Generation 4

WILLIAM BRUSTER/BREWSTER

WILLIAM BREWSTER was born at Norwich on March 22, 1668/69, the fifth child of BENJAMIN and ANNE, and he had seven siblings (as did his father before him). His birth was recorded in Norwich Vital Records (Vol 1, p. 23) as follows: "BRUSTER, WILLYAM son of BENJAMIN and ANNE b. Mar 1669."

Extremely little has been written about WILLIAM's life and times, but we do know that he married ELIZABETH READ/REED at Norwich January 8, 1692. She was a daughter of JOSIAH and GRACE (HOLLOWAY) READ/REED, and she died unexpectedly March 11, 1692, leaving WILLIAM a widower at age 23. Sometime after her death, he removed from Norwich to Lebanon. From the lack of information about his second marriage and birth dates for his children, we can assume that he had removed to Lebanon before those events took place, and that the town of Lebanon did not keep records during that period of time or the records were lost.

"The Brewster Genealogy" shows that WILLIAM's second wife was named PATIENCE, but does not mention her maiden name and does not indicate when or where they were married, which led me to believe that their marriage was not recorded in the town records of Norwich. However, I recently I came across a statement, probably submitted by one of their descendants, that said "WILLIAM married PATIENCE REED, daughter of JOSIAH REED and GRACE HOLMAN [sic], on 08 Jun 1692, in Norwich, New London, CT. (Patience Reed was born in Sep 1672 in Norwich New London CT and died in 1740 in Conventry, Tolland CT.)"  If WILLIAM and PATIENCE's marriage is recorded in Norwich, that would be excellent. However, many researchers have combed through and transcribed these early town records, and I have never seen it written by any of them that WILLIAM married secondly, PATIENCE REED. Therefore, I did a search on the Internet today (November 24, 2006), and I found that JOSIAH REED and GRACE (HOLLOWAY) did NOT have a daughter named PATIENCE, and it was their daughter, ELIZABETH, who was born in September of 1762. So there ends that bit of mis-information about WILLIAM's second wife, PATIENCE, being a "twin" sister of his first wife, ELIZABETH. I believe that the mis-information presented by WILLIAM and PATIENCE's descendant came from a mis-reading of the date of WILLIAM's marriage to ELIZABETH, which was January 8, 1692. Note that the descendant indicated that WILLIAM and PATIENCE were married June 8, 1692. The original handwriting in the Lebanon Town record may have abbreviated January (Jan), and the descendant interpreted the date incorrectly as June. Without seeing the actual record myself, I cannot explain how the descendant would mis-read ELIZABETH as PATIENCE.

Following is the information presented by James Savage: "JOSIAH READ/REED, New London 1662, rem. To Norwich, m. at Marshfield, Nov. 1666, Grace Holloway, had Josiah, b. Apr. 1668; William, Apr. 1670; Elizabeth Sept. 1672; Experience, 27 Feb. 1675; John, 15 Apr. 1670, John, at Apr. 1670; Joseph, 12 Mar. 1681; Susanna, 20 Sept. 1685; Hannah, July 1688; and he d. 3 July 1711. His wid. d. 9 May 1727." (Savage).

WILLIAM and PATIENCE were the parents of five children, and the births of the last two were recorded in the Lebanon Town records. Their children WILLIAM BRUSTAR of Mansfield, "eldest son", PATIENCE, SAMUEL BRUSTAR, EBENEZER and PETER were named in the settlement of their father's estate in April of 1729. Our BREWSTER surname DNA Project gathered together male descendants of WILLIAM and PATIENCE's sons WILLIAM JR., SAMUEL and EBENEZER, and more details of the outcome of the DNA testing will be presented later in this blog.

WILLIAM died at Lebanon August 11, 1728, and PATIENCE, his widow, died at Coventry about 1740.

In the next chapter, WILLIAM's legacy continues through his son, WILLIAM BREWSTER JR.

