Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert>> John Abraham Rikert>> Frederick Rikert>> Johannes Rikert

Johannes Rikert is born to Johan David Reichard and Anna Elizabeth Schafer in Rhinebeck, New York on October 9, 1746.

1775: Johannes marries Catherine Tator (also spelled Dater) in Rhinebeck at the age of 29.

1775- 1783: Originally when asked to pledge his support to the Continental Congress, it is known that he refused to sign in support of the revolution. However, Johannes is listed as an enlisted man in the Dutchess County Militia-- Sixth Regiment in the Land Bounty Rights held by the State of New York for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. He was possibly a sergent; however, it was unlikely that he ever served in battle, but was ready if called upon.

1777: The couple welcome their first child to the family, Elisabeth on April 11, 1777. Elizabeth will marry Jacob Berringer. It is unknown if the couple had children or when Elizabeth died.

1779: Catherine is born to the couple on November 21, 1779. In looking through the records, the information about this woman seems to be unclear and confused, as a number of women with the same name seem to have merged. She may have married a man named John Mink (1775-1844) on September 23, 1798 in Rhinebeck. The couple is known to have had three sons: William J. (1799-1857), John (1804-1880), and Robert Russell (1814-1883). It is also possible that she moved to Elgin, Illinois at some stage. If she did, she died on July 5, 1849.

1781: The next child was Frederick born in 1781. Frederick will marry Catherine Traver in Rhinebeck in 1802. They will have five children: Louisa Frederica (1803-unknown), Catharine (1806-unknown), Gilbert Transon (1809-unknown), John Abraham (1811-1859), and Elijah (1816-1839). He was a farmer in the Rhinebeck area according to the 1830 and 1840 census records. He will die on September 1, 1856.

1783: David Rikert was born on August 13, 1783. It is believed he may have married a woman name Anna Maria Sleight. If so, they had a number of children: Ann (1797-1868), Anna Maria (1799-unknown), Henry (1802-1862), William (1808-1895), Elizabeth (1810-1888), and Katharine (1819-1872). It is also believed that he served as a member of the New York Militia in the War of 1812 from War of 1812 Payroll information. David is believed to have died in 1826 in Rochester, New York.

1784: It is believed that this year, when his father died, Johannes became the primary heir to his father's will:

"David Rikert's Will
In the name of God, Amen. I, David Rikert of the precinct of Rhinebeck in Dutchess county, yeoman. Being sick, But of sound memory, mind and understanding, and considering the uncertainty of this Transitory Life, do make, publish and Declare, this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following (to witt).
1st I Order and direct that all my just debts and funeral Charges, be paid and satisfied.
2ly I give to my Eldest son Joseph my Big Dutch Bible.
3ly I give and bequeath to my step-daughter Elizabeth Counes , a Cow, a Ewe, & a Lamb.
4ly I do hereby give, devise, and Bequeath to my son Johannes Rikert, and to his heirs and assigns forever all my farm at Rhinebeck as it is now in my possession, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, together with the wagon sleds ploughs and all and singular the farming utencels, on, and belonging to the said farm.
On the condition hereinafter mentioned, and not otherwise. (To witt).
5ly That my said son, Johannes, his heirs Or Assigns, pay to my wife Mary, and my other ten children, that is to say, Joseph, Henry, Jacob, David,Philip, Zacharia, Barent, Susanah, The wife of Lodwick Elsefer, Mary the widow of Urry Ziperly, and Catherine the wife of Wilhelmus Feller and to their respective heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the sum of five hundred spanish milled, silver Dollars, share and share alike, to be paid in three equal payments, (to witt) on third part thereof, one year after my decease, another third part thereof, two years after my decease, and the remaining third part thereof, three years after my decease.
6ly And further that my said son Johannes his heirs or assigns, allow my wife Mary a good room in the dwelling house, and the same kept in sufficient repair, with celar and garret room, and sufficient firewood cut by the door and if on the division with the children my wife get a cow and two sheep, or if she provide them otherwise, my son Johannes, his heirs or assigns shall keep and take care of them summer and winter, as his own cattle, and if any turn old he or they, are to change them from time to time and keep up the number to her, so long as she doth live, and these that she hath at her death are to be at her own disposal. But if she doth not get nor provide the cow and two sheep as aforesaid, that then my son Johannes, his heirs, or assigns, also to provide them for her use yearly a sufficient quantity of garden stuff as herbs, potatoes, turnips, cabage and roots for summer and winter, likewise apples for her use in the summer & winter store and liberty to keep and feed a pig each fall out of the falen apples. Also to sow for her yearly half a schiple of flax seed, to pull, rott, bring in & thresh the flax thereof. Also to deliver to her every fall three bushels of indian corn, and carry the same to mill and bring home the meal to her. Also to deliver to her every fall three barrels of cider if there is a sufficiency of apples for both families, if not, then in proportion only and likewise to deliver to her every fall a quarter of good beef, and one hundred and twenry five pounds weight of pork well fattened.
7ly All the residue and remainder of my worldly estate wherewith God has Blessed me with, I give devise and bequeath unto my wife Mary and my said ten children Joseph, Henry, Jacob, David, Philip, Zacharias, Barent, Susanah, Mary and Catharine and to their respective heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike.
8ly I do hereby appoint my son Joseph and my two sons in law LodwickElsefer, and Wilhelmus Feller, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former will and wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, 1783.

