FATHER

Jean (John) Demarest

MOTHER

Jacomina de Ruine

HUSBANDS

Abraham Brouwer
1675-Bef 1731

Roelof Lubbertse Westervelt
10 Mar 1659-After 21 Oct 1733

CHILDREN

1. Petrus Abrahams Brouwer
    bap. 24 May 1701
    m. 30 May 1724 Dina De Groot
    d. 13 Jan 1733

2. Johannes Abrahams Brouwer
     bap. 2 May 1703

3. Samuel Abrahams Brouwer
    bap. 18 Feb 1704/05
    m. 9 Nov 1728 Marytie Hartje
    d. 1739

4. David Abrahams Brouwer
    bap. 16 Jan 1706/07
    m. Jannetie Hertjin

5. Jacobus Abrahams Brouwer
    bap. 1 May 1709
    m. Jannetie Hartje

6. Lea Brouwer
    bap.  Apr 1711

7. Lea Brouwer
    bap. 22 Aug 1714
    m. 13 Dec 1739 David Edwards
    d. 22 Jun 1745

8. Rachel Brouwer
    bap. 9 Dec 1716
    m 12 Aug 1738 Henricks Banta
    d. 3 Dec 1749

9. Daniel A. Brouwer
    b. 03 Jul 1719
    m. 10 Oct 1743 Maria Koning
    d. Bef. 22 Feb 1791

10. Maria Brouwer
    bap. 19 Nov 1721
    m. 11 Sep 1743 Gerrit Westervelt
    d. 1768

Lea Demarest
by Susan Brooke
Jan 2021

Lea Demarest was one of the younger children born to Jean Demarest and Jacomida de Ruine. She was baptized on 18 April 1682 at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Bergen. The sponsors were Nicola der Pree and Reychie Hermans. She married Abraham Brouwer 29 Mar 1700 just short of her 18th birthday. (1) He was 25 years old. Together they had 10 children.
Lea's father, Jan Demarest, died in 1719 and Lea's husband, Abrahm Brouwer, was made executor. Lea is mentioned in the will as "Lea wife of Abraham Brower." (2) She received a farm per her father's will, near Hackensack. (3) Her husband, Abraham Brouwer, wrote his will on 29 Mar 1725 when their youngest child, Maria, was only 3 years old. (4) He died sometime between 1725 and 15 May 1731 when Lea remarried to Roelof Westervelt. (5)  Her 2nd husband was a wealthy 72 year old widower with several older children. Lea was 49 with young children.
Roelof Westervelt was a large landowner and had one of the largest farms on the Hudson. (6) Both Roelof and Lea were witnesses to the baptism of her grandson, Abraham Brouwer on 21 Oct 1733. (6) Abraham was the son of her son David Brouwer.  This is the last time Roelof Vandervelt is found in the records.  Lea was a witness to a child baptized to six of her children: Peter's daughter Lea in 1730, Samuel's son Abraham in 1729, David's son Abraham in 1733, Jacob's daughter Lea in 1732, Leah's son Abraham in 1740.  On 15 Jan 1744 she was a witness to the baptism of Lea Banta, daughter to her daughter, Rachel Brouwer. (7)  This is the last time she appears in the records.  Some sites indicate Lea Demarest lived until 1780, however, no evidence has been presented.

Sources

(1) Marriage of Abraham Brouwer to Lea DeMaree
New Jersey US Marriage Records 1683-1802 Vol xxii Marriage Records 1665-1800 NJ Colonial Documents
Brouwer, Abraham, y. m., b. Schoonegte, and Lea DeMaree, y. d., b. Hackensack           1700  Mar. 29

(2) William Nelson, Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXIII, Calender of New Jersey Wills, Vol. I, 1670-1730 (Paterson, N.J.: The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1901), p.136. Hereinafter cited as NJ Wills v.1 1670-1730.

Abraham Brouwer was made an executor of the will of Jan Demarest on 29 March 1714; proved 10 Nov 1719, filed at Trenton (Lib. A, p.137). Called John des Marets of New Barbadoes, Bergen Co., "youman." Names his wife Magdalena; children: John of Apoghquinimy, Pennsylvania; Peter of New Barbados; Maria wife of Jacobus Slot, who has son Peter; Sarah wife of Abraham Cannan of Richmond Co., who has son Isack; Rachel wife of Thomas Hyer, of Apoghquinimy, who has son John; Jaquemine, wife of John Stewart of Chester Co; Lea wife of Abraham Brower; Magdalena wife of James Christinson, who has son John; grandson David, son of deceased eldest son David. Mentions real and personal estate. Executors: sons John and Peter. Witnesses: Joost de Baene, Sarah de Baene, John Conrad Codwise. Codicil dated 4 Dec 1719, makes a few changes in devises to daughters Conan and Heyer and substitutes son-in-law Abraham Brower as executor in place of son John. Witnesses: Vojjor Weisem (??), Poules van der Beeck, James Christyson. Letters of administration issued to the executors "sometime in February 1719/20.

