- 1640, 1663: Twice migrated to America
- 1642: 1st graduating class of Harvard College
- c1650: Pastor to Irstead, Norfolk
- 1654: Pastor to Alby, Norfolk
- c1666: Pastor to Setauket, New York
Rev. Nathaniel Brewster was born 1620 in Bristol, Bristol, England, United Kingdom to Francis Brewster (1598-1646) and Lucretia Jones (1599-1669) and died 18 December 1690 Long Island, New York, United States of unspecified causes. He married Abigail Reymes (1621-1654) 1650 in New York, United States. He married Sarah Ludlow (1635-1695) 1655 in New York, United States.
Vital Stats
- Son of Francis Brewster (1598-1646) and Lucy Jones (1599-1664)
- 1620 est : Birth in England
- 1640 : Migration to America
- 1650 : Marriage (1) to Abigail Reymes (1621-1654)
- 1655 : Marriage (2) to Sarah Ludlow (1625-1665)
- 1690-Dec-18 : Died at Long Island, NY
Biography
1640: 1st Migration to America
Nathaniel Brewster was the son of Francis Brewster (1598-1646) of Bristol, England. Nathaniel, b.c1620-24, came to New Haven, Connecticut with his parents Francis BREWSTER (son of an earlier Francis), and Lucy b.c.1640. Nathaniel was enrolled in Harvard, graduating in what was said to have been the first graduating class of Harvard, in 1642.
Return to British Isles
Later in 1642, he was in Dublin, Ireland, and thereafter back in England. His Francis, was supposedly lost at sea in 1646 on a ship known as Lamberton's ship or the Phantom ship. Nathaniel's mother, Lucy Jones (1599-1664), had remarried to Thomas PELL by Dec 7, 1647.
To paraphrase the work of Mr. JACOBUS: Nathaniel was a minister of Neatishead and Irstead, County, Norfolk, England, as early as 1650, but about 1654 became minister at Alby. County, Norfolk. In 1655 and 1656 he made trips to reland with Henry CROMWELL. Also possible is that during or before 1658 he made another trip to New England, based on a reference to him in a petition there in 1658, but Nathaniel may have headed this petition without leaving England, via a written request through his stepfather Dr. PELL in Fairfield, CT.
2nd Migration to America
By September 1663, Nathaniel had returned to America with his family, this time in Boston, MA. By 1665, they had relocated to Setauket, Brookhaven, Long Island, where Nathaniel and Sarah remained for the rest of their lives.
Marriage & Family
1st Marriage: Abigail Reymes
In 1662, the will of John REYMES of Edgefield, Norfolk, England makes the reference to Nathaniel BREWSTER having married his daughter, Abigail Reymes (1621-1654). The method of mention of her in the will, however, gives the inference that she was deceased at the time.
- John Brewster (1644-1645) - died young in Norfolk, England.
- Abigail Brewster (1647-1678) - m. c 1668 in Stamford, CT to Daniel Burr and Died 1678.
- Sarah Brewster (1650-1743)- m. c1674 Jonathan Smith
2nd Marriage: Sarah Ludlow
By 1656-60, Nathaniel had married Sarah LUDLOW, daughter of Roger LUDLOW (of established Royal descent). most likely having met and/or married her in Dublin, Ireland, as Roger LUDLOW and his family are recorded as having been in Dublin at the time of Nathaniel BREWSTER'S and Henry CROMWELL'S visits there.
It is generally accepted that Nathaniel's first wife, the daughter of John REYMES, was most likely the mother of Nathaniel's first three or four children--John, Abigail, Sarah, and possibly Timothy--and that Sarah Ludlow (1635-1695) therefore the mother of the latter children; (possibly Timothy), Daniel (baptized Oct 31, 1662 in Alby as the son of Nathaniel and Sarah), Deborah, Dinah, and Hannah. Note: 1663 year of migration to America.
- Timothy Brewster (1658-1747) - m. Mary Hawkins, Town Clerk of Brookhaven, NY.
- Daniel Brewster (1662-c1666) - died young
- Deborah Brewster (1664-1666) - died young
- Daniel Brewster (1668-1748) - bapt, Alby, Norfolk, England, Oct 31, 1662 and m. c1693 Anna Jayne.
- Dinah Brewster (1665-1748) - m. 06-Apr-1685 Joseph Tooker in Brookhaven, NY
- Hannah Brewster (1669-1755) - m. (1) John Muncy (New York Speaker of the House) and m. (2) Samuel Thompson.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Brewster (1644-1645) | 1644 Somerset, England, United Kingdom | 1645 Somerset, England, United Kingdom | |
| Abigail Brewster (1647-1678) | 1647 Somerset, England, United Kingdom | 11 December 1678 Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States | Daniel Burr (1642-1695) |
| Sarah Brewster (1650-1743) | 1650 Somerset, England, United Kingdom | 2 February 1743 Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, United States | Jonathan Smith (1648-1718) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Nathaniel Brewster (1620-1690) | 1620 Bristol, Bristol, England, United Kingdom | 18 December 1690 Long Island, New York, United States | Abigail Reymes (1621-1654) Sarah Ludlow (1635-1695) |
| Elizabeth Brewster (1621-1690) | |||
| Hannah Brewster (1631-1690) | 1631 | 1690 | John Thompson (1609-1688) |
| Mary Brewster (1630-) | |||
| Frances Brewster (c1632-) | |||
Famous Descendants
- Caleb Brewster - Captain in Revolutionary War - badly wounded in the Boat Fight of Dec 7, 1782.
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) - 16th US President
Research Notes
Will of Nathaniel Brewster
Nathaniel BREWSTER made his will March 16, 1684/5 in Suffolk County, Long Island. He is noted as having died c.Dec. 18, 1690 (his will was proved May 3, 1695). In the will he mentions his wife Sarah, his sons Timothy, Daniel, and John, and grandchildren Daniel and Abigail BURR (who were the children of his daughter Abigail who had married Daniel BURR).
See Also
- Nathaniel Brewster
- Brewster in Bristol
- Brewster in Norfolk
- Brewster in Suffolk County, New York
- Brewster Family
- Ancestry of Francis Brewster
- Brewster Family of Long Island
- Rev Nathaniel Brewster, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Nathaniel-Brewster/6000000007227787559, retrieved 08 Oct 2023