Adam Brouwer (abt. 1621 - 1692)

Born about 18 Jan 1621 in Köln, Kurfürstentum Köln, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Husband of Magdalena Jacobs Verdon — married 21 Mar 1645 in Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Nederland

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1692 at about age 71 in Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York Colony

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Uncertain Parents

The identity of Adam's parents and his ancestry are unknown. Claims that Adam is a son of either Pieter Clement Brouwer, or of Frans Sijmonsen Brouwer, are undocumented and unproven. Such claims are apparently based on nothing but a common surname. See Adam's Parents' Identity for the sourced proof trail that discounts those claims.

• The WikiTree page Adam Brouwer's Origins was built by Adam's primary researcher, Paul Lee, and under editing guidance by Steven Mix. That page serves as the fully-sourced answer for all questions about why any conflicting data or myth or supposition about Adam Brouwer has been discounted, and about which data is correct. It is a tidy and complete source trail. Paul completed this task to settle the controversies which have historically confused the origin identity of Adam Brouwer.
  • The Origins proof should serve as the proof document on which to base and justify each of the data fields in the profile, which should now always be maintained to conform in each case to the Origins conclusions.
  • Adam's profile biography in this profile can be kept terse, since all arguable statements may now be simply referenced in a footnote to the appropriate section in the Origins proof document.
  • Any further need for clarity and revision of the Origins can be discussed as needed in G2G and Comments, as always, to bring it to consensus on any needed updates.
  • The consensus on ideas for building this definitive source page was reached in this G2G.
• The WikiTree page Adam Pieterse Brower Surname Question was created to explore further the idea that Adam was either the son of a "Pieter," or a "Berckhoven." However, be sure to see the fully-sourced definitive Patronym section of the page Adam Brouwer's Origins, and other sections of that page, to understand the source trail for these misconceptions.
• The WikiTree page Adam Brouwer Berkhoven's Mystery Father was created to explore further these ideas about Adam's presumed parentage, and is properly categorized to the Family Mysteries category, for further study. However, please see the study section of Adam's Parents' Identity on the page Adam Brouwer's Origins to follow the source trail about the misconceptions.

Two other WikiTree pages were created to support improvement of this profile and the family's genealogy:

• Adam Brouwer's Children has been used to study and coordinate the data for the duplicates of the children of Adam, most of which have been imported with wildly conflicting dates.
• Adam Brouwer Old Bio and Sources - Old versions of this profile.

Biography

Adam Brouwer (sometimes called Berkhoven^[1]), was born on 18 January 1621.^[2] According to his 1645 marriage record at the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam, he was "van Ceulen," which in the context of the marriage records of that time, would indicate that he was born in Cologne, now within the borders of present day Germany. It is possible that he was a son of Dutch parents who moved or fled from Holland to Cologne, but it is also possible that his parents were German. Without a Birth record or records that clearly show who his actual parents were, his origins are unknown. ^[3]. He signed his name with the mark "X". No evidence of a signature has been found.
He immigrated to the Dutch colony of New Netherland in 1642 where, on March, 1645 in New Amsterdam, he married Magdalena Jacobs Verdon ^[4]
Adam appears at first to have settled in New Amsterdam, where, on February 7, 1647, he obtained a patent from the government for a lot on Manhattan Island. He later sold this lot, and at the time of the sale, was living on Long Island.
It is not known when he moved from Long Island, but in 1661 he and Isaac De Foreest held jointly the oldest tide mill in Brooklyn, known for many years as Brower's mill.
On April 1, 1654, he purchased from Theunis Nyssen, a farmer of Gowanus, a piece of woodland near Nyssen's land including the land on which Adam's house was built and the meadows in front thereof, located in Gowanus.
In 1676 Adam bought of Frederick Lubbertse a piece of meadow adjoining the dam of the Gowanus mill. He and his wife were members of the Dutch church of Brooklyn in 1677, of which in 1679 and 1680 he appears by the church records to have been under censure, on the suspicion of leaning towards the Catholic religion.
His will is dated January 22, 1692, proved March 21, 1692, and is on file in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at Albany, New York. He died on 21 Mar 1692 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was buried in New York.

Life and Records

Adam Brouwer witnessed the following baptisms:

From Lee Family History

• Adam Praa, son of Pieter Praa and Catharina Letie, on 6 February 1661 at Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, Breukelen, Kings County, New York, (sponsors Adam Brouwers & Tryntie Hadders).
• Abraham Praa, son of Pieter Praa and Catharina Letie, on 5 March 1662 at Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, Breukelen, Kings County, New York, (sponsors Adam Brouwer and Maria Fredericks).
• Dirck Gerritszen Kroesen, son of Gerrit Dircksen Kroesen and Neeltje Jans, on 23 July 1662 at Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, Breukelen, Kings County, New York, (sponsors Adam Brouwer and Grietje Jans).
• Adolph Evertszen van Gelder, son of Evert Hendricksen and Fytie Adamse Brouwer, on 14 February 1677 at Reformed Dutch Church, New York City, (sponsors Adam Brouwer en s.h.v.)

