Proof of Parentage - Susannah Brewer b. 1789 in NC
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In reply to:
Re: SUSANNAH BREWER , VA - GA
Linda O'Rourke 7/06/03
I believe James Brewer of Greene County, Georgia was the father of Susannah Brewer Mauk of Schley County, Georgia.
I began by working with what is known.
First, we know that Susannah Brewer was married to Samuel Mauk on 13 May 1805 in Greene County, Georgia.The source of that information is the original marriage record book in Greene County.The laws of Georgia at that time required that all marriages take place in the bride's county of residence, unless the Probate Judge granted a special exemption. Therefore it is reasonable and probable that the family of Susannah Brewer was living in Greene County in 1805.
The 1807 Georgia Land Lottery is a wonderful resource for locating persons in Georgia during 1805.This is because registration for the 1807 Lottery took place two years earlier in 1805.The list of winners in 1807 shows that at least two men named Brewer were living in Greene County in 1805.They were David and James Brewer.Therefore each of these men are candidates for the father of Susannah Brewer.
David Brewer first appears on the Greene County tax rolls in 1797.He was married to Polly Parker on 21 April 1804 in Greene County.He removed to Jones County, Georgia in 1811 with Samuel Mauk and others.David returned to Greene County in 1813 to serve as administrator of the estate of James Brewer.David himself died intestate in Jones County during 1819, leaving a widow and several orphans.These seem to be the actions of a younger man, probably a SON of James and a BROTHER of Susannah.The 1804 marriage date is particularly troubling.
James Brewer first appears in the records of Greene County on 04 October 1794 when he witnessed a deed.On 29 May 1797 he registered his mark and brand in Greene County.This was traditionally done when a man settled in a new area so that others would recognize his livestock.It is often also an excellent indicator of dates of removal from one area to another. Tax records indicate that James continued to live in Greene County until his death in 1813.He died intestate and his estate was administered by David Brewer.
We know that Susannah Brewer was born about 1789 in North Carolina.The source of that information is the 1850 U.S. Federal Census of Sumter County, Georgia, page 195.It is also confirmed by the 1860 U.S. Federal Census of Schley County, Georgia, page 15.Therefore if James is the father of Susannah, then it is reasonable to search for him in the 1790 U.S. Federal Census of North Carolina.
Such a search reveals only two possibilities, James Brewer of Martin County, North Carolina and James Brewer of Sampson County, North Carolina.An examination of deeds in Sampson County revealed a number of families living on the west side of Six Runs Creek who are later found in Greene County, Georgia.Evidently a group of families removed from North Carolina to Georgia about the same time.
In summary, it seems likely that James Brewer of Sampson County, North Carolina came to Greene County, Georgia in the early 1790's along with a number of other families.He is in the right place at the right time to be the father of Susannah Brewer, based on her birthdate and place of birth and place of marriage.His (son?) David Brewer removed to Jones County, Georgia along with Samuel Mauk, adding support to the theory.