David Reichert, L.S.

Signed, sealed published and declared by the within named David Rikard, as and for his last will and Testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of each other.

Will Cockburn
Jas. Cockburn
Philip Verplanck

Dutchess County SS. Be it remembered that on the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four personally came and appeared before me Gilbert Livingston Surrogate of the Said County James Cockburn of Dutchess County farmer and being duly sworn on his Oath, declared that he did see David Reichert sign and seal the within written Instrument purporting to be the Will of the said David Reichert bearing date the thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, that at the time thereof he the said David Reichert was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of him the deponent, and that his name subscribed as a witness to the said Will in the testators presence and that he the deponent saw William Cockburn and Philip Ver Planck the other witnesses to the said Will, subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the Testators presence.

Gilbert Livingston, Surrogate.

Dutchess County SS. Be it also remembered that on the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four Joseph Reichert, Lodewick Elsever and Wilhelmus Feller the Executors of the within written Will of David Reichert likewise appeared before me the said Gilbert Livingston and were duly sworn to the execution and performance of the said Will, by severally taking the Oath of an Executor as by law appointed.

Before me Gilbert Livingston Surrogate."

1786: The next son born in the family is George Irving Rikert on March 8, 1786. From the 1850 Census, it seems that George married a woman named Margaret. At the time, the couple were both 3 years of age.Their grown daughter, Eliza A., was living at home at 24 and either their very young son, or more likely, a grandson, Wellington was living with the family as well. They also seemed to be housing the local school teacher, Benjamin Shafer at the time of the census. George, like his brother Frederick, was a farmer. The value of his estate was estimated at 4000 dollars. This was a great deal of money today- $121,212 in today's money. He is believed to have died in the town of Milan, in Dutchess County on August 8, 1868.

1788: John I. Rikert was born to Johannes and Catherine in 1788 on April 11. He is thought to have married a woman named Elizabeth Plattner. It is unknown if the couple had children. He is known to have died on March 15, 1849.

1790: The last child born in the family was another son, Henry I. Rikert on September 16, 1790 in Rhinebeck. He married a woman named Elizabeth Risley sometime around 1812. They had five children: John Henry (1813-1883), William Christopher (1815-1888), Catharine Andoline (1820-1878), Stephen Andrew (1823-1895), and son that died young (1830-1830). He died on March 14, 1858 in East Rhinebeck at the age of 67. He is also, like his brothers a farmer. His estimated estate is worth 3600 dollars.

 1792: On the 31st of August, 1792, Johannes died in Rhinebeck.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert>> John Abraham Rikert>> Frederick Rikert

Frederick Rikert was born on March 4, 1781 to Johannes Rikert and Catherine Tator in Rhinebeck, New York.