Life events :

From The Brouwer Genealogy Database A Resource for the Descendants of Adam Brouwer, Jan Brouwer and Willem Brouwer, Page - 158, Adam Brouwer

• In 1641, Adam Brouwer, as a soldier in the service of the Dutch West India Company (WIC), sailed to Brazil on the ship Swol. He served at Fort St. Louis de Marinhan. Back wages for work in Brazil went unpaid.
• Despite his low beginnings and early frustrations in his career, Adam built a successful mill business which provided for his very large family. Adam's most enduring legacy was the mill he built at Gowanus. "Brouwer's Mill" is thought to have been the first water mill built in Brooklyn (Breukelen) and the first to have operated in New Netherlands. The Mill was built initially in partnership with Isaac de Foreest, who likely supplied the financial backing. Isaac is also Charity’s 4x great grandfather through his son Hendrick de Foreest and grand-daughter Suzanna de Foreest (Charity’s 2 x great grandmother). Adam later became the sole owner of the mill business when he bought out Isaac de Foreest's interest for 2,400 guilders payable in grain: wheat and rye at 4 glds, buckwheat and maize at 2 glds per skepel. The remaining 400 glds was paid in wampum.
• The mill was built on the “Bout land”. Adam probably had the mill built in the early 1650's on land that had been patented to Jan Everts Bout on 8 July 1645. It appears that the rights to the property were secured by Adam's children as a claim of a "gift" from Jan Everts Bout only after both Adam and Jan Everts Bout were deceased. The petition to dredge the canal led to an infrastructure that exists to this day. In May 1664, along with other inhabitants of Gowanus, Adam Brouwer petitioned the Governor and Council to have the canal between Red Hook Island and the mainland dredged. This was the first action in what would eventually create the "Gowanus Canal," on the western end of Long Island. In 2010 the United States Environmental Protection Agency placed the site on its Superfund National Priorities List.
• Adam got into a dispute over grain sale in 1652. Adam Brouwer, as plaintiff, filed suit against Machiel Janssen, demanding "proof that he had grain to sell, because he, the defendant, would have said so, and that he, the plaintiff, would have taken it from the mill." The council ordered Adam to prove that the defendant said so, or to pay the defendant's expenses.
• In 1654, Theunis Nyssen, farmer of Gowanus, sold piece of woodland to Adam Brouwer that was, “45 Dutch rods broad, extending in the woods as the patent of Nyssen's land extends; also the land on which Adam's house is built and enclosed in fence, and the meadows in front thereof, located in Gowanus.” The premises joined “a neck of land”, and covered part of the farm late of the heirs of Theodorus Polhemus. The original deed was found among the papers of Garret Brower of Gowanus. The consideration is "for which above said gift the said Adam Brouwer doth promise on ye behalf of ye said Theunis Nyssen to be in his service the time of 18 days in the present month of April & the month of April 1655, 18 days, all without any cost of ye said Theunis Nyssen.”
• Adam was ordered to “grinde for all persons” in 1668. An Order for Adam Brower of Breucklyn to provide milling services to all members of the community “without Exception or distinction," was signed by Gov. Lovelace in response to complaints by the Constable and Overseers of Breucklyn. Some of the inhabitants claimed that Adam had refused to grind corn for them "upon frivolous pretences." Apparently this had been an ongoing problem. The local constable was unable to correct it, and so he had the matter referred to the Governor of the Province.
• Two mentions regarding Adam Brouwer's mill property are recorded in Kings County Conveyances, Lib.2, with the date of 12 Sep 1698. The first on p.178, "I underwritten doe acknowledge to the requisition of Adam Brewer what I Arent Evertse have written between Adam Brewer and Joh Buys concerning the corner and meadow and the mill is grounded upon what is comprehended in the same I will declare and verifye by oath at all times. Actum in Yorke 17 Juny 1671." (signed) Averts. "This above written testimony was sworn unto by Arent Everson before me." (Signed) Mathias Nicolls, Mayor.
• Abraham and Nicholas were Adam Brouwer’s two youngest sons. They bought the mill from the other heirs. “Full rights to the mill property” were the subject of a sales agreement in 1698. The deed for this purchase is certainly the most useful document found for constructing the family of Adam Brouwer. The deed was not recorded but was later found in the possession of descendants of Garret Brouwer, and has been noted by the early Brouwer family researchers, Bergen, Totten, and Hoffman. Dated 12 Aug 1698 it names Pieter, Matthyas, William, Jacob and Adam Brouwer, Barent van Tillburg, Matthys Cornelisse, Jesaias Dreax, William Nazareth, William Hilton, Thomas Knight and Peter Hendrix, "all sons and sons-in-law of Adam Brouwer of Gowanus." The above named convey to Abraham Brouwer and Nicholas Brouwer, their two brothers in consideration of £270, the plot on which the mill stands, and the Neck of land and meadows there unto belonging. On the same day, Adam's widow, Magdalena, conveyed her interest in the mill property to Abraham and Nicholas for a separate consideration.
• During the first decade of the 1700's sons, Abraham and Nicholas, together expanded the mill property and built a second mill, which was then referred to as the "New Mill." Abraham took sole proprietorship of the mill in 1712 when Nicholas conveyed his mill property to his brother Abraham for the sum of £1200.
• Abraham’s two sons operated the mill through the American Revolution, and in August 1776, the Battle of Long Island, or more appropriately, the Battle of Brooklyn was fought on the mill's doorstep. It was here, and at the neighboring "Old Stone House," that William Alexander, a.k.a. Lord Stirling, and his Marylanders held off the British invasion long enough for General Washington to begin the evacuation of his troops from Long Island. The mill and its stores were ordered to be burned during the retreat. A partially destroyed mill anchors Alonzo Chappel's, 1858 painting, Battle of Long Island.
