
[Bruster] Jane F 30 [born] Scotland, [Church of England], [origin] Scotch, [married]
[Bruster] Mary Ellen F 15 [born Ontario], [Church of England], [origin] English, [going to school]
[Bruster] Agnes Elizabeth F 12 [born Ontario], [Church of England], [origin English], [going to school]
[Bruster] Francis James M 8 [born Ontario], [Church of England], [origin English], [going to school]
[Bruster] Thomas George M 3 [born Ontario], [Church of England], [origin English]
Richardson Agnes F 50 [born Scotland], [Presbyterian], [origin Scotch], [widowed]
George Brewster death registration (Draper & Oakley, Muskoka)
Name and Surname of Deceased: George Brewster
When Died: October 30th 1888
Sex - Male or Female: M.
Age: 48 yrs.
Rank or Profession: Farmer
Where Born: Lincoln-shire England
Certified Cause of Death and duration of Illness: 14 days
Name of Physician, if any: Dr. Byers
Signature, Description and Residence of Informant: A. Scott Draper
When Registered: Nov. 15th 1888
Religious Denomination of Deceased: Methodist
Signature of Registrar: Robert T. Corrigan
Probate
Inventory
Household Goods and Furniture: $60
Farming Implements, &c.: $85
Horses: $150
Horned Cattle: $125
Cash in Bank: $114
Real Estate: Lot 27 in 7th 27 & 28 in 8th Con of Draper $1000
$1534.00
[Jane Brewster, the widow, applied for letters of administration 4 January 1889]
Unto the Surrogate Court of Muskoka and Parry Sound (District of Muskoka) The Petition of Jane Brewstewr of the Township of Draper in the District of Muskoka widow
Humbly Sheweth:
That George Brewster late of the Township of Draper in the District of Muskoka Farmer deceased, died on or about the Thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty eight at the Township of Draper in the District of Muskoka and that the said deceased at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the Township of Draper in the said District of Muskoka
That the said deceased died leaving him surviving Jane Brewster his widow and Mary Ellen Brewster Agnes Elizabeth Crozier Brewster Francis James Brewster George Thomas Brewster and Jessie Jane Brewster his only children and heirs and heiresses at law and without having left any Will, Codicil or Testamentary Paper whatever, and that your Petitioner is the widow of the said George Brewster….
Commentary
George’s parentage:
George’s 1865 marriage registration gives his age as 21, his place of birth as “Normanby, England”, and his parents as Francis and Mary.
George’s 1888 death registration gives his age at death as 48 and his place of birth as Lincolnshire. The informant was “A. Scott” of Draper. (Aaron Scott was a neighbour.)
In the 1841 UK census, in Normanby, Lincolnshire, George Brewster, aged 1, is living in the household of Francis Brewster (Relationships were not recorded in this census.) In the 1851 UK census, George Brewster, aged 10, is still living with Francis Brewster and is recorded as his son.
In Canadian censuses, he is stated to have been born in England, and is aged 19 in 1861, aged 30 in 1871, and aged 40 in 1881.
The above information is specific and consistent enough to allow us to identify George’s birth certificate and baptism records. They both record George’s parents as Francis Brewster and Mary England. England is also recorded as the mother’s maiden name in the birth registrations of George’s brother Francis and sister Elizabeth.
There is supporting DNA evidence that George is the son of Francis Brewster and Mary England. I am a paper-trail descendant of George, and I share DNA with three paper-trail descendants of George’s brother (and Francis and Mary’s son) Thomas. The longest match is 27 cM over 2 segments.
The evidence for George’s parentage is sufficient.
There was a family legend that George’s Brewster family descended from a Brewster who came to North America on the Mayflower. Given the evidence above, this is almost certainly false.
References
“AncestryDNA ThruLines for Francis Willoughby Brewster database report”, AncestryDNA. Accessed 25 February 2025.
George Brewster entry of birth (certified copy). General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office).
George Brewster baptism registration,Register of Births and Baptisms at the Osgodby Roman Catholic Chapel in the parish of Osgodby, Lincolnshire from 1799 to 1840. PRO RG4/ Piece 1320/ Folio 14; digital image thegenealogist.co.uk (accessed 29 March 2014).
Francis Bruster household, 1841 census of England, Caistor, Normanby on the Wold; digital image Findmypast.co.uk (http://Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 29 March 2014), citing HO107, piece 641, book/folio 7/4, page 5.
Francis Brewster household, 1851 census of England, Lincolnshire, Caistor, Thoresway; digital image Findmypast.co.uk (http://Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 29 March 2014), citing HO107, piece 2114, folio 321, page 11.
George Bruster household, 1861 census of Canada, Ontario, Simcoe, Innisfil, page 44, line 4; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-1073
A digital image can be viewed here:
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1861/jpg/4108345_00091.jpg
George Bluster household, 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, Muskoka (district 85), Draper Township (subdistrict H), page 15, family 59; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-10023
A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1871/jpg/4396312_00133.jpg
George Bruster household, 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, Muskoka (district 131), Oakley and Ryde and Draper (subdistrict H), page 5, family 20; Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-13243
A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e338/e008443516.jpg
George Brewster - Jane Graves marriage registration, County Marriage Registers, 1858 - June 1869. Archives of Ontario, (Toronto, Ontario). Microfilm MS 248 reel 14.
George Brewster, Ontario death registration no. 011669, in Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869 - 1938. MS 935 reel 51.; digital copy Ancestry.com. A digital image can be viewed at FamilySearch: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDX6-5YX
"Muskoka, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HK-YS1Z-V?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 57 of 723; . Image Group Number: 008641833
Ontario. Warrants 1870-1884. [FHL citation: "Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTB-G2J6?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 41 of 668; . Image Group Number: 008346088]
Muskoka. Probate Estate Case Files 1888-1896. [FHL citation: "Muskoka, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5V-7QB9-3?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 165 of 1434; . Image Group Number: 008274292]