SOURCE-First marriage and children
"The Brewster Genealogy 1566-1907", Compiled and edited by Emma C. Brewster Jones, New York: The Grafton Press, 1908, page 74:
"WILLIAM BREWSTER (William,Benjamin,Jonathan,William), married December 13, 1716, MEHITABLE ABEL. They removed from Lebanon to Mansfield, Conn., and probably returned to Lebanon. Children, i-v recorded at Lebanon, vi Mansfield (there may have been other children): ..."
And then this happened...
SOURCE-Petition for Divorce, Windham County, Connecticut:
"Mehitebel Brewster Petition 15 vs. William Brewster 1749
Petition for Divorce
To the Honorable Superior Court, Now Setting at Windham Within and for the County on the 3rd Tuesday of March 1748/9. The Petition of Mehitable Bruster of Windham in Sd County Who Humbly Shew to this Court [that] on the 13th of December 1716 She Your Petitioner Was Joyned In Mareage to one William Bruster of Labenan In Sd County With Whome Your Petitioner Lived In the Due Discharge of al the Duties of a Wife to him ye Sd William til Sum time In the Munth of March In the Year 1733: at Which Time he the Said William Without any Just Caus from Your Petitioner Given Willfuly Deserted and Left Your Petitioner With the Total Neglect of al Duties of a Husband Toward Your Petitioner Ever Since the Year 1733 Whereupon Your Petitioner pray that Your Honors Would Declare Sd Marriage of Sd William with Your Petitioner Void and that Your Petitioner be Single & unMarried as by Law You are Innabled to Do and Your Petitioner as Is Duty bound Shall Ever pray.
Dated in Windham March 20th 1748/9.
Mehitable Bruster"
=
Proof of Marriage submitted with Petition for Divorce:
"Lebanon June 13 1749
This may certify whomsoever it may concern that in the Church Book of the First Church in Lebanon in a page written by Mr. Samuel Welles under the Title in the top of the Page /Persons Married by me/ I find as follows. 1716 Decem 13th William Bruster Jun & Meh: Abel ------
Solomon Williams, Pastor of the First Church in Lebn."
=
Per Index to Divorce Records of Windham County (1726-1907), Part 1:
"William Brewster, Jr. & Mehitabel (Abel); 278."
=
Petition and Proof of Marriage microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990.
Title: Divorce papers, 1726-1907.
Authors: Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County)
Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Library, Hartford.
Subject: Connecituct, Windham - Divorce records.
Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film [1638586]
=
SOURCE-Birth, Marriage,Children
"A Notebook on the Descendants of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony", Compiled by Milton E. Terry and Anne Borden Harding, Westfield NJ: Union Printing Company, 1985, page 65: "193 William Brewster b. Lebanon CT 1 Feb. 1701/2 [sic]; d. Lebanon CT 11 Aug. 1728 [sic]. He m. Lebanon CT 13 Dec. 1716 Mehitable Abel. An entry in the Mansfield Town Records: children of William Brewster family of Lebanon now living in Mansfield. William F. Say b. 13 March 1729/30. His first four children were baptised in Lebanon 21 Aug. 1726. ...(Children listed) References: CSL BARBOUR INDEX: Lebanon, Mansfield; Aspinwall 263; MANSFIELD BY DIMOCK."
*Note: Mr. Terry & Ms. Harding's "Notebook" indicates that this WILLIAM BREWSTER died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. However, on page 17 of this "Notebook" (as well as page 48 of "The Brewster Genealogy"), the records show that WILLIAM BREWSTER, father of this WILLIAM, was the one who died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. Therefore, we do not know when and where this WILLIAM died (although we tend to believe that he died in Dutchess County, NY, after 1764). They also indicate that WILLIAM was born 1-FEB-1701/02. If his birth date is correct, he would have been very young in 1716 when he and MEHITABEL were married. This date is probably incorrect (no record of WILLIAM's birth date has been found in the Vital Records of any Connecticut town). WILLIAM is mentioned in his father's Will as being his oldest son. WILLIAM's brother, EBENEZER BREWSTER's, birth date is reported as 1-FEB-1702/03 in "The Brewster Genealogy". It is highly likely that WILLIAM BREWSTER was born earlier than 1701/02, perhaps as early as 1692.
SOURCE-History
From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., we believe that this WILLIAM BREWSTER is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since." This entry can be found in "Pilgrim Notes and Queries", Vol II, No. 10, December 1914, page 156, published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. It can also be seen on the above-mentioned Family Archives CD #203, Broderbund Software, Inc.
Let us analyze what we know. This WILLIAM BREWSTER was born perhaps as early as 1692. He is a 1st cousin of JABEZ FITCH, JR., one generation removed. WILLIAM married MEHITABEL ABEL in 1716 in Lebanon, New London County, CT. WILLIAM and MEHITABEL lived in Lebanon and then removed to Mansfield, Tolland County, CT, where the birth of their son WILLIAM is recorded in 1730. If this is the SAME William who moved to the Oblong and later to Virginia, he reported that he had married a second time in New Haven, New Haven County, CT, (after having deserted Mehitable and their children in 1733). It is doubtful that he ever remarried (legally anyway). When we look at a map of Connecticut, we can see that Mansfield is North of Lebanon. WILLIAM would have travelled quite a distance away from Mansfield and Lebanon to be married at New Haven. From New Haven, he would have crossed over the State line into New York and the area then known as "The Oblong."
SOURCE-The Oblong
From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Associaton, 1973, LDS Film 0928159, Item 2, pp 34-35: "The Oblong was a strip of land two and one-half miles wide along the Connecticut border, which had been ceded by that state to New York in 1731 in exchange for lands along Long Island Sound. A guarantee of title and low prices for the land attracted young Cape Codders who had become dissatisfied with their prospects. A religious awakening and social upheaval extended over the Cape at the time. Settlers from Yarmouth, Harwich and other places occupied land in the Oblong as early as 1740, but there is no evidence that people from Chatham went until the "second emigration" in 1747. The Oblong adjoined the town of Ridgefield, Conn., and at the time was in Dutchess County, N.Y., (later Putnam County). Some of the villages of the Oblong were called Nine Partners, Pawling, Crumebow, Phillips Patent -- in New York, and New Milford, Sherman, New Fairfield -- in Connecticut."
SOURCE-The Oblong and the Beekman Patent
"SETTLERS OF THE BEEKMAN PATENT" Dutchess County, New York. An Historical and Genealogical Study of all the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent, by Frank J. Doherty, Pleasant Valley, New York 12569, 1993.
Chapter 88, THE BREWSTER FAMILY: "The Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals.
EBENEZER BREWSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong. He adjoined Nathan Birdsall's farm. [SBP 1:343]. He was taxed from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were L1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts. A William Brewster was also taxed there at this time. He was quite wealthy. (An Ebenezer Brewster was born to William and Patience 1 Dec 1702 at Lebanon, New London Co. CT. He married 13 Nov. 1720 Elizabeth DeWolf. (This is a Mayflower line).
