FATHER

Adam Brouwer

MOTHER

Magdalena Jacobs Verdon

WIFE

Petronella Eldricks Cleine

CHILDREN

1. Uldrick Brouwer
    b. Abt. 1673
    m. 5 Nov 1698 Hester Devouw
    m. 19 Jan 1711 Ariaantje Pieters
    d. 16 Sep 1766

2. Abraham Brouwer
    b. 1675
    m. 29 Mar 1700 Lea Demarest
    d. Bef. 15 May 1731 (widow remarried)

3. Magdalena Brouwer
    b. Abt. 1679
    m. 23 Oct 1697 Willem Stagg
    d. 1729

4. Vroutje Brouwer
    bap. 14 May 1682
    m. 16 Aug 1701 Jan Hanse Jeraleman

5. Johannes Brouwer
    bap. 21 Mar 1684/85
    m. 10 Apr 1708 Antje Hendrickse Mandeville

6. Cornelia Brouwer
    bap 13 Mar 1691/2
    m. 24 Sep 1714 Nickola Claes Bovie
    d. 14 Sep 1734

7. Jacob Brouwer
    bap. 15 Nov 1694
    m. Maria Bovie
    d. 7 Nov 1779

Pieter Brouwer
by Susan Brooke
Jan 2021

Pieter Adamsz Brouwer was baptized  in 1646, the first born child of Adam and Magdalena Brouwer. (1) There is evidence that the Adam Brouwer family were close friends of the Gerret Dircksen Croesen family, at least at one point.  On 16 Jul 1662, Adam was a baptismal sponsor for a son of Gerrit Croesen.  Five years later Adam Brouwer took Gerrit to court for Assault and Battery.  That was in September 1667.  Apparently Gerret had done something to the wife of Adam Brower, Peter Brouwer's mother.  A couple years after that, Gerret assaulted Peter Brouwer.   Peter later appeared bloodied at a friend's house. Pieter told the constable that if "hee would not do him justice, hee would kill Gerrit."  A Caspar Videt testified in court that when Pieter's father, Adam Brouwer, got to this friends house he heard him say "that, if he had beene with his son, hee should not have come off alive, meaning Gerrit." (2) Peter Brouwer was about 23 years old at this time, and the records are in the the October 1669 Court of Assizes for New York. The dispute between the families was settled in the Fall of 1670 when the judge ordered Gerret Croesen to pay a fine of £10 for assaulting Adam Brouwer's wife, and ordered  Adam Brouwer to pay a fine of £10 for assaulting Gerret Croesen.

Peter Brouwer had married Petronella Cleine/Klein sometime before all these court orders. On 19 November 1679 they were living at Gowanus.   Pieter, in the church membership list,  is listed as "Pieter Adamsz and wife", and is recorded with his father, Adam Brouwer, "under censure." (3)  "Pieter brouwer, native." took the Oath of Allegiance in Sep 1687 in Brooklyn. (4) He is also listed among the soldiers from King's County being sent to Albany in 1690. (5)

His father, Adam Brouwer, wrote his will the September before this court session, saying  "I leave to my eldest son Peter, 3 shillings by reason that he has been disobedient to his father."   Jacob and Altie "shall not receive a penney."  (6) However, he did leave their portions to their children.
Even though he had been written out of his father's will, Pieter Brouwer was a legal owner of part of his father's land.  In 1698 and 1700 there are deeds showing Pieter and his brothers and brothers in law selling the land where their father's mill stood to two other brothers, Abraham and Nicholas Brouwer. (7) (8 ) In the 1700 deed, "Peter Brower" was listed as "of the Province of East New Jersey." That is the last record that has been found regarding Pieter Adamsz Brouwer.

Sources

(1) Brewer Genealogy

September 23, 1646

Pieter Brouwer baptized at the New York Dutch Reformed Church; sponsors Mr. Paulus van der Beeck, Willem Bredenbent, Aeltje Braconye, Mary du Trieux

(2) Brewer Genealogy

   On July 16, 1662, Adam was a baptismal sponsor of Derrick Croesen, son of Gerrit Croesen and Neeltje Jans.

July 16, 1662

Dirck.  Gerrit Croesen, Neeltie Jans, parents.  Adam Brouwer, Grietie Jans, witnesses. (BROOK) [xxiv]

  It appears that in September of 1667 a long running spat between the Brouwer family and their friend Gerrit Croesen begins.

Sept 17, 1667

[106]

[CALENDAR: List of Presentments and petitions; actions on all is recorded in the proceedings.]

[TEXT:]

Presentments:

…

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, They are bound over from the Court of Sessions held last at Gravesend to this Court of Assizes.

… [xxx]

Nov 2, 1667

[140]

[CALENDAR: Adam Brower and his wife vs. Gerritt Croessen; case of assault and battery referred from Gravesend sessions.  Referred back to Court of sessions.]

