John/Elsie Lewis

John Brewer/Elsie Lewis

The following speculative ideas provide material specific to finding documentation linking John Brewer (b. ca. 1733?) m. Elsie Lewis, to Johannes Brouwer of Flatlands.

1) Concerning linking John Brewer (b. ca. 1733?, m. Elsie LEWIS (said to be Elsie Dunbar without verification) to Johannes Brouwer of Flatlands

We conjecture that John Brewer is a fourth generation descendant of Johannes and Jannetje Brouwer through a third generation link: 

        John 4 (LINK 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1) or, perhaps less likely, 

        John 4 (LINK3, Derck 2, Johannes 1) 

and we explore several possibilities for identifying this third generation link and the locations to search for supporting data suggested by the proposals. 

    We will discuss in the following order 

• • A) the genealogical data, followed by

  • B) the genetic support for the conjecture, and then 

  • C)  discuss each of the following ideas:

i) John 4 ( Hans 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John 4 as the son, Jan 4, of Hans 3 and Nelke Golder with recorded baptism in Freehold -Middletown, NJ  28 November 1731.

ii) John 4 (Jan 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John4 as being an unrecorded son of Jan 3 and Helena Van Cleef that falls within an unusually broad eight year gap in the recorded baptism of their children; i.e. between  sons Pieter 4 (bp Aug 1727 Freehold-Middletown, NJ) and Henrickus 4 (bp 25 Dec 1735 Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ) --- NOTE: A Beta version conclusion a/o 9/11/2008.  In software development a beta test version works, more or less, but comes with no guarantees.  There are bugs, and missing features to be expected.  Similarly, from the information that follows below, and until further information is found, I am proposing the best fit beta version of the link is via speculation ii) John4 (Jan3, Pieter2, Johannes 1).

iii) John 4 (Pieter 3, Peter 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John4 as a son of Pieter 3 and Antie Berge who, it has been claimed, were married by 1731. The date would support a child in 1733. This is unlikely since there is currently no record of children. Little is known of Pieter3. However, he is claimed to have died both prior to 1731 and in 1759. 

iv) John4 (Hendrick 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1) 

    Hendrick was born ca 1690 and married Rachel de Bon. He would be ~ 43 years old in 1733 and a possible father of  John4. The only record is for daughter Sara in 1727 at Harlingen, Somerset county NJ (GMNJ 15:61)  Possible births Sara 1727 --?1729 --?1731-- ?1733 (John4)?? 

v) John 4 (Jan 3, Derck 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John 4 as the son born to Jan3 and Aegie Sprong by 29 October 1732 (mentioned but unnamed in the will)-- though this is unlikely, since Jan 3 already had a son he named  Jan4 born 1726 who lived until 1753. We include it because of the chronological and genetic fit to the Johannes Brouwer family. A genetic argument against this proposal is detailed in the later discussions and a genetic test proposed to decide the matter. 

Note: Derck’s son Pieter3, who married in 1731, is a candidate but his children, as currently identified and documented leave little room for a son John4 (1733): i.e. there is already Peter4 bpt 6 Aug 1732 Somerville, NJ, and Abraham 4 bpt 4 Aug 1734 Readington, NJ. For that reason we will not explore him further.

            A)  Genealogical data on John Brewer (b. ca. 1733, m. Elsie LEWIS(sometimes said to be Elsie Dunbar without verification):

    John Brewer is claimed to have been born 26 March 1733, (NOTE added 28 Dec 2008 --the 1733 date has no verification and may be the result of confusing him with a Jan Brewer baptized 11 Mar 1733, Hackensack Dutch Church -- this Jan married Rachel Braaklen and is the son of Abraham Brouwer and Elizabeth Ackerman in the Adam Brouwer line). It is also claimed he was born in possibly New York or Pennsylvania, although the results of our proposals will point to Somerset or Monmouth Counties, New Jersey rather than either NY or PA.  Given the genetic relationship to the family of Johannes Brouwer of Flatlands, his assumed date of birth would make him a fourth generation child, and it will be with that in mind that we seek the third generation connecting Link3 to either Pieter2 Brouwer or Derck2 Brouwer.  