Generation 5. EBENEZER BRUSTER/BREWSTER, Youngest son of WILLIAM and PATIENCE

Generation 5 EBENEZER BRUSTER/BREWSTER EBENEZER BREWSTER was born at Lebanon, son of WILLIAM and PATIENCE, and he had five siblings. There is very little information presented in "The Brewster Genealogy" about EBENEZER and ELIZABETH other than scant information about their children together. Although we know nothing more of the personal events of EBENEZER and ELIZABETH's life together, we did discover that theirs was not a happy union, when on the 23rd of March, 1739, ELIZABETH filed a petition for divorce from EBENEZER. From this petition, we learn that EBENEZER deserted his family in 1729, and she indicated that EBENEZER had broken his marriage covenant and had been "gone a full ten years last past..." indicating that he had deserted them in 1729. Their last child, ELIZABETH, was born March 7, 1728/29, so he may have left just after her birth or perhaps even before she was born. Seeing as ELIZABETH (DeWOLFE) BREWSTER waited ten years to file divorce, perhaps it was necessary to wait at least 10 years before one was eligible to file, or it took her that long to save up the money. At any rate, we do know that ELIZABETH's divorce was granted sometime before June 1740 because it was in that month and year that she married CALEB OWEN in Lebanon. She then gave birth to another son, CALEB OWEN JR., May 20, 1741, at Lebanon. Petition for Divorce, Windham County, Connecticut: "Elizabeth Brewster Petition 19 Elizabeth (DeWolfe) Brewster vs. Ebenezer Brewster 1739 To the Honorable Superior Court, Now Sitting at Windham In & for Said County of Windham this 23rd day of March AD 1739. The Petition of Elizabeth Brewster of Lebanon in Sd County of Windham, Humbly Sheweth. That Your Petitioner was married to one Ebenezer Brewster of Said Lebanon on the Thirteenth day of November AD 1721 and Lived With him for Sundry years Discharging the Duties of a Loving Wife to him, according to my Ability, till He most Injuriously to me & His Children which he had by me, wilfully Deserted & left us, and Ran away from us, and hath now Been Wilfully & wrongfully Separated and gone from me, full Ten Years Last past, Nor at all Minding or [Proguarding?] of his Marriage Covenant with me and totally Neglecting his Duty Towards me, Whereby He hath Broken the Marriage Covenant. Whereupon Your Poor Petitioner Prays that Your Honors would take her case aforesaid into your consideration &a; Thereupon Declare your Petitioner Discharged from her said Marriage Covenant with Sd Brewster, and that the same is Null & Void; and a Bill of Divorce be granted me from Him accordingly and your Petitioner as is Duty Bound, shall Ever Pray ye. Dated in Windham this 23rd day of March AD 1739. Elizabeth {her mark} Brewster" === Proof of Marriage submitted with Petition for Divorce: "Ebenezer Bruster; Elisabeth DeWolfe were married by Mr. Sam'll Welles November thirteenth 1721. A true copy of Record taken out of the Church book of the First Church in Lebanon. Solomon Williams, Pastor Lebanon: March 17, 1738/9" === Per Index to Divorce Records of Windham County (1726-1907), Part 1: "Ebenezer Brewster; Elizabeth (DeWolf); 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: Connecticut, Windham - Divorce records. Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film[1638586] With the information presented in the petition for divorce, we can then begin to build a time line of EBENEZER's whereabouts after deserting his Connecticut family.  It appears that WILLIAM followed his brother EBENEZER in his wanderings. • 1728: EBENEZER BRUSTAR of Mansfield is named in the settlement of the estate of his father. • 1729: EBENEZER deserted his wife and family in Connecticut. • 1730-1753: EBENEZER's sons COMFORT and EBENEZER were born, probably in Dutchess County, New York. Since we know that ELIZABETH didn't file for divorce until March of 1739, it is highly likely that EBENEZER simply "took a second wife" without actually having been married. If he actually went through a marriage ceremony with a second wife before March of 1739, he had committed bigamy. Either way, the children of this second union would have been born "out of wedlock" and would be considered "bastards." • 1733: WILLIAM deserted his wife and family in Connecticut. • 1739: ELIZABETH (DeWOLFE) BREWSTER filed her Petition for Divorce against EBENEZER. • 1746/47: EBENEZER 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 [in Beekman] from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South[ern] Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were ₤1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts." • 1747/48: EBENEZER BREWSTER was taxed in Southern Precinct, February 1747/48 through June 1748. • 1753: EBENEZER BREWSTER was taxed in Beekman Feb - June 1753. • 1754: WILLIAM removed from Dutchess County, New York, to Virginia. As EBENEZER 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. • 1755: General Bradick defeated in Virginia. • 1757: WILLIAM and his family were run out of Virginia by Indians, and they returned to the Oblong in Dutchess Co., NY. • 1761: EBENEZER of Frederick Co., VA, borrowed money from JOSIAH HULS[E] to purchase land in Hampshire Co., VA. NOTE: Hampshire Co, VA, was created in 1754 from Frederick & Augusta Counties. Hampshire County is now in WV. • 1762: EBENEZER is mentioned in the Order Book of Frederick Co., VA, dated 7-SEP-1762. • 1765 Land Grant - EBENEZER BRUSTER, 10 July 1765, Hampshire County, VA, 118 acres on the Potowmack River adjoining DANIEL OSBURN presented to EBENEZER BRUSTER of Frederick County. Northern Neck Grants M, 1762-1765, p. 416 (Reel 295). Original survey exists as Brewster. Land Grant found on Library of Virginia Website. • 11-OCT-1765: EBENEZER BREWSTER of Frederick Co., VA, sold Hampshire Co., VA, land (118 acres on the Potomac River) to NICHOLAS MC INTYRE of Frederick Co. per "Early Records of Hampshire Co., VA", Sage and Janes/Jones, p. 5; Recorded 10-JUN-1766. Witnesses: Thomas Swearingen, Thomas Boydston, Thomas Wiggins Jr., Joseph Hastings. • 1774: EBENEZER d. Fincastle Co., VA. A Fincastle Co. land entry referenced "EBENEZER BRUSTER, heir to EBENEZER BRUSTER, deceased."WILLIAM, brother of EBENEZER, reported that he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia, and it is highly likely that he and EBENEZER and their families traveled there together. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. EBENEZER remained in Virginia and died there in 1774, leaving many descendants. The Oblong: From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Association, 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." Although the following page is no longer editable, Additonal information about EBENEZER may be found  at http://www.angelfire.com/mi/brewsterlist/query16.html

