Return to main file
JONATHAN BREWSTER (1593–1659), son of William Brewster and Mary Unknown
LUCRETIA OLDHAM (bp. 1601–1679)
Jonathan Brewster was born on 12 August 1593 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. [1] He died on 7 August 1659 in Connecticut and is buried in the old cemetery on Brewster's Plain in Norwich. [1][2] He married Lucretia Oldham of Derby on 10 April 1624 in Plymouth. [1]
English Ancestry of Lucretia Oldham
John Souter died by 1571. [3] He married Agnes Fynymore, the daughter of Thomas Fynymore. [3] Agnes was buried on 23 January 1572/3 in All Saints, Derby, Derbyshire. [3]
Agnes wrote her will on 4 October 1571; it was proved on 29 January 1573. [3]
Children of John Souter and Agnes Fynymore:
i. Thomas Souter was born about 1535. [3] He was buried on 5 October 1574 in All Saints. [3] He married Alice, the sister of Edward Turner, on 19 May 1560 in All Saints. [3]
ii. James Souter married and had children. [3]
iii. John Souter was born about 1540. He married Anne/Agnes Unknown.
iv. Agnes Souter [3]
v. William Souter married Alice Unknown. [3] She died of the plague and was buried on 25 November 1592. [3]
vi. Margery Souter [3]
vii. Elizabeth Souter [3]
viii. Alice Souter was buried on 13 February 1579/80. She married Robert Robinson. [3]
John Souter was born about 1540 and was buried on 26 July 1574. [3] He married Anne/Agnes Unknown. [3] She married second Edward Fletcher on 1 October 1575. [3]
John wrote his (now damaged) will on 28 July 1574; it was proved on 13 September 1574. [3]
Children of John Souter and Anne/Agnes Unknown:
i. Richard Souter was baptized on 23 December 1564 in All Saints and apparently died young. [3]
ii. Thomas Souter was baptized on 1 April 1567 in All Saints. [3]
iii. Philippa Souter was baptized on 10 July 1568. She married William Oldham.
iv. Richard Souter [3]
v. James Souter [3]
William Oldham was probably born about 1575. He married Philippa Souter on 17 November 1588 in All Saints. [3] Philippa was baptized on 10 July 1568 in All Saints and was buried there on 22 March 1616/7. [3]
Children of William Oldham and Philippa Souter:
i. Thomas Oldham (likely son) was born about 1590. [3] He married Elizabeth Roades on 25 January 1615/6 in All Saints. [3] She was buried there on 18 September 1635. [3] Thomas had an unknown second wife. [3]
Thomas was probably the father of John and Thomas Oldham, ages 12 and ten, who were passengers to New England on the Elizabeth and Ann in 1635. [3][4]
Son Thomas, born about 1625, probably married Mary Wetherell.
ii. John Oldham was baptized on 14 July 1592 in All Saints. [3] He was slain by Indians in July 1636 near Block Island. [4]
John was an interesting figure in early Plymouth Colony. He came to New England in the Anne in 1623. He and Reverend John Lyford attempted a revolt against the Pilgrim church in Plymouth Colony. He quarreled with everyone and Thomas Morton called him "Mad Jack." [6, ch. 15, fn. 8] He "grew very perverse, and showed a spirit of great malignancy." [6, 149] Both Lyford and Oldham were banished and went to Massachusetts Bay. [6, chs. 15, 16] He was back in the good graces of the authorities in June 1625 and became engaged in a conflict with the Massachusetts Bay Colony concerning its patent. [4] His gruesome death—described by John Winthrop [9]—precipitated the Pequot War. [4]
iii. Elizabeth Oldham was baptized on 24 February 1594/5 in All Saints. [3]
iv. James Oldham was baptized on 12 June 1597 in All Saints. [3]
v. Lucretia Oldham was baptized on 14 January 1600/1 in All Saints. She married Jonathan Brewster.