    The majority of our information is secondary genealogical material provided by a descendant  of John Brewer who participated in our surname study (participant Kit # 60686). Compiled and researched by his father, much of the content was handed down in a family history originally prepared by an Alice Brewer of Hoopston, Illinois about 1890. Alice was a daughter of James Brewer, granddaughter of Edward Brewer, and great granddaughter of our subject John Brewer (1733-1809). Another daughter of Edward, and great granddaughter of John Brewer, one Ada Nancy Brewer Morgan, joined the DAR about 1914 based on their review of the supporting record of John.  Part of the family history is as follows:

    “ [John Brewer}Born 26 March 1733 – RESIDED in south east Bullskin Township, Fayette 

County, PA (formed in 1783 from Westmoreland County, a few miles east of 

Connellsville.   He sold this land in 1806 and on May 4, 1807 he contracted to buy 

land from the Chillicothe, Ohio land office.  The source is Dorothy Woods. Mrs. 

Woods is descended from ELSIE (Alice) BREWER, daughter of John Brewer who married Meshick Pullman 30 Sep 1796.” 

    A DAR Register compilation mentions John was born in NY.  On the other hand, one often finds John listed as being born in PA.  A pedigree of John, compiled by the father of participant Kit# 60686, lists the referenced DAR compilation as the source for NY, and also lists a source for his birth in PA as being “Chapman Brothers’ Portrait and Biographical Album – Vermillion and Edgar Counties, 1889, p.413. see Sec 5.”  I do not have access to this source and have not seen it. I can only say we do not know his birth place.  But on the basis of the possibility of his being descended from a third generation son of either Pieter2 or Derck2 Brouwer I believe we can show that rather than  being born in NY or PA,  he is more likely to have been born in New Jersey, in the area of Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth Co. NJ.  He may have been baptized in the Harlingen church of NJ but all their records are nearly a blank for ten years from 1734 to 1744.

    Charles Brewer (b. 17 August 1779) a son of John gave his own birthplace in the 1850 census of Vermilion County, Ill as PA. Since Charles died in August of 1854 and was within a few days of being 78, this would place the John Brewer family in Pennsylvania in late 1778.

    If John4 was born 26 March 1733 as claimed, we might expect him to marry by age 25, that is to say around 1758. At the time of his death in 1809 he had 11 living children, by two wives. John’s first wife is generally claimed to be Elsie, surname unknown, but who has sometimes been said to be a Dunbar, Lewis, or Barnet.  [NOTE added 28 December 2008-- John’s wife is no longer unknown, she is shown to be Elsie Lewis in the New Jersey Will of Barnet Lewis of Bernards Township, Somerset Co. dated 12 February 1807. The Will is found in the State of New Jersey Archives First Series, vol. 40, Calendar of New Jersey Wills 1806-1809, p.215:

    This Will of Barnet Lewis clearly indicates that the wife of  John4 was Elsie Lewis, sister of Barnet Lewis. Earlier researchers failed to note the comma between Lewis and Barnet in the Will, Lewis being the surname, and so listed his sister as Elsie Barnet rather than Elsie Lewis. Their mother’s maiden name is believed to be Elsie Barnet  (not yet proven)-- which also explains the sometime prior misidentifications of Elsie as a Barnet.  Elsie Lewis is named after her mother. The son of John4 and Elsie Lewis was named Edward after Elsie’s father Edward Lewis. John4’s second wife has been said to be named Sarah Howell. The marriage to Sarah was 1777.

A list of the children of John, indicating gaps in birth sequences and marriages (those claimed and speculated) new information on birth sequences provided by a descendant of John’s son Richard Brewer (1790).

1758 -1764?  Earlier marriage? perhaps Ann Hulse?

    10 year gap -- Marriage to Elsie by 1773

Mary 26 Jun or July 1774 m. 6 Dec 1792 James Black

Edward 23 or 25 March 1776 PA, m. 16 Feb 1804 Magdalena Haines, Adams OH; d. 11 Dec 1847, Lewis KY

Alice (Elsie) 1777 -1778? m. 30 Sept 1796 Meshack Plowman, Bullskin Twp., Fayette PA

--- Marriage to Sarah Howell 1777 -- eight children

Charles 17 Aug 1779 Adams Co. Ohio/ or PA as listed in Vermillion, Ill Census 1850.  d. Aug 1854

Jacob 1782 Adams Co. Ohio

William 1785 Adams Co. Ohio  [Prior claim of William being born 1799 revised to be 1785]

Nancy 12 Aug 1788 Adams Co. Ohio d. 7 Jun 1854

Richard 20 Mar 1790 Adams Co. Ohio

John (Jr.)  11 May 1792 Pennsylvania  d. 21 May 1851

James 2 Oct 1794 Pike County Ohio d. 12 Sep 1862

Sarah “Sally” 16 Jan 1797  d/ 3 Apr 1842  Vermillion Co. Illinois

[William 1799 erroneous previous placement -- now moved to 1785]