Copyright 2006-2020 Jeanne E Killick jeannieology2017@gmail.com

GENERATION 5 - WILLIAM BRUSTER/BREWSTER JR. Eldest Son of WILLIAM and PATIENCE

Generation 5 WILLIAM BRUSTER/BREWSTER JR. Page Last Updated: 13 February 2020 by J.E. Killick jeannieology2017@gmail.com WILLIAM BREWSTER JR. was born at Lebanon sometime between 1693 and 1695, the first-born son of WILLIAM and PATIENCE, and he had five siblings. Unfortunately, his birth was not recorded in the Lebanon town records. WILLIAM JR. married MEHITABLE ABEL on December 13, 1716, in Lebanon, and the births of their first four children were recorded in the town records there. Their fifth child was recorded in the town records of Mansfield, Connecticut. There is very little information presented in "The Brewster Genealogy" about WILLIAM and MEHITABLE other than scant information about their six children together. Following are three references that help to pinpoint their movements from town to town: From Terry, Milton E. and Harding, Anne Borden, "A Notebook on the Descendants of Elder William Brewster of Plymouth Colony" Union Co. Printing, Westfield NJ, p. 65: "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 baptized in Lebanon 21 Aug. 1726." "MEHITABLE BREWSTER, wife of WILLIAM BREWSTER JR., made confession and owned the covenant at Lebanon Congregation Church in 1726." From Dimock, Susan W., "Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, Mansfield, CT, 1703-1850", p. 33, Town Records-Births "Child of WILLIAM BREWSTER, formerly of Lebanon, now living in Mansfield, and Mehitable his wife. WILLIAM F. SAY, b. March 13, 1729-30." From First Church Records [Mansfield] - Baptisms , page 360: "1730, May 24. WILLIAM, son of WILLIAM BRUSTER" Although we know nothing more of the personal events of WILLIAM and MEHITABLE's life together, we did discover that theirs was not a happy union, when on the third Tuesday of March 1748/49, MEHITABLE filed a petition for divorce from WILLIAM. From this petition, we learn that WILLIAM BRUSTER deserted his family in March of 1733. In 1733, their youngest son, WILLIAM, was nearing (or had reached) his third birthday. In her petition, MEHITABLE does not indicate why he left his family, but she says that she "had lived in the due discharge of all the duties of a wife to him..." which leads us to believe that she took no blame for him leaving. Why she waited sixteen years to file for divorce, we have no clue other than the fact that divorces were expensive. It probably took her sixteen years to accumulate enough money to file for divorce. At the same time that I discovered MEHITABLE's petition for divorce, I discovered a similar divorce petition filed by MEHITABLE's sister-in-law, ELIZABETH (DeWolfe) BREWSTER, who had married WILLIAM's younger brother, EBENEZER. ELIZABETH filed her petition for divorce the 23rd of March 1739, and she indicated that EBENEZER had broken his marriage covenant and had been "gone a full ten years last past..." indicating that he had deserted them in 1729. Their last child, ELIZABETH, was born March 7, 1728/29, so he may have left just after her birth or perhaps even before she was born. Seeing as ELIZABETH (DeWOLFE) BREWSTER waited ten years to file divorce, perhaps it was necessary to wait at least 10 years before one was eligible to file, or it took her that long to save up the money. At any rate, we do know that ELIZABETH's divorce was granted sometime before June 1740 because it was in that month and year that she married CALEB OWEN in Lebanon. She then gave birth to another son, CALEB OWEN JR., May 20, 1741, at Lebanon. Both of the above-mentioned Petitions for Divorce can be found in their entirety at the end of this chapter. With the information presented in these two petitions for divorce, we can then begin to build a time line of WILLIAM and EBENEZER's whereabouts after deserting their families. Although this chapter is about WILLIAM's life and times, it is necessary to add information about EBENEZER since it appears that WILLIAM followed him in his wanderings. • 1728: WILLIAM BRUSTAR of Mansfield is named