Ebenezer Brewster and/or William Brewster were most likely the father of the three men we list below.
Children: i. ?Peletiah, b. 1741 in DC, ...
ii. ?John, b. in DC in 1746. ...
iii. ?Samuel; ..."
=================================================
WILLIAM BREWSTER's account to Jabez Fitch, Jr. of his travels matches very well with the above information from Frank J. Doherty. WILLIAM says he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia. Mr. Doherty tells us that EBENEZER, brother of WILLIAM, was in the Oblong as early as 1746, and was taxed there through June 1753, as was WILLIAM. It is highly likely that both EBENEZER and WILLIAM removed to Virginia after June of 1753. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. It appears that EBENEZER remained in Virginia, and died there in 1774, and he left many descendants.
At this point in time, the very best "proof" that we could find is a Will for WILLIAM, although it appears that Wills were not recorded in Dutchess County at such an early time, per Frank J. Doherty's thorough search for William's Will in June 1999.
SOURCE-Early Residence
Fredericksburgh Precinct originally embraced the whole of what was to become Putnam County. After the organization of the "Philips' Precinct, which embraced nearly one-third of the west end of Dutchess County, the former contained this town (Kent), Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast.
By the Act of the 7th March, 1788, the term "Precincts" was dropped, and "towns" substituted; and an additional town organized, which was called Southeast. By that Act, this town (Kent), including the now towns of Carmel and Patterson, was called FREDERICKS TOWN.
Extract from Fredericksburgh Records A. "April ye 7th Day and first Tuesday 1747:
"Matthew Roe, Clark
Supervisor Chosen Samuel Field
Constables Chosen Viz:
Joseph Jacocks, John Dickeson
George Huson, William Bruster"
SOURCE-Land Purchase
From Fairfax County, VA, Deeds: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/FairfaxDeed?read=7:
John Carter, son and heir of Charles Carter, dec'd, of Stafford County, sold to WILLIAM BREWSTER 360 acres, part of two tracts of 393 and 607 (Fairfax Deeds B:477, 19 Jun 1749).
=================================================
29 May 2020
PROOF provided to the Mayflower Society regarding William Brewster and Rachel Russell's being parents of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN:
29 May, 2020
From: Jeanne E. Killick
To: Geoffrey Forbes
Dear Geoffrey,
Please review what I have compiled and if you approve, please send it on to Lori Reynolds for her review.
In an attempt to prove that Pelatiah and his "possible" brothers are children of William Brewster and Rachel Russell, we submit that William and his brother Ebenezer were the only Brewsters in that portion of Dutchess County, New York, known as the Beekman Patent, in the years shown below.
Frank J. Doherty tells us that the Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals. Of course, the Brewster families were in Dutchess County even earlier and the following generations continued living in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, as well as Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland Counties.
William Brooster was taxed in Southern Precinct 1740/41 – Feb 1741/42
William Brewster was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1743/44 – June 1748
William Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 – June 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1747/48-June 1748
Ebenezer Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 - 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Beekman Feb 1753-June 1753.
In 1772 the Philipse Patent was divided into Southeast, Philips and Fredericksburg Precincts.
Samuel Bruyster was taxed in Fredericksburg 1771 – 1779 and he had an account at the Merritt store in 1769 and 1772. (this would be one of William's sons)
John Brewster was taxed in Southeast 1775 (this would be one of William's sons)
John Bruyster was taxed in Pawling 1777-78 (this would be one of William's sons)
Here begins information for a timeline beginning with the "suggested" birth years of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN from the Military Muster Rolls as follows:
"PP: 108-109, Muster Roll of a Company of Provincials in Ye pay of Ye Province of New York for Dutchess County.
Commanded by Joseph Crane, Esq. 1758
Joseph Crane, Captain.
Richard Ray, Philip Paddock, Lieutenants.
Benjamin Higgins, John Cannon, Simon Calkins, Jonathan Vickry, Non-Commissioned Officers.
112-113 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1758.
Privates. Age. Where born. Trade.
Number, 79 Samuel Brewster 20 Dutchess Farmer When enlisted May 3 1758
======
Pp. 450-453 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1762.
FOR DUTCHESS COUNTY FOR CAPT ISAAC TER BUSH'S 1762.
Jacob Concklin, Phineas Woodward, Lieutenants.
Date of Enlistment. Age. Where Born. What Trades. Officers who Inlisted them. Stature.
John Bruster Aprill 29, 1762 16 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lieut Concklin 5 F. 6
Pelethia Bruster June 8, 1762 21 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lt Woodward 5 F. 10
This is to Certify that the above fourty Eight Men are Muster'd and past in the County of Dutchess for Capt. Isaac Ter Bush's Company the 16th day of June 1762."
These Muster Rolls become our "PROOF" that these three men were born in Dutchess County and gives their years of birth as 1738, 1741 and 1746, well within the time frame of William Brewster deserting his Connecticut family in March of 1733, his bogus marriage to Rachel Russell and fathering at least these three children between 1738 and 1746 in Dutchess County, NY.
Further evidence of William Brewster being their father comes from the evidence provided by Jabez Fitch in 1764. See the 1764 entry below
SOURCE-Time Line
1738: SAMUEL BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1741: PELATIAH BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746: JOHN BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746/7: EBENEZER BRUSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong.
1747/8: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748.
1753: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed from Feb. through June 1753 in Beekman Precinct (the Oblong).
1754: WILLIAM & EBENEZER leave the Oblong, relocating in Virginia.
1757: WILLIAM leaves Virginia and returns to the Oblong.
1758: SAMUEL, a native of Dutchess County, age 20, served in Capt. Joseph Crane's Company of Provincials.
1762: JOHN and PELATIAH served in a Colonial muster.
14-JAN-1762, SAMUEL BRUSTER (the younger) was born in Dutchess County, NY.
1764: WILLIAM was living in the Oblong when he visited with JABEZ FITCH, JR. in Norwich, CT.**
1769-1772: In 1769 and 1772, SAMUEL (the elder) had an account at the Merrit store in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY. Charles Sweet and Daniel Ingersoll dealt with him.
1775-1783: Revolutionary War.
1777: SAMUEL served his Country
There is no indication of the presence of SAMUEL (the elder) anywhere in New York by 1790.
**From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., it is accepted that WILLIAM BREWSTER of this sketch is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February in 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of[f] with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since.
So, here is what we offer as our "PROOF" that SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN are sons of WILLIAM BREWSTER and RACHEL RUSSELL. Unfortunately, The Mayflower Society does NOT accept our "proofs" and most likely never will. Signed Jeanne E. Killick, October 5, 2023.
"The Brewster Genealogy 1566-1907", Compiled and edited by Emma C. Brewster Jones, New York: The Grafton Press, 1908, page 74:
"WILLIAM BREWSTER (William,Benjamin,Jonathan,William), married December 13, 1716, MEHITABLE ABEL. They removed from Lebanon to Mansfield, Conn., and probably returned to Lebanon. Children, i-v recorded at Lebanon, vi Mansfield (there may have been other children): ..."