Lucretia Oldham was baptized on 14 January 1600/1 in All Saints, Derby, Derbyshire. [3][4] She was the sister of John Oldham. She died on 4 March 1678/9. [2]
Jonathan was a ribbon maker and exporter in Leiden. [5]
Jonathan came to New England after his father, in the Fortune, arriving at Cape Code on 9 November 1621. [6, ch. 12, fn. 9]
Jonathan was on a 2 January 7 Charles [1631/2] tax list in Plymouth. [7, 1: 9–11] He was a freeman in Plymouth in 1633. [7, 1: 3–4] He was on a 24 March 1633/4 Plymouth tax list. [7, 1: 27–29] He was on a 7 March 1636/7 list of freemen in Plymouth. [7, 1: 52–54]
Jonathan was given the land he mowed the previous year in a land distribution on 14 March 1635. [7, 1: 40–41] He was on a jury at the 4/5 October 1636 Plymouth court. [7, 1: 44] He was on a grand jury on 7 March 1636/7. [7, 1: 52–54]
In 1635 John was in charge of a trading post in Connecticut on behalf of Plymouth Colony. [5] Men from Plymouth Colony bought land on the Connecticut River. However, men from Dorchester poured into their land. On 6 July 1635, as agent for those from Plymouth, Jonathan Brewster wrote a letter complaining of this Hooker-Hayes-Warham encroachment. [6, 280–1; ch. 26, fn. 9]
Jonathan was in charge of trading posts and was called upon to advise on trade policy. He was on a committee to determine trade policy for the colony on 1 October 1634 and on 7 March 1636/7 and a committee to advise on beaver trade on 7 June 1637. [7, 1: 31, 52–54, 60–62] He was on a committee to consider the Kennebec trade on 3 March 1645/6. [7, 2: 96]
Jonathan, [his brother-in-law] Thomas Prence, John Alden and Myles Standish were among the first settlers of Duxbury. [6, 253] Jonathan was on a committee to approve those who wished to settle on the Duxbury side on 4 June 1638. [7, 1: 85]
Jonathan was granted land in Duxbury on 4 June 1638. [7, 1: 85] Mr. Jonathan Brewster was granted 100 acres on the west side of the mouth of the South River on 2 July 1638. [7, 1: 90–92] He was granted 300 acres on 4 June 1645. [7, 2: 88]
Jonathan Brewster, gentleman, was on a grand inquest jury on 5 June 1638 and on 2 June 1640. [7, 1: 86–87, 154–6] He was a deputy for Duxbury on 1 June 1641, 7 June 1642, 27 September 1642, 10 October 1643, 5 June 1644 and 20 August 1644. [7, 2: 16, 40, 46, 63, 72, 75]
Jonathan was often called upon to view, layout and divide land or to layout highways. [7, 1: 14, 31, 55–57, 68, 108–9, 112–3, 144]
Jonathan ran a ferry service on the North River (in Marshfield). He was presented to the court for neglecting the ferry at North River and released on 5 March 1638/9. [7, 1: 116–7] He was again presented for neglecting the ferry on 1 December 1640. [7, 2: 5] On 1 June 1641 he was told to procure the North River horse boat from the bay by 1 July. [7, 2: 8]
The North and South Rivers Watershed Association [8] says:
In 1638, a ferry boat employed in transporting both men and cattle operated between Marshfield and Scituate here at the narrowest place in the North River (now the South River) — the location of today’s Sea Street Bridge. At the time, the location was known as New Harbor Marsh. Jonathan Brewster was the first ferryman. He was the son of Elder Brewster of Mayflower fame. He sold the ferry service in 1641 to Barker and Howell.Jonathan appears to have had some legal expertise. He acted as an attorney for John Hearker on 7 November 1641 and he was on a committee to prepare some laws to redress present and prevent future abuses on 4 June 1645. [7, 2: 66, 85]
Jonathan moved to New London about 1649 and settled in the part that was later Norwich. [2] In 1652 he had his own trading post in Connecticut and was censured by the local government, but allowed to keep it. [5] He was deputy to the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut in 1650, 1655, 1657 and 1658. [2]
Jonathan was a close friend of Governor John Winthrop, Jr. [5]
On 1 September 1656 he sent his sister-in-law Sarah Brewster, the widow of his brother Love, a letter saying that he and his family were resolved to return to England. He never did, but his sons William and John may have. [2]
Children of Jonathan Brewster and Lucretia Oldham:
i. William Brewster was born on 9 March 1625 in Plymouth. [1] He married Mary Peame of London. [1]
William may have gone to England. [2]
ii. Mary Brewster was born on 16 April 1627. She married John Turner.
iii. Jonathan Brewster was born on 17 July 1629 in Plymouth. [1]
Jonathan may have died or gone to England. [2]
iv. Ruth Brewster was born on 30 October 1631 in Jones River. [1] She died on 1 May 1677 in New London. [1] She married first John Pickett of New London. [1][2] He died at sea, returning from Barbados. [2] Ruth married second Charles Hill of Derbyshire on 2 July 1668. [1] Charles was the son of George Hill of Barley, Derbyshire. [2]
v. Captain Benjamin Brewster was born on 17 November 1633 in Duxbury. [1] He died on 14 September 1710, probably in Preston, New London County. He married Ann Darte the last day of February 1659/60. [1] She died on 9 May 1709, probably in Preston. Ann may be the widow of Ambrose Dart of Boston. Ambrose married Ann, the daughter of William Addis of Cape Code on 24: 4m: 1653. [10]. Ann, the wife of Benjamin Brewster, died on 9 May 1708. [1] Benjamin and Ann are buried in the Brewster's Neck Cemetery in Preston. The inscription on their gravestones say: [11]
Hear Lies The Body Of Capt. Benj(a)man Bruster Who Died Sept. the 14, 1710 Aged 77.