in the settlement of the estate of his father. The inventory of the estate dated September 3, 1728, recorded that son WILLIAM had been paid ₤6-0-5 with what he had already received. • 1729: EBENEZER, younger brother of WILLIAM, deserted his wife and family in Connecticut. • 1730-1753: EBENEZER's sons COMFORT and EBENEZER were born, probably in Dutchess County, New York. Since we know that ELIZABETH didn't file for divorce until March of 1739, it is highly likely that EBENEZER simply "took a second wife" without actually having been married. If he actually went through a marriage ceremony with a second wife before March of 1739, he had committed bigamy. Either way, the children of this second union would have been born "out of wedlock" and would be considered "bastards." • 1733: WILLIAM deserted his wife and family in Connecticut. • 1737-1738: SAMUEL BRUSTER was born in Dutchess County, NY. • 1739: ELIZABETH (DeWOLFE) BREWSTER filed her Petition for Divorce against EBENEZER. • 1740/41 - 1741/42: WILLIAM BROOSTER was taxed in Southern Precinct, Dutchess County, NY, 1740/41 through February 1741/42. • 1740-1741: PELATIAH BRUSTER was born in Dutchess County, NY, most likely in Southern Precinct. • 1743/44-1748: WILLIAM BREWSTER was again taxed in Southern Precinct, Dutchess County, NY, February 1743/44 through June 1748. • 1745-1746: JOHN BRUSTER was born in Dutchess County, NY, most likely in Southern Precinct. • 1746/47: EBENEZER 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 [in Beekman] from Feb. through June 1753 but had been taxed in the South[ern] Precinct from Feb. 1747/48 through June 1748. His assessments were ₤1 in both Southern and Beekman Precincts." • 1746/47: WILLIAM: "A William Brewster was also taxed there [Beekman] at this time. He was quite wealthy." • 1747: 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" 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. • 1747/48: EBENEZER BREWSTER was taxed in Southern Precinct, February 1747/48 through June 1748. • 1749: From Fairfax County, VA, Deeds: 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). Is this the same William Brewster? Had he traveled to Virginia in 1749, purchased land there, returned to Dutchess County, and then returned to Virginia in 1754? • 1749: MEHITABLE BRUSTER filed her Petition for Divorce. • 1753: EBENEZER BREWSTER was taxed in Beekman Feb - June 1753. • 1754: WILLIAM removed from Dutchess County, New York, to Virginia. As EBENEZER 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. • 1755: General Bradick defeated in Virginia. • 1757: WILLIAM and his family were run out of Virginia by Indians, and they returned to the Oblong in Dutchess Co., NY. • 1761: EBENEZER of Frederick Co., VA, borrowed money from JOSIAH HULS[E] to purchase land in Hampshire Co., VA. NOTE: Hampshire Co, VA, was created in 1754 from Frederick & Augusta Counties. Hampshire County is now in WV. • 1762: EBENEZER is mentioned in the Order Book of Frederick Co., VA, dated 7-SEP-1762. • 1764: WILLIAM, while still living in the Oblong, Dutchess Co., NY, made a trip to Norwich, New London Co., CT, to visit his relatives there. He tells Jabez Fitch, Jr. (his cousin) of his second marriage, removal to Virginia, and return to the Oblong. From the Diary of Jabez Fitch, Jr., we know 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. • 1765 Land Grant - EBENEZER BRUSTER, 10 July 1765, Hampshire County, VA, 118 acres on the Potowmack River adjoining DANIEL OSBURN presented to EBENEZER BRUSTER of Frederick County. Northern Neck Grants M, 1762-1765, p. 416 (Reel 295). Original survey exists as Brewster. Land Grant found on Library of Virginia Website. • 11-OCT-1765: EBENEZER BREWSTER of Frederick Co., VA, sold Hampshire Co., VA, land (118 acres on the Potomac River) to NICHOLAS MC INTYRE of Frederick Co. per "Early Records of Hampshire Co., VA", Sage and Janes/Jones, p. 5; Recorded 10-JUN-1766. Witnesses: Thomas Swearingen, Thomas Boydston, Thomas Wiggins Jr., Joseph Hastings. • 1774: EBENEZER d. Fincastle Co., VA. A Fincastle Co. land entry referenced "EBENEZER BRUSTER, heir to EBENEZER BRUSTER, deceased."Let us analyze what we know so far. This WILLIAM BREWSTER JR. was born perhaps as early as 1693, and he is a cousin of JABEZ FITCH, JR. 