And then this happened...
SOURCE-Petition for Divorce, Windham County, Connecticut:
"Mehitebel Brewster Petition 15 vs. William Brewster 1749
Petition for Divorce
To the Honorable Superior Court, Now Setting at Windham Within and for the County on the 3rd Tuesday of March 1748/9. The Petition of Mehitable Bruster of Windham in Sd County Who Humbly Shew to this Court [that] on the 13th of December 1716 She Your Petitioner Was Joyned In Mareage to one William Bruster of Labenan In Sd County With Whome Your Petitioner Lived In the Due Discharge of al the Duties of a Wife to him ye Sd William til Sum time In the Munth of March In the Year 1733: at Which Time he the Said William Without any Just Caus from Your Petitioner Given Willfuly Deserted and Left Your Petitioner With the Total Neglect of al Duties of a Husband Toward Your Petitioner Ever Since the Year 1733 Whereupon Your Petitioner pray that Your Honors Would Declare Sd Marriage of Sd William with Your Petitioner Void and that Your Petitioner be Single & unMarried as by Law You are Innabled to Do and Your Petitioner as Is Duty bound Shall Ever pray.
Dated in Windham March 20th 1748/9.
Mehitable Bruster"
=
Proof of Marriage submitted with Petition for Divorce:
"Lebanon June 13 1749
This may certify whomsoever it may concern that in the Church Book of the First Church in Lebanon in a page written by Mr. Samuel Welles under the Title in the top of the Page /Persons Married by me/ I find as follows. 1716 Decem 13th William Bruster Jun & Meh: Abel ------
Solomon Williams, Pastor of the First Church in Lebn."
=
Per Index to Divorce Records of Windham County (1726-1907), Part 1:
"William Brewster, Jr. & Mehitabel (Abel); 278."
=
Petition and Proof of Marriage microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990.
Title: Divorce papers, 1726-1907.
Authors: Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County)
Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Library, Hartford.
Subject: Connecituct, Windham - Divorce records.
Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film [1638586]
=
SOURCE-Birth, Marriage,Children
"A Notebook on the Descendants of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony", Compiled by Milton E. Terry and Anne Borden Harding, Westfield NJ: Union Printing Company, 1985, page 65: "193 William Brewster b. Lebanon CT 1 Feb. 1701/2 [sic]; d. Lebanon CT 11 Aug. 1728 [sic]. He m. Lebanon CT 13 Dec. 1716 Mehitable Abel. An entry in the Mansfield Town Records: children of William Brewster family of Lebanon now living in Mansfield. William F. Say b. 13 March 1729/30. His first four children were baptised in Lebanon 21 Aug. 1726. ...(Children listed) References: CSL BARBOUR INDEX: Lebanon, Mansfield; Aspinwall 263; MANSFIELD BY DIMOCK."
*Note: Mr. Terry & Ms. Harding's "Notebook" indicates that this WILLIAM BREWSTER died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. However, on page 17 of this "Notebook" (as well as page 48 of "The Brewster Genealogy"), the records show that WILLIAM BREWSTER, father of this WILLIAM, was the one who died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. Therefore, we do not know when and where this WILLIAM died (although we tend to believe that he died in Dutchess County, NY, after 1764). They also indicate that WILLIAM was born 1-FEB-1701/02. If his birth date is correct, he would have been very young in 1716 when he and MEHITABEL were married. This date is probably incorrect (no record of WILLIAM's birth date has been found in the Vital Records of any Connecticut town). WILLIAM is mentioned in his father's Will as being his oldest son. WILLIAM's brother, EBENEZER BREWSTER's, birth date is reported as 1-FEB-1702/03 in "The Brewster Genealogy". It is highly likely that WILLIAM BREWSTER was born earlier than 1701/02, perhaps as early as 1692.
SOURCE-History
From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., we believe that this WILLIAM BREWSTER is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since." This entry can be found in "Pilgrim Notes and Queries", Vol II, No. 10, December 1914, page 156, published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. It can also be seen on the above-mentioned Family Archives CD #203, Broderbund Software, Inc.
Let us analyze what we know. This WILLIAM BREWSTER was born perhaps as early as 1692. He is a 1st cousin of JABEZ FITCH, JR., one generation removed. WILLIAM married MEHITABEL ABEL in 1716 in Lebanon, New London County, CT. WILLIAM and MEHITABEL lived in Lebanon and then removed to Mansfield, Tolland County, CT, where the birth of their son WILLIAM is recorded in 1730. If this is the SAME William who moved to the Oblong and later to Virginia, he reported that he had married a second time in New Haven, New Haven County, CT, (after having deserted Mehitable and their children in 1733). It is doubtful that he ever remarried (legally anyway). When we look at a map of Connecticut, we can see that Mansfield is North of Lebanon. WILLIAM would have travelled quite a distance away from Mansfield and Lebanon to be married at New Haven. From New Haven, he would have crossed over the State line into New York and the area then known as "The Oblong."
SOURCE-The Oblong
From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Associaton, 1973, LDS Film 0928159, Item 2, pp 34-35: "The Oblong was a strip of land two and one-half miles wide along the Connecticut border, which had been ceded by that state to New York in 1731 in exchange for lands along Long Island Sound. A guarantee of title and low prices for the land attracted young Cape Codders who had become dissatisfied with their prospects. A religious awakening and social upheaval extended over the Cape at the time. Settlers from Yarmouth, Harwich and other places occupied land in the Oblong as early as 1740, but there is no evidence that people from Chatham went until the "second emigration" in 1747. The Oblong adjoined the town of Ridgefield, Conn., and at the time was in Dutchess County, N.Y., (later Putnam County). Some of the villages of the Oblong were called Nine Partners, Pawling, Crumebow, Phillips Patent -- in New York, and New Milford, Sherman, New Fairfield -- in Connecticut."
SOURCE-The Oblong and the Beekman Patent
"SETTLERS OF THE BEEKMAN PATENT" Dutchess County, New York. An Historical and Genealogical Study of all the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent, by Frank J. Doherty, Pleasant Valley, New York 12569, 1993.
Chapter 88, THE BREWSTER FAMILY: "The Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals.
EBENEZER BREWSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong. He adjoined Nathan Birdsall's farm. [SBP 1:343]. He was taxed from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were L1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts. A William Brewster was also taxed there at this time. He was quite wealthy. (An Ebenezer Brewster was born to William and Patience 1 Dec 1702 at Lebanon, New London Co. CT. He married 13 Nov. 1720 Elizabeth DeWolf. (This is a Mayflower line).
Ebenezer Brewster and/or William Brewster were most likely the father of the three men we list below.
Children: i. ?Peletiah, b. 1741 in DC, ...
ii. ?John, b. in DC in 1746. ...
iii. ?Samuel; ..."