• The United States government denied the Brouwer descendants claim for losses suffered on the mill property during August 1776. The reasons that the government officials gave was that the petitioners waited too long, and that they applied to the wrong jurisdiction. They were told to petition New York State.
• Brouwers Mill stayed in the family for 153 years. In 1785, the Brouwer great grandson purchased the mill property, as well as all the timbers that had been collected to build a mill, from the remaining heirs. He rebuilt the mill, and in 1798, sold the mill and property to John C. Freeke of New York City, for a considerable profit over his own purchase price. Brouwer's Mill became Freeke's Mill.
• The first record of Adam in New Amsterdam was when he bought a house lot in New Amsterdam from Hendrick Jansen.
• On 21 Feb 1645: "Hendrick Jansen from Jeveren, locksmith, and Adam Brouwer have in love and friendship, in the presence of the witnesses hereto invited, agreed and contracted about the purchase of a certain house and lot for a garden situated on the island of Manhatans, formerly occupied by Jeurian Roodolf. Hendrick Jansen from Jeveren sells the aforesaid house and lot to Adam Brouwer above mentioned, who also acknowledges that he has bought the same, with all that is fastened by earth and nail, in true and full ownership, on which house and garden Adam shall pay within three months from date twenty-five guilders, which shall be the last payment." Signed AB, the mark of Adam Brouwer, and by Heidreick Jansz. Witnessed by Willem Breidenbent and Pawlus van der Becke, at Fort Amsterdam before Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary.
• On 2 May 1645, Adam Brouwer appeared as a plaintiff before the council demanding of Hendrick Jansen, locksmith, delivery of the deed for the house lot he purchased. The defendant stated he was willing provided the plaintiff bound himself for the payment of the account rendered to him. It was ordered that in the deed the house be mortgaged until the defendant was paid.
  Later the same day Adam Brouwer assigned and transferred his wages earned for the service at the Fort totaling 189 guilders, to Guert Servaesz of Amsterdam. But this document was canceled, and immediately followed by a document in which Adam empowered Mr. Servaesz to collect from the WIC, "all such sums of money as are still due to him...earned in Brazil where he received no settlement, having been ordered to proceed to Marinhan.” Either this money was not collected, or Adam was owed still more wages from the WIC, for in 1646, Adam granted power of attorney to Govert Loockermans to collect from the WIC, the money he was still due for his service at Fort St. Louis de Marinhan.
• On 7 Feb 1647, Adam Brouwer was granted a certain lot for a house and garden out of the lot of Hendrick Jansz which was laid out by the surveyor on 2 June 1644. The lot, in New Amsterdam, was next to the lot of Willem Bredenbent.
• Adam mentioned in colonial records: on 26 Feb 1652, Adam Brouwer was ordered to pay £43 to Kristman.
• Adam Brouwer's lot in New Amsterdam was mentioned in a conveyance dated 15 Oct 1653.
• In the Protestant environment of the Dutch Reform communities what would happen to an individual with Catholic sympathies? In 1657, "Adam Brouwer of Gowanus" was taxed £6 towards the support of the minister. Adam and his wife, Magdalena Verdon, appear on the membership roll of the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn on 12 March 1660. A censure, by certificate to New York, was added under Adam's name and dated 29 Aug 1667. This was later crossed out. He had been suspected as having leanings towards the Catholic faith, and so Adam got censured for irreverence and threatened with banishment.
• A matter regarding Adam Brouwer appeared in the Consistory Minutes of the Flatbush Reformed Church. In August 1679 it was again stated that Adam had been under censure, and “has been spoken to on various occasions by the consistory of Brooklyn, under whose jurisdiction he lives, and has persistently conducted himself irreverently, and has unto the present postponed his repentance and joining with parties, it was likewise decided that the consistory should give him one more warning and in default of improvement should then proceed to his dismissal." Then, Adam Brouwer was finally asked if he would “surrender his case to the decision of the Honorable Consistory in order to end the disputes with his parties, and, to this end, to appear with them in their meeting.” The agenda of the meeting centered on whether our Adam still adhered to the Reformed faith. The theocratic members of the local church leadership made it clear that if “a negative response is made by him, they shall threaten him with banishment and excommunication and surely also proceed thereto, but not without the knowledge and approval of the Honorable Consistory of New York."
• Adam and Magdalena Brouwer remained members of at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings County, Long Island, New York, but on 30 March 1682, Adam is again recorded as "under censure." The list of members living at Gowanus is undated, however, it does state that Johannes Christoffelsz died on 22 Nov 1684, so it was recorded at some time after that date. Adam was still said to be under censure, and next to Magdalena is the notation, "by certificate for N.York, 29 August 1707," which was then, again, crossed out.
