Ruth BREWSTER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 03 Oct 1631, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: 30 Apr 1677, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

Ruth married first, March 14, 1651, John Pickett, of New London, who "dyed at Sea returning from Barbados, August 16, 1667. Married second, July 2, 1668, Charles Hill, formerly of London, son of George Hill, of Barley, in Derbyshire. He died October 1684. Resided in New London. "Mr. Pickett's estate was appraised at oc1140. This was sufficient to rank him, at that period, as one of the wealthiest merchants of the place." Mr. Hill was chosen recorder of the town February 25, 1669-1670, and held the office till his death. He was also clerk of the county court at the time of his decease. They had 10 children.

Ruth, a woman of great worth, died comfortably and christianly.

Ruth married John PICKETT on 14 Mar 1651 in New London, Connecticut. John died on 16 Aug 1667 in At Sea returning from Barbadoes. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Adam PICKETT was born on 15 Nov 1658 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; died between 04 Jan 1690 and 1691 in Died at Sea.
2. Mary PICKETT was born before 1652 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 13 Jan 1734/5 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA.
3. William PICKETT died in 1690 in At Sea.
4. Ruth PICKETT was born about 1653 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 14 Sep 1690 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut; was buried in Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme, Conn..
5. Mercy PICKETT was born on 16 Jan 1660 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 28 Nov 1725 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Ancient Burial Gound, New London, Conn..
6. John PICKETT was born on 25 Jul 1656 in Salem, Essex County, Massachsuetts; died on 07 Oct 1687 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.

Ruth married Charles HILL on 16 Jul 1668 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. Charles died in Oct 1684. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Became a Dutch citizen
• Military Service: 1637; Military Commissioner in the Pequot War
• Occupation: 1639; Served as deputy of General Court of Plymouth Colony
• Occupation: 1641; Served as deputy of General Court of Plymouth Colony
• Military Service: 1643; Member of Captain Myles Standish's Duxbury Company
• Occupation: 1644; Served as deputy of General Court of Plymouth Colony

Notes:

Jonathan came in the ship Fortune in November, 1621. He married Lucretia. She was probable a sister of John Oldham, who came to Plymouth on his 'perticular', about 1623, and who was called 'brother' by Jonathan. About 1630 Jonathan removed his family to Duxbury, from which place he was deputy to the General Court, Plymouth Colony, 1639, 1641-1644. He then removed to New London, Conn., about 1649, and settled in that part which later established as Norwich, his farm lying in both towns. Here he was deputy to the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut, 1650, 1655-1658.

In 1637 he was a military commissioner in the Pequot War; a member of the Duxbury Committee to raise forces in the Narragansett Alarm of 1642, and a member of Captain Myles Standish's Duxbury Company in the military enrollment of 1643.
REF: Winsor's Hist. Duxbury, p. 90; Peirce's Col. Lists p. 75 and 84 and Genl. Reg. Soc. Col. War, 1899-1902, pg 576

The descendants erected in the Brewster Cemetery, in 1855, a plain granite shaft about eight feet high, to the memory of Jonathan and his wife, Lucretia. A part of the inscription on the monument, referring to Jonahtan Brewster, says: "History speaks of his act," and to Lucretia Brewster there is the following: "A noble specimen of an enlightened, heroic Christian gentlewoman."

The Brewster Cemetery is at Brewster's Neck, between Poquetanuck Cove and the Thames River, in Connecticut. It contains about one square acre and is surrounded by a substantial stone wall, which was rebuilt in 1903.

Notes from William Brewster of the Mayflower and His Descendants for 4 Generations:
1. One of the men who undertook to discharge the debts of Plymouth Colony.
2. A freeman in 1633, he was active in the settlement of the town of Duxbury, Mass., incorporated June 7,1637.
3. Served as a surveyor, laid out highways, practiced as an attorney, and was styled "gentleman".
4. In 1638, established a ferry service to transport men and cattle across the North River. But sold this in 1641 to Messrs. Barker, Howell and others.

