BROUWER, Adam Adam

Notes:

Adam Brouwer, or more properly, Adam Brouwer Berkhoven immigrated first to Brazil in 1641, on the ship Swol (serving as a soldier for the Dutch West India Company). He next immigrated to the North American Dutch colony "New Netherland" in 1642, and on March 21, 1645, married Magdalena Jacobs Verdon in New Amsterdam (later New York City). Adam Brouwer was described as "a young man from Ceulen [Cologne]" when he was married. Berkhoven is probably his correct surname, whereas Brouwer probably referred to his occupation, as Brouwer is Dutch for brewer. Berkhoven, although occasionally used by some of his children, has been dropped by his descendants, and Brouwer, now written Brower, or Brewer, is used as the surname of the family. Adam appears at first to have settled in New Amsterdam, where, on February 7, 1647, he obtained a patent from the government for a lot on Manhattan Island. He later sold this lot, and at the time of the sale, was living on Long Island. It is not known when he moved from Long Island, but in 1661 he and Isaac De Foreest held jointly the oldest tide mill in Brooklyn, known for many years as Brower's mill. On April 1, 1654, he purchased from Theunis Nyssen, a farmer of Gowanus, a piece of woodland near Nyssen's land including the land on which Adam's house was built and the meadows in front thereof, located in Gowanus. In 1676 Adam bought of Frederick Lubbertse a piece of meadow adjoining the dam of the Gowanus mill. He and his wife were members of the Dutch church of Brooklyn in 1677, of which in 1679 and 1680 he appears by the church records to have been under censure, on the suspicion of leaning towards the Catholic religion. His will is dated January 22, 1692, and proved March21, 1692, and is on file in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at Albany, New York.
Dutch West India Company soldier. With his business partner Isaac de Forest, built and operated a flour mill at Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York.
William Brower Bogardus (Anneke Jans and Everardus Bogardus Descendants Association , 1121 Linhof Rd., Wilmington, OH 45177-2917) has been working with Prof. Frijoff from the Amsterdam Free University on the question of Adam Brouwer's origin. Mr. Bogardus wrote in his Holiday Season 1997 "Dear 'Cousin'" letter:"
Incidentally, for those who have been seeking the correct parents and ancestry of Adam Brouwer (proof of those already allegedly identified not having been presented)... there is a very high probability that Adam was not only from Cologne but also of German rather than Dutch origin. His birth name may have been "Adolph" and it is possible that the Berchoven name had nothing to do with his family's origin at all."

Adam married VERDON, Magdalena Jacobse 21/21 Mar 1644/1645, New Amsterdam, New York, Dutch Reformed Church. Magdalena (daughter of VERDON, Jacob Janss and BADIE, Maria Thomas) was born Abt 1625, Holland, Netherlands; died Abt 1717. [Group Sheet]

Jacob — BADIE, Maria Thomas. [Group Sheet]

Thomas — BRACKHOENGIE, Aeltje. [Group Sheet]