Eighth Generation

180. Ambrose BREWER²⁰ was born in 1753 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He died in 1855 in Hancock County, Tennessee. A M B R O S E B R E W E R

The following record was given to me by a cousin, Geneva Hopkins, in Sneedville, TN. She is the Register Clerk in Hancock County Courthouse, that gave me over 30 pages of Brewer data. The researcher of this material was Mrs. Janice B. Reddin, contributed by Nova M. Mertens, of Indianapolis, IN.

"The founder of the family in which this work is interested was Ambrose Brewer. He lived in what is now Catawba County, NC, born about 1760. He served under Colonel Cleveland at the "Battle of Kings Mountain", October 7, 1789, Revolutionary War. Soon after this he moved over the mountains and settled on War Creek, in what is now Hancock County, TN. He was one of the first settlers of the locality. He was a Freemason. He had a wife and a son, Joab, at this time".

Tradition in one branch of the family has reported Ambrose to have 12 boys. The 1830 Census of Hawkins County, TN show him with a family of young children which suggests that he may have reared a second family.#

Following is an article written by George A. Williams, October 4, 1924, published in the News-Sentinel , Treadway, TN. (Courtesy of Alton L. Greene, Sanger, TX).
"Few persons outside of the Masonic fraternity knew that the first Freemason who ever came to Hancock County, lies buried on the farm of Thomas Wilder, in the 2nd District of Hancock County, three miles north of Treadway. He was buried beside his two slaves.
Soon after the "Battle of Kings Mountain", one Ambrose Brewer, who was a Freemason, and a private under Colonel Cleveland in the memorable battle, made his way into what is now Hancock County, and settled on War Creek, three miles north of where Treadway is now located.
Ambrose Brewer, then in his twenties, was a relative of the writer, and left many descendants in Hancock County, who are among the best citizens of the county, and are well known for their honesty and integrity.
Mr. Brewer was a very enthusiastic Whig, before and after the Revolutionary War, and did his part towards freeing this country from the British Yoke. In doing his duty as an American Soldier, he incurred the hatred and ill will of the numerous Tories that infected that part of NC where he lived, (Catawba County). Shortly after the "Battle of Kings Mountain" in which he took a conspicuous part, he crossed the mountains into what is now Tennessee and stayed about one year. Then he returned to his own home and brought back his young wife and son Joab, and lived to a ripe old age in what is now Hancock County.
He came at a time when the Indians roamed this country unmolested, when the wild game of the mountains feared not the crack of the hunter's gun, when his only neighbors were the Indians, the owls, deer, wild turkey and other wild creatures, and built him a log cabin of the rudest kind on War Creek. By some means, he obtained a large tract of land along this creek at a time when land was worth very little. The lands along the creek were full of swamps, mosquitoes, and malaria.
Ambrose was a Freemason, had been a Mason in NC or some other place. It is regretted that his parent lodge is not known to the writer, who is indebted to W.H. Smith; who lived to a great age and died at Treadway several years ago. Mr. Smith was a distant relative of Mr. Brewer and also a Master Mason and a member of Sneedville Lodge No. 277, F. & A.M. He vouched that Mr. Brewer was a Mason, and stated that he had seen Mr. Brewer with receipts for lodge dues and a traveling card; but the name and number of the lodge is unknown to the writer. He will be remembered by Masons in Hancock County for many years after his death. The Masons decorated his grave each year when the flowers bloomed.
If Mr. Ambrose Brewer lived here at the time the Indians were here is positively known by many of the oldest relatives, whom are numerous in Hancock county. Some of them relate that a battle between the Whites and the Indians took place on the high lands of Mr. Brewer; (War Creek probably received it's name from the Indian Battles), and on a high ridge on the farm owned by W. H. Greene of Treadway; which is a part of the lands once owned by Mr. Brewer. It is yet plainly visible, the deep trenches used by the White soldiers in a battle on the farm and in the low grounds and swamps along the bottoms of Mr. Greene. Several years ago a deep ditch or drain was dug up at a depth of two and three feet. In the trenches, which protected the Whites on the ridge, many arrow heads of flint were found. This proves that the Whites were entrenched on the hill and the Indians were down in the swamps in the low grounds where the battle was fought.
It is deeply regretted that more is not known of Mr. Brewer's Masonic connections. It may be that at one time he affiliated with some of the lodges of TN. Most all of the older Masons of Hancock County, who could throw a light on the subject, are long since dead. The lodge at Sneedville has been destroyed. The only data at hand was obtained from the late W. H. Smith. A relative of Mr. Smith remembered that Mr. Brewer was recognized as a Mason and as the first to come to Hancock County. He came when there was no lodge in or about Hancock County. He was a Freemason at a time when Freemasons were few in number and far between. Brother Brewer sleeps in Hancock County among the unnumbered dead. The sunshine and the wind pass over him. He is neither disturbed nor delighted. His spirit has entered that celestial lodge on high, not made with hands, eternally in the heavens. Peace to his ashes."
Ambrose Brewer was listed in the 1830 Hawkins County census records: 111000001-121001. He is a Revolutionary War Patriot. Descendants proving lineage can get into S.A.R. and D.A.R through Orlene Trent, Zana Seals, Nancy Brewer, on back. Following is an article given to me by Geneva Hopkins that enabled me to find out about our Brewer relatives. I wrote Mrs. Claris Barrett in Booneville, KY. She was responsible for the erection of a Revolutionary War headstone on our grand father, Ambrose Brewer's grave in Hancock County, TN. Claris also sent me a picture of the headstone at Ambrose's grave. I would like to include this article which follows:

MARKER PLACED ON GRAVE OF AMBROSE BREWER

"On Friday, July 4th, John and Farris Brewer; Don and Jean Westever; Daniel, Peggy and Michell Barrett; Renee Creech, Monroe and Claris Barrett; R.B. Pearl and grandson Bobby McCollum; Gertrude and Robert Strong; Bruce and Marjarie Barker; Judy Bell; Theodore and Dianna Brewer, joined by Gregory, Yvonne and Marie Hudley of Berea and Nicholas and Belma Brewer of Baxter made a trip to Sneedville, TN, where they joined with the descendants of Joab Brewer to dedicate and place a stone marker on the grave of their ancestor, gr. gr. gr. grandfather, AMBROSE BREWER., who was a Rev. War soldier and is buried on War Creek in Hancock Co., TN. The plaque for the marker was furnished by the "Three Forks" Chapter of the DAR of Beattyville, KY., of which Claris Barrett is a member. The stone, dates and names was furnished by Searcy and Strong Funeral Home.
A beautiful pot luck dinner was enjoyed by everyone after it was spread on tables on the lawns of Miss Naomi Brewer of Sneedville.
The 4th of July is reunion day for Naomi and her distant cousins who joined her to make this a day to remember. Although most were strangers at first, family ties and connections soon began to appear and in a very short time it was just like one big family - all asking questions and seeking more information about the Brewer clan. Bill Brewer and his wife, from Loudon, TN made a visit and were a real delight and pleasure to everyone. Kay Brewer and her sister-in-law came from Norwood, Ohio to assist Claris Barrett in the DAR ceremony of dedication.
The Rev. Carl Greene, pastor of the War Creek Baptist Church called and extended an invitation to use the church for the dedication of the stone due to inclement weather that made it's unwelcome visit on and off all day. Rev. Greene is also a descendant of Ambrose Brewer, and helped in the ceremony. Theodore sang the patriotic son "America", afterwards Renne Creech played "Taps". Nicholas Brewer gave a brief history of Claris and her ancestors which entitled her to membership in the DAR. Jean Westever made a short talk about the Brewers and traced them back to the "Blue Bloods of England " and displayed pictures of monuments and markers for all to see that wished to.
Most everyone then made the trip up War Creek to the home of Mack Brewer which is near the place where Ambrose is buried along with two of his slaves. The grave is on a little knoll on the side of the mountain and overlooks fields and meadows owned and fought for by the Brewers and the Indians. Rain made it impossible for even a four wheel drive vehicle to climb the hill, although Mack Brewer had used a bull dozer to make a road to the grave. So the stone was placed on a platform made by Dallas and Moore Brewer and carried up the hill.
Brewer descendants from three of Ambrose's' sons joined in the effort to carry the stone up the hill and it turned out to be an EFFORT with capital letters. Amid cheers and applause from those who had already climbed the hill, the stone was placed on the ground near the head of the grave. The stone was placed and leveled at the head of the grave by Robert Strong and Daniel Marriett, as were two stones that were taken for the slaves. A son of Dallas Brewer read a short history about Ambrose; when he came to TN, when he died and that he was the first Mason to come to Hancock County, and about the battles he had with the Indians which gave War Creek it's name. He also said the Masons used to go to the grave when the wild flowers were in bloom and decorate it and keep it clean.
Grandpa Ambrose would have been greatly pleased to have seen the display of love and friendship among his descendants and also the dedicated and determined effort they displayed in making this a memorable day in history of the illustrious Brewer clan.
Praise should go to Naomi Brewer, her sisters and brothers for the display of hospitality and the work and many phone calls she made to make this all possible; the Three Forks Chapter of the DAR, and especially to Annis Justice and to the Searcy and Strong Funeral Home; but more especially to each and everyone who joined in to help in this endeavor.
The Howell Cobb Brewer family reunion is held the last Sunday in each June at the Owsley County, KY., Sportsmen Club Grounds in Booneville, KY. Everyone is invited."
The above was written by Monroe E. Barrett, Route one, box 190, Booneville, KY. 41314.

