1

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT - ARTHUR YOUNG

VICE PRESIDENT - BENJAMIN BREWSTER

TREASURER - JANE E. COBB

HISTORIAN - GREGORY E THOMPSON

SECRETARY - JULIA E POST

ELDER - DR. THOMAS BIRD

MEMBERSHIP - GREGORY E THOMPSON

DIRECTORS - MICHAEL GREENEDAVID STRINGFELLOWMARY B SHERWOODBETTE I BRADWAY

IN THIS ISSUE

MEMBERSHIP REPORT PG 2PLYMOUTH ATTRACTIONS PG 9TRIENNIEL MEETING INVITATION PG 11TREASURER'S REPORT PG 1HISTORIAN'S REPORT PG 4PROMINENT BREWSTERS PG 4

TRIENNIAL MEETING RESERVATIONS

DON'T MISS OUT - THE TRIENNIAL MEETING ISJUST AROUND THE CORNER. THIS WILL BE THELAST NEWSLETTER BEFORE THE MEETING.PLEASE USE THE FORM ON PAGE 11. MAIL ALLREQUESTS TO :

MRS JANE COBBP.O. BOX 467BRIDGEWATER, MA. 02324

SPACE IS LIMITED - SO PLEASE RESERVE NOW !!

TREASURER'S REPORTBalance as of last report, 10/08/2010

$26,304.93

ReceiptsMembership Dues $ 985.00Interest on Account $ 24.162011 Tri meeting $ 35.00Brewster Pin Sales $ 12.00Donations $ .00Total Receipts $ 1056.16

Balance $27,361.09

Expenses

Postage, Printing, Supplies $ 871.57

Total Expenses $ 871.57

Balance as of 04/29/2011 $26,489.52Respectfully submittedJane Cobb, Treasurer

The Elder Brewster PressA Publication of the Elder William Brewster Society

Volume 3, ISSUE #1 - June 2011website- www.brewsterfamily.org - Glennon Harrison, Webmaster

Gregory Evan Thompson - Editor - GThomp5749@aol.com

2

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

I am pleased to report that since the lastnewsletter was published, I have approved51 New Members. a GREAT increase inmembers.

