Events
Date of Birth: about 1787.
Mary's age is given as 60 on her death certificate. The 1841 census gives her age as 55. (Ages were to be rounded down to the nearest five years.)
Date of Death: 20 October 1847.
Place of Death: Hull, Yorkshire.
On page 5 of the Lincolnshire Chronicle of 12 November 1847 under "Died": "At Hull, lately, very suddenly, the wife of Mr. George Brewster, of Market Rasen." The Hull Packet of the same date has the same notice, adding the date October 20.
Date of Burial: 24 October 1847.
Place of Death: Drypool, Yorkshire (St Andrew's).
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: unknown.
Mother: unknown.
There was a Catholic Craggs family living in the area, but so far I have been unable to uncover any documentation linking Mary to it.
Spouse: George Brewster (1774 - 1850). Married 11 November 1805 in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.
The parish register records the marriage.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
George Brewster (born 2 June 1808, baptized the same day in Market Rasen [Roman Catholic]).
Francis Brewster (born 28 March 1810, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - buried 10 August 1882 in Immingham, Lincolnshire) married (1) Mary England 14 May 1832 in Normanby le Wold, Lincolnshire; married (2) Susan Dann 22 June 1856 in Market Rasen.
Thomas Brewster (born 11 April 1812, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 9 January and buried 11 January 1833 in Market Rasen.)
Ann Brewster (born 7 August 1814, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC) married Thomas Gresham in 1842.
Elizabeth Ann Brewster (born 15 October 1816, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 1890 in Sunderland, Durham) married Barnabas Houltby 12 June 1843 in Normanby le Wold, Lincolnshire.
Mary Brewster (born 21 January 1818, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC).
Teresa Brewster (born 21 March 1821, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 1873) married James Beckworth in 1858.
Charles Brewster (born 22 April 1823, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 29 September 1877 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire) married Eliza East in 1851.
William Brewster (born 17 September 1825, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 4 January 1826).
John Brewster (born 28 December 1826, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - died 26 December 1911 in Ontario, Canada) married (1) Charlotte Kirton 9 August 1858 in Innisfil, Simcoe, Canada West; married (2) Mary Morley.
Ellen Brewster (born 20 August 1829, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC - buried August 1883 in Farnworth, Lancashire) married James Page in 1856.
Joseph Brewster (born 23 April 1832, baptized the same day in Market Rasen RC).
Evidence
from the Market Rasen parish register:
Banns of Marriage betwixt George Brewster & Mary Craggs both of this Parish were duly published on the following Sundays -- viz: Octr 27th Nov 3d & 10th
The aforesaid George Brewster of this Parish Singleman and Mary Craggs of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns this eleventh Day of November in the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and five by me Jn Robinson Curate
This Marriage was solemnized between Us George Brewster Mary Craggs
In the Presence of John Booth John Lancaster
Concerning Mary's possible parents:
Their marriage in Claxby near Normanby, Lincolnshire:
Banns of Marriage between George Craggs of this Parish Blacksmith and Ann Lloyd of the same Parish Spinster Married in this Church by Licence this twenty second Day of November in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy nine by me W.m Wheatley Minister
This Marriage was solemnized between Us George Craggs Ann Loyd
In the Presence of James Young Margt Young
Marriage Licence index:
George Craggs, 21, single, of Claxby
Ann Lloyd, 21, single, of Claxby
George Craggs was apprenticed as a blacksmith in 1766 to William Smith of Claxby. He was a witness at the 1782 wedding of Robert Harding of Knottingley, Pontefract and Mildred Smith of Claxby.
from the Drypool parish register:
Name: Mary Brewster
Abode: Holy Trinity Hull
When buried: October 24.th [1847]
Age: 60
By whom the Ceremony was performed: T. Morton
Burials in Claxby:
1805:
April 16 George Craggs aged 55 from Normanby
1836:
no. 73. A Roman Catholic
Name. Ann Craggs
Abode. Normanby
When buried. 1836 11 March
Age. 82
By whom the Ceremony was performed. J.C. Younge, Rector of Walesby
Commentary
My current best guess about Mary's parents are that they were George Craggs and Ann Lloyd since they were in the area and apparently Catholic, but in the absence of a baptism record for Mary, it is not possible to put much confidence in this guess.
Online trees I have seen muddy the waters by giving chronologically absurd parents with no evidence. Surprise surprise.
References
George Brewster - Mary Craggs marriage record, Bishop’s transcripts for Market Rasen, 1561 - 1837. Church of England. Parish Church of Market Rasen. FHL film 504738 Item 2. [The witnesses were John Booth and John Lancaster.]
Geo: Brewster household, 1841 census of England, Lincolnshire, Caistor. Piece 642, Book/Folio 7/12, Page 16; digital image Findmypast.co.uk (accessed 29 March 2014).
Lincolnshire Chronicle (12 November 1847). (Digital image on Findmypast.co.uk accessed 16 March 2015).
Lincolnshire Marriage Licence Bonds and Allegations Transcription, Lincolnshire Family History Society, digital image on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 28 December 2015.
Parish registers for Drypool, digital images on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 19 July 2019.
Parish registers for Market Rasen, digital images on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 28 December 2015.