1840 Census - Wayne County, Tennessee

  Cornelius Brewer
  1121---1 -122--1

1850 Census - Wayne County, Tennessee
6th Civil District - 17 Sept 1850

  318 325
  Carn--- Brewer  60 M Farmer S.C. [Cannot Read & Write]
  Mary            56 F        N.C. [Cannot Read & Write]
  Nancy           26 F        Tenn [Cannot Read & Write]
  Thomas          22 M        Tenn [Cannot Read & Write]
  Molinda         18 F        Tenn
  Gidian          16 M        Tenn
  Elisabeth       14 F        Tenn
  Rosuel          12 M        Tenn

  319 326
  George Brewer   24 M Farmer Tenn [Cannot Read & Write]
  Mary            25 F        Tenn [Cannot Read & Write]
  Margarett        6 F        Tenn
  Mary             3 F        Tenn
  Nancy            1 F        Tenn

  321 328
  Elin Brewer     30 F        Tenn [Cannot Read & Write]
  Mary            11 F        Tenn
  Pleasant         9 M        Tenn
  Jasper           7 M        Tenn
  Wm.              5 M        Tenn
  Ein              3 F        Tenn
  Caldona Stagg   18 M        Tenn

  322 325
  Joseph Robnet   22 M Farmer Tenn
  Rachel          21 F        Tenn

1860 Census - Lawrence County, Tennessee
District 12 - 11 Aug 1860

  1059 810
  Cornelius Brewer  78 M Laborer  --- 100 Georgia
  Mary              70 F                  Georgia
  Nancy             37 F                  Tenn

From Garry Wayne Brewer

Cornelius Brewer born 1782 in North Carolina.probably died in Lawrence co.Tenn. date and grave site
unknown. married Mary Polly Staggs in Bedford Co Tenn.July 1814. he was probably the first Brewer to
come to Wayne co. he settled on Forty Eight creek and later moved over into Lawrence Co. they had
eight sons and six daughters served in the war of 1812. He served in Captain Benj. Reynolds Company,
Second Regiment, Division at Columbia,Tennessee. on October 1812, the Colonel of his Regiment was
Thomas H. Benton. As per his War of 1812 pension records. Cornelius Brewer was Ninety Two years old
as per his Declaration for pension,dated June 3, 1873, Wayne County,Tennessee. He stated his wife
Polly Staggs was decreased.  From the Book Southern Kinsman by Grace Morrow Bryan. "Cornelius Brewer,
born 1790 in North Carolina, died about 1875 at his son house, Rogal Fauguson Brewer in Lawrence
County, Tennessee, when the writer(Mrs. Byrant)Mother was five years old.  Margaret H. Brewer
rememered he r grandfather Cornelius being down sick and dying at heir home. I belive they said
Cornelius was buried on Brush Creek, likely in an unmarked grave.  Cornelius Brewer and his his wife
Mary Staggs had a large family. Among the children of Cornelius were: Jacob, Isom, Meridith, David,
George, Henry, Gideon, Rogal Forguson and some girls, Nellie, Rowena, Winnie and at least another
girl Malinda or boy, these all lived to be grown.

From Garry Wayne Brewer:

My ancestor was Private Cornelius Brewer of Capt Benjamin Reynolds Company, 2nd Tennessee Volunteers,
commanded by Col. Thomas H. Benton. This company was at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend fighting against
the Creek Indians who had sided with the British. The company then marched to New Orleans with
General Andrew Jackson and fought against the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
 
Cornelius Brewer was born in North Carolina in 1782 and died in Lawrence County, Tennessee in 1875 at
the age of 93. He had lived through the American Revolution, fought in the Creek Wars and the War of
1812 and the American Civil War. Cornelius stated in his pension to the United States Government that
he was NEVER disloyal during the late rebellion of 1861-1865.
 
Cornelius was the father of 13 children and his sons fought against each other during the Civil War
(brother against brother). Half for the Union and half for the Confederate States. One of his sons
Royal F. Brewer was at Gettysburg and had his tooth knocked out by a spent bullet and Royal was also
at the surrender with General Lee.  Because Cornelius had served in the War of 1812 and had sons
fighting on both sides in the Civil War neither the Union or Confederate forces bothered Cornelius.

From Garry Wayne Brewer - March 23, 2010:

 
Cornelius Brewer, born 1782 in North Carolina. He died in Lawrence County, Tennessee, in 1875. His
grave site was listed as being in Brush Creek Cemetery, he married Mary Polly Staggs in Bedford Co
Tenn. July 1814.  He was probably the first Brewer family member to move into Wayne County. He
settled on Forty Eight creek and later moved over into Lawrence County/Wayne County Line. Cornelius
and Polly had eight sons and six daughters he served in the War of 1812 in Captain Benj. Reynolds
Company, Second Regiment, at Columbia, Tennessee. On October 1812, the Colonel of his Regiment was
Thomas H. Benton.   Cornelius stated he was Ninety Two years old as per his Declaration for pension,
dated June 3, 1873, Wayne County, Tennessee. He stated his wife Polly Staggs was decreased.  

From the Book Southern Kinsman by Grace Morrow Bryan. “Cornelius Brewer, born in North
Carolina, died about 1875 at his son house, Rogal Ferguson Brewer in Lawrence County, Tennessee, when
the writer's (Mrs. Byrant) Mother was five years old.  Margaret H. Brewer remembered her
“Grandfather Cornelius being down sick and dying at their home. I believe they said Cornelius
was buried on Brush Creek, likely in an unmarked grave”.  Cornelius Brewer and his wife Mary
Staggs had a large family. Among the children of Cornelius were: Jacob, Isom, Meredith, David,
George, Henry, Gideon, Rogal Ferguson and some girls, Nellie, Rowena, Winnie and at least another
girl Melinda or boy, these all lived to be grown.


From his pension records, Private Cornelius Brewer of Capt Benjamin Reynolds Company, 2nd Tennessee
Volunteers, commanded by Col. Thomas H. Benton and Col. William Pillow. This company was at the
Battle of Horseshoe Bend fighting against the Creek Indians who had sided with the British. The
company then marched to New Orleans with General Andrew Jackson and fought against the British at the
Battle of New Orleans.

Cornelius Brewer pension records state he was buried on Brush Creek Cemetery. Cornelius made is mark
on the  pension paper 3rd June 1872 and witnessed by Fielding Churchwell , David S. Skillen, M.J.
Sims and his attorney was Robt P. Cypert, other witnesses were E.H Pugh and George W. Lee

He having been born during the time of the American Revolution, fought in the Creek Wars, the War of
1812 and the lived through Civil War in Tennessee.  Cornelius stated in his pension to the United
States Government that he was NEVER disloyal during the late rebellion of 1861-1865.

Cornelius was the father of 13 children and his sons fought against each other during the Civil War 
(brother against brother). Some for the Union and some for the Confederate States. One of his sons
Royal F. Brewer was at Gettysburg and had his tooth knocked out by a spent bullet and Royal was also
at the surrender with General Lee.  Because Cornelius had served in the War of 1812 and had sons
fighting on both sides in the Civil War neither the Union nor Confederate forces bothered Cornelius.