=================================================
WILLIAM BREWSTER's account to Jabez Fitch, Jr. of his travels matches very well with the above information from Frank J. Doherty. WILLIAM says he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia. Mr. Doherty tells us that EBENEZER, brother of WILLIAM, was in the Oblong as early as 1746, and was taxed there through June 1753, as was WILLIAM. It is highly likely that both EBENEZER and WILLIAM removed to Virginia after June of 1753. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. It appears that EBENEZER remained in Virginia, and died there in 1774, and he left many descendants.
At this point in time, the very best "proof" that we could find is a Will for WILLIAM, although it appears that Wills were not recorded in Dutchess County at such an early time, per Frank J. Doherty's thorough search for William's Will in June 1999.
SOURCE-Early Residence
Fredericksburgh Precinct originally embraced the whole of what was to become Putnam County. After the organization of the "Philips' Precinct, which embraced nearly one-third of the west end of Dutchess County, the former contained this town (Kent), Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast.
By the Act of the 7th March, 1788, the term "Precincts" was dropped, and "towns" substituted; and an additional town organized, which was called Southeast. By that Act, this town (Kent), including the now towns of Carmel and Patterson, was called FREDERICKS TOWN.
Extract from Fredericksburgh Records A. "April ye 7th Day and first Tuesday 1747:
"Matthew Roe, Clark
Supervisor Chosen Samuel Field
Constables Chosen Viz:
Joseph Jacocks, John Dickeson
George Huson, William Bruster"
SOURCE-Land Purchase
From Fairfax County, VA, Deeds: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/FairfaxDeed?read=7:
John Carter, son and heir of Charles Carter, dec'd, of Stafford County, sold to WILLIAM BREWSTER 360 acres, part of two tracts of 393 and 607 (Fairfax Deeds B:477, 19 Jun 1749).
=================================================
29 May 2020
PROOF provided to the Mayflower Society regarding William Brewster and Rachel Russell's being parents of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN:
29 May, 2020
From: Jeanne E. Killick
To: Geoffrey Forbes
Dear Geoffrey,
Please review what I have compiled and if you approve, please send it on to Lori Reynolds for her review.
In an attempt to prove that Pelatiah and his "possible" brothers are children of William Brewster and Rachel Russell, we submit that William and his brother Ebenezer were the only Brewsters in that portion of Dutchess County, New York, known as the Beekman Patent, in the years shown below.
Frank J. Doherty tells us that the Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals. Of course, the Brewster families were in Dutchess County even earlier and the following generations continued living in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, as well as Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland Counties.
William Brooster was taxed in Southern Precinct 1740/41 – Feb 1741/42
William Brewster was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1743/44 – June 1748
William Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 – June 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1747/48-June 1748
Ebenezer Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 - 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Beekman Feb 1753-June 1753.
In 1772 the Philipse Patent was divided into Southeast, Philips and Fredericksburg Precincts.
Samuel Bruyster was taxed in Fredericksburg 1771 – 1779 and he had an account at the Merritt store in 1769 and 1772. (this would be one of William's sons)
John Brewster was taxed in Southeast 1775 (this would be one of William's sons)
John Bruyster was taxed in Pawling 1777-78 (this would be one of William's sons)
Here begins information for a timeline beginning with the "suggested" birth years of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN from the Military Muster Rolls as follows:
"PP: 108-109, Muster Roll of a Company of Provincials in Ye pay of Ye Province of New York for Dutchess County.
Commanded by Joseph Crane, Esq. 1758
Joseph Crane, Captain.
Richard Ray, Philip Paddock, Lieutenants.
Benjamin Higgins, John Cannon, Simon Calkins, Jonathan Vickry, Non-Commissioned Officers.
112-113 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1758.
Privates. Age. Where born. Trade.
Number, 79 Samuel Brewster 20 Dutchess Farmer When enlisted May 3 1758
======
Pp. 450-453 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1762.
FOR DUTCHESS COUNTY FOR CAPT ISAAC TER BUSH'S 1762.
Jacob Concklin, Phineas Woodward, Lieutenants.
Date of Enlistment. Age. Where Born. What Trades. Officers who Inlisted them. Stature.
John Bruster Aprill 29, 1762 16 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lieut Concklin 5 F. 6
Pelethia Bruster June 8, 1762 21 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lt Woodward 5 F. 10
This is to Certify that the above fourty Eight Men are Muster'd and past in the County of Dutchess for Capt. Isaac Ter Bush's Company the 16th day of June 1762."
These Muster Rolls become our "PROOF" that these three men were born in Dutchess County and gives their years of birth as 1738, 1741 and 1746, well within the time frame of William Brewster deserting his Connecticut family in March of 1733, his bogus marriage to Rachel Russell and fathering at least these three children between 1738 and 1746 in Dutchess County, NY.
Further evidence of William Brewster being their father comes from the evidence provided by Jabez Fitch in 1764. See the 1764 entry below
SOURCE-Time Line
1738: SAMUEL BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1741: PELATIAH BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746: JOHN BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746/7: EBENEZER BRUSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong.
1747/8: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748.
1753: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed from Feb. through June 1753 in Beekman Precinct (the Oblong).
1754: WILLIAM & EBENEZER leave the Oblong, relocating in Virginia.
1757: WILLIAM leaves Virginia and returns to the Oblong.
1758: SAMUEL, a native of Dutchess County, age 20, served in Capt. Joseph Crane's Company of Provincials.
1762: JOHN and PELATIAH served in a Colonial muster.
14-JAN-1762, SAMUEL BRUSTER (the younger) was born in Dutchess County, NY.
1764: WILLIAM was living in the Oblong when he visited with JABEZ FITCH, JR. in Norwich, CT.**
1769-1772: In 1769 and 1772, SAMUEL (the elder) had an account at the Merrit store in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY. Charles Sweet and Daniel Ingersoll dealt with him.
1775-1783: Revolutionary War.
1777: SAMUEL served his Country
There is no indication of the presence of SAMUEL (the elder) anywhere in New York by 1790.
**From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., it is accepted that WILLIAM BREWSTER of this sketch is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February in 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of[f] with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since.
So, here is what we offer as our "PROOF" that SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN are sons of WILLIAM BREWSTER and RACHEL RUSSELL. Unfortunately, The Mayflower Society does NOT accept our "proofs" and most likely never will. Signed Jeanne E. Killick, October 5, 2023.
SOURCE-First marriage and children
"The Brewster Genealogy 1566-1907", Compiled and edited by Emma C. Brewster Jones, New York: The Grafton Press, 1908, page 74:
"WILLIAM BREWSTER (William,Benjamin,Jonathan,William), married December 13, 1716, MEHITABLE ABEL. They removed from Lebanon to Mansfield, Conn., and probably returned to Lebanon. Children, i-v recorded at Lebanon, vi Mansfield (there may have been other children): ..."
And then this happened...
