Brewster, Jonathan & Lucretia Oldham

In 1646, New London was settled by colonists from Massachusetts. The first English settler within the bounds of modern Preston was Jonathan Brewster who acquired land from Uncas at the mouth of Poquetanuck Cove on the Thames River, later called Brewster’s Neck.
~ Town of Preston website

Tim’s 10th-great-grandfather, Jonathan Brewster, son of William & Mary (—) Brewster, was born 12 August 1593 in Scrooby, England, and died 7 August 1659 in Preston, Connecticut. He married 10 April 1624 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Lucretia Oldham, who was baptized 14 January 1600 in Derby, England, and died 4 March 1671 in Preston, daughter of William & Philippa (Sowter) Oldham.

Jonathan arrived in Plymouth on 9 November 1621, on the Fortune and Lucretia arrived 10 July 1623, on the Anne. When they settled in Brewster’s Neck, near the Thames River, c. 1650, it was still part of New London. Preston was incorporated as a town in 1687, after their deaths.

A freeman in 1633, he was active in the settlement of the town of Duxbury, incorporated 7 June 1637. Records indicate that he served as a surveyor, laid out highways, practiced as an attorney, and was styled a “gentleman.” He served as Deputy to General Court 1639, 1641, 1643-1644. He was on a committee to raise forces during the Narragansett Alarm of 1642, and was a member of Captain Myles Standish’s Duxbury Company in 1643. He served as a military commissioner in the Pequot War of 1637. In 1638, Jonathan Brewster established a ferry service to transport passengers and cattle across the North River. In 1641, he sold this to Messrs. Barker, Howell and others. He also practiced as an attorney and was the master and owner of a coasting vessel plying as far south as Virginia. … Sometime before Sept 1649 Jonathan moved to Connecticut, being appointed town clerk of Pequot (New London), and obtained a grant of land from the Mohegan Sachem, Uncas, in that town. By Nov. 30, 1652 a large tract, still known as Brewster’s Neck, from the Mohegan tribe was confirmed to him from which he operated a trading post with the Indians. (Brewster Book, by Milton Terry, 1985)
~ WikiTree website

Jonathan & Lucretia lie buried in Brewster’s Neck Cemetery in Preston. Their original gravestones no longer exist.

Jonathan & Lucretia were the parents of eight children:

1. William Brewster, born 9 March 1625 in Plymouth. He married 15 October 1651 in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Mary Peame, who was born c. 1625. William & Mary may have returned to England.

2. Mary Brewster (Tim’s 9th great-grandmother), born 16 April 1627 in Plymouth, died after 23 March 1698. She married 12 November 1645 in Scituate, Massachusetts, John “the Elder” Turner, who was baptized 24 March 1622 in Terling, England, and died before 20 May 1697 in Scituate, son of Humphrey & Lydia (Gaymer) Turner.

3. Jonathan Brewster, born 17 July 1629 in Plymouth.

4. Ruth Brewster, born 3 October 1631 in Duxbury, died 30 April 1677 in New London, Connecticut. She married (as her first husband) 14 March 1651 in New London, John Pickett, who was born c. 1629 and died 16 August 1667 at sea, son of John & Elizabeth (Ives) Pickett.
Ruth married (as her second husband and as his first wife) 16 July 1668 in New London, Charles Hill, who was born c. 1630 and died in October 1684, son of George Hill.

5. Capt. Benjamin Brewster, born 17 November 1633 in Duxbury, died 14 September 1710 in Preston. He married (as her second husband) 28 February 1660, Ann (Addis) Dart, who was baptized 17 March 1628 in Frampton, England and died 9 May 1709 in Norwich, Connecticut, daughter of William & Millicent (Wood) Addis, and widow of Ambrose Dart.

6. Elizabeth Brewster, born 1 May 1637 in Duxbury, died in February 1708 in New London. She married 7 September 1653 in New London, Peter Bradley, who was born about 1634 and died 3 April 1662 at sea.
After becoming a widow Elizabeth gave birth to a son out of wedlock on 3 September 1668, the illegitimate son of Hon. Christopher Christophers, a married man, who went on to marry Elizabeth after his wife died on 13 July 1676. He was born c. 1631 and died 23 July 1687 in New London.

7. Grace Brewster, born 1 November 1639 in Duxbury, died 22 April 1684 in New London. She married 4 August 1659 in New London, Capt. Daniel Wetherell, who was born 29 November 1630 in Maidstone, England and died 14 April 1719 in New London, son of William & Mary (Fisher) Wetherell.

8. Hannah Brewster, born 3 November 1641 in Duxbury, died 11 December 1711 in Groton, Connecticut. She married (as her first husband) 23 December 1664 in New London, Samuel Starr, who was born c. 1640 and died before 22 February 1688 in New London, son of Thomas & Rachel (—) Starr.
Hannah married (as her second husband and as his second wife) before 8 May 1690, Capt. James Morgan, who was born 3 March 1643 in Roxbury-Boston, Massachusetts, and died 8 December 1711 in Groton, son of James & Margery (Hill) Morgan.

On the edge of the Brewster plot we found three stones carved by the Norwich Ovoid Carver. These belong to a son, daughter-in-law and grandson of Jonathan & Lucretia, not in Tim’s direct line. Thanks to the work of others at Find-A-Grave I was able to identify them.

Capt. Benjamin Brewster (1633-1710), son of Jonathan & Lucretia

Ann (Addis) (Dart) Brewster (1628-1709), wife of Benjamin

Jonathan Brewster (1664-1704), son of Benjamin & Ann

Last Revised: 14 September 2024