[TEXT:]

Adam Brower and his wife } Plt:

Gerritt Croessen Deft. [xxxi]

 The court battle with Gerrit Croesen continues.

Appeales, Actious, Presentments &c Entred for Hearing and Tryall at the General Court of Assizes to bee held in New Yorke beginning the first Wednesday of October 1669.

…

Gerret Croesten                           Pl’t

Adam Brower                              def’t

Graunted by ye Governor to                                             In an action of Battery

bee tried at ye Assizes

Sept. 6, 1669 [xxxiii]

     That same month, Adam Brouwer’s estate is fined 500 guilders.

[An order for levying a fine of five hundred guilders on Adam Brower’s estate.]

No date given but appears to be September 1669 from neighboring entries.[xxxiv]

Stiles says this was for an assault on Croesen (p. 157), but the fact that the judge ruled that each had been fined 10 pounds and that they would call it even make me think that this was for Adam’s failure to grind for all customers.

     It appears that in 1669, Adam’s son Peter becomes involved in the dispute with Gerrit Croesen.

October 1669

“The Court (Jan Aertsen) declares that Peter Brouwer, coming yesterday, being Sunday, afternoon, to him Jerome, he complaining that Gerrit Croesen had assaulted and beaten him, hee being all bloody and told the Court (Constable) if hee would not do him justice, hee would, kill Gerritt.”

“Caspar Videt declares upon oath that he heard Adam Brouwer say, being come to the ferryman’s home, that, if he had beene with his son, hee should not have come off alive, meaning Gerrett.” [xxxv]

Hoffman in Brouwer Beginnings, TAG April 1947 p. 196, uses Totten’s article for his source but places the date of occurrence as October 1669 instead of Totten’s September 1, 1679 which he attributes to CEM p. 80.  October 1669 falls into the range of court records for the assault and battery cases between Croesen and the Brouwers.  The date of September 1, 1679 is probably while Peter was married and living in Schenectady according to marriage records of his first two children.  However Bergen’s Early Settlers of King’s County says “In 1679 he (Peter) was bound over to answer at the Gravesend sessions for an assault on Gerret Croesen, as per p. 80 of Cal. Of Eng. Man.”  CEM: 80 shows the following entry “September 1, 1679.  Evidence on which Peter Brouwer was bound over to answer at Gravesend sessions for an assault on Gerrit Croesen.”

     Another entry for Brouwer vs. Croesen

[214]

[CALENDAR: Nov 4 (1669) Gerritt Croesen vs. Adam Brower; for assault and battery.  John Rider attorney for plaintiff; John Sharpe, for defendant.  Defendant pleads justification.  Severall of the justices having previously examined the matter by order of the governor, it is decided by the bench and ordered that defendant pay plaintiff £10 costs of suit and other expenses occasioned.][xxxvi]

  In the fall of 1670, it appears that the court battle between Gerrit Croesen and the Brouwer’s ends with the court calling everything even.

[Declaration that the assigned payments for damages by Adam Brower and Gerritt Croosen cancel each other out.]

[Title Lost]

[  ] of Adam Brower [  ] against him at the [  ] Anno 1669 in which the Summe [  ] included to be given unto Gerritt [  ] Damage Susteyned by an Assault [  ] him by the said Adam Brower And [  ] likewise before that tyme the said Gerrit [  ] was Condemned to pay unto Adam Brower [  ] Summe of Ten pounds for damage his wife [  ]ved by an Assault from the said Gerritt [  ]esen the payment of which said summe was suspended for one yeare onely but to this Day no [  ]te thereof hath beene Received or levied, Upon due Consideration had hereupon and finding the trespasse and Damage on both sides to be equall, I have though[ ] fitt to order that the one do Counterballance the other so that the said Croosen shall forgoe his pretence the Tenn pounds given him as the said Brower shall forgoe the like Summe given for his wife Always Provided that this Order do no way take of the Charges each partye is Incident to pay for their perticular Suites in Courts or elsewhere.  Given under my hand at Fort James in New Yorke this 19^th Day of November 1670.

To the High Sheriffe of Long Island

or his Deputye and to the Constable

of Breucklyn or whome else this may

concerne.[xl]

(3)  David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 337 Register of the Members from the Four Villages. 19 Nov 1679. Gowanus. Pieter Adamsz and wife (her name is not recorded). Hereinafter cited as RDC Flatbush Recs. 

Pieter Brouwer and Petronella Uldrickse Kleyn were members of the at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, on 19 November 1679 living at Gowanus. Pieter is listed as "Pieter Adamsz and wife", and is recorded with his father, Adam Brouwer, "under censure."⁵  see Brewer Genealogy

(4)  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. Hereinafter cited as Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York. see Brewer Genealogy

(5) William J. Hoffman, "Brouwer Beginnings; The First Three Generations of the Adam Brouwer Berchoven Family", The American Genealogist 23:193-206; 24:23-32, 96-102, 161-170 (1947, 1948): 23:197. Citing CMR 1896:404.. Hereinafter cited as "Brouwer Beginnings". http://brouwergenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/05/…see Brewer Genealogy

(6) The will of Adam Brower was dated 22 January 1691/2 and proved on 21 March 1692 (on file at the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals in Albany.)   "I leave to my eldest son Peter, 3 shillings by reason that he has been disobedient to his father."   Jacob and Altie "shall not receive a penney." but their portions are left to their children. 