SOURCE-Petition for Divorce, Windham County, Connecticut:
"Mehitebel Brewster Petition 15 vs. William Brewster 1749
Petition for Divorce
To the Honorable Superior Court, Now Setting at Windham Within and for the County on the 3rd Tuesday of March 1748/9. The Petition of Mehitable Bruster of Windham in Sd County Who Humbly Shew to this Court [that] on the 13th of December 1716 She Your Petitioner Was Joyned In Mareage to one William Bruster of Labenan In Sd County With Whome Your Petitioner Lived In the Due Discharge of al the Duties of a Wife to him ye Sd William til Sum time In the Munth of March In the Year 1733: at Which Time he the Said William Without any Just Caus from Your Petitioner Given Willfuly Deserted and Left Your Petitioner With the Total Neglect of al Duties of a Husband Toward Your Petitioner Ever Since the Year 1733 Whereupon Your Petitioner pray that Your Honors Would Declare Sd Marriage of Sd William with Your Petitioner Void and that Your Petitioner be Single & unMarried as by Law You are Innabled to Do and Your Petitioner as Is Duty bound Shall Ever pray.
Dated in Windham March 20th 1748/9.
Mehitable Bruster"
=
Proof of Marriage submitted with Petition for Divorce:
"Lebanon June 13 1749
This may certify whomsoever it may concern that in the Church Book of the First Church in Lebanon in a page written by Mr. Samuel Welles under the Title in the top of the Page /Persons Married by me/ I find as follows. 1716 Decem 13th William Bruster Jun & Meh: Abel ------
Solomon Williams, Pastor of the First Church in Lebn."
=
Per Index to Divorce Records of Windham County (1726-1907), Part 1:
"William Brewster, Jr. & Mehitabel (Abel); 278."
=
Petition and Proof of Marriage microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990.
Title: Divorce papers, 1726-1907.
Authors: Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County)
Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Library, Hartford.
Subject: Connecituct, Windham - Divorce records.
Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film [1638586]
=
SOURCE-Birth, Marriage,Children
"A Notebook on the Descendants of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony", Compiled by Milton E. Terry and Anne Borden Harding, Westfield NJ: Union Printing Company, 1985, page 65: "193 William Brewster b. Lebanon CT 1 Feb. 1701/2 [sic]; d. Lebanon CT 11 Aug. 1728 [sic]. He m. Lebanon CT 13 Dec. 1716 Mehitable Abel. An entry in the Mansfield Town Records: children of William Brewster family of Lebanon now living in Mansfield. William F. Say b. 13 March 1729/30. His first four children were baptised in Lebanon 21 Aug. 1726. ...(Children listed) References: CSL BARBOUR INDEX: Lebanon, Mansfield; Aspinwall 263; MANSFIELD BY DIMOCK."
*Note: Mr. Terry & Ms. Harding's "Notebook" indicates that this WILLIAM BREWSTER died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. However, on page 17 of this "Notebook" (as well as page 48 of "The Brewster Genealogy"), the records show that WILLIAM BREWSTER, father of this WILLIAM, was the one who died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. Therefore, we do not know when and where this WILLIAM died (although we tend to believe that he died in Dutchess County, NY, after 1764). They also indicate that WILLIAM was born 1-FEB-1701/02. If his birth date is correct, he would have been very young in 1716 when he and MEHITABEL were married. This date is probably incorrect (no record of WILLIAM's birth date has been found in the Vital Records of any Connecticut town). WILLIAM is mentioned in his father's Will as being his oldest son. WILLIAM's brother, EBENEZER BREWSTER's, birth date is reported as 1-FEB-1702/03 in "The Brewster Genealogy". It is highly likely that WILLIAM BREWSTER was born earlier than 1701/02, perhaps as early as 1692.
SOURCE-History
From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., we believe that this WILLIAM BREWSTER is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since." This entry can be found in "Pilgrim Notes and Queries", Vol II, No. 10, December 1914, page 156, published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. It can also be seen on the above-mentioned Family Archives CD #203, Broderbund Software, Inc.
Let us analyze what we know. This WILLIAM BREWSTER was born perhaps as early as 1692. He is a 1st cousin of JABEZ FITCH, JR., one generation removed. WILLIAM married MEHITABEL ABEL in 1716 in Lebanon, New London County, CT. WILLIAM and MEHITABEL lived in Lebanon and then removed to Mansfield, Tolland County, CT, where the birth of their son WILLIAM is recorded in 1730. If this is the SAME William who moved to the Oblong and later to Virginia, he reported that he had married a second time in New Haven, New Haven County, CT, (after having deserted Mehitable and their children in 1733). It is doubtful that he ever remarried (legally anyway). When we look at a map of Connecticut, we can see that Mansfield is North of Lebanon. WILLIAM would have travelled quite a distance away from Mansfield and Lebanon to be married at New Haven. From New Haven, he would have crossed over the State line into New York and the area then known as "The Oblong."
SOURCE-The Oblong
From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Associaton, 1973, LDS Film 0928159, Item 2, pp 34-35: "The Oblong was a strip of land two and one-half miles wide along the Connecticut border, which had been ceded by that state to New York in 1731 in exchange for lands along Long Island Sound. A guarantee of title and low prices for the land attracted young Cape Codders who had become dissatisfied with their prospects. A religious awakening and social upheaval extended over the Cape at the time. Settlers from Yarmouth, Harwich and other places occupied land in the Oblong as early as 1740, but there is no evidence that people from Chatham went until the "second emigration" in 1747. The Oblong adjoined the town of Ridgefield, Conn., and at the time was in Dutchess County, N.Y., (later Putnam County). Some of the villages of the Oblong were called Nine Partners, Pawling, Crumebow, Phillips Patent -- in New York, and New Milford, Sherman, New Fairfield -- in Connecticut."
SOURCE-The Oblong and the Beekman Patent
"SETTLERS OF THE BEEKMAN PATENT" Dutchess County, New York. An Historical and Genealogical Study of all the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent, by Frank J. Doherty, Pleasant Valley, New York 12569, 1993.
Chapter 88, THE BREWSTER FAMILY: "The Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals.
EBENEZER BREWSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong. He adjoined Nathan Birdsall's farm. [SBP 1:343]. He was taxed from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were L1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts. A William Brewster was also taxed there at this time. He was quite wealthy. (An Ebenezer Brewster was born to William and Patience 1 Dec 1702 at Lebanon, New London Co. CT. He married 13 Nov. 1720 Elizabeth DeWolf. (This is a Mayflower line).
Ebenezer Brewster and/or William Brewster were most likely the father of the three men we list below.
Children: i. ?Peletiah, b. 1741 in DC, ...
ii. ?John, b. in DC in 1746. ...
iii. ?Samuel; ..."
=================================================
WILLIAM BREWSTER's account to Jabez Fitch, Jr. of his travels matches very well with the above information from Frank J. Doherty. WILLIAM says he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia. Mr. Doherty tells us that EBENEZER, brother of WILLIAM, was in the Oblong as early as 1746, and was taxed there through June 1753, as was WILLIAM. It is highly likely that both EBENEZER and WILLIAM removed to Virginia after June of 1753. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. It appears that EBENEZER remained in Virginia, and died there in 1774, and he left many descendants.
