William Brewer, son of Howell Brewer Sr and Rebecca Willis, was born in about 1752 in Brunswick County, Virginia.1 Several generations before, the Brewers had settled south of the James River during the early days of the Jamestown settlement. One of William’s ancestors might have been John Brewer I, who some believe to have sailed as Sir Francis Drake’s bugler and trusted friend during the late 1770s in the first English voyage circumvent the globe, was the first of the family to settle south of the James.
During the above mentioned voyage a boy named Thomas Brewer, likely a relative of John’s, was ruthlessly killed by cannibals. Drake’s crew pillaged Spanish ships and robbed them of their treasures which gave them, in the eyes of the Spaniards, the title of pirates though the English deemed them heroes.2 It is believed that it was from his portion of the spoils from these endeavors that John Brewer the 1st was able to acquire nearly 2000 acres of land in the wilds of the James River region in the early 1600s and to finance the transport of many immigrants.
During the above mentioned voyage a boy named Thomas Brewer, likely a relative of John’s, was ruthlessly killed by cannibals. Drake’s crew pillaged Spanish ships and robbed them of their treasures which gave them, in the eyes of the Spaniards, the title of pirates though the English deemed them heroes.2 It is believed that it was from his portion of the spoils from these endeavors that John Brewer the 1st was able to acquire nearly 2000 acres of land in the wilds of the James River region in the early 1600s and to finance the transport of many immigrants.
I shudder to think of all the violence and hardships that this adventurous man endured. To watch Thomas brutally butchered must have been nearly unbearable, but he pressed forward and later survived the horrors of the 1622 Indian massacre at Jamestown 3 and lived on in that wild land for another dozen or so years and prospered in spite of the odds. Note that some do not believe that William’s great grandfather was John Brewer III. If this is the case, then he may have not been a descendant of the man who was on the voyage with Sir Francis Drake.
Present day Brunswick County, birthplace of William Brewer, is located in the southern part of Virginia near the upper North Carolina border and a ways to the west of the Jamestown area. Many members of the family lived there, the earliest of which was likely William’s grandfather, George Brewer, a wealthy planter and slave owner, and also John Brewer III who was a blacksmith and a rather colorful and intriguing man. Because of DNA testing, it is no longer believed that John Brewer III was George’s father, but I will give a little information about him anyway because he is an interesting fellow and is surely a relative of some sort.
Though the Brewers of that region were well respected, John appears to have been a rebellious sort and is believed to have taken part in Bacon’s Rebellion, the first uprising in the American colonies in which dissatisfied frontiersmen took part. Upset that Governor Berkeley would not authorize retaliation after a series of Indian attacks and also because of Berkeley’s supposed incompetence, colonists took matters into their own hands and launched several counter attacks against his wishes, drove the governor from Jamestown and burned it to the ground.
After the conflict ended and the governor was returned to power, he seized the property of several of the rebels who had opposed him and had 23 of them hung.4 Somehow John Brewer III avoided Berkeley’s hanging list. It is possible that his reasons for moving west to Brunswick County included his opposition to Berkeley’s policies and a desire to be farther removed from the colonial capital, where he could live more as he wished.
After the conflict ended and the governor was returned to power, he seized the property of several of the rebels who had opposed him and had 23 of them hung.4 Somehow John Brewer III avoided Berkeley’s hanging list. It is possible that his reasons for moving west to Brunswick County included his opposition to Berkeley’s policies and a desire to be farther removed from the colonial capital, where he could live more as he wished.
Much of this area south of the James River was a region populated by rather rugged types who were less supportive of their English king than those in some other areas. This independent blood flowed in the veins of many Brewer descendants of future generations down to the Revolutionary War era and beyond. Thus, William came from rather hardy stock with courageous hearts and the fierce independence it took to fight Indians in defence of home and family, the British for freedom from tyranny, and even to leave their Virginia homes and relative civilization to push into the wilds as various feral lands gradually opened up for white settlement.
I can’t help but wonder if stories of these historical events were passed down through the ages until they were finally told to William at his father’s knee. We may never know, but we can rest assured that there were grand tales to tell from those early days when our nation was not yet formed or tamed, and when colonial laws and frontier creeds were, by necessity, enforced by men such as his forefathers.
