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William Brewster

Male 1567 - 1644  (~ 77 years)


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  • Name William Brewster  [1, 2
    Birth Between Jun 1566 and Jun 1567  Probably in or near Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    • Born 1560 [3]
    Gender Male 
    Death 10 Apr 1644  Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    • Died 16 Apr 1644 [3]
    • Died at the age of 83 [3]
    Notes 
    • The venerable William Brewster came over in "The Mayflower" in 1620. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, England, and was a ruling elder of the Leyden Church. He came to Plymouth with the early Pilgrims, and continued highly esteemed. [3]
    • William Brewster matriculated at University of Cambridge in England, and was the only "Mayflower" passenger proven to have attended a university. Following his university years, he was employed in the service of Sir William Davison, Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth, and accompanied his patron, who had been sent as ambassador to Holland.

      After the imprisonment of his employer, who was involved in the issuing of the warrant for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, William Brewster left the diplomatic service and returned to Scrooby. He apparently assisted his father in his duties as postmaster, and following his father's death, held that office until 1607.

      Brewster left the established church of England and became a member of the "Separatist" congregation. By 1609, he had moved to Holland to escape religious persecution. About 1617, the "Separatist" congregation decided to leave Holland because their economic conditions were not equal to those of the Dutch, their children were beginning to forsake their English education, traditions and language, intermarrying with the Dutch, and they foresaw little opportunity of spreading the gospel with the Dutch people. After several years of negotiation, the Virginia patent was obtained for settlement in a newly established British colony in the new world.

      When the Separatists arrived in New England, William Brewster was probably one of the leaders influential in developing the content of the "Mayflower Compact." Titled "Mr." and "Elder," William Brewster was highly respected at Plymouth Colony. He led the church in worship when no ministry was present.

      Elder William Brewster's final years were spent in Duxbury with the family of his son, Love. [4]
    Person ID I2651  The John and Tuly Huntington Family
    Last Modified 9 Feb 2017 

    Father William Brewster 
    Mother Mary Smythe 
    Family ID F1864  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary,   b. Between Jun 1568 and 1569, Probably in England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Apr 1627, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 58 years)  [4
    Marriage
    • Married probably at or near Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1592 or earlier. [4]
    Children 
     1. Jonathan Brewster,   b. 12 Aug 1593, Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Aug 1659, New London, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
    +2. Patience Brewster,   b. Abt 1600, Probably at or near Scrooby Manor, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Before 12 Dec 1634, Probably in Plymouth Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 34 years)
     3. Fear Brewster,   b. Abt 1603, Probably in or near Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 22 May 1627 and 12 Dec 1634, Probably in Plymouth Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 24 years)
     4. Brewster   bur. 20 Jun 1609, Saint Pancras, Leiden, Holland Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Love Brewster,   b. Abt 1614, Probably in Holland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 6 Oct 1650 and Jan 1651, Probably in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 36 years)
     6. Wrestling Brewster,   b. Abt 1614, Probably in Holland Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F1178  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Feb 2017 

  • Sources 
    1. [S364] Frederick Freeman, Freeman Genealogy, in three parts, (Franklin Press: Rand, Avery, and Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1875), 26.
      Name recorded as "William Brewster"

    2. [S1850] Barbara Lambert Merrick, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, William Brewster, (General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 2014), 1-37.
      Name recorded as "William Brewster"

    3. [S364] Frederick Freeman, Freeman Genealogy, in three parts, (Franklin Press: Rand, Avery, and Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1875), 26.

    4. [S1850] Barbara Lambert Merrick, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, William Brewster, (General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 2014), 1-37.