1 Susan Bower LitzenbergerPahrump, Nevada

2. Blair A. BeckerStockton, California

3. Lindsay R. CastlesStockton, California

4. Jonathan Allen WignotLake Oswego, Oregon

5. David Allen GillespieKaty, Texas

6. Paul Stanton BumpusPlymouth, Massachusetts

7. Donald Kaye BrewsterTequesta, Florida

8. Claudia Brewster DeBonteTequesta, Florida

9. Rachel BrewsterBelfast, Maine

10. Lewis BrewsterNewport Beach, California

11. Jill Sheridan ChapmanPisgah Forest, North Carolina

12. James Lawley WormelleFort Lauderdale, Florida

13. Margaret Louise ShockParamount, California

14. Richard Dennis SoutherHonolulu, Hawaii

15. James Paul SmithCamarillo, California

16. Kristen Lucka HallowsHilliard, Ohio

17. Dr. Clinton Cleon ShockOntario, Oregon

18. Dwayne Arnold BowerPahrump, Nevada

19. Gilbert Powers DoughtyPortland, Maine

20. David Lee JohnsonPlantation, Florida

21. Jackson Everett WignotLake Oswego, Oregon

22. Cynthia Anne Wignot MedinaLake Oswego, Oregon

23. Ronald Edward WignotLake Oswego, Oregon

24. Timothy WignotLake Oswego, Oregon

25. Lindsey WignotLake Oswego, Oregon

26. Brandon RowleyAntelope, California

27. DeAnn Dawn CaddyIronton, Minnesota

28. William Dennison Whitbeck, Sr.Sumpter, South Carolina

29. Suzanna Olson Weir Ed.dLafayette, California

30. Caitlyn MedinaLake Oswego, Oregon

3

31. Leslie Rae Davis MantheiNew Harmony, Vermont

32. Daniel Allen SmithCamarillo, California

33. Gerri Smith AskrenCamarillo, California

34. Mary-Ruth O DuquetteHarrisville, Rhode Island

35. Archibald M. GrantWarwick, Rhode Island

36. Jared G ParkerScottsdale, Arizona

37. Lily Jane ParkerScottsdale, Arizona

38. Karen Cromwell ParkerScottsdale, Arizona

39. Halle Elizabeth HutchersonTallahassee, Florida

40. Jeremy Barnes KleinTallahassee, Florida

41. Susan Marie KohlerRichmond, Virginia

42. Pamela Moffitt GreenPalm Springs, California

43. Wayne Robert GouldPueblo, Colorado

44. Holly Hall KluckAtlantic Highlands, New Jersey

45. Terry Thomas MurphySylvania, Ohio

46. Ruth Odessa Grant Payne

47. Raymond Charles RaserEscondido, California

48. William Joseph Smith, Sr.Camarillo, CA

49. William Joseph Smith, Jr.Camarillo, CA

50. Michael Christopher BlandWarren, R.I.

51. Georgeann McBride BlattermanDuxbury, MA.

UPDATE OF THE BREWSTER GENEALOGY

I have received a wonderful response to myrequest for family materials. Severalmembers have sent in information whichhas now been added to update theBrewster Genealogy. Please continue tosend this material to me so that it can beadded. This material can be scanned and e-mailed, or it can be mailed to me by snail-mail.************************************

A Message from the Treasurer

Dues, for a three-year period is $20.00 formembers who have their newsletters viapostal mail. NOTE: IF YOU PROVIDE USWITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR SENDINGTHE NEWSLETTERS THE DUES ARE ONLY$15.00.

If you have an e-mail address, please send itto us. This will help cut down on our alwaysincreasing postage/printing expensesconsiderably. We are very pleased with theemail responses we have received so far.Please remember. IF YOU CHANGE YOUREMAIL ADDRESS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.WE CANNOT SEND YOU YOURNEWSLETTER IF YOU DON'T.

4

Send checks payable to ELDER WILLIAMBREWSTER SOCIETY to me:

Jane E Cobb, TreasurerP.O. Box 467Bridgewater, MA 02324-0467

PLEASE CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION DATE !!!" REMINDERS AND FINAL NOTICES" wentout quite a while ago. Members who haveexpired dues in 2009 will be dropped afterthis newsletter from the roster. Pleasecontact me at bwater1@comcast.net or atmy mailing address if you think you may beone of those members. We would hate tolose any of our valued members !!!

Sincerely, Jane E. Cobb, Treasurer

BREWSTER FAMILY STORIES

************************************"Brewster family stories" accepts articles written bymembers and non members. If you would like yourarticle published in the Brewster Press, please emailto GThomp5749@aol.com or mail to me at P.O. Box355, Branford, Ct 06405*******************************************

BREWSTER PINS NOW AVAILABLE

The new Brewster pins are $4.00 each includingpostage and can be purchased by mailing acheck to: Gregory Thompson, P.O. Box 355,Branford, CT 06405

ARTICLES WANTED

Please send me family articles for publication inthe Brewster Press. I will accept articles by e-mail or snail mail.

HISTORIANS REPORT

As you can see, we have MANY new membersthis year. I am hoping that a majority of thesenew members will make the trip to Plymouth,Massachusetts in September to introduce. It'salways a pleasure to meet new members inperson to put a face to the name.

PROMINENT BREWSTER'S

This Article about Frederick Foster Brewster isvery near and dear to my heart, because I live inNew Haven, CT not too far from Edgerton Park.It is a beautiful place containing gardens andgrounds almost exactly as they were left by Mr.Brewster. The house, of course, is gone, but youcan still see the beauty of the surroundingproperty.

The late Frederick Foster Brewster, who had hismajestic 25-acre “Edgerton” estate built on theHamden-New Haven line in 1908 as a weddingpresent to his wife, was a member of an old andprominent New England family dating back tothe founding of Plymouth Colony by theMayflower pilgrims.

The Brewster name appears frequently involumes on the history of New England. Onesuch history book states, “Frederick FosterBrewster’s position in the community is one ofimportance and influence…for many years hehas been one of the leading capitalists in NewHaven.”

The Brewster family was founded in thiscountry by William Brewster, who was born inScrooby, England, in 1566. He landed atPlymouth, Mass. with the Mayflower Pilgrims

5

on Dec. 16, 1620 with his wife and two children,Love and Wrestling Brewster.Love Brewster served in the Pequot War andwas a member of Miles Standish’s company inthe military enrollment of 1643. He marriedSarah Collier of Duxbury.

