By: Susan BrewsterCocker Hopkins

Susan BrewsterCocker Hopkins — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 03:18:09 +0000

Pertinent to this discussion is the following:
“”NARRATIVE OF TIMOTHY BREWSTER
Woodbridge, in the State of New Jersey.
August the 19th, 1782………”
“….
Now it was the enemy which had got possession of the North River; Burgoyne passing down with an army of
ten or twelve thousand men almost to Albany. The Lord did now in a wonderful manner appear for the
Americans, for on the 10th. of his month happened the wonderful event of Burgoyne’s surrender with his army.
Sir Henry Clinton had by this time burnt Esopus, finding what had happened to Burgoyne, made the best of his
way to New York lest he should share the same fate.
Previous to this my wife and I had been to the Jerseys to see our friends there, and had several pressing
invitations from Aunt White to come and live with her and keep the tavern. So, after Fort Montgomery was
taken, we determined to move to the Jerseys.
Accordingly I went to the Jerseys and settled matters with Miss. White and returned to make possible
preparations for a removal, and on the six and twentieth day of November we took our departure from New
Windsor with an Ox-cart and wagon, driving the cattle, hogs and sheep. This journey was attended with great
fatigue. However, we arrived to Basking Ridge on the fifth day of December, 1777. Here we lived and kept the
tavern in good credit and friendship with our neighbors, nothing happening material until March, 1779 at which
time the confiscated farms were sold and I bought the farm I now possess. TIMOTHY BREWSTER”
Full quote is here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193796241
Timothy was the son of Samuel Brewster who forged part of the great chain across the Hudson to block British ships. Timothy moved his family from New Windsor, Orange County, NY. to Basking Ridge, and then to Woodbridge, Middlesex, NJ. One can guess that Aunt White was more than unsettled by the events at her tavern and wanted a male proprietor. Whether the Wido White is being called Aunt because she’s related to Timothy’s family, or whether it’s a general honorific, I can’t say at this point.
Timothy Brewster is my GGGG Grandfather and I’ve only recently come upon this story.
Lovely to find this web page and the images. Thanks for putting them up.

Comments on: Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge was More Than a Grog Stop

By: Susan BrewsterCocker Hopkins