At this point in time, the very best "proof" that we could find is a Will for WILLIAM, although it appears that Wills were not recorded in Dutchess County at such an early time, per Frank J. Doherty's thorough search for William's Will in June 1999.
SOURCE-Early Residence
Fredericksburgh Precinct originally embraced the whole of what was to become Putnam County. After the organization of the "Philips' Precinct, which embraced nearly one-third of the west end of Dutchess County, the former contained this town (Kent), Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast.
By the Act of the 7th March, 1788, the term "Precincts" was dropped, and "towns" substituted; and an additional town organized, which was called Southeast. By that Act, this town (Kent), including the now towns of Carmel and Patterson, was called FREDERICKS TOWN.
Extract from Fredericksburgh Records A. "April ye 7th Day and first Tuesday 1747:
"Matthew Roe, Clark
Supervisor Chosen Samuel Field
Constables Chosen Viz:
Joseph Jacocks, John Dickeson
George Huson, William Bruster"
SOURCE-Land Purchase
From Fairfax County, VA, Deeds: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/FairfaxDeed?read=7:
John Carter, son and heir of Charles Carter, dec'd, of Stafford County, sold to WILLIAM BREWSTER 360 acres, part of two tracts of 393 and 607 (Fairfax Deeds B:477, 19 Jun 1749).
=================================================
29 May 2020
PROOF provided to the Mayflower Society regarding William Brewster and Rachel Russell's being parents of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN:
29 May, 2020
From: Jeanne E. Killick
To: Geoffrey Forbes
Dear Geoffrey,
Please review what I have compiled and if you approve, please send it on to Lori Reynolds for her review.
In an attempt to prove that Pelatiah and his "possible" brothers are children of William Brewster and Rachel Russell, we submit that William and his brother Ebenezer were the only Brewsters in that portion of Dutchess County, New York, known as the Beekman Patent, in the years shown below.
Frank J. Doherty tells us that the Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals. Of course, the Brewster families were in Dutchess County even earlier and the following generations continued living in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, as well as Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland Counties.
William Brooster was taxed in Southern Precinct 1740/41 – Feb 1741/42
William Brewster was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1743/44 – June 1748
William Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 – June 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1747/48-June 1748
Ebenezer Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 - 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Beekman Feb 1753-June 1753.
In 1772 the Philipse Patent was divided into Southeast, Philips and Fredericksburg Precincts.
Samuel Bruyster was taxed in Fredericksburg 1771 – 1779 and he had an account at the Merritt store in 1769 and 1772. (this would be one of William's sons)
John Brewster was taxed in Southeast 1775 (this would be one of William's sons)
John Bruyster was taxed in Pawling 1777-78 (this would be one of William's sons)
Here begins information for a timeline beginning with the "suggested" birth years of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN from the Military Muster Rolls as follows:
"PP: 108-109, Muster Roll of a Company of Provincials in Ye pay of Ye Province of New York for Dutchess County.
Commanded by Joseph Crane, Esq. 1758
Joseph Crane, Captain.
Richard Ray, Philip Paddock, Lieutenants.
Benjamin Higgins, John Cannon, Simon Calkins, Jonathan Vickry, Non-Commissioned Officers.
112-113 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1758.
Privates. Age. Where born. Trade.
Number, 79 Samuel Brewster 20 Dutchess Farmer When enlisted May 3 1758
======
Pp. 450-453 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1762.
FOR DUTCHESS COUNTY FOR CAPT ISAAC TER BUSH'S 1762.
Jacob Concklin, Phineas Woodward, Lieutenants.
Date of Enlistment. Age. Where Born. What Trades. Officers who Inlisted them. Stature.
John Bruster Aprill 29, 1762 16 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lieut Concklin 5 F. 6
Pelethia Bruster June 8, 1762 21 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lt Woodward 5 F. 10
This is to Certify that the above fourty Eight Men are Muster'd and past in the County of Dutchess for Capt. Isaac Ter Bush's Company the 16th day of June 1762."
These Muster Rolls become our "PROOF" that these three men were born in Dutchess County and gives their years of birth as 1738, 1741 and 1746, well within the time frame of William Brewster deserting his Connecticut family in March of 1733, his bogus marriage to Rachel Russell and fathering at least these three children between 1738 and 1746 in Dutchess County, NY.
Further evidence of William Brewster being their father comes from the evidence provided by Jabez Fitch in 1764. See the 1764 entry below
SOURCE-Time Line
1738: SAMUEL BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1741: PELATIAH BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746: JOHN BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746/7: EBENEZER BRUSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong.
1747/8: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748.
1753: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed from Feb. through June 1753 in Beekman Precinct (the Oblong).
1754: WILLIAM & EBENEZER leave the Oblong, relocating in Virginia.
1757: WILLIAM leaves Virginia and returns to the Oblong.
1758: SAMUEL, a native of Dutchess County, age 20, served in Capt. Joseph Crane's Company of Provincials.
1762: JOHN and PELATIAH served in a Colonial muster.
14-JAN-1762, SAMUEL BRUSTER (the younger) was born in Dutchess County, NY.
1764: WILLIAM was living in the Oblong when he visited with JABEZ FITCH, JR. in Norwich, CT.**
1769-1772: In 1769 and 1772, SAMUEL (the elder) had an account at the Merrit store in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY. Charles Sweet and Daniel Ingersoll dealt with him.
1775-1783: Revolutionary War.
1777: SAMUEL served his Country
There is no indication of the presence of SAMUEL (the elder) anywhere in New York by 1790.
**From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., it is accepted that WILLIAM BREWSTER of this sketch is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February in 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of[f] with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since.
So, here is what we offer as our "PROOF" that SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN are sons of WILLIAM BREWSTER and RACHEL RUSSELL. Unfortunately, The Mayflower Society does NOT accept our "proofs" and most likely never will. Signed Jeanne E. Killick, October 5, 2023.
"The Brewster Genealogy 1566-1907", Compiled and edited by Emma C. Brewster Jones, New York: The Grafton Press, 1908, page 74:
"WILLIAM BREWSTER (William,Benjamin,Jonathan,William), married December 13, 1716, MEHITABLE ABEL. They removed from Lebanon to Mansfield, Conn., and probably returned to Lebanon. Children, i-v recorded at Lebanon, vi Mansfield (there may have been other children): ..."
And then this happened...