• Adam was in a few other disputes. On one occasion, Adam sued his wife’s step-father, Paulus van der Beek. On 18 Dec 1658, a suit was initiated by Thomas Verdon before the Orphan Master's Court at City Hall, New Amsterdam, "Mr. Paulus van der Beek appears in the place of Tomas Verdon's son and is (directed), that when Tomas Verdon comes, he is to make a settlement of his wife's (Mary Badies's) estate." Apparently this was not completed, and four years later on 8 Feb 1663, Adam Brouwer (for his wife Magdalena Verdon), Thomas Verdon, and Arien Willemsen (Bennet) again appeared before the Orphan Master's Court and requested action in that Paulus van der Beek should be ordered to let them have "their father's property."
• A week later on 15 Feb 1663, their mother Marritie Tomas (Mary Badie) made her deposition before the Orphan Master's Court. The Orphan Master's Court decided that the property and persons were not within their jurisdiction and suggested that the petitioners address themselves to the Director General and Council of New Netherlands.
• On 1 March 1664, a petition by "Willem Willemsen Bennet, Thomas Verdon, Adam Brouwer, and Adriaen Willemsen (Bennet), coheirs of Thomas (error for Jacob) Vardon, praying that Paulus van der Beecq, husband of said Vardon's widow (Mary Badie), may be obliged to account for their paternal estate." This was followed on
• 10 May 1664 by a warrant to "Sheriff Hegeman to put Adriaen, William, and Marietje Williamsen Bennet in possession of a portion of their late father's lands, pending their suit against Paulus van der Beecq, their stepfather."
• * Adam and Isaac De Foreest held jointly the oldest tide mill in Brooklyn, known for many years as Brower's Mill, in which Adam soon purchased De Foreest's interest. The land was within the boundary of the patent of Jan Evertse Bout of 6 July 1665. In his lifetime, Bout appears to have verbally given the mill to Adam Brouwer's children, but the gift was probably considered void, as in a recital of the deed dated 30 April 1707, Sybrant Brouwer to Abram and Nicholas Brouwer it appears that a conveyance had been executed by the heirs of Jan Evertse Bout and "Tunis Nuyse" to Adam Brouwer, their ancestor, for the neck of land on which the mill was located^[5]
• Adam was fined in 1669. A penalty of five hundred guilders was levied on Adam Brower's estate.
• Adam and his wife were again brought before the Court of Assizes for New York. On 6 Sep 1669, “the Presentment of a difference between Adam Brower and his wife of Breukelyn and Gerrit Croessen of the same place about an Assault and Battery” came before the Court of Assizes for New York. The principles were bound over from the Court of Sessions held at Gravesend. The matter was later referred back to the Court of Sessions. *On 19 Nov 1670 the Court at New York found that “a ten pound fine levied against Gerrit Croosen for assaulting Adam Brouwer's wife, and a ten pound find levied against Adam Brouwer for assaulting Gerrit Croosen were found to counterbalance one another” and, as a result, were cancelled.
• Adam traveled to Amsterdam with Jacque Cousseau in 1670. On 18 Aug 1670, Adam Brower, among others, was granted a pass to travel aboard the ship Fort Albany, owned by Jacque Cousseau, bound for England and Amsterdam. He was also recorded on a list of persons aboard that same ship.
• Adam was assessed in 1675, 1676, 1678 and 1683.
• On the 20 Aug 1675 assessment rolls at Breukelen, Adam Brouwer is assessed at 2 polls, 2 cows, 3 ditto of 3 yrs, 3 sheep, 1 hog, 1 1/2 morgen of valley.
• Adam Brouwer appeared on the assessment list of at Breukelen, Long Island, in September 1676 assessed with 1 poll, 3 cows, 4 sheep and 1 1/2 morgens of valley.
• On the 1678 list of "Estates of the Inhabitants of Newtowne, Long Island" is listed Adam Bruer, 1 head, 2 cows. Hoffman adds that it was possible that Adam Brouwer owned property there, but that he was probably not an inhabitant.
• Adam Brouwer appeared on the assessment list of at Breukelen, Long Island, on 26 September 1683 with 1 poll, 1 mill, 3 cows, 1 ditto of 2 years, 2 ditto, 3 sheep, 3 morgens of land, totaling 149.10.45
• Adam Brouwer took the Oath of Allegiance to the English Crown in September 1687 at Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, as "Adam Brouwer, 45 Jeare" (45 years in this country)
• Adam willed his estate to his wife and passed over children who were disobedient. His will was dated on 22 January 1691/92 and proved 21 March 1692, was on file at the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals in Albany. He calls himself "Adam Brouwer Berkhoven inhabitant of ye town of Bruckland, being at present sick a body but fully having his knowledge." His witnesses are named as Henry Sleght, Cornelius Sebring and John Fredricks. Adam leaves his "whole estate moveable and immoveable my wife Magdalena Brewer and my utmost will and desire is that none of my children shall trouble or move their mother during her life."
• Adam Brower made “to his eldest son Peter Brewer three shillings for reasons that he was disobedient to his father”.
• Also Jacob Brewer and Aeltie Brewer, who for reasons of their disobedience shall not receive a penny from their father Adam Brower, but ye testator bequeath ye land from ye three disobedient children Peter Brewer ye eldest, Jacob Brewer and Aeltie Brewer upon their children ye portion of Peter upon his children, ye portion of Jacob upon his children, ye portion of Aeltie upon her children."
• Adam named his children as Mathys, William, Adam, Abraham, Nicholas, daughter Mary, Fytie, Helena, Anna, Sara, Rachel, "these eleven children shall have equal portions amongst them, also ye children of ye disobedient children above named they shall also with ye other eleven children equally divided."
• Adam made special bequests to Adolphus son of William Brewer "three pieces of eight"; to "Mathys his daughter Magdalena one piece of eight, and Mary her daughter Magdalena one piece of eight. Peter Brewer and “his daughter Magdalena, one piece of eight and his daughter Vroutie one piece of eight, with Fytie daughter Magdalena one piece of eight."
• Administration of the estate of Adam Brouwer, referred to as “Adam Brewer, late of Brooklyn”, was granted on 15 April 1693 by Gov. Benjamin Fletcher to his widow, Magdalena Brewer.