    His daughter, Elsie (Alice) Brewer married Meshack Plowman/Pullman Sept 30, 1796 and if she was 17 or 18 would have been born around 1777 or 78 therefore placing her birth a year or two after Edward, who was born 1776. This indicates that the mother of the children from Mary (1774), through Alice (1777//78), was likely Elsie.  But if Mary (1774) was the first child, John4, if born 1733 ,would have been 41 years of age.  Pretty old for a first marriage.  There seems to be an unexplained gap between the probable first marriage in 1758 and the marriage to Elsie by 1773,  What happened during those 15 years?  This depends on accepting the birth of John to be ca. 1733, which is unproven.

We have available the probate of the estate of  Meshack Plowman which helps us verify the identify the children of John Brewer as being Charles, Jacob, and Edward as well as Elsie (Alisy) Brewer Plowman.

Here is a transcription of the Probate of Meshack Plowman:

Estate of Meshack Plowman

Scioto County Ohio

Scioto County Probate Court.

Docket #4718

Filed 14 Dec 1812

A. Plowman and W. Robey administrators.

Know all men by these presents that we Alisy Plowman, and William Robey and Richard Brewer (Philip Mouse Jun. written in and scratched out) of the County of Scioto and State of Ohio, are held and firmly bound unto the treasurer of said county and his successors in his office in the just and full sum of one thousand dollars current money of the United States of America. Which payment well and truly to be made. We bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly, irevocally (?), and firmly by there presents. We also with our seals adcoted (?) this ___ day of December 1812.

The condition of the above obligation is such that where as Alisy Plowman and William Robey have this day been appointed, by the Honorables this Court of Common Pleas for said county, administratrix and administrator, of the rights credits, monies and effects of Meshack Plowman, late of said County, decd. Now the condition of the obligation is such that if the said administratrix and administrator deals with and truly discharge, according to law, the duties required of them by law, then this obligation to be void att--- (page torn) and remeni--- rest missing.

#4718

Inventory and appraismant of M. Plowman Decd together with Account of sales recorded.

Filed 9 March 1813 

Amount of the property of Mashack Plowman Dec. late of Wayne Township, Scioto County.

Articles

1 table, a quantity of crockery ware, tin ware, 1 coffe mill, knifes and forks and pewter pieces (?)      $6.75

1 beb (bed?) and furniture     $5.00

1 Linin Wheel, 2 churns       $1.50

1 chest    .75

1 hand saw $2.

Total $2.75

1 looking glass   .50

2 Kettels, 1 pote, 1 skillet $8.00

1 Wedge and three Cheese .75

1 ax, 2 hoes, 1 Kettle $4.50

1 sythe, 1 drawing knife   .82 1/2

2 plows, 2 geers $8.00

1 waggoon, 1 loom, 1 tub $5.25

15 head of Hoggs $ 11.50

2 cows and calfs $16.00

4 steers $16.00

Total $32.00

1 steer, 1 heifer, 1 cow $19.00

1 cow, 3 calfs $16.00

150 head of sheep $20.00

250 bushells of corn $50.00

1 horse saddle and bridle $40.00

1 horse $4.00

1 two year colt $20.00

Total $24.00

2 colts $25.00 

18 head of geese $6.00

1 pott Trammel $1.00

Amount carried over

$288.37 1/2

Pg. 2

Amount brot over

$288.37 1/2

1 lote of flax $1.00

1 pr. Fire tongues $1.00

$290.37 1/2

We the subscribers being appointed by the court of Common Pleas for Scioto County, to appraise the moveable Estate of Mashack Plowman, decd, late of Wayne Township, Scioto County - having been sigailly (?) qualified do certify then above to be a True Inventory at the appraised value 30 Dec. 1812 

Signed Philip Moore Sen., Seal   Thomas Hardin, Seal   Philip Noel, Seal

Amt. of the Sale of the property of Mashack Plowman Decd, late of Wayne Township, Scioto County.

Amount of Property sold at publeck sale $187.68 1/2

To amt. kept at the appraised value by the widow $ 148.00

Cash on hand $8.00 

Whole amount $343.68 1/2

Debts due the Estate

1 note on Saml. Hammet $ 7.00

open acct. against Robert Buckles $8.33 1/3

$15.33 1/3

The amount due from the estate unknown.

Signed Wm. Robey Adm.