Jonathan married Lucretia OLDHAM on 10 Apr 1624 in Plymouth, Conn.. Lucretia (daughter of William OLDHAM and Phillipa SOWTER) was born in Derby, England; died between 04 Mar 1678 and 1679 in Brewster's Neck, Preston, New London, Conn.; was buried in Brewster Cemetery, Montville, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 04 Jan 1600, Darby, England; Parish of All Saints, Derby
• Baptism: 14 Jan 1600, Darby, England; Parish of All Saints, Derby

Notes:

Lucretia was a woman of note and respectability among her compeers. She has always the prefix of honor and is usually presented to view in some useful capacity: an attendant upon the sich and dying as nurse, doctress, or midwife, or a witness to wills and other important transactions.

Lucretia came over on the "Anne" with her brother, John Oldham, arriving about July 10, 1623.

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Mary Love
• Death: 27 Apr 1627

Notes:

Notion: The name of Mary Wentworth has been proposed for the wife of William Brewster. "The American Genealogist", " The Mayflower Descendant: A Quarterly Magazine of Pilgrim History and Genealogy" and the" New England Historical and Genealogical Register", all confirm that additional research must be done before accepting this surname as fact. In addition, a privately published pamphlet by John G. Hunt, "Of Mary Brewster, Wife of William Brewster of the Mayflower, from Plymouth, England to New Plymouth, New England" (1985) suggests that William Brewster's wife was named Mary Wyrall of Loversall, near Doncaster. This has yet to be proved. ( This taken from William Brewster of the Mayflower and His Descendants for 4 Generations by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

"Mayflower Quarterly:vol. 75, No. 4 - December 2009": Mary Brewster - Mother to Millions of Americans
Written by Kathleen M. (Kathy) Myers -13th generation descendant of Mary and William Brewster, through their son, Love Brewster.

Throughtout North America the early settlers planted lilacs. A Hardy plant, lilacs provided beauty in the lives of those who cleared the land, built homestead, tilled the soil, and raised families. Toda, lilacs are still found growing in the places where these early people planted them, some hiding the foundation of byildings that vanished long ago. Such a location is one-acre plot of land in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where there is a "...huge lilac bush covering the cellar hold of the last house t this location. The acre plot, now owned by tghe Duxbur Rural and Historical Society, is practically the same one-acre that Elder William Brewster bought from Francis Eaton in 1631... on which he built his house." "Tradition holds that either the Elder or his son Jonathan ordered the lilacs from Holland, for the flower is not native to North America. I like to think they were planted in memory of Mary Brewster.