I can’t help but wonder if stories of these historical events were passed down through the ages until they were finally told to William at his father’s knee. We may never know, but we can rest assured that there were grand tales to tell from those early days when our nation was not yet formed or tamed, and when colonial laws and frontier creeds were, by necessity, enforced by men such as his forefathers.
When William Brewer was a small boy, perhaps in about 1755 at the age 2 or 3 years, he was moved to a portion of Orange County, North Carolina that later became Chatham County. 1 He likely spent most of his growing up years along the Haw River where much of the family lived. His father is known to have settled on the south side of the river sometime before 1759 and William’s brother Howell Jr was still there during the Revolutionary War some years later.
By the time William came to North Carolina, his father Howell Sr had been there for several years, likely travelling back and forth to Virginia since several of the children were born in Virginia prior to 1755, even though he had started acquiring land in North Carolina as early as 1749. Howell was first granted 200 acres in Bladen County, North Carolina about three years before William was born (Orange County was formed partly from Bladen County in 1752) and acquired another 200 acres on the northeast side of Deep River (likely in Orange County) in 1754 when William was about two years old.
William was probably still living in Virginia with his mother, Rebecca, at this time. It is believed that William’s mother and the other young children were left behind for a while, probably because it was unsafe for Howell to bring them with him until he establish a home and assessed the perils of the region. Howell’s first wife died in about 1756 and he was given another 100 acres when he married William’s stepmother Marian May in 1757.
I do not have record of William’s father, Howell Sr, ever having slaves, but his grandfather did. In his will he makes mention of “stock within door and without doors”. I know of no other way to interpret this than to think that he was referring to his household and field slaves as part of the livestock he owned. At any rate, that stock was willed to his second wife and, at her death, to the children he had by her which did not include Howell Sr since he was a product of his father’s first marriage.
Whether Howell Sr had slaves as well, of his own acquisition or given him by his father at an earlier time, or whether he never had any such, it seems that he was a man of substantial lands, as was his father, although records show that Howell Sr struggled financially. He was sued in court for debt several times, largely because of economic problems common to many where he lived.
Whether Howell Sr had slaves as well, of his own acquisition or given him by his father at an earlier time, or whether he never had any such, it seems that he was a man of substantial lands, as was his father, although records show that Howell Sr struggled financially. He was sued in court for debt several times, largely because of economic problems common to many where he lived.
William Brewer must have led an interesting, yet trying, life in those early years in North Carolina. This was not a time of ease or luxury. These early frontiersmen and their families faced adversity and peril on many occasions. Indians attacks were a nearly constant threat for many years, supplies and tools had to be made by hand, and food had to be raised or hunted.
Death among the young was common. William’s own mother died when he was but a boy of about 4 years, which must have affected him deeply. From the sounds of it, Rebecca died soon after William’s father brought the family to the wilds of North Carolina. Her death coincides with the estimated birth date of William’s younger brother James, so it is possible that she died from some complication or weakness brought about by the hardships of childbirth.
Death among the young was common. William’s own mother died when he was but a boy of about 4 years, which must have affected him deeply. From the sounds of it, Rebecca died soon after William’s father brought the family to the wilds of North Carolina. Her death coincides with the estimated birth date of William’s younger brother James, so it is possible that she died from some complication or weakness brought about by the hardships of childbirth.
When William was about 23 years old, the Revolutionary War broke out. It did not greatly effect North Carolina residents until a bit later since most of the military conflicts were initially in the north. In 1778 Savannah, Georgia was captured and the following year the French and Americans tried unsuccessfully to retake it. The enemy then captured Charleston, South Carolina and most of the Continental Army in 1780. Those not taken prisoners withdrew to North Carolina, but were soon overrun by the British.4
This was about the time when the war approached the doorsteps of the back country North Carolina citizens. Tories roamed about the countryside, causing much trouble, and many men and boys joined the local militias in defence of the Patriot cause. One of these brave men was 28 year old William Brewer. Also enlisted in the cause of freedom were many others of his family including several of his brothers – John, Howell Jr, Ambrose and Henry Brewer – as well as his nephew Isaac Brewer.
