FS&L IV

BREWSTER: Back in my early research days while working on my Hazen genealogy, a fellow researcher informed me that she had been told that there was a Mayflower connection to that family. None of the research to that time supported the claim. Little did I know at the time that early researchers had made a crucial error in calculating relationships in the lineage. Elizabeth Dart was presumed to be a Dart by birth, whereas she was actually a Dart by marriage and a Turner by birth. That was the key to solving "the Mayflower mystery."  The evidence was in the records. It had been overlooked. Elizabeth Turner's grandmother was Mary Brewster, daughter of Jonathan and granddaughter of Elder William Brewster.

Brewster was a native of Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. He served Secretary William Davison and was in the "Low Countries" with Davison when he negotiated an alliance with the States General. He was later postmaster of Scrooby. About 1602 Brewster began hosting worship services in his home. The attendees would form the Separatist Church in 1606. Brewster was arrested in 1607 for trying to lead a Separatist group in fleeing England. The next year he was released and joined the Separatists in The Netherlands and was chosen ruling elder in 1609. After escaping authorities in 1619, Brewster was able to secure a grant from the Virginia Company.

The Mayflower and the Speedwell left Plimouth, England in August 1620 for Virginia, The Speedwell was forced to turn back and the Mayflower sailed off course, landing at Cape Cod [Massachusetts] in October. The passengers, about half Separatists and half Strangers [non-Separatists] signed the "Mayflower Compact" - the document that laid out the government of the new colony. [men only]

Of the 102 passengers, 52 survived the first winter. The Fortune arrived in 1621 with relief for the survivors.

Brewster served as leader of the church for many years. He was praised by his contemporaries for his leadership. William moved to Duxbury in 1630 to join his son Jonathan [who arrived in 1621]. He died there in April of 1644 at the age of 89.