1802: At the age of 21, Frederick marries Catherine Tator in Rhinebeck. There are two Frederick Rikerts born around the same time in the Rhinebeck area of New York. One married Catherine and the second seems to have married a woman named Elizabeth. Because of the nature of the records of the 1840 and 1830 Census, it is not possible at this time to attribute which Frederick Rikert is the one for this direct line. The 1850 Census only shows the Frederick Rikert who married Elizabeth. Both of these men are listed as farmers in the records.

1803-1816: Catherine and Frederick had the following children in this time period- Louisa Frederica (1803-unknown), Catharine (1806-unknown), Gilbert Transon (1809-unknown), John Abraham (1811-1859), and Elijah (1816-1839).

1856: It is believed that Frederick Rikert dies in Rhinebeck on September 1, 1856.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert>> John Abraham Rikert>> Catherine Traver

Catherine Traver was born sometime around 1785. It is not known who her parents were.

1802: Catherine marries Frederick Rikert (1781-1856) presumeably in Rhinebeck, New York.

1803: Their first child, Louisa Frederica Rikert is born. Nothing further is known of this child at this time.

1806: The next child born to the couple is Catharine Rikert. It is not known if she married, had children, or when she dies.

1809: Gilbert Transom Rikert is born to the couple; Gilbert is known to have married Margaret Maria Fisher (1810-unknown) and fathered at least one son, William Henry (1838-unknown) according to the 1840 Federal Census. He is also a farmer. It is unknown when he dies.

1811: John Abraham is born. John will marry Caroline Fisher, possibly the sister or cousin of Margaret Maria Fisher (Gilbert's wife) and they will have at least four children together: an unnamed son, Julia A., Josephine, and Caroline . He dies in 1859 in Rhinebeck.

1816: Elijah is the final child born of the union. At this time Catherine is about 39 years old. We know Elijah dies at the age of about 23 in 1839, but nothing else is known about him. It is unknown what year Catherine dies.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert>> John Abraham Rikert

John Abraham Rikert was born in December 1811 in Rhinebeck, New York to Frederick Rikert (1781-1856) and Catherine Traver (1785-unknown).

1830s: John marries Caroline Fisher, presumeably in Rhinebeck sometime around 1835. They have their first child, a male child, sometime between 1835-1840, but the date is unknown. Their daughter, Julia A. is born in 1837.

1840: John and his family are shown in the 1840 Census. This census simply confirms who is living in the home by age and gender.

1847-48: Josephine Rikert is born to the couple. She will die at the age of 13 of unknown causes. Their next daughter, Caroline in born sometime in 1848. She will live until 1880. In 1848, his wife will die, possibly due to childbirth related issues on May 13.

1859: August 15, 1859 is the date John Rikert dies. He is buried in the Rhinebeck Cemetery.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert>> Carolina Fisher

Caroline Fisher was born in 1816 to unknown parents. Her place of birth is unknown, but it is likely to be somewhere around Rhinebeck, NY.

1830s: Sometime between 1834-37, Caroline marries John Abraham Rikert in Rhinebeck, NY. Between 1835-1840, the couple have their first child, but, the first name of the child is unknown.

1837: Caroline gives birth to Julia A. Rikert (1837-1922). Julia will go onto marry George W. Brewer and they will have five children together: Samuel G., Emma, Walter S., Hattie, and Henry D.

1847: The next child known to have been born to the couple is Josephine, born in March of that year. Josephine dies early, at the age of thirteen, on November 15, 1860.

1848: Caroline Rikert was born sometime around 1848. She will live to the age of 32 and die in 1880. She is buried in Rhinebeck Cemetery. Caroline Fisher Rikert dies this same year, 1848, on May 13th. It is unknown the cause of death, but it is possible that it is due to complications associated with childbirth.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> Julia A. Rikert

Julia A. Rikert was born on January 24, 1837 in Rhinebeck, New York to John Abraham Rikert (1811-1859) and Caroline Fisher (1816-1848).

1857: Julia marries George W. Brewer at the age of 20.