SOURCE-Petition for Divorce, Windham County, Connecticut:
"Mehitebel Brewster Petition 15 vs. William Brewster 1749
Petition for Divorce
To the Honorable Superior Court, Now Setting at Windham Within and for the County on the 3rd Tuesday of March 1748/9. The Petition of Mehitable Bruster of Windham in Sd County Who Humbly Shew to this Court [that] on the 13th of December 1716 She Your Petitioner Was Joyned In Mareage to one William Bruster of Labenan In Sd County With Whome Your Petitioner Lived In the Due Discharge of al the Duties of a Wife to him ye Sd William til Sum time In the Munth of March In the Year 1733: at Which Time he the Said William Without any Just Caus from Your Petitioner Given Willfuly Deserted and Left Your Petitioner With the Total Neglect of al Duties of a Husband Toward Your Petitioner Ever Since the Year 1733 Whereupon Your Petitioner pray that Your Honors Would Declare Sd Marriage of Sd William with Your Petitioner Void and that Your Petitioner be Single & unMarried as by Law You are Innabled to Do and Your Petitioner as Is Duty bound Shall Ever pray.
Dated in Windham March 20th 1748/9.
Mehitable Bruster"
=
Proof of Marriage submitted with Petition for Divorce:
"Lebanon June 13 1749
This may certify whomsoever it may concern that in the Church Book of the First Church in Lebanon in a page written by Mr. Samuel Welles under the Title in the top of the Page /Persons Married by me/ I find as follows. 1716 Decem 13th William Bruster Jun & Meh: Abel ------
Solomon Williams, Pastor of the First Church in Lebn."
=
Per Index to Divorce Records of Windham County (1726-1907), Part 1:
"William Brewster, Jr. & Mehitabel (Abel); 278."
=
Petition and Proof of Marriage microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990.
Title: Divorce papers, 1726-1907.
Authors: Connecticut. Superior Court (Windham County)
Microfilm of original records in the Connecticut State Library, Hartford.
Subject: Connecituct, Windham - Divorce records.
Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film [1638586]
=
SOURCE-Birth, Marriage,Children
"A Notebook on the Descendants of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony", Compiled by Milton E. Terry and Anne Borden Harding, Westfield NJ: Union Printing Company, 1985, page 65: "193 William Brewster b. Lebanon CT 1 Feb. 1701/2 [sic]; d. Lebanon CT 11 Aug. 1728 [sic]. He m. Lebanon CT 13 Dec. 1716 Mehitable Abel. An entry in the Mansfield Town Records: children of William Brewster family of Lebanon now living in Mansfield. William F. Say b. 13 March 1729/30. His first four children were baptised in Lebanon 21 Aug. 1726. ...(Children listed) References: CSL BARBOUR INDEX: Lebanon, Mansfield; Aspinwall 263; MANSFIELD BY DIMOCK."
*Note: Mr. Terry & Ms. Harding's "Notebook" indicates that this WILLIAM BREWSTER died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. However, on page 17 of this "Notebook" (as well as page 48 of "The Brewster Genealogy"), the records show that WILLIAM BREWSTER, father of this WILLIAM, was the one who died at Lebanon 11-AUG-1728. Therefore, we do not know when and where this WILLIAM died (although we tend to believe that he died in Dutchess County, NY, after 1764). They also indicate that WILLIAM was born 1-FEB-1701/02. If his birth date is correct, he would have been very young in 1716 when he and MEHITABEL were married. This date is probably incorrect (no record of WILLIAM's birth date has been found in the Vital Records of any Connecticut town). WILLIAM is mentioned in his father's Will as being his oldest son. WILLIAM's brother, EBENEZER BREWSTER's, birth date is reported as 1-FEB-1702/03 in "The Brewster Genealogy". It is highly likely that WILLIAM BREWSTER was born earlier than 1701/02, perhaps as early as 1692.
SOURCE-History
From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., we believe that this WILLIAM BREWSTER is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since." This entry can be found in "Pilgrim Notes and Queries", Vol II, No. 10, December 1914, page 156, published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. It can also be seen on the above-mentioned Family Archives CD #203, Broderbund Software, Inc.
Let us analyze what we know. This WILLIAM BREWSTER was born perhaps as early as 1692. He is a 1st cousin of JABEZ FITCH, JR., one generation removed. WILLIAM married MEHITABEL ABEL in 1716 in Lebanon, New London County, CT. WILLIAM and MEHITABEL lived in Lebanon and then removed to Mansfield, Tolland County, CT, where the birth of their son WILLIAM is recorded in 1730. If this is the SAME William who moved to the Oblong and later to Virginia, he reported that he had married a second time in New Haven, New Haven County, CT, (after having deserted Mehitable and their children in 1733). It is doubtful that he ever remarried (legally anyway). When we look at a map of Connecticut, we can see that Mansfield is North of Lebanon. WILLIAM would have travelled quite a distance away from Mansfield and Lebanon to be married at New Haven. From New Haven, he would have crossed over the State line into New York and the area then known as "The Oblong."
SOURCE-The Oblong
From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Associaton, 1973, LDS Film 0928159, Item 2, pp 34-35: "The Oblong was a strip of land two and one-half miles wide along the Connecticut border, which had been ceded by that state to New York in 1731 in exchange for lands along Long Island Sound. A guarantee of title and low prices for the land attracted young Cape Codders who had become dissatisfied with their prospects. A religious awakening and social upheaval extended over the Cape at the time. Settlers from Yarmouth, Harwich and other places occupied land in the Oblong as early as 1740, but there is no evidence that people from Chatham went until the "second emigration" in 1747. The Oblong adjoined the town of Ridgefield, Conn., and at the time was in Dutchess County, N.Y., (later Putnam County). Some of the villages of the Oblong were called Nine Partners, Pawling, Crumebow, Phillips Patent -- in New York, and New Milford, Sherman, New Fairfield -- in Connecticut."
SOURCE-The Oblong and the Beekman Patent
"SETTLERS OF THE BEEKMAN PATENT" Dutchess County, New York. An Historical and Genealogical Study of all the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent, by Frank J. Doherty, Pleasant Valley, New York 12569, 1993.
Chapter 88, THE BREWSTER FAMILY: "The Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals.
EBENEZER BREWSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong. He adjoined Nathan Birdsall's farm. [SBP 1:343]. He was taxed from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were L1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts. A William Brewster was also taxed there at this time. He was quite wealthy. (An Ebenezer Brewster was born to William and Patience 1 Dec 1702 at Lebanon, New London Co. CT. He married 13 Nov. 1720 Elizabeth DeWolf. (This is a Mayflower line).
Ebenezer Brewster and/or William Brewster were most likely the father of the three men we list below.
Children: i. ?Peletiah, b. 1741 in DC, ...
ii. ?John, b. in DC in 1746. ...
iii. ?Samuel; ..."
=================================================
WILLIAM BREWSTER's account to Jabez Fitch, Jr. of his travels matches very well with the above information from Frank J. Doherty. WILLIAM says he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia. Mr. Doherty tells us that EBENEZER, brother of WILLIAM, was in the Oblong as early as 1746, and was taxed there through June 1753, as was WILLIAM. It is highly likely that both EBENEZER and WILLIAM removed to Virginia after June of 1753. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. It appears that EBENEZER remained in Virginia, and died there in 1774, and he left many descendants.