(3) The Demarest Family, Demarest Family Association, 1964
Leah bp. Apr 18, 1682 m (1 Mar. 29, 1790 at Hackensack Abram Brouwer, b. 1675 at Shenectady, NY son of Peter - Petrnelle Uldricks.  She m. (2) May 15, 1731 at Schraalenburgh Roelof Westervelt b. c. 1649 son of Lubbert - Geesie Roelofse VanHouten.  His 1st wife was Asceltje Staynmetz.  Leah received a farm per her father's will, near Hackensack

Children (Brouwer) pg. Hackensack
Petrus bp. May 24, 1791 m. May 30, 1724 Dina DeGroot, she m (2) Benjamin Lozier
Johannes bp. May 2, 1703
Samuel bp. Feb. 18, 1705 m. Nov 9, 1728 Marytie Hertin
David bp. Jan. 16, 1707 m. Jannetje Hertjin, sister of Marytie
Jacobus bp. May 1, 1709 m. (1) Jannetje Harte (2) Elizabeth DeGrauw
Lea bp. Apr. 8, 1711 d. inf.
Lea bp. Aug 22, 1714 m. Dec 13, 1739 David Edward
Rachel bp. Dec. 9, 1716 d c. 1750 m. Aug. 12, 1738 Henrick Banta, he m. (2) Antje Demaree
Daniel bp. July 5, 1719 m. Oct. 10, 1742 Marietje Koning of NY
Maria bp. Nov 19, 1721 m Sep. 11, 1743 Gerrud Westervelt

(4) Will was dated on 29 March 1725 proved 19 Apr 1736. Called Abraham Brouwer of Hackensack, Bergen County, New Jersey, weaver. Names wife, Lea Brower, executrix. Brother-in-law, James Christy and Pieter Demarest, tutors and administrators of my minor-enne children; also co-executors and assistants. Eldest son, Petrus Brower, has received his share (1/2 of home-lot on the east); son, David, to have land on the west side of Little Mill brook; son, Johannis, residue of real estate, which is easterly to the land of my son Petrus. Other sons, Samuel and Daniel. Daughters, Lea, Rachel, Mary (youngest). Witnessed by Benjamin Demarest, Miklaes Bon, David Demarest. 19 April 1736, Lea Brower, alias Westervelt, and Peter Demarest qualify as executors.  Lib. C. p. 82 

(5) Marriage of Roelof Westervelt to Lea Demarest

Genealogy of the Westervelt Family pg. 17 "With banns published 15 May 1731 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Schraalenburgh Lea married as her second husband Roelof Westervelt, the widower of Urselina Steynmets, who was born about 1649, a son of Lubbert Westervelt and Geesie Roelofse Van Houten.

(6) Roeloff Westervelt Family, by Walter Tallman Westervelt, 1905,  pg. 17
In 1695, in company with nine others, he purchased from the Lord Proprietors of East Jersey, for the sum of £100, a large tract of land embracing some thousands of acres, extending from the Hudson River to the Overpeck, or English Creek, and running northerly and southerly a distance of about two miles.  These lands were fertile, well elevated and sloped gradually from the Palisades to the Overpeck Creek. Roelof obtained the most northerly portion of the tract and settled upon it, part of said lands being still in the possession of his descendants.
In the same year he made a further purchase of the triangular lot (sections 6 and 7, Map of Bergen co.) lying between the east and west branches of the Overpeck, which was first patented by the Proprietors, who sold it in 1688 to Samuel Emmett, of Boston.  Emmett then conveyed it Sept. 17, 1695, to Roelof Lubbertsen Westervelt.   The Indians disputed Westervelt's title in 1705 and he was obliged to obtain a release from them.  This triangular tract extended from the two branches of the Overpeck, northward to the head of Tiena Kill Brook, and gave him one of the largest farms on the Hudson.
He became a member of the church at Hackensack in 1687, was elected a deacon in 1705, in place of Roelof van der Linde, and church master in May, 1709, succeeding Jacob Hendrick Banta in that office.--
They were both living on Oct 21, 1733.

(7) Brouwer Genealogy

1699 Nov 26 Lea DeMaree witness to baptism of Leah Demarest, daughter of David Demarest and Antje Pieterse Slot.

1706 Dec 15 Lea DeMaree witness to baptism of Lea Slot, daughter of Jacobus Pietersz Slot and Maria Demarest

1709 Feb 27 Abram Brouwer and Lea his wife witness the baptism of Lea Christie, daughter of James Christie and Magdalena Demarest

1713 Aug 30 Abram Brouwer and Lea his wife witness the baptism of Leah Demarest, daughter of Peter Demarest and Maria Pieterse Meet.

1714 Mar 29 Lea, wife of Abraham Brower is named in her father's will dated 29 Mar 1714.  Her husband was made executor by codicil dated 4 Dec 1719.

1721 Jul 16 Lea, wife of Abram Brouwer witness to baptism of Jacobus Slot, son of Johannes Slot and Willemptie Alberse Van Voorhees.

1725 Mar 29 Lea Demarest is named in her husband's will and made executrix

1725 Nov 2 Petrus Brouwer and mother witness the baptism of Lea Brouwer, daughter of Jan Brouwer and Antje Hendrickse Mandeville.

1729 Oct 12 Lea Brouwer witness to the baptism of Abraham Brouwer, son of Samuel Brouwer and Maria Hartje

1730 Sep 3 Lea Brouwer witness to baptism of Lea Brouwer, daughter of Peter Brouwer and Dina de Groot.

1732 Apr 10 Lea Brouwer witness to baptism of Lea Brouwer, daughter of Jacob Brouwer and Jannetje Hartje

1733 Oct 21 Roelof Westervelt and Leah his wife witness the baptism of Abraham Brouwer, son of David Brouwer and Jannetje Hartje

1736 Apr 19 Lea Brower alias Westervelt, qualified as executrix of the estate of her late husband, Abraham Brower.

1740 Lea Westervelt witness to the baptism of Abraham Edwards, son of David Edwards and Lea Brouwer.

1744 Jan 15 Lea Westervelt witness to baptism of Lea Banta, daughter of Henrik Banta and Rachel Brouwer.  Other witness, David Edward

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