William Taylor Brewer was born 10 Feb 1798.  Little is known of his early life and some researchers state he is a son of George Brewer & Hanna Thompson.

     By 1825 he was living in Hinds Co MS, where he paid Taxes for that year and 1826, and that is where he probably married his wife, Bethany Brewer - her surname is also Brewer.  See her page HERE.

     According to records, William was in the Republic of Texas by the year 1834, living near his wife's family.

From the Blake Collection, Vol. XIX, pp. 259-264. Nacogdoches Archives, 1835, Vol. 84, pp. 42-45:

1835 Census Report of Nacogdoches Texas --from West to Angelina River

     The above record would prove the birth of a third child born to William and Bethany before 1835.  Two children are known to have been born to them by 1835 - Preston & Dexter - thus proving another child was born prior to the birth of their daughter Celia in 1836.

     In 1838 William T Brewer was awarded a Nacogdoches District headright certificate from the Republic of Texas for a league & labor of land - 4,605 acres.  He moved his family to that land in 1844 and patented the land 22 Feb 1847.  With the development of north Texas counties after statehood his land was situated first in Nacogdoches Co, then  in Henderson County where he is recorded as paying Poll Tax for 1846.  The land now lies situated half in modern day Kaufman County and half in Van Zandt County.

     In February 1850, Susie Anna, William & Bethany's daughter died.  She was enumerated on the 1850 Henderson County Mortality Schedule as age 8, name listed as Susania, died from Scarlet Fever.  Susie Ann, was the first interment in the Old Brewer Family Cemetery on William's homestead.

     With ever-changing county boundary lines William's land was still part of Henderson County in 1850.  He and family were enumerated on the Census there.  Oddly, his wife Bethany is not enumerated on the 1850 census with William and their children - as if the enumerator simply forgot to write her name on the record.

1850 Henderson Co TX Census - HH # 10 / 10

     William Brewer was a Slave owner.  On the 1850 census he reported 1 slave, a mulatto female, age 11.

     On 2 July 1852 William T Brewer died.  He was buried next to daughter Susie Ann.

     William T Brewer's estate was Probated in Kaufman County on 26 Sep 1852, with Bethany Brewer as Administrator - Probate File # 109A.  His eldest son, Preston was also made an Executor of William's estate and in Kaufman County records, "Papers Not Trans", pg 57, dated  9 Oct 1852,  the one slave of the estate was left to Bethany, described as "1 negro girl -  Emeline, worth $550.00 ". In turn, Bethany gave the slave to their daughter, Celia, probably as a wedding gift in 1854. However,  Celia Ann's husband and his family did not believe in owning slaves.  On 22 Nov 1855 Celia Ann Wikle sold to her mother Bathany the negro Slave Emiline for the sum of $33.00, as recorded in Kaufman County Deed Book F, page 312.

     Earlier that year, on 30 April 1855 Bethany filed for Guardianship of her minor-aged children.  Kaufman County File # NCN 223, naming children:  Kenyon, Matilda, W. B., Clarissa & Nancy.

     Another of William & Bethany's daughters - Julia Ann - died 8 Jan 1858.  She was buried next to her father and her sister.

     In October 1858 Bethany's oldest son, Preston married and moved from the home.

     The 1860 Kaufman County Census shows Bethany and some of her children still in their home.  *Note: it appears the transcription of Bethany's name is an error.

1860  Kaufman County Census  HH # 554 / 552

     On the 1860 census Bethany is reported as owning 2 slaves:  a mulatto female age 20 (more than likely, Emiline) and a mulatto male aged 3 (probably Emiline's son).

     The war between the states started in early 1861 and Bethany saw her sons enlist in the Confederate States Army.  Son Burton joined Co I 11th Texas Infantry and Kinion enlisted in Co G 3rd Texas Cavalry.  Both survived the war.

     Late in 1867 Bethany Brewer died.  She was buried in the family graveyard next to William.  Her Probate was filed in Kaufman County on 1 Jan 1870, file # NCN 225, with son Kinion K Brewer as Executor.

Known CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN of William T & Bethany Brewer

**NOTE: Not much is known about this son - If you have information on his life, please notify K K Hunt

*NOTE: See information on the WIKLE family and Why they moved to Kansas HERE

See Kinion Kendrick's Obituary & Photo HERE

**NOTE: Not much is known about this son - If you have information on his life, please notify K K Hunt

CENSUS RECORDS OF Wm. BREWER'S CHILDREN

P W BREWER on CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Brown Co TX HH # 139 / 133

They were living next door to Mary's parents, David & Pency Baugh

1870 Comanche Co TX

1880 Taylor Co TX Census

1900 Roger Mills Co OK HH # 86 / 86

CELIA BREWER WIKLE on CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Kaufman Co TX - Prairieville HH # 536 / 538

*Robert Scott married Celia's sister, Matilda.

1870 Neosho Co KS - Erie HH # 259 / 259

HENRY DEXTER BREWER on CENSUS RECORDS

KINION K BREWER on CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Kaufman Co TX Census - Prairieville 17 Aug 1870 HH # 1030 / 1048

1880 Coleman Co TX HH # 111 / 127

1900 Taylor Co TX HH # 270 / 280

1910 Concho Co TX Census- HH # 127 / 159

1920 San Saba Co TX Census - HH # 98 / 98

MATILDA BREWER on CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Kaufman Co TX HH #1032 / 1050

1880 Kaufman Co TX Census

1910 Potter Co TX Census

WILLIAM BURTON BREWER on CENSUS RECORDS

1880 - Taylor Co TX living with brother Preston W Brewer

CLARA BREWER BIVINS on CENSUS RECORDS

Unable to locate on 1870

1880 Comanche Co TX Census

1910 Garvin Co OK Census - Elmore - HH # 37 / 38

NANCY BREWER BIVINS on CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Lampasas Co TX BIVINS HH # 71 / 68

*in the household of John G W Bivins, William's father

1880 Comanche Co TX Census

1900 Roger Mills Co OK - Elk

1920 Hutchinson Co TX Census - HH # 40 / 40

• The Kaufman County, TX Wall of Honor
• Kaufman County, TX Reflections