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Robert
Brewer was born a slave in South Carolina in 1840, but settled
in Chesterfield County sometime after slavery. He married
Emiline Watts, a former slave of mixed parentage who was born in
North Carolina in 1842.
After
slavery officially ended, the Brewers had to decide which path
their lives should take. Would these brave ex-slaves become
sharecroppers, enduring another form of slavery? Or should they
forge down make an independent road? They chose freedom and
built enough land to give each of their 11 children...Vinnie,
William, Joseph, Lula (Huntley), Isaiah, Effie (Nivens), Robert,
Sarah (Robinson), Thomas, Houston and Jaby...a plot. But they
gave them much more than the benefit of owning land. Each child
was taught a sense of love, responsibility and quest for
education that they took to heart, and began excelling in many
fields. They passed this on to their descendants who have risen
to become some of America's greatest.
What
is remarkable about this family is the number of outstanding
people that have become successful. Even as far back as
Reconstruction, the Brewers raised doctors, lawyers, architects,
an urban planner, engineers, writers, a television producer, a
puppeteer, filmmaker, singers, educators, ministers, actresses,
teachers, computer specialists, US Army colonels, government
workers and other professionals. Read
Robert and Emiline's amazing story.
**
There was one other Brewer child...Lugenea who presumably died
at a young age.
See
full picture of the Brewer Family Crest (designed by James and
William Whitley)...............................
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