AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

Bourgon Brokaw

MOTHER

Catherine Lefevre

WIFE

Maria Davids

CHILDREN

Baptisms found at http://raub-and-more.com/raritanbap/01.html

Source of Information: Our Brokaw-Bragaw heritage by Elsie e. Foster, 2005

Abraham Brokaw was born about 1684, probably on Long Island, New York, and died Sep 9, 1747, probably near Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey near the age of 63.  He married Marietje (Mary) Davids about 1710. She was baptized Nov 13, 1692, the daughter of Isaac Davids and Jannetje Maurits.

Abraham Brokaw moved with his parents to Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1702. He inherited some of his father's land on the Millstone River. He owned 306 acres on the Millstone River and Royce's Brook, with a half interest in the grist mill there. His main occupation was "miller."

Abraham Brokaw's name is listed in the Colonial Muster Rolls. He served as an "Indian Fighter" and in 1715 served in Captain Peter DuMont's Sixth Company, Colonel Thomas Farmer's Regiment of the New York militia (Reynolds says New Jersey militia).

Abraham Brokaw wrote his will on May 25, 1747, less than four months before he died. The will is recorded as number 98R, Somerset County, New Jersey, on file in the Archives and History Bureau, New Jersey State Library.

"In The Name of God Amen. the Twentyfifth Day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and forty seven. I Abraham Brokaw in the County of Somerset and province of New East Jersey Miller being verrey sick in Body but in perfect mind and Memory, thanks be given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, Do Make and Ordain this My Last will and Testament: that is to Say

"Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it; and for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like and Decent Manner of the Discretion of my Executors Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection, I shall Receive the Same again by the Mighty power of God. and as touching Such worthy Estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life I give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form

"Imprimis, I order that all my Just Debts and all my funeral Expences be well and truely paid and Discharged out of my moveable Estate.

"Item I give and Bequeath unto Mary my beloved wife the one third part of all my Moveable Estate to her and to her Heirs and Assigns forever and if she Remains my widow I order and allow that she and my Children Living with her upon my plantation shall have the Use Benifit and profits of said plantation Untill my son John Brokaw be Twentyone Years of Age then my Executors herein after Mentioned to Divide my plantation both Clear land and Wood Land Equally Amongst my Six Sons and he that gets that Lott on wich the Orchard Barn and Dwellinghouse stands shall pay to his five Brothers forty pounds that is Eight pounds to Each Brother for his share of the Orchard Barn and Dwellinghouse that is Current Money of New Jersey at Eight Shillings ounce to be paid to them or their Heirs and I Order my Son that gets the Lott on which the Orchard and House Stands to allow my Beloved wife Mary one Room in said House for her to Dwell in and to keep a Cow on said place for her Summer and winter and find her firewood as long as she Remains my widow and if she grows sickly weak or old and Cannot Help her self or has not got wherewith to Maintain her Self then I order my Six Sons Isaac Bergone Abraham George Christopher and John to be at the Cost and Charges to provide and Get such things for her as her Necessity Requirs but if she Marrys I Order that after her Marriage she shall have no Right Title or Claim to my Dwelling House or plantation but shall Move from there.

"Item I give and Bequeth unto my Oldest Son Isaac Brokaw and to his Heirs and Assignes forever fiftytwo Acres of Land on the west side of Roysess Broock it being Now a part of My plantation which plantation fronts on Milstone River and Contains three hundred and six Acres and when my Son Isaac has got said fiftytwo Acres I order that the Remaining Two Hundred and fiftyfour Acres be Equally Divided amongst my five sons that is I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Bergone Brokaw and to his heirs and Assigns the one Equal fifth part of the Remaining Two Hundred and fiftyfour Acres of my Plantation.

"Item I give and bequeth unto my Son Abraham Brokaw and to his heirs and Assigns forever the one Equal fifth part of the Remaining Two Hundred and fiftyfour Acres of my Plantation

"Item I Give and bequeth unto my Son George Brokaw and to his heirs & Assigns forever the one Equal fifth part of the Remaining two Hundred and fiftyfour Acres.

"Item I give and Bequeth unto my Son John Brokaw and to his Heirs and Assigns forever one Equal fifth part of the Remaining two Hundred and fiftyfour Acres of my plantation

"Item I give and Bequeth unto my aforsaid Six Sons and to their Heirs and Assigns forever one Mojety or half part of a Grist Mill Standing on Milstone River and one Mojety or half part -?- to be Equally Divided amongst my aforesaid Six Sons

"Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Daughter Cathrine Ven Nest and to her Heirs and Assigns forever the Sum of Sixty pounds Current Money of New Jersey at Eight Shillings ounce to be paid when her Brother John Brokaw is Twentyone Years of Age and I order her portion to be paid in the following Manner

"I order my son Isaac Brokaw or his Heirs to pay tin pounds Current money as a foresaid to my Daughter Cathrine or to her Heirs or Assigns and I lickwise order my son Bergone Brokaw or or his heirs and my Son Abraham Brokaw or his heirs and my son George Brokaw or his heirs and my Son Christopher Brokaw or his heirs and my Son John Brokaw or his heirs each of them to pay to my Daughter Cathrine Van Nest the Sum of tin pounds Money as aforesaid, and I Lickwise order as aforesaid that such of them shall pay in the Same Manner to theier other three Sisters, that is to Mary Defreest, and Jane Brokaw and Engeltje Brokaw the Sum of tin pounds Money as aforesaid,

"I Lickwise order that the two thirds of my Moveable Estate to be Equelly Divided a Mongst all my Children, after my Son John is of Age (and if any of my aforesaid Children should Die without Essue' then the part of the Disesed Shall be Equally Divided amoungst the Remaining Sisters and Broder each an Equal Sheare),

"and Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my Living Son in Law Jeronimus Van Nest and Loveing frind and Cosyne John Brokaw to be my Executors of this my Last will and Testament, and Do hereby Revoke Disannul and Make Voyd all former Wills and Testements by me at any time heretofore Made, Declaring this only to be my Last will and Testament In Testimony whereof I the said Tester Abraham Brokaw to this my Last will and Testament have Sett my hand and Seal the Day and Year first above Written.

"Signed Sealed published Declared and Delivered by the said Testator as his Last will and Testament in the presence of theseWittnesses whose Names are hereunder Subscribed. Between the thirtyeth and thirtyfirst and thirtyfirst and thirty seccound Lines from above the words/and if any of my aforesaid Children Should Die without Essue then the part of the Disesed shall be Equilly Devided amoungst the Remaining Sisters and Broders each an Equal Sheare/ being guterlined before the sealing hereof
Pieter Strycker John Van Neste

her his
Maregritje Bruwer Abraham Brokaw
mark mark"

On Aug 19, 1747, an inventory was taken of his property. Among the 78 categories of property was listed the plantation, valued at £918; half part of the grist mill with two acres, valued at £234, 8 shillings, and 9 pence; a silver cup, 20 pounds of wool, a "large Duch Bibol," two guns, 1 deer skin, "5 busholls of Injon Corn," 13 sheep, 8 hogs, 5 milk cows, and 7 horses, with a total value of £1356, 5 shillings, and 8 pence.

Christopher and Engeltje died in that same year, as they were left bequests in his will but it appears that they were deceased by the time of inventory.