Not a lot is known about Mary Brewster's early life, not even her maiden name. She may have been a Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire girl. the year of her bith, 1569, is based on an affidavit she filed in Leiden, Holland in 1609 where her age was listed as 40.
Elizabeth I of England had been on the throne just a year when mary was born. I can only speculate whether mary brewster received an education beyond the wifely skills her mother would have taught. In Tudor England,"...the education of girls was for the privileged and the rish. Its aim was to produce wives schooled in godly and moral precepts....Most girls were taught the wifely arts, how to manage a household, neddlework, herbs and wild plants that oculd be used in healing, meal preparation, and their duty to their futher husband. But foremost was their strong religious training."
To the Pilgrims, "...marriage was a civil affair...a contract, mutually agreed upon by a man and a woman. Marriage was created by God for the benefit of man's natual and spiritual life. Marriages were considered important for two main reasons: Procreation of children to increast Christ's flock; and to avoid the sin of adultery. Paster John robinson taught that the important characteristics to find in a spouse are (1) godliness, and (2) similarity - in age, beliefts, estate, disposition, inclinations, and affections. In marriage, "the wife is specially required a reverend subjection in all lawful things to her husband,' and the husband is 'to give honor to the wife,' as the Lord requires 'the love of the hsband to his wife must be like Christ's to His church.'
William Brewster found in Mary a spouse that was close in age, shared his beliefs, and may have shared his estate in life, meaning they were of the same social class. The record does not reveal whether or not theirs was an arranged marriage as many were in those times. In Tudor England educating women to read was considered a waste of time but often educated men, such as William Brewster was, taught their spouses and daughters to read. Compatibility and affection was key to a marriage contract that lasted until her death 35 years later. Brewster never remarried, living 17 years beyond her.
As a typical 16th Century wife, Mary Brewster was responsible for the household. She was assigned the tasks of baking bread, brewing beer (drinking water was not fit to drink), curing and salting meats, cooking vegetables, preserving fruits and making pickles and jams. While candles and soap may have been purchased, country women made their own. They spun wool and linen for use in the household and for clothing. Mary, along with the assistance of her older children, would have milked the cows, gathered the eggs, and grown and tended the garden.
Life with William Brewster was filled with joy and anxiety. The early years at Scrooby Manor were joyful. Her first two children, Jonahtn (b.1593) and Patience (b.1600) were born there. By 1602 William Brewster had become more involved in the Separatist movement, and Scrooby Manor became a meeting place for the dissenters. mary Brewster would have found friends among this group of people. by 1606 the dissenters had formed the Separatist Church of Scrooby and the authorities were pressuring the. 1606 was the same year that Mary gave birth to their daughter who they named Fear. Just over a year later, the family fled to Holland.
During their time in Holland, Mary gave birth to three more children, sons Love and Wrestling and a child who died. It was in Holland that Mary Brewster was first introduced to the lialac bush. "The lilac is native to Eastern Europe and grows wild in the forests of Hungary and Romania." Popular on the continent, the lilac did not make its way to England until "....sometime before 1629 when the first record of its existence appears in wirting."
While the crossing began with good winds and good weather, many of the passengers were sea-sick at first. They had to contend with a crew of 30, some of who danced on the deck, and made fun of their seasickness, some who used profanities. About half way through the voyage, the "Mayflower" ran into strong storms which caused water to leak into the ship, dripping and falling on the 102 passengers squeezed in the deck below, a space seventy-five feet long and not quite five feet high. It was the space between the upper deck and the hold which contained their provisions.
As the wife of the appointed Elder of the group and as one of the oldest women on the voyage, Mary was a respected member of the community. She mothered the younger women and children with her strong religious faith and moral influence. As women in that era depended on other women or mid-wives to deliver their babies, she may have been called upon to assist with the birth of Oceanus Hopkins aboard the "Mayflower" as it crossed the Atlantic, and again with the birth of Perigrine White, the son of Susanna and William White, while the ship was anchored off of Cape Cod.
Shortly after the arrival of the "Mayflower", Dorothy Bradford, wife of William Bradford, fell off the ship and drowned. Mary (Norris) Allerton gave birth to a stillborn son. Soon, what has been called "the dying time" began. When it was over Mary Brewster was one of just five adult women to survive the first winter. By the first Thanksgiving, only four adult women survived. Mary Brewster, Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins and Susanna White Winslow. With so few remaining, the skills Mary Brewster learned at her mother's knee were vital to the survivors.
I reflect on the courage of mary Brewster and the other women of the "Mayflower". I believe it was their great love of God and gtrust in His promises that carried them through. How many of us today have that kind of courage? To endure religious persecution; to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a small ship; to be deposited on a hostile shore during a New England winter; to lose half of the company in a few short months; to wather the "Mayflower" sail away to England leaving them with no means to return; to be self-relient and self-sufficient.
Mary Brewster died in 1627 and never lived in the house built by her husband on the one acre of land in Dusbury where the lilacs still gro."...With him came his sons, Love and Wrestly, and Richard ore, the little boy who grew up in the Brewster household. to his father's house Love brought his bride, Sarah Collier, and here were born their children, William, Nathaniel, Wrestling and Sarah. Nearby, on the west side of the creek, the Elder's oldest son, Jonathan, lived in a house he had built on his father's land. The Elder William Brewster died in 1643 and his estate was divided between his two sons, Love getting all east of the creek, and onathan west of the creek. How long the Brewster house stood is not known, but by 1648 both Jonathan and Love had left the Nook and the Brewster lands had been sold out of the family."
These were the people who tended the plants and watched the lilacs grow - her loving children and grandchildren whose descendants today number in the millins. The Brewster lilacs, planted in moemory of Mary Brewster.

William married Phillipa SOWTER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]