Alsye Plowman Admx

5 March 1813. #4718 N13

(my emphasis below)

There is three Titles bonds for conveyance of land to wit-

1 from Charles Brewer

1 from Jacob Brewer

1 from Edward Brewer

It being there proportional part of the land of there father, John Brewer Decd. Which proportions was purchased by Mashack Plowman in his lifetime for $28.00 each amounting in the whole to $84.00 

Signed

William Robey Adm

Alsye Plowman Adx

5 March 1813.

The amount of the goods and chattles rights and credits of the estate of Mashack Plowman late of the county of Scioto deceased, as far a they come to the knowledge and possession of the administrix Elsie Plowman and William Robey the Admnistrator there of, with these disbursments of the dues.

To paying Ezekiel Blue A   $3.15

To paying Philip Moore B   $19.37 1/2

To paying Saml L. Crawford note C   $5.00

To paying Young Shanglse D   $2.50

To paying Abesha Collington E   $25.00

To paying Abesha Collingotn F   $7.00

To paying Treasurer of Wayne Town G.   .50

To paying Elijah Gloreis H    $7.29

To paying Elijah Gloreis note I   $8.62

To paying Samuel B. Burt Sen. J   $1.25

To paying Hogeat Shackferd K   $9.60

To paying Thomas Walles L   $1.25

To paying Wiliam Crulls note M   $2.50

$92.83 1/2

To cash on hand   $8.00

Allowed administrators   $20.00

$130.93 1/2

Pay the amount of sales   $187.68 1/2

By the amount taken by the widow   $148.00

By error   .50 

$335.73 1/2

Due the heirs

$56.75

September Term 1818 

Examined passed and ordered to record.

Signed The Court

*********************END*******************

    In a search of a possible early NJ marriage (prior to Elsie) I find there is a record of marriage  in Early New Jersey Marriages - Extracts   #360;   John BRUER (BREWER) of Mideltown in the County of Monmouth, and James WOOLLEY of Shrewsbury in the same county... [bound to]... William FRANKLIN, Governor... 500 pounds... 1 March 1764 ... John BRUER...obtained license of marriage for himself and for Ann HULSE of Freehold... [w] Sam LEONARD

    Ann Hulse is of Freehold, as is the John Bruer referred to in this marriage license bond, and of course I have already stated my conjecture that John4 is a member of the Johannes1 Brouwer descendant families of either Pieter2 Brouwer or Derck2 Brouwer, and we know that those families resided in Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth NJ.  So this lends some credence to the proposal that the John Bruer who married Ann Hulse could be a candidate to be identified as John4 Brewer.  

[Added December 28, 2008 -- The Freehold-Middletown Church baptismal record reported in GMNJ 31:23 Vol.31 shows the baptism on 22 Jan 1767 of a daughter Neetje of John Brewer and Antje Hulsaart; Assuming Antie Hulsaart is Ann Hulse, and based upon the name of the daughter, this would indicate that the John Bruer who married Ann Hulse in 1764 Middletown, NJ was the son of Hans3 Brewer and Neelke Golder. The daughter Neeltje being named for her paternal grandmother. This would be compatible with my hypothesis i) Identify John 4 as the son, Jan 4, of Hans 3 and Nelke Golder with recorded baptism in Freehold -Middletown, NJ  28 November 1731.]

Regarding the Hulse and Brouwer families;

    Was the Hulse family to be found in the area? Are there any connections to our Brouwer families?  Preliminary supporting information is provided by an entry by Tuenis G. Bergen : pg 150, (See “Resources”) stating that Benjamin Hulst (supposed son of Johannes Hulst of Flatlands) married Annetje Luyster and settled in Marlborough, Monmouth Co., NJ where he had several children baptized. 

        (Note: The Hulst family were neighbors of our Brouwer family in NY.  Johannes Hulst settled in Flatlands circa 1684, where our Pieter2 Brouwer of Flatlands lived and, during the period 1688 - 1698, raised his children who later moved to Freehold, NJ.)

