Elder William BREWSTER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of William Brewster and Mary Smythe
• Death: 16 Apr 1644, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: 20 Apr 1644

Notes:

Elder William was educated at Cambridge University and became an attach, in the suite of William Davidson the English Ambassador to the Court of Holland, and afterwards with him suffered the displeasure of Queen Elizabeth. After spending some time in Leyden, he came to America in the MAYFLOWER, which landed at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1620. His wife's name was Mary and she was known as "Dame Brewster."
The following interesting account is from Governor Bradford's list of Mayflower passengers:
"The names of those which came over first in ye year 1620 and were (by the blessing of God) the first beginners and (in a sort) the foundation of all the plantations and Colonies in New England (and their families)."
"Mr. William Brewster, Mary his wife with 2 sons whose names were Love and Wrasling and a boy was put to him called Richard More and another of his brothers the rest of his children were left behind and came over afterwards."
Elder William Brewster was Chaplain of the first Military Company organized at Plymouth under command of Captain Myles Standish. He served in the Indian wars. His son Jonathan Brewster was a member of the same company and took part in the Pequot War.

Abstract of his will:

Letters of administration on the estate were granted to his sons, Jona, and Love, June 5, 1644
Wearing apparell, household utensils & appraised by Capt STANDISH and JOHN DONE. May 10, 1644
Articles at his house in Duxbury, by STANDISH & PRENCE, May 18.
His Latin books by MR. BRADFORD, MR. PRENCE and MR. REYNER, May 18, sixty three volumes
His English books by MR. BRADFORD and MR. PRENCE. Between three and four hundred volumes

Excerpt from "Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines": William Brewster, son of William and Prudence (--) Brewster of Scrooby, England, lived a life of amazing variety, of infinite loyalty to principle, of marvelous endurance, and of great meekness and righteousness. He was born about 1566-1567, probably at or near Crooby, where his family certainly lived by the time he was five years old. As a youth, having prepared himself by the study of Latin and Greek, he matriculated on December 3, 1580, at St. Peter's more commonly called Peterhouse, the oldest of the courteen colleges which at that time formed the University of Cambridge. He did not complete the course (which then required seven years, sometimes twelve, fourteen, or more), and, indeed, he probably left the university by 1583-4, for about that time he entered the employ of William Davison, then an ambassador for, and later Secretary of State to, Queen Elizabeth. Inregard to this relation, it is said of William Brewster that Davison "trusted him above all other that were aboute him, and only imployed him in all matters of greatest trust and secrecie. He esteemed him rather as a sonne then a servante...... With Davison, William Brewster went into Holland in August, 1585, on a diplomatic mission, returning soon after January 22, 1585-6. Davision was presently deliberately and wrongfully accused by the Queen with responsibility for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, and in consequence was, on February 14, 1586-7, thrown into the Tower. Wiolliam Brewster remained near for some time to comfort and, if possible, to aid his friend and patron, but this occurrence definitely colsed his career in the political or diplomatic field. "Afterwards he wente and lived in ye country....," which doubtless meant at Scrooby.
It is recorded of him that "He did much good in ye countrie where he lived, in promoting and furthering religion, not only by his practiss & examply, and provoking and incouraging of others, but by procuring of good preachers to ye places theraboute, and drawing on of others to assiste & help forward in such a worke; he him selfe most comonly depest in ye charge, & some times above his abilities... After they were joyned togither in communion, he was a spetiall stay & help unto them. They ordinarily mett at his house (Scrooby) on ye Lords day, (which was a manor of ye bishops,) and with great love he entertained them when they came, making provission for them to his great charge." It seems, therefore, to have been the income from his interests and services at Scrooby which enabled William Brewster to entertain and aid the Separatists as he did.

William married Mary ? about 1590 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. Mary was born between 1565 and 1569 in England; died on 17 Apr 1627 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jonathan BREWSTER was born on 12 Aug 1593 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 07 Aug 1659 in Norwich, New London, Conn.; was buried in Brewster Cemetery, Brewster's Neck, Preston, Conn..
2. Patience BREWSTER was born before 1600 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 12 Dec 1634 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
3. Fear BREWSTER was born before 1606 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire,England; died before 12 Dec 1634 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
4. Child BREWSTER was born before 1609 in Holland; died on 20 Jun 1609; was buried in Leyden, Holland.
5. Love BREWSTER was born before 1611 in Holland; died between 06 Oct 1650 and Jan 1651 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
6. Wrestling BREWSTER was born before 1614 in Leyden, Holland; died between 22 May 1627 and 05 Jun 1644.