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. WILLIAM reported to JABEZ FITCH JR. that he had married a second time in New Haven, New Haven County, CT, (after having deserted Mehitable and their children in 1733). Because MEHITABLE did not file for divorce until 1748/49, it is doubtful that his second marriage was legal, although he did tell JABEZ FITCH JR. that he "married a Second Wife at N. Haven." Since no marriage record has been discovered for WILLIAM in the town or church records of New Haven, it is unlikely that a second marriage actually took place; he simply "took a second wife" without actually having been married. If he actually went through a marriage ceremony with a second wife, he had committed bigamy. Either way, the children of this second union would be "born out of wedlock" and would be considered "bastards." When we look at a map of Connecticut, we can see that Mansfield is North of Lebanon. WILLIAM would have traveled 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," a strip of land two and one-half miles wide along the Connecticut border. The Oblong: From "The Nickerson Family", Published by the Nickerson Family Association, 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." WILLIAM BREWSTER JR's account to JABEZ FITCH JR. of his travels is one of the most important puzzle pieces collected regarding his whereabouts after leaving his first family behind in Connecticut in March of 1733. WILLIAM says he lived in the Oblong until 1754 when he removed to Virginia, and it is highly likely that he and EBENEZER and their families traveled there together. We know that WILLIAM returned from Virginia in 1757, and was still in Dutchess County, NY, in 1764. EBENEZER remained in Virginia and died there in 1774, leaving many descendants. WILLIAM BREWSTER JR's paper trail ends in Dutchess County, NY. We know that he died after January 8, 1764, and we can assume that he died in Dutchess County. The very best "proof" that we could find as to the names of WILLIAM's second family would be a Will for WILLIAM. However, Wills were not recorded in Dutchess County at such an early time, nor do we find any church or town records. In my research of Dutchess County, NY, I found circumstantial evidence of three men who "probably" are sons of WILLIAM, but to date I have found no "proof" that they are his sons, and prior to October 2006, I had absolutely NO clue as to the identity of WILLIAM's second wife. However, after sharing information about our lineage with a far-distant cousin in Orange County, NY, in October 2006, he shared information with me from some resources that he had in his possession. Barbara Lambert Merrick compiled a series of booklets of "Mayflower Families in Progress." In one of these booklets, "William Brewster, Jonathan2 , fifth generation descendants", information is presented about WILLIAM's first marriage to MEHITABLE ABEL, and then says "WILLIAM probably married second in New Haven, Conn., RACHEL RUSSELL, who was probably the one born in New Haven, Conn. [now East Haven, established 1785], Wednesday, 15 December 1703, the daughter of JOHN and HANNAH (THOMPSON) [sic] (MOULTHROP) RUSSELL. RACHEL died probably in New York after 1764." (Merrick, 1999, pp. 173-174). This same article about WILLIAM BREWSTER JR. gives the full diary entry of JABEZ FITCH JR. made regarding WILLIAM's January 8, 1764 visit, and the article confirms their "cousin" relationship mentioned in the Diary entry. So who were WILLIAM and RACHEL's children? In Dutchess County, NY, we find records of SAMUEL, PELATIAH and JOHN BREWSTER/BRUSTER. Are these men their sons? In the next chapter, I will give what I have been able to learn about these three "probable" sons of WILLIAM and RACHEL. 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: Connecticut, Windham - Divorce records. Film: Divorce papers Boulay-Burdick 1726-1907 - FHL US/CAN Film [1638586]