        (Note: Brouwer connection to the Luyster family --on 17 Mar 1716, Lucretia Brouwer b. 12 Dec 1687 in Flatlands, daughter of Pieter2 Brouwer of Flatlands, N.Y., married Johannes Luyster and moved to Middletown, N.J. She was buried in the Luyster Burial ground 12 April 1771 at Holland, Holmdel Township, Monmouth Co., NJ.  In 1696 Holmdel encompassed what is now Middletown, Raritan, Matawan, and Colts Neck. Holmdel separated from Raritan in 1857 forming Holmdel Township.  Recall also that Hendrick4 Brouwer ( Jan3, Pieter2, Johannes1) of Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ is listed as one of the witnesses to the will of Johannes Luyster of Middletown, Monmouth Co., dated 3 Aug 1766, and is himself buried in the Luyster Burial ground having died 12 February 1802 at the age of 67 years -indicating a birth of Aug 1735 which correlates with the baptism of our Henrikus4 [Jan3, Pieter2, Johannes1] on 25 December 1735.  He was married to Abigail Brewer who was buried same place 14 Jan 1827 at age 81 years, 11 m., 11 days ) 

    It appears that the Hulse/Hulst family from Flatlands has a likely connection to the Pieter2 Brouwer family and therefore to the postulated John4 (Link3, Pieter2, Johannes1) Brouwer whom I also postulate is the John Bruer who married Ann Hulse in Freehold-Middletown, Monmouth Co. NJ.   

    Further tentative support for the Hulse family being located in Freehold during the time period of interest  is found in the Monmouth Court House Chapter New Jersey Patriot Roster, Freehold, NJ which lists 

        Mathias Hulse (b. 3 Nov. 1755 NJ) who died 10 Apr 1846 Monmouth Co., NJ . 

    There is also a Hulse family member indicated by a William Hulse claimed b: 1742 Holland (which likely does not refer to the Netherlands Holland, which would imply a later arrival of another Hulse family, but instead to Holland, Holmdel Township, Monmouth Co., NJ, where we find the Luyster family burial ground located.) who d: 1828 Warren Co., Ohio who married a Rebbecca Vanderwater and had 10 children between 1751 and 1796 of whom the birth in New Jersey is mentioned specifically for two of their children:

         James Hulse b. 27 May 1777 in New Jersey, and Benjamin Hulse b. 10 Apr 1787 New jersey--d. 10 Jun 1855 Mercer Co. NJ.

    It is not definitive, but it appears that the Hulse family of William Hulse, was in NJ by 1742 and if Matiias Hulse (b 1755 NJ). and Ann Hulse (b.~1746) are members of the same family, that family could have arrived in Freehold sometime between 1742 (or earlier) and 1755.  It would be worth while to further research this to pin point any possible connection to our Brewer/Brouwer families in Freehold in the 18th century or the earlier Hulst families of Flatlands, NY.    As another note, there are much later 19th century Hulse family members buried in the Old Yellow House Cemetery of Monmouth Co. NJ., and the Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ.  This does point to the existence of a Hulse/Hulst family presence in Freehold-Middletown from the early 18th through the 19th century.

Back to John4 speculations:  

    If John Bruer who married Ann Hulse in 1764 is our John4 Brewer (b. ca. 1733), then there likely exists two or three earlier children, thus far unaccounted for, possibly born 1765, 1767, and 1769 and who, at the time of the marriage to Elsie in 1773 would have been ages  8, 6, and 4.  This opens the speculative possibility that John Rose (b. ca. 1760-65), the earliest known ancestor of the Rose descendants that match the Brewer genetic profile, are connected to John4 from an earlier marriage ca. 1764. The fact that the children do not appear in the pedigree for John after his marriage to Elsie, leads to the consideration that they may have been given up for adoption to the Rose and Embody families on or about 1770 and that they took on the new surname as their own. This and other conjectures will be discussed in another topic page of “Speculation” devoted to linking the Olsen/Embody/Rose descendants to Johannes Brouwer.  

    We have mentioned that John Brewer appears on the 1790 census at Bullskin township, Fayetteville, PA  but this may not be our John4 (1733). Chris Chester has pointed out that the John Brewer in Bullskin, Fayette Co., PA in 1790 has one male over 16, 1 male under 16, 2 females, which comes across as a YOUNG family (and doesn’t correspond to the family of seven children born 1774 to 1790 listed earlier).  It may represent instead, the family of a different John Brewer --the brother of David5 Brewer--John5 Brewer, discussed below.  

    I make note here of the fact that David Brewer (b.ca. 1762 in New Jersey) who married Euphemia Warner, together with his brothers Elias Brewer, John Brewer, Benjamin Brewer, are all found in Fayette Co., Penn. in 1790. I believe that David is a fifth generation descendant of Johannes1 Brouwer of Flatlands through his son Derck2 as follows: David5 (Dirk4, Elias3, Derck2, Johannes1). This conjecture will be explored further on a later page of “Speculation” but the significance here, in connection with with John4, is that shows the Brouwer families with ties to Johannes1 form part of a migration from New Jersey to Virginia (now WV) and PA within the same time frame.  This may provide additional rationale for conjecturing that John4 (1733) was born in New Jersey, as was Dirk4 (b. 1732) who was baptized in Harlingen, NJ and they may be cousins of the same age.  David5, son of Dirk4 may have followed John4 to Pennsylvania from New Jersey.  