Birth

19 Jan 1619. Köln, Cologne,Nordrhein-Westfalen. ^[6]

18 JAN 1621, (Ger ?? doesn't excist), Hoorn, Noord-Holland, Netherlands ^{[7][8][9][10]}

Christening

Katwijk, Holland, Netherlands^[11]

18 JAN 1621. ^[12]

Immigration

Immigration: from Cologne Germany Date: 1641 Place: Brazil^[13]

Immigration/Arrival Date: ABT 1642 New Amsterdam, New Netherland ^[14][15][16]

Marriage & Children

• 19, March 1645,^[17] Adam Brouwer, j.m. Van Ceulen, en Magdalena Verdon, j.d. Van N. Nederlt. ^[18]

1. 1646 23 Sep Pieter, Adam Brouwer. Wit.: Mr. Paulus Ver Beeck, Willem Bredenbend, Aeltje Braconye, Mary du Trieux.
2. 1649 30 May Mathys, Adam Brouwer. Wit.: Mathys, Barentje Molenaers.
3. 1651 05 Mar Wilhelmus, Adam Brouwer. Wit.: Willem Beeckman, Johannes Marcus, Maria ? houte paerdt, * Lysbeth Cregiers. (* Maria in the wooden horse)
4. 1653 04 Jun Maria, Adam Brouwer. Wit.: Francois Baschet, Engeltje Jans. ^[19]
5. 1660 31 Oct Helena, Adam Brouwer, Magdaleen Jacobs, of the mill, parents.
6. 1662 18 May Adam, Adam Brouwer, Magdaleentie Jacobs, parents. Wit.: Neeltie Jans. ^[20]
7. 1672 16 Apr Nicolaes, Adam Brouwer, Magdalena Jacobs. Wit.: Ariaentie Scherps. ^[19]

Other children mentioned in Adam's will: Jacobus, Aeltje, Anna, Abraham, Sarah, Rachel.

Unknown children: Fytje, Daniel.

In the baptism record for Daniel, baptized when Magdalena was 51, it appears that Adam Brouwer and Aeltje Van der Beeck, who was Adam's sister-in-law, may have actually been witnesses and were recorded as the parents instead. There are no other witnesses listed and "geen getuygen (no witnesses)" appears where the witnesses would normally be listed.

• 1678 07 May Daniel, Adam Brouwer, Aeltje Van der Beeck. geen getuygen. ^[19]

Family: Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Jacobs Verdon^[21]

1. Pieter Adamsz Brouwer (1646 – x)
2. Matthys Adamsz Brouwer (1649 - 1726)
3. Willem Adamsz Brouwer (1651 – x)
4. Marretje Adamse Brouwer (1653 - 1703)
5. Jacob Adamsz Brouwer (1655 - 1706)
6. Fytie Adamse Brouwer (1660 – x)
7. Helena Adamse Brouwer (1660 – x)
8. Adam Adamsz Brouwer (1662, - 1706)
9. Aeltje Adamse Brouwer (1664 – x)
10. Anna Adamse Brouwer (1666 – x)
11. Abraham Adamsz Brouwer (1667 – x)
12. Sara Adamse Brouwer (1668 – x)
13. Rachel Adamse Brouwer (1672 – x)
14. Nicholas Adamsz Brouwer (1672– 1749)

Residence

1690 Brooklyn, Kings County. ^[22]

Oath of Allegiance

Between 26th and 30th September 1687, Adam Brouwer Junior, native; Pieter Brouwer, native, Abram Brouwer, native; and Adam Brouwer, 45 years [in country], took the oath of allegiance to British Colonial America in Brooklyn, New York.^[23]

Will

The following discussion is based on a published will abstract that was erroneous. The electronic image of the will contained in his probate file, online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYH1-WYG?i=188&cc=1920234, lists the three disobedient children who were disowned plus eleven other living children (not seven). Smith-62120 16:19, 24 July 2022 (UTC)

Abstracts of Wills Vol I 1665-1707, pages 213 & 214: Page 421.--Letters of administration upon the estate of Adam Brewer, late of the town of Brooklyn, are granted by Governor Benjamin Fletcher, to his widow, Magdalena Brewer, April 15, 1693.

