Ancestor # 90

Peter Brouse (1764 - 1809)

Peter Brouse was born 1 January 1764 in Johnstown, Fulton, New York and died in Matilda, Dundas, Ontario, Canada between 27 July 1809 and 6 February 1810. He is the son of George and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Brouse. He married Anna Katharina Carman in 1788 in Matilda. Anna Katharine, who went by Katherine, was born on 14 November 1771 in Johnstown and died 15 June 1843 in Matilda.

Peter Brouse was a Loyalist like his father and his brothers George and Joseph. He enlisted in the King’s Royal Ranges of New York along with his brothers and after the peace of 1783, all three settled in Matilda. Peter is listed in the muster roll taken 13 October 1784[i] with 1 woman, probably his mother and 3 boys over 10. These 3 are probably his brothers George, William and Joseph. His father had died in New York early in the War and the entire family moved to Canada in 1783. By 1784 his three sisters were already married. He is also listed on the muster roll for 1785[ii] and the provision list for 1786[iii].

Peter settled on lot 22 in the first concession in Matilda. This is where he made his home but like most of his contemporaries, he regularly purchased and sold other lots in Matilda and Mountain. Each lot consisted of about 200 acres. On 22 March 1804, he sold 300 acres to Thomas Fraser of Edwardsburg consisting of half of lot 30 in the 5^th concession of Matilda and all of lot one of the 8^th concession of Matilda[iv].

Peter wrote his will on 27 July 1809[v] and probably died shortly thereafter. At his death he owned the following property: in Matilda, lot 22 in the first concession, lot 9 in the 7^th concession, east half of lot 30 in the 3^rd concession, east quarter of lot 30 in the 5^th concession and in Mountain, lot 12 in the first concession. In Canada at this time, if a man died owning only real estate located in only one county, then probate was not necessary. His heirs would take a copy of his will to the clerk’s office to be entered into the land records for the county.  Peter’s will was submitted on 6 February 1810 and entered as memorial 47.

The terms of his will are as follows: His real estate and personal property are to be divided equally among his wife and children. His four daughters, Mary, Rachel, Betsey and Caty are to divide £100. His real estate is to be appraised and divided equally among his 6 sons, George, Peter, Michael, John, William and Frederick.  His wife, Caty, is to have the east half of lot 22 in the Front Concession of Matilda with all buildings, a farm, farm equipment, 2/3 of the cows and all money left at my death for the purpose of raising the children. George is to have the west half of lot 22 and Frederick the east half of lot 22. All the rest of the real estate is to be divided equally between Peter, Michael, John and William. The will is witnessed by Paul Glasford and Elizabeth and Daniel Puckett.

            Children of Peter and Anna Katarina (Carmen) Brouse, all born in Matilda:

i.               George Brouse, b. 1790, d. 12 Feb 1860 in Matilda. He married on 30 Mar 1813 Elizabeth Shaver, b. 1793 and d. 10 Oct 1856.

ii.             Peter Brouse, b. 26 Aug 1791 and d. after 1875. He married on 3 Jul 1815 Mary Bouck b. Jan 1793 in Cornwall, Stormont, Ontario and d. 18 Sep 1873 in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario.

iii.           Michael Brouse, b.1794 and d. 8 Jan 1828. He married about 1814 Phoebe Bailey, b. 1803 in Cornwall and d. 15 Apr 1879 in Iroquois, Dundas, Ontario.

iv.           Jacob Brouse, b. 1795, and married 1) in 1818 Nancy Parlow, b. 1799 and d, 1836, 2) about 1836 Elizabeth Bailey, b. 1799 in Cornwall and d. 2 Sep 1849 in Matilda, and 3) in 1850 Frances Lyman, b. 1802 in the United States and d. 8 Jul 1886 in Matilda.

v.             Mary Brouse, b. 1796 and d. 29 Jan 1890 in South Gower, Grenville, Ontario. She married before 1818 Nicholas Shaver, b. 16 Nov 1793 in Osnabruck, Stormont, Ontario and d. 18 Apr 1858 in South Gower.

vi.           William Brouse, b. 1799, d. 23 May 1888 in Matilda. He never married.

vii.          Rachel Brouse, b. 1802 and d. 11 Nov 1893 in Draper, Muskoka, Ontario. She married in 1822 Jacob Stamp, b. 1798 and d, before 1849.

viii.        Frederick Brouse, b. 1803 and d. 1837. He married about 1823 Frances Shaver, b. 1807 and d. 1880.

ix.           Elizabeth Brouse, b. 1806 and d. 13 May 1843. She married in 1827 Andrew Burnside, b. 1796 in Ireland and d. Jun 1858 in Iroquois.

x.             Catherine Brouse, b. 1808 and d. 8 Oct 1872 in Mountain, Dundas, Ontario. She married on 18 Jan 1824 Elijah Van Camp, b. 1806 and d. 12 Oct 1870 in Mountain.

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[i] Norman K. Crowder, Early Ontario Settlers, A Source Book, (Baltimore: 1993, Genealogical Publishing Co.), p. 51, B592 Peter Brows.

[ii] Crowder, Early Ontario Settlers, p. 102, D921, Peter Brows.

[iii] Crowder, Early Ontario Settlers, p. 156, H361, Peter Bruss

[iv] Land Records of Dundas County, Ontario, Vol A, p. 32, Brouse to Fraser, Memorial #138, dated 22 Mar 1804, Family Search Library, microfilm roll # 201,604.

[v] Land Records of Dundas County, Ontario, Vol A, p. 248, Will of Peter Brouse, Memorial #47, dated 27 Jul 1809, Family Search Library, microfilm roll # 1,903,032.