ANCESTOR'S REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICES

Ambrose Brewer volunteered as a Ranger or Scout in the War. He was with scouting parties from the commencement of the War until peace was declared. He was never attached to the main body of the army but was in several skirmishes with the enemy as a Ranger, in which capacity he acted during the war, and his position was most of the time in Moore, NC. He served under the following named officers: Capt. Tabb, Capt. Maburn, Capt. Thurogood, Col. Litrell and Major (Micajah) Lewis, the latter named colonel (or major) was killed in a skirmish with the enemy. He served at different times altogether two years or more.

Statement taken from National Archives, Pension File, Brewer, Ambrose, N.C. R1182.

He served under Colonel Cleveland at the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, Rev. War, A History of the Hamblen and Allied Families, Hamblen (Franklin, 1940) P. 207.

Note: Dec. 19, 2001.
(An interesting fact that I just recently read is that the "Battle of Kings Mountain" was fought between Colonists only, those who were Loyalists or loyal to the Crown, and those who fought for our independence from England. There were a few British Col.s involved, but no British soldiers.)

Ambrose Brewer, born ca 1753, Brunswick co., VA. died after 1855, in Hancock Co. TN. He applied for Revolutionary War Pension in 1855. He was in Hawkins Co. TN, 1816, in Claiborne Co. TN. in 1840 with his son Joab. His first wife was Oma Richardson, whom he married ca 1780 in Cumberland Co. NC. Date of her death not known. It is believed he then married __________Russell. Ambrose BREWER and Oma RICHARDSON were married in 1780 in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

181. Oma RICHARDSON.Children were:

90	i.	Howell Cobb BREWER.
	ii.	Fredrick BREWER.
	iii.	George BREWER.
	iv.	Lucinda BREWER.
	v.	Oma BREWER.
	vi.	Joab BREWER was born in 1780.
	vii.	Prettyman BREWER was born in 1790.
	viii.	Ambrose BREWER Jr was born in 1798 in Tennessee.
	ix.	Millenton BREWER was born in 1800 in North Carolina. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Subdivision 32, Hancock County, Tennessee.
	x.	Pleasant BREWER was born in 1800.