From them the line of descent to FrederickBrewster is traced through their son, William,and his wife, Lydia Partridge Brewster; theirson, Benjamin, and his wife, Elizabeth WhittierBrewster; their son, Simon, and his wife, AnneAndrus Brewster, the latter of Norwich and theformer of Griswold, where he died in 1801 atthe age of 81; through their son, Joseph, and hiswife, Hannah Tucker Brewster; and throughtheir son, Patrick, the paternal grandfather ofFrederick Foster Brewster.

Patrick Brewster was born in Norwich in 1793and died there in 1873. He married CatherineFannie Roath Preston. Benjamin Brewster, sonof Patrick and Catherine Fannie Roath motherof Frederick Foster Brewster, was born inNorwich in 1828 and died at “Scrooby” inCazenovia, N.Y. in 1897.

In 1849 Benjamin Brewster went to Californiawhere he engaged in mercantile and otherwestern enterprises for 25 years and amassed afortune. In 1874 he returned east to residepermanently in New York City.

Some of the greatest financial movements ofthat period were more or less the result of hisgenius. He was prominently identified with thebuilding of the elevated railways in New YorkCity and was also a leader in many large railroadtransactions, one of the most important beingthe reorganization of the Chicago, St. Paul,Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad.

At the time of his death, Benjamin Brewster wasvice president of the Chicago, Rock Island andPacific Railroad Company, and a heavystockholder and director in the Chicago &Eastern Illinois Railway Company, the Delaware& Hudson Canal Company and other large

enterprises. He was also a director in theInternational Navigation Company, owner ofthe American line of steamers.

History books assert that Benjamin Brewster“inherited many of the noble traits of hisancestors, and he illustrated by percept andexample the best of New England race,integrity, perseverance, benevolence, deepreligious feeling, courage of conviction and loveof letters, art and nature.”

In 1891 Benjamin Brewster erected a handsomesummer residence at Cazenovia, N.Y. which henamed “Scrooby” in honor of the ancestralEnglish Manor House of Elder William Brewster.He married Elmina Hersey Dow at SanFrancisco, Calif., in 1863.

Frederick Foster Brewster was born atIrvington-on-the-Hudson on Aug. 13, 1872 andwas educated at St. Paul’s School. He came toNew Haven in 1890 and at that time becameconnected with the W. & E.F. Fitch Company,manufacturers of malleable iron goods.

His first position was that of clerk but soon afterMr. Brewster was appointed secretary and lateralso vice president of the company. Theconcern was sold in August of 1919 and at thattime Mr. Brewster retired from active business.

Mr. Brewster maintained offices at 129 ChurchSt., New Haven, from which he directed hislarge and important business and financialinterests. He was a director of the SecondNational Bank of New Haven, the New HavenGas Company, the United IlluminatingCompany, and the New York, New Haven andHartford Railroad. He also was a trustee of theNew Haven Savings Bank.

On Aug. 11, 1908, Mr. Brewster marriedMargaret Brewster Fitch, a daughter of hiscousin, John Brewster Fitch, and Anna HeatonFitch. Their marriage at Trinity Church on NewHaven’s historic green followed by a galareception at the Hillhouse Avenue home of the

6

bride’s parents, was the social event of theirgeneration in New Haven.

As a wedding present to his bride, Mr. Brewsterembarked on the construction of “Edgerton” onwhat then was known as the Ivy Nook section ofWhitney Avenue. Mr. Brewster’s mother, as awedding gift, furnished the entire mansionwhen it was finished.

For over 50 years, the Brewster's maintainedrigid privacy at their estate, erecting a 12-foothigh gray stone wall around its entire 25 acres.The couple had four children. For years, theBrewster New Year’s Eve party at the hugeEnglish Manor House in the center of“Edgerton” was New Haven’s annual socialhighlight.

The mansion had well over 50 rooms and duringmost of its history, the estate required theservices of some 30 servants, domestics andgardeners. The family automobiles werepainted in so-called “Brewster Green.”

One expert in recent years called the Brewstermansion “one of the last great examples of theEnglish Manor House in America.” One historybook said of the Edgerton estate: “It is one ofthe show places of New Haven and, indeed, isone of the most beautiful private residences inthis part of the country.”