1859-1907: Julia is known to be living in New York City from this point forward. She has five children with her husband: Samuel G. (1859-1922), Emma (1861-unknown), Walter S. (1863-1941), Hattie (1867-unknown), and Henry D. (1869-1946). During the Civil War, her husband, George enlisted, leaving her with three young children to care for in New York City. After her husband's death in 1907, Julia continued to live with her three youngest children.

1910-1920: In the 1910 Census, it states that she has her own income, perhaps from her husband or other family. She is living with Walter, Hattie, and Henry, none of whom married, in both the 1910 and 1920 Census records.  

1922: Julia dies on March 16, 1922 from kidney disease in the Bronx, as is recorded on her death certificate (#2102). She is buried in the Rhinebeck Cemetary on March 20, 1922, Section A, Lot 300.

Thelma Brewer>> Robert Melvin Brewer>> Samuel G. Brewer>> George W. Brewer

George W. Brewer was born in July 1830 in New York. His parents are unknown.

1857: George marries Julia A. Rikert at the age of 27.

1859: Samuel G. Brewer is born to George and Julia in May. Samuel will marry a woman named Mary Adelaide Wainman in 1880. They will have four children: Robert Melvin (1885-1927), Arthur (1887-unknown), Adelaide (1893-unknown), and Edith (1899-unknown).

1860: George's name appears on the New York, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index for this year. He listed as living in District 4 of the County of New York.

1861: George and Julia have their second child, Emma in December. In the 1900 Federal Census, at the age of 38, Emma is still living with her parents, but she is not employed. It is possible that Emma married a man named Henry I. Acken on April 6, 1905. The marriage certificate number is 379 and they married in the Bronx. There is no other record of Emma that can be found at this time.

1863: The next child born to the couple is Walter S. Brewer. Born in June of 1863, Walter never marries or has children, but instead, resides with family members his entire life. In the 1900 Census, Walter is listed as a clerk. In 1910 and 1915, Walter is listed as not working. The New York State Census states that he is retired by 1915; he is only 52.In 1930, he lives at 664 East 170th St., Apt. 31 in the Bronx. He is also to be found in the 1940 Census record. He dies on October 13, 1941 in the Bronx. Also, in 1863, George is drafted to serve in the Civil War, on July 1st. He is listed as living at 87 West 49th St. in New York. He is listed as a painter, which is confirmed in the 1870 Census. It is believed that he served in the 4th Heavy Artillary Regiment, Company E. He is listed as a drummer and in came in and out at the rank of Private. If this record is indeed the same George W. Brewer, he participated in the following battles: Wilderness, VA; Spotsylvania Court House, VA; North Anna, VA; Totopotomoy, VA; Cold Harbor, VA; Petersburg, VA; Weldon Railroad, VA; Deep Bottom, VA; Strawberry Plains, VA; Ream's Station, VA; Petersburg Works, VA; and Appomattox Campaign, VA (including Appomattox Court House where and when General Lee surrendered!).

1867: Hattie is born to George and Julia in June on 1867. She, like her brothers Walter and Henry, will live unmarried with her family for her entire life, as she appears unmarried in all of the census records through 1940. She does not have an occupation other than homemaker. It is unknown when Hattie dies.

1869: The last child that was born to George and Julia was Henry D. Brewer. He was born August 1868. Henry never married, nor did he have children. He became a jewelry salesperson and supported his mother, his brother Walter, and sister Hattie. He is believed to have died on November 6, 1946 in the Bronx. His death certificate number is 10570.

1870: In the 1870 Census, George Brewer is listed as living with his family in New York City, the 8th Election District in the 19th Ward. He is a painter and the value of his personal property is equal to 500 dollars.

1880: George is still listed as a painter, but now the addendum of "Carr" is added. I think Carriage is meant by the abbreviation.

1900: The Census shows the family living on Boston Road in the Bronx. Also interesting to note in this census, there is another Brewer living in the same neighborhood- Samuel (born 1859) with his family. It is probably that this family is related. Also living in the same neighborhood is James Wainman's family. George is no longer working at this point in time.

1907: George dies on January 9, 1907 in the Bronx at the age of 76. His death certificate is number 222. He is buried on January 11 in Rhinebeck Cemetery, Dutchess County, New York, Section A, Lot 300.