There is disagreement on Ambrose Brewer's parentage, as you will see below.  I've not seen specific
evidence for either claim (Howell vs. Lanier).  See notes under Howell Brewer's family page for more
information.

Gen. Abst. of Rev. War Pension Files, Vol I:A-E Abstracted by Virgil D. While
The Nat. Hist. Pub. Co., Waynesboro, TN. 1990.

  Ambrose Brewer, Pension #R1182, NC Line, soldier applied 15 Jan 1855 Hancock Co., TN, 
  aged 101, he stated he served most of the time in Moore Co., NC.

The Long Brewer Line by Ben Brewer
p. 126

  Ambrose Brewer, (Howell, George) b. ca. 1753, Brunswick Co., VA, d. after 1855 in Hancock Co., 
  TN, applied for Rev. War Pension in 1855, in Hawkins Co., TN, 1816, Claiborne Co., TN, 1840 
  with son Joab. m. 1st. Oma Richardson, ca. 1780, Cumberland Co., NC, 2nd Russell.

  Children:
  i. Joab Brewer, b. 1780-90 m. in TN
  ii. Frederick Brewer, m. Lydia.
  iii. Howell Cobb Brewer, b. Oct 20, 1790, Moore Co., NC, d. Apr. 19, 1886 Owsley Co., KY, m 1st.
    Moore Co., NC, Sept 10, 1810 Short, d. Apr. 22, 1834, m. 2nd. Sept. 12, 1834 Mary Cope,
    d. June 16, 1837, m. 3rd. Sept. 3, 1838 Polly Wolfe, Hawkins Co., Tn.
  iv. Prettyman Brewer, b. 1790's
  v. Ambrose Brewer, b. 1798
  vi. Millenton Brewer b. ca. 1800
  vii. Pleasant Brewer b. ca. 1800
  viii. Lucinda Brewer
  ix. Oma Brewer
  x. George Brewer

  Ben Brewer cites Jeraldyne Beets Clipson and Katherine Brewer Brinkdopke, Compilers, 
  Index of Patriots, Cincinnati Chapter of DAR, 1983, p. 60 as source for children.

Biography found at findagrave.com:

  Birth: 	1753
  Brunswick County
  Virginia, USA
  Death: 	1855
  Hancock County
  Tennessee, USA

  Ambrose was the son of Howell and Marian Brewer. He first married a Miss Russell and 
  apparently there were no off springs. About 1780, he married Oma Richardson in 
  Cumberland County, South Carolina. They had 10 children.

  He volunteered as a Ranger or Scout in the Revolutionary War. He was with scouting parties 
  from the commencement of the War until peace was declared. He was never attached to the main 
  body of the army but was in several skirmishes with the enemy as a Ranger and his position 
  during most of the war was in Moore, NC. He served under the following named officers: 
  Capt. Tabb, Capt. Maburn, Capt. Thurogood, Col. Litrell and Major Lewis. He served under 
  Colonel Cleveland at the Battle of King's Mountain in Catawba Co., NC

  He died sometime after 1854, in War Creek, Hancock County, Tennessee. In 1855 at age of 101, 
  he applied for a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. He was buried beside his 
  two slaves. (bio by: Tom Todd) 

  Ambrose Brewer Cemetery
  Cool Branch Rd
  Hancock County
  Tennessee  USA

------------------------------------
From Mark Sikes website about Ambrose Brewer:

  Ambrose Brewer Sr (son of Lanier Brewer and Joanna) was born Abt. 1753 in Brunswick,Virginia,
  and died Abt. 1854 in Treadway,Hancock County,Tennesse. He married Lucinda Russell.

  Includes Notes
  Notes for Ambrose Brewer Sr

  AMBROSE BREWER was born 1753 in Brunswick County, Virginia, and died ca 1855 in Treadway, 
  Hancock County, Tennessee. He married (1) Ona Richardson, (2) Sarah Cobb, daughter of 
  Frederick Cobb and Sarah ----, of Catham County, North Carolina, and (3) ---- Russell. In 
  1790 he was in Moore County, North Carolina, but had moved and settled on War Creek, 
  Tennessee sometime during the next couple of years. In October of 1779, he was serving 
  under Colonel Cleveland at battle of Kings Mountain. He was back in Moore County, North 
  Carolina in the early 1800's, but it has been suggested that as he was an enthusiastic 
  Whig, he incurred the wrath of his neighbors and was either encouraged to relocate in 
  another state or run out of the area. By 1816, he was in Hawkings County . He was in the 
  1830 Hawkins County Census , the 1840 Census only shows his wife, Sarah, and children and 
  neither are on the 1850 Hawkings County Census. He was with his son, Joab, in Claiborne County
  in 1840. He was the first Free Mason in Hancock County, Master Mason, Sneedville Lodge No 
  2775. He made his permanent home on War Creek. He was said to have had twelve sons. Due to an 
  act Congress had passed on 9 June 1832, Ambrose (101 yrs old) on 15 January 1855 applied for 
  a Revelational War Pension in Hancock County (R-1182-NC). He stated that he was a scout or 
  a ranger with the scouting parties of Moore County, North Carolina, from the commencement of 
  the war until peace was declared, two years or more. He served under Capt. Tabb, Capt. 
  Maburn, Capt. Thurogood, Col. Litrell and Major or Colonel (Micajah) Lewis. His pension was 
  denied (no reason given) which could have been from a disbelief of either his age or identity 
  or perhaps he died while the application was still being processed. Whatever the reason then,
  there is certainly a list of defendants who have filled out the forms for the "Application 
  for Membership to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution". Ambrose 
  is buried on a hill near Cool Branch Church, 3 miles north of Treadway, Hancock County, 
  Tennessee. In the DAR erected a monument at his gravesite. References: "1790 Census", of 
  Moore Co., NC, "1830 Federal Census", Hawkins Co, TN, "1840 Federal Census", Hawkins Co.,
  TN Micro-Copy No. M-704 Roll #10, "Lanier" by Louise Ingersoll, "In the Ambrose Brewer Family" 
  by James F. Bowman & Dr. Clinton Congleton, "Tennessee Records of Clairborne County Court 
  Minutes 1839-1843", "Register of Deeds" Vol. S Date. Nov 1843- Sept 1846 Claiborne Co 
  Tennessee, "Hancock County, Tennessee and Its People 1844-1989 Submitted by: Dora Brewer 
  Bowlin. Assisted by: Benjamin Kyle Bowlin.