Mr. Brewster died in 1959 and in his will,decreed that Edgerton be left to the City of NewHaven as a public park. He also ordered that thefamily mansion be demolished after the deathof his wife. Mr. Brewster once told friends thatit cost some $100,000 a year to maintain theestate. He felt that no private family, not anyinstitution, could afford the costs ofmaintenance which he felt his cherished estatecommanded. And so he ordered that hismansion be razed before the property becomesa public park.

Mrs. Brewster survived her husband by fiveyears, passing away late last year. The Brewster

summer home, “Morelands” in Dublin, N.H.,was sold to an investment group. An auction offurnishings within “Edgerton” was held and allthe old antiques and family furniture were sold.

Edgerton Estate - North View

Edgerton Estate - South View

Edgerton Park - Arial View

The land belonging to Edgerton Park wasoriginally a parcel of Eli Whitney's ( of thecotton gin fame) property. Almost adjacent towhere his factory was located. This parcel wasconveyed to his daughter who sold it toFrederick Brewster so that he could build hiswife an estate as a wedding present. On the lotwas the home of Ms Whitney called "Ivy Nook"

7

Mr. Brewster raised Ivy Nook and built hispalatial mansion. For those of you who havenever been to New Haven, Ct it is a townabsolutely FULL of history. Many restorations ofold homes are going on right now. This was thehometown of the famous " Winchester Family"of the gun fame, as well as tons of other historicfamilies who have made their home there. Andof course, don't forget, it is the home to YaleUniversity and Eli Whitney.

A Passport Entry of Frederick Foster Brewster

The above picture is from Ancestry.com

The Brewster's are buried in the famous Grove Street

cemetery, where many earlier families are buried.

8

Published: June 8, 1907Copyright © The New York Times___________________________

This is an article written in the New York Times, regarding Mr. Brewster and his wealthy

friends. Mr. Brewster had connections with the Standard Oil Company.

Don't forget to send me your family

stories so that they can be put into the

newsletter. Send them to me at:

Gregory Evan Thompson

P.O. Box 355

Branford, CT 06405

9

The Triennial Meeting

We hope to see as many of your as possible atthe Triennial Meeting in Plymouth,Massachusetts. For those who have neverbeen, Plymouth is a town full of history and awarm and friendly place to visit. This year, ourtreasurer and I have worked especially hard toprovide you with an excellent meal (PilgrimBuffet) as well as entertainment. This year wehave decided to focus on what a large andprominent family the Brewster's are. Your oneand only Historian and membership chairmanwill talk about "Famous Brewster's in History"Some of whom you may heard of, and manythat you probably have not.

I also will discuss the progress of the update ofthe Brewster Genealogy and how you cancontribute to this important family legacy.

There will be other surprises as well. We alwayshave a great time, and since we have almost200 new members since the last meeting, I'mexpecting the turnout to be fantastic!!!!!!!!

Find the meeting form and dates and costs onthe next page.

If you plan on attending the cut-off date isSeptember 2, 2011 I ask that you respect thisdeadline as the Hotel needs to order the correctamount of food and supplies. Space is limited,so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't wait till thelast minute. We can promise you a good time.I am especially excited to meet in person someof the many members that I have worked withover the years, and conversed via e-mail buthave never met in person.

Plymouth, Massachusetts has something foreveryone, especially for history lovers. Hope tosee you there in September 2011

Some Plymouth, Ma. Sites

The Mayflower II

Burial Hill

Plymouth Plantation

Pilgrim Hall Museum

10

More Plymouth, Massachusetts Attractions

Beautiful Brewster Gardens

The Jenny Grist Mill

11

12

The Elder William Brewster Societyc/o Gregory Evan ThompsonP.O. Box 355Branford, CT 06405

DUES EXPIRATION ON LABEL

This Newsletter is copyrighted 2011The Elder William Brewster Society

Currently published June and OctoberPermission to use data found in the ElderBrewster Press, in whole or in part, isforbidden without written permission(and is never permitted for commercialpurposes). Thank you for your under-standing.

Address all requests to:Gregory Evan Thompson, P.O. Box 355

Branford, CT 06405

Return Address Service requested

Old Map of Cape Cod, Massachusetts