At this point in time, the very best "proof" that we could find is a Will for WILLIAM, although it appears that Wills were not recorded in Dutchess County at such an early time, per Frank J. Doherty's thorough search for William's Will in June 1999.
SOURCE-Early Residence
Fredericksburgh Precinct originally embraced the whole of what was to become Putnam County. After the organization of the "Philips' Precinct, which embraced nearly one-third of the west end of Dutchess County, the former contained this town (Kent), Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast.
By the Act of the 7th March, 1788, the term "Precincts" was dropped, and "towns" substituted; and an additional town organized, which was called Southeast. By that Act, this town (Kent), including the now towns of Carmel and Patterson, was called FREDERICKS TOWN.
Extract from Fredericksburgh Records A. "April ye 7th Day and first Tuesday 1747:
"Matthew Roe, Clark
Supervisor Chosen Samuel Field
Constables Chosen Viz:
Joseph Jacocks, John Dickeson
George Huson, William Bruster"
SOURCE-Land Purchase
From Fairfax County, VA, Deeds: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/FairfaxDeed?read=7:
John Carter, son and heir of Charles Carter, dec'd, of Stafford County, sold to WILLIAM BREWSTER 360 acres, part of two tracts of 393 and 607 (Fairfax Deeds B:477, 19 Jun 1749).
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29 May 2020
PROOF provided to the Mayflower Society regarding William Brewster and Rachel Russell's being parents of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN:
29 May, 2020
From: Jeanne E. Killick
To: Geoffrey Forbes
Dear Geoffrey,
Please review what I have compiled and if you approve, please send it on to Lori Reynolds for her review.
In an attempt to prove that Pelatiah and his "possible" brothers are children of William Brewster and Rachel Russell, we submit that William and his brother Ebenezer were the only Brewsters in that portion of Dutchess County, New York, known as the Beekman Patent, in the years shown below.
Frank J. Doherty tells us that the Brewster family came to Beekman by 1746 and remained through 1790 but appeared only at intervals. Of course, the Brewster families were in Dutchess County even earlier and the following generations continued living in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, as well as Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland Counties.
William Brooster was taxed in Southern Precinct 1740/41 – Feb 1741/42
William Brewster was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1743/44 – June 1748
William Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 – June 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Southern Precinct Feb 1747/48-June 1748
Ebenezer Brewster was appointed Constable in Fredericksburg in 1747/48 - 1748
Ebenezer was taxed in Beekman Feb 1753-June 1753.
In 1772 the Philipse Patent was divided into Southeast, Philips and Fredericksburg Precincts.
Samuel Bruyster was taxed in Fredericksburg 1771 – 1779 and he had an account at the Merritt store in 1769 and 1772. (this would be one of William's sons)
John Brewster was taxed in Southeast 1775 (this would be one of William's sons)
John Bruyster was taxed in Pawling 1777-78 (this would be one of William's sons)
Here begins information for a timeline beginning with the "suggested" birth years of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN from the Military Muster Rolls as follows:
"PP: 108-109, Muster Roll of a Company of Provincials in Ye pay of Ye Province of New York for Dutchess County.
Commanded by Joseph Crane, Esq. 1758
Joseph Crane, Captain.
Richard Ray, Philip Paddock, Lieutenants.
Benjamin Higgins, John Cannon, Simon Calkins, Jonathan Vickry, Non-Commissioned Officers.
112-113 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1758.
Privates. Age. Where born. Trade.
Number, 79 Samuel Brewster 20 Dutchess Farmer When enlisted May 3 1758
======
Pp. 450-453 MUSTER ROLLS OF NEW YORK PROVINCIAL TROOPS, 1762.
FOR DUTCHESS COUNTY FOR CAPT ISAAC TER BUSH'S 1762.
Jacob Concklin, Phineas Woodward, Lieutenants.
Date of Enlistment. Age. Where Born. What Trades. Officers who Inlisted them. Stature.
John Bruster Aprill 29, 1762 16 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lieut Concklin 5 F. 6
Pelethia Bruster June 8, 1762 21 Dutchess Co. Labourer Lt Woodward 5 F. 10
This is to Certify that the above fourty Eight Men are Muster'd and past in the County of Dutchess for Capt. Isaac Ter Bush's Company the 16th day of June 1762."
These Muster Rolls become our "PROOF" that these three men were born in Dutchess County and gives their years of birth as 1738, 1741 and 1746, well within the time frame of William Brewster deserting his Connecticut family in March of 1733, his bogus marriage to Rachel Russell and fathering at least these three children between 1738 and 1746 in Dutchess County, NY.
Further evidence of William Brewster being their father comes from the evidence provided by Jabez Fitch in 1764. See the 1764 entry below
SOURCE-Time Line
1738: SAMUEL BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1741: PELATIAH BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746: JOHN BRUSTER is born in Dutchess Co., NY.
1746/7: EBENEZER BRUSTER was noted on a 17 March 1746/7 road description near lot 2 and the Oblong.
1747/8: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed in the South Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748.
1753: EBENEZER and WILLIAM were taxed from Feb. through June 1753 in Beekman Precinct (the Oblong).
1754: WILLIAM & EBENEZER leave the Oblong, relocating in Virginia.
1757: WILLIAM leaves Virginia and returns to the Oblong.
1758: SAMUEL, a native of Dutchess County, age 20, served in Capt. Joseph Crane's Company of Provincials.
1762: JOHN and PELATIAH served in a Colonial muster.
14-JAN-1762, SAMUEL BRUSTER (the younger) was born in Dutchess County, NY.
1764: WILLIAM was living in the Oblong when he visited with JABEZ FITCH, JR. in Norwich, CT.**
1769-1772: In 1769 and 1772, SAMUEL (the elder) had an account at the Merrit store in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY. Charles Sweet and Daniel Ingersoll dealt with him.
1775-1783: Revolutionary War.
1777: SAMUEL served his Country
There is no indication of the presence of SAMUEL (the elder) anywhere in New York by 1790.
**From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., it is accepted that WILLIAM BREWSTER of this sketch is the same who is referred to by Jabez 8 February in 1764 when he writes: "ye 8th Toard night I went over to Deacn Mix's after a Brake &c. where I lit of one Wm Brewster living at ye Oblong, who is come among us for a visit being a Cussen of ours, ye man was brought up at Lebanon, where he lived with his first Wife &c he Married a Second Wife at N. Haven & mov'd to ye Oblong as he tells me, where he lived till ye year 1754 when he movd with his Family Down to Virginea, where he Says he was when Genll Bradick was Defeeted by ye French in 1755 & in 57 ye Indians Drove him of[f] with his Family & oblidg'd him to Return to ye Oblong again where he has made a home ever Since.
So, here is what we offer as our "PROOF" that SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN are sons of WILLIAM BREWSTER and RACHEL RUSSELL. Unfortunately, The Mayflower Society does NOT accept our "proofs" and most likely never will. Signed Jeanne E. Killick, October 5, 2023.
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