Hear is The Body of Mrs. An Bruster Who Died May The 9th 1709.
vi. Elizabeth Brewster was born on 1 May 1637 in Duxbury. [1] She died in February 1708, probably in New London. She married first Peter Bradley of New London on 7 September 1653. [1] He died on 3 April 1662. [1] She married second Christopher Christophers, who was born about 1632 and died on 23 July 1687, probably in New London. [12] Elizabeth and Christopher are buried in the Ancient Cemetery in New London.
The inscriptions Elizabeth and Christopher's gravestones say: [11]
Here lyes ye body of Mrs. Elizabeth Christophers, wife of Mr. Christopher Christophers who died February 1708 in ye 70th year of her Age. Daughter of Jonathan Brewster.
Here lyes ye body of Mr. Christopher Christophers who died July ye 23 1687 in ye 56 year of his age.
viii. Hannah Brewster was born on 3 November 1641 in Duxbury. [1] She died in December 1711 in Groton. [12] She married first Samuel Starr of New London on 23 December 1664. [2][12] Samuel, the son of Thomas and Rachel Starr, was born about 1640 and died before 2 February 1687/8, probably in New Haven. [12] Hannah married second Captain James Morgan before 8 May 1690. [11][13] He died on 8 December 1711. Capt. James, the son of James Morgan, married first Mary Vine of Old England in November 1666. [13] She died in 1689, age 48. [13] Hannah and James are buried in the Smith Lake Cemetery in Groton, New London County.
Hannah was living as Samuel's widow on 22 February 1687/8. [2]
The inscriptions on Hannah and James's gravestones say: [11]
Here lies ye body of Mrs Hannah Morgan ye wife of Capt James Morgan who died Decm 1711 aged 71 yers.
Here lies ye body of Cap James Morgan died Decmr 8 1711 aged 69 y.
1. George Ernest Bowman, "The Brewster Book," Mayflower Descendant 1 (1899): 1–8, family records made by Jonathan (William) Brewster; 71–77, entries for the marriages of daughters Grace and Elizabeth made by Jonathan. Later records by someone else.
2. Lucy Hall Greenlaw, "Early Generations of the Brewster Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 53 (1899): 109–14.
3. John Anderson Brayton, "The Ancestry of John and Thomas Oldham," in James Brooks Threlfall, ed., Twenty-Six colonists to New England and Their Origins (Madison, WI: James Brooks Threlfall, 1993).
4. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally Published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 227–30 (Jonathan Brewster); 1350–3 (John Oldham).
5. Eugene Aubrey Stratton, Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620–1691 (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1986), 250–1.
6. William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620–1647, edited and annotated by Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001).
7. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668 (Boston: William White, 1855).
8. "White's Ferry," North and South Rivers Watershed Association (https://www.nsrwa.org/listing/whites-ferry : accessed 14 November 2022).
9. J. Franklin Jameson, ed., Winthrop's Journal, 1630–1649, vol. 1, in Original Narratives of Early American History series (New York: Scribner's Sons, 1908), 184.
10. Greenlaw, "Early Generations of the Brewster Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 53 (1899): 284.
11. Find a Grave, database and images. IDs are Find a Grave Memorial IDs. Pages accessed 29 November 2022.
Capt Benjamin Brewster Sr. (17 Nov 1633–14 Sep 1710), ID 13906986, citing Brewster's Neck Cemetery, Preston, New London County, CT; maintained by Kay Cynova (contributor 47064119). The inscription on his gravestone is readable.
Ann Addis Brewster (17 Mar 1628–9 May 1709), ID 8797039, citing Brewster's Neck Cemetery; maintained by Anonymous (contributor 46615495). The inscription on her gravestone is readable.
Elizabeth Brewster Christophers (1 May 1637–Feb 1708), ID 11402873, citing Ancient Cemetery, New London, New London County, CT; maintained by Jan Franco (contributor 46625834) . The inscription on her gravestone is faded and appears to have been redone.
Christopher Christophers (1631–23 Jul 1687), ID 11349704, citing Ancient Cemetery; maintained by Jan Franco.
Hannah Brewster Morgan (3 Nov 1641–11 Dec 1711), ID 10863575, citing Smith Lake Cemetery, Groton, New London County, CT; Maintained by Cynthia Kaley (contributor 51056978). The inscription on her gravestone is readable.
Capt James Morgan (3 Mar 1644–8 Dec 1711), ID 10863583, citing Smith Lake Cemetery; maintained by Mary Harrell-Sesniak (contributor 46488639). The inscription on his gravestone is readable.
12. Alicia Crane Williams, "Early American Families, 1641–1700," database with images, American Ancestors > Alexander Adams (m. 1644), pp. 4–5.
13. David L. Greene, "James and Hannah (Brewster) (Starr) Morgan of New London and Groton, Connecticut," The Genealogist 14 (2000): 118–28.
©a. buiter
26-Dec-2022