    One should also note that David moved from Virginia to PA and later back to Virginia [not Ohio as sometimes claimed]. David Brewer is found on a 1788 tax list of Ohio County., Virginia (now W.V.).  He appeared on the census of 1790 Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, with a family of 3 males over 16, 3 males under 16, 5 females.  John Brewer, Benjamin Brewer, Elias Brewer, and David Brewer are all found in Fayette Co., Penn. in 1790.  David5 and Euphemia Warner were a member of Big Redstone Baptist Church, Franklin Twp., Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, in 1791.  He was in PA through 1800 (census) but back in Virginia (WV) by 1810.

    John4 Brewer died in Adams County, Ohio, 11 February 1809. See “Official Register of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Lived in the State of Ohio, Vol.2, p.68.” 

The date of death, not burial, is claimed to be in probate file 4704 Scioto Co., Ohio.  I have not seen it.

Below I have included the note on John4 Brewer provided by his descendant, Kit# 60686, Please note the differences between this list and the corrected (red-lined) list of children given earlier. A further correction should be noted. Added Aug. 19, 2009: The line claiming John4 Brewer (1733) served under Col.Klock during the revolution is the result of a misidentification. The John referred to is not John4 Brewer (1733) who married Elsie Lewis, and the claims made in the references below, including the DAR reports that this Rev. War service pertained to John Brewer (husband of Elsie Lewis & Sara Howell) are incorrect.  The John Brower who served under Col. Jacob Klock in the Tryon Co. Militia was a son of Harmanus Brouwer, a descendant of Willem Brouwer. The information on Johannes Brouwer/John Brower/Johan Brower can be found on the The Brouwer Genealogy Database” at:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brouwergenealogydata/). He was bapt. 1 Jan 1759, died between 25 March and 12 October 1829. Both his father, Harmanus and his brother William served in this same regiment. Herkimer was known as German Flatts at the time of the Rev. It lies along the Mohawk River. It was then in Tyron Co. The name was changed after the Rev. to Herkimer in honor of Gen. Nicholas Herkimer who died at Oriskany during the Rev. War. Present day Herkimer is in the county of Herkimer.

                B)  The Conjecture’s genetic support 

    We know from the DNA data results (reviewed in the next paragraph) that all the participants that claim descent from John Brewer (1733), who we are identifying as a John4, are in fact closely related to Johannes1 Brouwer of Flatlands. Their match to the ancestral DNA signature indicates with 90% probability their Most Recent Common Ancestor ( MRCA) is within 3 to 7 generations.

But where is the connecting link to be found?

    Let us first review the genetic data. The key genetic distinction between the ancestral signature of Elias4 Brouwer and John4 Brewer is the marker at DYS# 19 which carries an allele value of 16 in all of the living descendants tested in the line of Elias4 (regardless of which of his son’s branch they are from), and a 15 in all the tested living descendants in the John4 Brewer line, again, regardless of which of his son’s they are descended from. This neatly separates the descendants into two groups, and we know that Elias4 carried the marker 16 and John4 carried the marker 15.  See Table.

Major Family Grouping

    The ancestral haplotypes (Signature) of the two patriarchs, Elias4 and John4 match in 35 of 37 markers,  (See “MRCA” page) which implies they are related and share a common ancestor. Of course, genealogical lineages are absolutely necessary to assess just where an ancestral relationship occurs in the descent of any two persons that show a genetic relationship via matching DNA markers. The two sets of data (paper trail and DNA results) compliment and support one another. The DNA can show a definite relationship occurs but not with whom or when.  The paper record adds who and when.  We have not yet established a paper trail for John Brewer indicating whom the most recent common ancestor between he and Elias4 might be. However, the change in value at marker DYS#19 is a random mutation occurring in one of the lines and serves to distinguish a branching of the two lines from their common ancestor. It is  possible that the mutation occurred in John4’s line, with the marker value going from 16 to  15, but it is more than twice as likely for a mutation to increase the allele count, going  from 15 to 16, and so it is likely the mutation occurred in the line of Elias4. 