Copyright: Jeanne E Killick, 2006-2020 jeannieology2017@gmail.com

My upcoming summer camp experience

It has been six months since I last wrote anything here.  Many things have happened over the past six months, and I expect many more things to happen over the upcoming six months.

First of all, the next upcoming event will be an experience at summer camp.  Sounds simple, but it definitely won't be.  At age 72, experiencing summer camp for the first time is definitely going to be a life-changing event.  I'm beginning to feel a great deal like I would have as a child leaving the safety of family and home to go off to some unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and doing unfamiliar activities.  

Here is what I do know about the upcoming camp.  It is in Limestone, Maine, and during the regular school year, MSSM is a boarding school for youngsters aged 14 through 18 who are interested in and motivated by the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation.  MSSM's four-year schooling prepares scholars for college and careers. The summer camp itself is an opportunity for youth ages 10-14 from a variety of academic and family backgrounds to spend an intense week at camp pursuing their passions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These young campers may eventually become four-year students and graduates of MSSM; some of our future scientists, teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, chiefs of industry and beyond!

My little part of the campers daily academic and residential experiences will be as Photographer and Blogger; an active member of the camp community, contributing to afternoon and evening activities as well as keeping parents updated on a camp blog and social media. My flexibility and developing relationships with campers and staff will be vital to the success of the camp and my own overall experience. I can DO this!!

Birdie Flies the Coop!

The last time that I posted anything here was almost four months ago already.  I have a Facebook account, but it is easier to prepare larger postings here and then share them on Facebook.

Hey, howdy!

It has been a very long time since I posted anything here, but now that I have Windows 8, maybe I will use it more often simply because it is easier now!  I certainly don’t have an audience here like I do on Facebook, so that probably has a lot to do with WHY I don’t blog.  Besides, my life is anything BUT interesting, so no one needs or wants to know what I’m up to anyway.  I just manage to keep myself entertained (at least most of the time).

 

So, when I get TOTALLY bored, perhaps I will come here and blog my little old heart out for all of you who stumble by.

 

In the meanwhile, keep on keepin’ on!!

I have decided to give my blog something to focus on, so I would like to introduce you to the latest addition to our family.  Unfortunately, he doesn't have a name as yet, but YOU can help to name him!  Please leave a comment at Facebook with your idea for a name for him.

I can tell you that he isn't a trouble maker, but there is still time for him to show his true colors (other than pink).

Here he is!  Isn't he the cutest thing you've seen all day??

Please help to name this cutie pig!