We are researching John Brewer [1] of Maryland. Some research suggests that this John Brewer of Virginia might be his father. [2]
1622 Petition of Capt. Francis West, Capt. Will. Claybourne, John Brewer, Robert Sweet, and William Capps, gent., ancient planters and adventurers in Virginia, on behalf of themselves and the rest of the poor distressed planters there, to the King. Have for many years past found the country useful for commodities with which England is now supplied from foreign kingdoms, but through the benefit of planting tobacco their time has been mispent. Now, after the freight, customs, and duties on tobacco are discharged, it is of no value and they are like to perish unless protected. Pray that the King will make tobacco his own commodity and settle the price and quantity to be yearly taken from the Colony, so that they may in future plant some real commodity. [The petitioners have all signed this petition.] Dated December 31. [3]
1631 John Brewer was named on [4]
a Petition of the Planters of Virginia being at this present in Englande, wherein they humbly sue for the reasons conteined in the saide Petition, that they may haue Bils of store without Custome and Impost, for the Tobacco which they haue now in England amounting to one hundreth thowsande weighte or thereabout, hauing bene brought in severall ships ... A Note of such parcells of Tobacco as the Planters of Virginia now in Englande haue come home this yeare in severall shipps.
In the Ship the Christopher and Marie. ...
markt J: B: Itm Joseph Brewer .. .. 82 hogs[heads] ...
In the ship called the Vnicorne.
Itm John Brewer 2 hogs[heads] ...
A biosketch reports [5]:
John Brewer, the emigrant, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for Warwick River in 1629-30, and of the Council in 1632-34 (see Virginia Colonial Records 32 and 55). He had an estate called "Stanley Hundred," in Warwick County, and one called "Brewer's Borough." He died in 1635, and in the same year his widow re-married, as appears from a patent for one thousand acres in the County of Nansemond, received June 11, 1635, by Reverend Thomas Butler in right of his wife, "Marie, widow of John Brewer, Esq." Thomas Butler was pastor of Deivigh, in Warwick County. This land is still known as "Brewer's Neck." John Brewer's will, dated September 4, 1631, and probated May 13, 1636, in Nansemond, now Isle of Wight County, is here given:
John Brewer, London, England. Will dated Sept. 4, 1631. Probated May 13, 1636. Citizen and Grocer.
"I do will that after my decease my body be buried without any mourning apparel or gowns given to any but those of mine own household. To my dearly beloved father Thomas Brewer, eight pounds yearly and every year so long as he shall happen to live after my decease (payable quarterly). I do will and bequeath unto my son, John Brewer, my plantation in Virginia called 'Stanley Hundred,' also 'Brewers Borough,' only the third part of the profits thereof arising during the life of Mary, my wife, I do give and bequeath unto her, as also the third part of all my goods and chattels, besides which is also due unto her by custom of the city of London. To my son Roger Brewer and my daughter Margaret Brewer forty pounds apiece, payable at day of marriage or age of one and twenty. To my brother Thomas Brewer 40 S and to each of his children 10 S in one year after my decease. The residue to my said three children John, Roger and Margaret, to be equally divided between them, and I make them executors, but as they are now young and not able of themselves to manage and dispose of those things that belong unto them, I do hereby authorize and appoint my dearly beloved wife Mary Brewer and my loving uncle Roger Drake, citizen and cloth maker of London, not only overseers, but also full and absolute guardians unto my said children. If my son John happen to die before he attain the age of twenty and one years, then my plantation to go to my son Roger and his heirs forever. And if both of my said sons happen to die before they attain the age of twenty and one years, then my said plantation to descend half to my daughter Margaret and half to my wife. To each of the said guardians 40 S, to buy each of them a ring for remembrance of me." [6]
Administration was granted to the widow, Mary Brewer, and also to Thomas Butler (her second husband), it being stated that the testator had lately died in Virginia.
Children:
i John.
ii Roger.
iii Margaret.
[1] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for John Brewer of Maryland, [JRWolfeGenealogy].
[2] Mary Selden Kennedy, Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families, Vol. 2 (1911), 509, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[3] W. Noel Sainsbury, ed., Calendar of State Papers. Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1574-1660 (London: HMSO, 1860), 35, [HathiTrust].
[4] W. L. Grant, ed., Acts of the Privy Council of England. Colonial Series 1613-1680, Vol. 1, [HathiTrust].
[5] Mary Selden Kennedy, Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families, Vol. 2 (1911), 509, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[6] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].