    From the genealogical data supplied by the study participants, it is possible to say that the mutation occurred in Elias4, or in one of his direct ancestors, that is, it occurred at or prior to the birth of Elias4 (1740).  That limits the source of the mutation from 15 to 16 to either: Elias4  himself, Elias3, or Derck2 (or Johannes/Jan1 if John4 were to descend from a relative, a brother say, of Jan1. But there is absolutely no support today for adding an unknown relation to Jan1 in 18th century NY or NJ and it is an unnecessary complication to introduce one at this point; the simplest hypothesis is that John4 descends from Jan1 not some unknown relation of his). Under the assumption that John4 descends from one of the sons of Jan1 Brouwer based upon the DNA match to the ancestral signature of Johannes/Jan1 discussed on the”MRCA” page, and because John4 carries a signature marker of 15, it also implies (under our proposed scenario) that Jan1 had to carry a value of 15 at marker DYS#19.

    If John4 is a descendant of a son of of Jan1, there are a limited number of candidates. As we discussed in “About Johannes” and  “Descendants”  Jan1 had seven children but only five male children are known: 1) Johannes2 Janse (No Children).; 2) Pieter2 Janse (a large family with possibly 4 male children); 3) Hendricus (died as an infant); 4) Hendrick Janse (No surviving children) 5) Derck2 with six male children.  Thus, only Pieter2 or Derck2 can be considered viable candidates for the ancestral line of John4 Brewer.

                C)  Discussions of possible Links:

John 4 (LINK3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1)

We consider below several possible candidates for the third generation link from Pieter2:

i)  John 4 ( Hans 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1)  

    John 4 can possibly be identified as the son, Jan 4, of Hans 3 and Nelke Golder with recorded baptism in Freehold -Middletown, NJ 28 November 1731. 

    Hans3  (name probably Johannes) moved from Flatlands, Kings Co. NY to Middletown and by 1720 (supported by the baptism of Anke4, see below) married Nelke Golder. Hans3 was baptized 30 Oct 1695 to Pieter2 and Antie Brouwers so would have been 25 years of age.  It has been claimed that Nelke was his second wife, however at 25 I find it unconvincing that he married earlier and lost a first wife, but perhaps. If so then he may have had earlier sons that we have no record of.  

The known  children of Hans3 and Nelke are:

        Anke4 Brouwer a son 11 Sept 1720 at Freehold (GMNJ 22:85)

        Son4 Brouwer bpt 27 Jan 1723 Freehold (GMNJ 22:88)

        Child4 Brouwer bpt 5 Sept 1725 Freehold-Middletown GMNJ 23:14)

unknown if this is a male or female.  If male,The year eliminates him from being John4 or the father of John4.

        Jan4 Brouwer bpt 28 Nov 1731 Freehold-Middletown- (GMNJ 23:67) wit by Jan3 Brouwer and Hilletie Van Cleef his younger brother (age 33), 

    The date of baptism for Jan4 makes him a candidate to be identified as John4 (1733), in spite of the claimed date of birth of John4 being  26 March 1733, such date is from family sources currently undocumented by primary material.  Need to locate more information on Jan4 and if he is found to have died young, perhaps another Jan4 could be born ca 1733 -- there being generally 2 years between the other children of Hans3 and Nelke.  [Added December 28, 2008 : Jan4, son of Hans3 and Nelke Golder is now believed to be the John Breuer who married Ann Hulse in Freehold, 1764 and baptized a daughter, Neeltje, 22 Jan 1767. See my earlier note on Ann Hulse. Jan4 and Ann could very well have had a child in 1765 that could be  John Rose (b. ca. 1760 - 1765) as speculated earlier. 

ii) John 4 (Jan 3, Pieter 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John4 as being an unrecorded son of Jan 3 and Helena Van Cleef that falls within the unusually broad eight year gap in the recorded baptism of their children; i.e. between sons Pieter 4 (bpt Aug 1727 Freehold-Middletown, NJ) and Henrickus 4 (bpt 25 Dec 1735 Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ). 

Children of Jan3 Brouwer: 

        child4  bp. 21 June 1724 at Freehold-Middletown, NJ

        child4  bp. 11 April 1726 at Freehold-Middletown, NJ

        *Pieter4 bp. [no day] August 1727 at Freehold-Middletown, NJ

Unusual eight year gap in baptisms -- possible additional children. i.e. John4 1733 ??