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, Whereas Adam Brower Berkhoven, inhavitant of ye town of Bruckland, being at present sick a bedd but fully having his knowledge and understanding and considering ye (fragality) and mortality of mens life and ye uncertaine hours there of --

So it is that ye Adam Brower before his departure out of this world, is willing to dispose of his estate and good to be left by decease, in ye presence of ye under-mentioned witnesses -- Henry Sleght, Cornelius Sebring and, John Fredericks, from said testator here unto required --

So it is that ye testator Adam Brower makes his whole estate moveable and imoveable to his wife Magdalena Brower, and my utmost will and desire is, that none of my children shall trouble or move their mother during her life, and further ye testator Adam Brower, makes his oldest son Peter Brower three shillings, for reasons he was disobedient of his father, as also Jacob Brower and (Aelh?) [Aeltje] Brower whoe also for reasons of disobedience shall not receive a penny from their father Adam Brower, but ye testator bequeath ye same from ye three disobedient children, wit. Peter Brower, ye eldest, Jacob Brower and Aeltie [Aeltje] Brower upon their children, ye portion of Peter upon his children, ye portion of Jacob Brower upon his children, ye portion of Aeltie [Aeltje] Brower upon her children. further is ye desire of ye testator that ye other children, as Mathys, William, Adam, Abraham, Nicholas, ye daughter Mary, Fyte, Helena, Anna, Sara, Rachel, these eleaven children shall have equall portion amongst them, and also ye children of ye disobedient children above named, they shall also with ye other eleaven children equally divide and further bequeath ye testator to Adolphus form [son] of William Brower before out for a gift of three pieces of eight, and Mathys his daughter Magdalena one piece of eight, and Pieter Brower his daughter Magdalena one piece of eight and his daughter [Mary?] one piece of eight, with Fytje daughter Magdalena one piece of eight -- This is that whi is ye testator Adam Brower last will and hath signed and sealed ye same with his owne hand, with Henry Sleght, Cornelius Sebring and John Fredericks, and are hereby all former testaments made vow and will dated 22nd of January 1691/2.

(7) 12 Aug 1698  Pieter and his brothers and brother's in law to Abraham Brouwer and Nickolaes Brouwer.
Our Van Horse Kindred, by Elsie O. Hallenbeck 1959, pg 208
"There is an old deed dated August 12, 1698 still in existence which has never been recorded but is in possession of the Brouwer family which reads as follows: "Pieter, Matthys, Willem, Jacobus, and Adam Brouwer, and Barent Jansen Tillburgh, Matthys Cornelisen, Josias Jansen Dreax, Thomas Knight, Pieter Hendrickszen and Willem Hilton, all sons and sons-in-law of Adam Brouwer Berkhoven of Gowanus, do convey to Abraham Brouwer and Nickolaes Brouwer, their two brothers, in consideration of £270, the plot on which the mill stands, and the neck of land and meadows thereunto belonging."

(8) New York Conveyances Vol 1-4 volume 2 pg 349 film 1413189. - Peter Brower of East New Jersey deeds Abram and Nicholas Brower of Brooklyn. The indenture states that Peter Brower is the eldest son of Adam Brower, deceased. 

10 Oct 1700 . "Peter Brower of the Province of East New Jersey of one part and Abram Brower and Nicholas Brower of Broockland of the second part...A certain neck or hooke of land and meadowes with a certain corne mill there on standing lying situate and being in the township of Brookland commonly called by the name of the Gowanus Mill neck bounded north by said mill creeke (including sd. creeke) and soe by the land of Jacob Hansen south by the highway to a place called the Gowanas in the township aforesaid along by the house of Hendricke Vechte being some part thereof and other part there of south by the home lott of Volkert Bries east by a creeke running by the upland and west by a certain creeke alsoe running through the meadow into said mill creeke all formerly in the tenure and occupation of Adam Brower late of Broockland aforesaid deceased the true owner thereof as by certaine conveyances from Tunis Nyssen deceased and the heyrse of John Evertse Bout dec'd may appeare etc. Now this indenture witnesseth that the said Peter Brower eldest son and heyre of the said Adam Brower deceased for and in consideration of a certaine summe of good and lawful money of the province of New Yorke to him in hand payd at and before the ensealing and delivery here by the said Abram Brower and Nicholas Brower." Peter Brower signed by his mark PB. Witnessed by William Lawrence and Anthony Karr (their marks). Hereinafter cited as Kings Co. Deeds v.1-4.    23 Oct 1701 

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