Page 422.--Adam Brewer

In the name of God Amen. Whereas I, Adam Brewer, Berkhoon, inhabitant of ye Towne of Brooklandt, being at present sick, but fully having my knowledge and understanding." "I desire that none of my children shall trouble or move their mother during her life."
"I leave to my: eldest son Peter, 3 shillings by reason that he has been disobedient to his father. And also Jacob Brewer and Altie Brewer for reason of their disobedience shall not receive a penney from their father Adam Brewer, but their portions are left to their children. The other 7 children, Mathys, William, Adam, Abraham, Anna, Sarah, and Rachel shall have an equal share in the estate.
Leaves to Adolphus the son of William, 3 pieces of 8. To Magdalena, daughter of Peter, 1 piece of 8, and to his daughter Vrentie 1 piece of 8.
This is that which ye Testator Adam Brewer as his last will and testament, he hath signed and sealed the same with his own hand, January 22, 169 1/2. Makes Barent Van Flentburg and Wm. Nazareth tutors and overseers.

Witnesses, Henry Sleght, Cornelius Sebrig, Johanes Fredrichs. The foregoing witnesses appeared before me, November 21, 1692, and made oath to the same.

Adam added the name Berckhoven in his will. Adam died in 1692 and in his early seventies at Gowanus, Kings County, New York. He was also known as Adam Brewer and Adam Brouwer Berckhoven, which is the name he called himself in his will. Berchoven, or variations thereof, were also used on the marriage records of a number of his children, namely Abraham, Nicholas, Rachel, Adam, Jr., and Anna. For a further explanation of “Berckhoven,” ^{[24] [25]}