[Added Dec 28, 2008: Possible son Jan Brouwer claimed bapt. 28 September 1730 Middletown, NJ currently unverified. ]

        *Henrikus4  bp. 25 December 1735 at Freehold-Middletown, NJ

        *Peeteres4 bp 26 December 1737 at Harlingen, NJ

        * Benjamin4  bp. 19 February 1738 at Freehold-Middletown, NJ

        Marytje4 bp 3 October 1738 at Readington [North Branch], NJ 

        Leena4,bp. 14 January 1743 at Harlingen

        Elsie4 bp. 10 December 1746 Readington (North Branch)

        *Johannis4 bp., 26 December 1749 Readington [North Branch]

It is always a problem to assume an unrecorded birth just to fit a hypothesis, but in this case it is proposed that one could justifiably search for new supporting data because of the unexplained gap in baptisms. It has been suggested [NYG&B Vol. 138(2007) pg. 254] that the gap may be due to the unusual and eccentric behavior of the congregation’s Reverend Frelinghuysen -- and that the delayed baptisms were not representative of the birth dates. Perhaps. However, although the baptism of Henrikus 25 December 1737, is clearly  a symbolic selection, his gravestone in Holmdel, Monmouth Co., NJ shows he died 12 Feb 1802, at age 67 years, which indicates by calculation that he was born ~Aug, 1735.  So the birth and baptism of Hendrikus4 are within three or four months of each other, and contrary to conjecture, the baptism dates seem valid indicators of the birth dates and the gap is apparently real. Perhaps additional baptisms occurred (elsewhere?) and have yet to come to light. There is certainly room for one or more additional children.

iii) [REJECT] John 4 (Pieter 3, Peter 2, Johannes 1)  

    Consider Identifying John4 as a son of Pieter 3 and Antie Berge who, it has been claimed, were married by 1731. The date would appear to support a child in 1733. This is unlikely since not only is there currently no record of children, but little is known of Pieter3 except that he is claimed to have died in 1759. The claim of marriage is based upon his wife Antie being listed as a church member at Freehold-Middletown 1731 (GMNJ 24:22). However, I find Antie Berge is there listed as a Middletown member 1731 but as the WIDOW of Pieter Brouwer -see page 22 Genealogy Magazine of NJ. However, as pointed out in NYG&B Vol 138 (2007) p. 255 note 57-- a Peter Brewer of Shrewsbury in Monmouth Co. died intestate 1739 and a bond was posted by his widow Anne and others including Thunis Amak (NJW 3:40)  The assumption appears to have been made that the notation regarding Anne being a widow in the 1731 church membership was an error of interpretation during transcription of the church members record and the bond posting overrides that.

    At any rate, it seems that, date aside, at this time there is little to warrant seriously considering Pieter3 as the father of John4 unless and until records of children appear, and it can be established that he did not die before 1731 as indicated.

iv) [REJECT] John4 (Hendrick3, Pieter2, Johannes1) 

    Hendrick 3 was born ca 1690 and married Rachel de Bon. He would be ~ 43 years old in 1733 and possible father of a John4. The only record is for daughter Sara in 1727 at Harlingen, Somerset county NJ (GMNJ 15:61)  One could posit additional births after Sara 1727, say in --?1729 --?1731-- ?1733 (John4)?? 

But the fact that we have no evidence for additional children, and noting that none of John4’s children are named Rachel, but instead are Mary, Alice, Nancy and Sara -- and we know that Sara is named after John4’s wife Sara Howell, it appears improbable that Hendrick3 is the missing link to Johannes1 unless additional evidence shows up in the future, we will not consider him further.

We consider below a possible candidates for the third generation link from Derck2:

John 4 (LINK3, Derck 2, Johannes 1)

v) [TEST proposed] John 4 (Jan 3, Derck 2, Johannes 1)  

    Identify John 4 as the Son4 born to Jan3 and Aegie Sprong by 29 October 1732 (mentioned but unnamed in the will)-- though this is unlikely, since Jan 3 already had a son he named  Jan4 born 1726 who lived until 1753. We include it because of the chronological and genetic fit to the Johannes Brouwer family. A genetic argument against this proposal was mentioned in the discussions on the genetic signature differences between Derck2 and Pieter2. A genetic test is proposed to decide the matter. 

    To test the idea, one possibility is to find a descendant of Isreal Brower 1806 or William Brower 1807 of Hempstead, Queens Co., Long Island NY who each married a Seaman sister, (See “Derck’s line” under 4th generation Sons) because they each descend from Jan4 (Jan3, Derck2, Jan1) b 1726, and if they show the mutation 15 ->16 at DYS#19, then it argues that Derck2 surely had a 16 at that marker (since both Jan3 and Elias3 would be shown to have a 16).  Since John4 has a 15, it would be most  likely  he does not in this case descend from Derck, but instead from Pieter as argued earlier in section  B)  The Conjecture’s genetic support.