William enlisted in March of 1780 under Captain William Gholeson in Chatham County, North Carolina for three months. Other officers presiding over his company included Lieutenant John Brewer, who was likely a relative – perhaps his brother, and also Ensign Lazarus Hinson, Colonel Ambrose Ramsey, Majors Benson and Joshua Hancock. In this and two subsequent tours, William’s company marched throughout the counties of Chatham, Orange and Randolph in North Carolina in pursued of the British as well as colonial residents who supported the king, known as Tories or Loyalists.1
William enlisted in March of 1780 under Captain William Gholeson in Chatham County, North Carolina for three months. Other officers presiding over his company included Lieutenant John Brewer, who was likely a relative – perhaps his brother, and also Ensign Lazarus Hinson, Colonel Ambrose Ramsey, Majors Benson and Joshua Hancock. In this and two subsequent tours, William’s company marched throughout the counties of Chatham, Orange and Randolph in North Carolina in pursued of the British as well as colonial residents who supported the king, known as Tories or Loyalists.1
During his three tours of duty which amounted to about nine months in total, all under the same officers, William was in several battles. One that he mentioned was in Guilford County (formed in 1771 from part of Rowan and Orange County) at Adkin (Yadkin?) River which could have been the Battle of Shallow Ford 14/15 October 1780. Another was the Battle of Hall (Haw?) River in Orange County. This battle took place 25 February 1781 and was also known as Pyle’s or Lee’s Hacking Match.
The other was at the Alamance which I think was the Battle of Whitesell’s Mill, 6 March 1781, although someone from the pension office speculated that the battle he referred to took place 15 Feb 1781. At any rate, William Brewer willingly fought alongside many brave Patriots until peace and freedom were won. He was then discharged at the Randolph County Courthouse, but was given no certificate.1
The other was at the Alamance which I think was the Battle of Whitesell’s Mill, 6 March 1781, although someone from the pension office speculated that the battle he referred to took place 15 Feb 1781. At any rate, William Brewer willingly fought alongside many brave Patriots until peace and freedom were won. He was then discharged at the Randolph County Courthouse, but was given no certificate.1
It is believed that he married Sarah in about 1788 in Chatham County, North Carolina. I know of at least one child they bore, though there were likely others. This was one Mary Brewer, born 2 July 1789 in Chatham County. She appeared as Mary Blankenship, wife of Spencer Blankenship, when she gave an affidavit for Isaac Brewer, her 1st cousin (Isaac was William’s nephew), in 1850 when he was applying for pension.5 It is believed by some that Mary’s middle name was Asbury and, if this is the case, one might suspect that Sarah’s maiden name or that of Sarah’s mother might have been Asbury. Mary is believed to have had 8 children and her last known residence was New Hope, Monroe County, Tennessee.
After the Revolution it seems that people scattered to the wind. For some the war had ruined them. Often there was no financial compensation for their service, as paymasters were hard to find and currency was scarce. Farms suffered and many looked for opportunities elsewhere. Though William remained in North Carolina until about 1796, he then moved to South Carolina. He was, at that time, about 44 years old. After six or seven years, he relocated to Blount County, Tennessee.1 Several of the Brewer family lived there at various times including his above mentioned nephew Isaac Brewer.
It was from Blount County, on the 10th of August 1832, that William applied for pension due him for his service in the war. He was then about 80 years old. He was granted a pension amounting to $30/yr for nine months of soldiering and continued to receive it until his death in 1837, at which time he still remained in Blount County.
By Mary Andersen (2014)
Sources and explanations ~
1 – Revolutionary War Pension Papers of William Brewer: ➚ His birth place was given by him as Brunswick County, Virginia and the year was estimated from knowing that he was about 80 years old in 1832, as mentioned in the same document. Some of his childhood was briefly mentioned in his account, including that he was moved to the part of Orange County, North Carolina that became Chatham County when he was a small boy. Chatham county was formed from part of Orange County and two others in 1771 when he was about 19 years old.
2 – The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake 1577-1580 by Samuel Bawlf 2003, pages 87, 92, 124-5, & 187-8
3 – Jamestowne Ancestors 1607-1699 Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the Landing at James Towne 1607-2007 by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis 2006, pages 8 & 37
William's first wife was Phanah Risdin of Bedford Virginia. Isaac's deposition included statements about living in Bedford for a couple of years before moving to Chatham North Carolina. It appears that Phanah and her family moved to Wilkes County where she married William Brewer. They had several children together. They are my 5 times great grandparents.
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