Death

21 MAR 1692, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York^{[26][27][28][29]}

15 APR 1693 Brooklyn, Kings County, Gowanus. ^[30]

Burial

26 MAR 1692, Dutch Churchyard, Brooklyn, New York

1693 Brooklyn,,Kings County,New York, Flatbush,Kings County.

Sources

1. ↑ Berkhoven probably referred to the place where he was from (born ?), whereas Brouwer probably referred to his occupation, as Brouwer is Dutch for brewer. Berkhoven, although occasionally used by some of his children, has been dropped by most of his descendants, and Brouwer, now written Brower, or Brewer, is used as the surname of the family
2. ↑ Jeff's Work in Progress Updated: 2011-05-14 05:11:09 UTC (Sat) Jeff Miller Rootsweb Ancestry
3. ↑ The identity of Adam's own parents and his ancestry is unknown. Claims that Adam is a son of either Pieter Clement Brouwer, or of Frans Sijmonsen Brouwer, are undocumented and unproven. Such claims are apparently based on nothing but a common surname.
4. ↑ Adam Berkhoven Brouwer (1621 – 1692) and Magdalena Jacobs Verdon (1627 – 1698) were married. Magdalena Jacobs Verdon was the daughter of Jacob Verdon and Marie Thomasdr Badie. Adam and Magdalena married in 1645 at the Dutch Reformed Church, New Amsterdam. They were the progenitors of the largest of the three Brouwer families present in 17th century New Netherland. Adam Brouwer and his wife, Magdalena Verdon, had fourteen children reach adulthood, who in turn left at least 97 grandchildren, and more than 350 great-grandchildren.
5. ↑ Kings Co. Deeds 3:201, originally referenced by Teunis G. Bergen. In 1661
6. ↑ Source: #S11169 Note: Source number: 83.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number ofPages: 1; Submitter Code: RWR, Source: #S11169 Note: Source number: 910.002; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages:1, Source: #S11169 Note: Source number: 4684.005; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listedas parents; Number of Pages: 1, Source: #S10742 , Source: #S10956
7. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. (Yates Publishing): Source number: 83.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: RWR. Ancestry Record worldmarr_ga #157087 Birth date: 1620Birth place: FrMarriage date: 1645Marriage place:
8. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. (Yates Publishing): Source number: 4684.005; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: Note: Ancestry Record worldmarr_ga #157088 Birth date: Birth place: of GrMarriage date: 1645 Marriage place: NY
9. ↑ Family Data Collection (Edmund West): Birth year: 1620; Birth city: New York; Birth state: NY. Ancestry Record genepool #2897814 Birth date: 18 January 1620Birth place: New York, NY Death date: 21 March 1691Death place: New York, NYMarriage date: 19 March 1644 Marriage place: New York, NY Text: Birth date: 1600Birth place: New York APID: 3599::1982223
10. ↑ Source: [[#S-869848842] Page: Birth year: 1621; Birth city: New York; Birth state: NY.Note: Ancestry Record genepool #329757 Text: Birth date: 18 January 1621Birth place: New York, New York, NYDeath date: 21 March 1692Death place: Marriage date: 19 March 1645Marriage place: New York City, New York, NY APID: 4725::329757 Source: #S-2084837787 Page: Place: New York, New York; Year: 1642; Page Number: 403. Note: Ancestry Record pili354 #2007037
11. ↑ this entry followed Christening entry (under a "Source" subhead), but I don't know if this was intended as a general reference for Brouwer-102 or a specific one for the Christening (which had no source citation). Ancestry Family Trees (Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members).
12. ↑ Source: #S10742
13. ↑ Ancestry Family Trees, Record for Nicholaes Adamsz Brouwer Berchoven
14. ↑ Source: #S-550830362: Place: New Netherland; Year: 1642; Page Number: 403. Note: Ancestry Record pili354 #1623433 Arrival date: 1642 Arrival place: New Netherland APID: 7486::1623433
15. ↑ Ancestry Family Trees, Records for Nicholaes Adamsz Brouwer Berchoven, Mathys Adams Brouwer, Adam Pieterse Berkhoven Brouwer, Adam Berkhoven Brouwer, Adam Berkhoven or Berchoven Brouwer, Adam Berchoven Brouwer, and Frans Sijmonsen Brouwer
16. ↑ Source: #S11140 Note: Place:New York. New Netherland; Year: 1642; Page Number: 14
17. ↑ Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York : marriages from 11 December, 1639, to 26 August, 1801 by Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York; Purple, Samuel S. (Samuel Smith), 1822-1900,page 13, https://archive.org/details/recordsofreforme01coll/page/n55/mode/2up?q=brouwer+
18. ↑ Samuel S. Purple. "Marriages from 1639 to 1801 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York pg.13" In Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol. I. (New York: Printed for the Society, 1890.)
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1 19.2} Evans, Thomas Grier. "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York. Baptisms from 25 December, 1639 to 27 December, 1730." Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol 2. New York: Printed for the Society, 1901. [1]."
20. ↑ Theodore M. Banta. Year Book of the Holland Society of New York. (New York: Knickerbocker Press, New York, 1897.)
21. ↑ From Lee Family History
22. ↑ Source: #S11013 Note: Document: The Documentary History of the State of New York [Albany,NY:, 1849]; Volume Number: Vol 1; Page Number: 660; Family Number: 28
23. ↑ Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York, Excerpted from The Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 1989, 1999), p.38.
24. ↑ see the above referenced article, “New Insight into the Origins of Adam Brouwer.”
25. ↑ It must also be noted that this was the period in time, when the early New Netherlands families who had been accustomed to the patronymic naming system, were being pressured by the English Government to choose a “permanent” surname. This would have been an ideal time for Adam to “christen” his family with a name of his own. Adam Brouwer came a long way. Berckhoven was the name he gave to his achievements. He had built a property, a business, and a family he could give a name to. It is thought that Berckhoven was a name he hoped his descendants would take for themselves, a way to separate themselves from other families named Brouwer.
26. ↑ Family Data Collection (Edmund West): Birth year: 1620; Birth city: New York; Birth state: NY. Ancestry Record genepool #2897814 Birth date: 18 January 1620, Birth place: New York, NYDeath date: 21 March 1691Death place: New York, NYMarriage date: 19 March 1644 Marriage place: New York, NY APID: 4725::2897814
27. ↑ Source: #S-869848842 Birth year: 1621; Birth city: New York; Birth state: NY. Note: Ancestry Record genepool #329757 Birth date: 18 January 1621 Birth place: New York, New York, NY Death date: 21 March 1692 Death place: Marriage date: 19 March 1645 Marriage place: New York City, New York, NY APID: 4725::329757
28. ↑ Source: #S-869848842: Birth year: 1620; Birth city: New York; Birth state: NY. Note: Ancestry Record genepool #2897814 Birth date: 18 January 1620Birth place: New York, NYDeath date: 21 March 1691Death place: New York, NYMarriage date: 19 March 1644Marriage place: New York, NY :: APID: 4725::2897814
29. ↑ Ancestry Family Trees, Records for Mathys Adams Brouwer, Adam Berkhoven Brouwer, andFrans Sijmonsen Brouwer
30. ↑ Source: #S10742

• "Brewer." familytreedna.com. Accessed 10 Jul 2016. https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/brewer-dna/about

• Genetic Descendants of Adam Brouwer Berckhoven

• Chester, Chris. Brouwer Genealogy Database, Adam Brouwer (circa 1620) entry; accessed 24 July 2022.

• New York State Archive Items from the Digital Archive for Adam Brouwer

• Chester, Chris. "New Insight into the Origins of Adam Brouwer." New Netherland Connections v.13 (2008), no.4, Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 2008. A copy (PDF format) is also available on Brouwer Genealogy website at this link.

• A gateway to discovering and tracking the descendants of the original New Netherland Brouwer progenitors, namely Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Jan (or Johannes) Brouwer of Flatlands and Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck (Albany).Brouwer Genealogy Authored and created by Richard Brewer, administrator of the Brewer DNA Project

• The article, "DNA Analysis: Adam Brouwer Berckhoven, Elias Brouwer of New Jersey, and John Brewer of Ohio," by Richard D. Brewer, PhD, Scott Kraus, and William B. Bogardus, laid to rest any thoughts that Adam and his descendants may be closely related to Jan Brouwer, blacksmith, of Flatlands, Long Island. Analysis of DNA samples from known descendants of Adam, and of Jan, has shown that any possible common ancestor for the two could only be found tens of thousands of years ago. The Brewer DNA project, co-administrated by Richard D. Brewer, continues, and can be found at (search for Brewer).

• Adam Brouwer and Magdalena Verdon, Brouwergenealogy.blogspot.nl

• Source: Descendants of Adam Brouwer Berckhoven

• Berthold Fernow, Minutes of the Orphan Masters of New Amsterdam 1655 to 1663, Vol.1 (New York: Francis P. Harper, 1902)

• Peter R. Chistoph, Administrative Papers of Governors Richard Nicolls and Francis Lovelace, 1664-1673, New York Historical Manuscripts, English, Vol. 22 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980), Hearings before the Court of Assizes

• Adam Brouwer and his family have been covered in the past. Published accounts of Adam Brouwer and his descendants begin in 1878 with T.G. Bergen's, "Contributions to the History of the Early Settlers of Kings County, N.Y." (NYG&BR 9(1878):126-9)

• Source: Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn 1660 to 1719: From Corporation Manual of the City of Brooklyn, 1869 Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn records from Oct. 31, 1660 to Dec 13, 1719: From Corporation Manual of the City of Brooklyn, 1869; FHL film #0017529, item 4 (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939), Copied and translated from the Dutch by Teunis G. Bergen. Filmed from the typed manuscript in the Holland Society of New York, p.448

• A guide to published arrival records of about 500.000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries . First edition 2004832214 Volume 1 A-G edited by P.William Filby with Mary K. Meyer .Gale Research Company.Book Tower. Detroit Michigan 48226 2602 II-20 Passenger and Immigration Lists Index pg. 231

• Arnold J.F. Van Laer, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647, New York Historical Manuscripts, Vol. 2 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974), p.292 (141c); Contract of sale from Hendrick Jansen to Adam Brouwer of a house and garden on Manhattan Island

• Arnold J.F. Van Laer, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647, New York Historical Manuscripts, Vol. 2 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974), pp.290-2. (141a). Assignment by Adam Brouwer to Geurt Servaessen of his claim on the West India Company; (141b) Power of Attorney from Adam Brouwer to Guert Servaeszen to collect wages due from the West India Company.pp341-2 (149j) Power of Attorney from Adam Brouwer to Govert Loockermans to receive monry due him by the West India Company. "Marinhan" is present day Maranhão, a State in northeast Brazil, along the Atlantic Coast..

• Early Bergen County Families compiled by Pat Wardell. File: BCFam-Brouwer.pdf

• Adam Brouwer will (22 Jan 1691/92), Albany Wills, 1629-1802 Vol. AB, page 3 Original record: "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-24569-6429-92?cc=1920234 : accessed 11 June 2016), Albany > Wills 1629-1802 vol AA-AB > image 190 of 854; county courthouses, New York.

• Fifty-eight years then passed between T.G. Bergen's treatment of Adam Brouwer, and the publication of "Brouwer (Brower-Brewer) Family Notes," by John Reynolds Totten in NYG&BR 67(1936):103-10, 217-29.

• Bergen and Totten's work were not without errors and in 1938 William J. Hoffman published "Brouwer Corrections" (NYG&BR 69(1938):172-9) to address some inconsistencies.

• Then, beginning in April 1947, William J. Hoffman published in a series of articles appearing in The American Genealogist (TAG) titled, "Brouwer Beginnings: The First Three Generations of the Adam Brouwer Berchoven Family."

• It is to date the most complete published treatment of Adam Brouwer's family. The first significant research regarding Adam Brouwer to be published in the sixty years since "Brouwer Beginnings,” appeared in the NYG&BR 138(2007):245-9.

• John J. Gallagher, The Battle of Brooklyn (New York: Sarpedon, 1995), An excellent modern account one of the Revolution's most important events.

• Pre-Revolutionary Dutch houses and families in northern New Jersey and southern New York. New York: W. Morrow & Co., 1936. "A limited edition of six hundred sixty-six copies; A companion volume to Dutch houses in the Hudson Valley before 1776, which was prepared under the auspices of a book committee by Helen Wilkinson Reynolds and published in 1929"

Ancestry.com Sources

• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. (Ancestry online publication): APID: 7486::0. Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.. ''Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009.

• Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI). Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999; Godfrey Memorial Library, American Genealogical-Biographical Index, Middletown, CT, USA.

• Ancestry Family Trees. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. [https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7221440/person/1364697701/facts Ancestry.com

• Source: S-869848842: Family Data Collection - Individual Records. Edmund West, comp. 2000 (Ancestry online publication): APID: 4725::0.

• Info

• History

• Adam Brouwer History

• Adam BROUWER & Magdalena Jacobs VERDON

• Members of First Protestant Reforned Dutch Church in Brooklyn - 1660

• Longer version of story

• Source: S10742 Heritage Consulting Repository: Ancestry.com

• Source: S10956 Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. Repository: Ancestry.com

• Source: S11169 Yates Publishing, Ancestry.com

Acknowledgments

• The WikiTree profile Brouwer-102 was created through the import of Smith-Hunter.ged on 10 March 2011.
• WikiTree profile Brouwer-233 created through the import of Johnson Family Tree 2011-08-24.ged on Aug 24, 2011 by Rosemary Palermo. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Rosemary and others.
• WikiTree profile Brouwer-171 created through the import of Lent_Vise_2011-05-11aa.ged on May 26, 2011 by Bryan Sypniewski. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Bryan and others.
• Thanks to Loren Fay for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Loren and others.
• This person was created through the import of Beaman Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.
• Adam Brouwer as remembered b Wayne Burnie, Sunday, November 9, 2014.