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Page 11
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Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe
Towns of Bloominggrove, Cornwall and Monroe
Page 11
We could place before the reader the same particular account of other old families, such as the Townsends, Brewsters, Strongs, &c., but the limits of our paper forbid it.
ANNA BREWSTER.-Among the numerous descendents in Bloominggrove, of Elder Brewster, one of the Pilgrims, was a lady whose name, it is thought, may well be recorded in an historical notice of the place. Miss Anna Brewster, whose death occurred there in 1844, at the advanced age of seventyfive years, was a dwarf, the remembrance of whose person and character is cherished by many a heart. The following account of her is taken from the obituary statement which appeared in the county papers shortly after her decease:
“She was a remarkable person. With a form exceedingly diminutive, but of perfect symmetry and elegance-a countenance in beautiful agreement with the fine intellect within-a manner ever graceful and dignified- and a character in which the firmer and milder attributes of true religion were happily united, she was an object of very affectionate and reverential regard, not only in the wide circle of her relationships, and in that of her special friendships, hut also to the whole community of which she was a member, and to all others who knew her. About fifty years ago, a gentleman having met with her one evening in company, was so interested in her appearance and conversation that he published an account of her, which is believed to have been substantially correct, save in one particular. He spoke of her having accepted an invitation to become an inmate of Gen. Washington's family. This was not the case. The invitation is understood to have been given, but she is said to have declined it in very handsome terms; to the effect, that she was very grateful to his Excellency for the proffered honor, but wished, in accordance with the desire of her relatives, to remain among them, between whom and herself there existed the tenderest mutual attachment. God, who, in his adorable sovereignty, had given her so small and delicate a frame, together with a mind of exquisite sensibility, was pleased to conduct her with corresponding gentleness through the stages of her long life, and finally took her to himself by a process involving but little pain, and throughout which the exercises of her spirit were characteristic of the mature Christian. Her funeral took place the following day; the religious services being performed at the church, and her remains numerously attended to their repose, amid those of several generations of her kindred in one of the burial grounds of the family.”
The above lines were written after spending an evening with Miss Brewster. At the time I saw her she was twenty-four years old, and measured only three feet is height all the features of her face, her, air her mien, together with her neat fashionable dress, were expressive of the woman. She was handsome and well proportioned, and very agreeable in conversation, and appeared to possess a great deal of sensibility. She did sot increase in size after she was eight years of age. At the time Gen. Washington was encamped at New Windsor, Mrs. Washington gave Miss Brewster an invitation to spend an afternoon with her; but she, supposing it to proceed from curiosity rather than respect, refused to go.
Miss Brewster was the daughter of Edward Brewster; after whose death her mother married Samuel Strong of Bloominggrove, with whom she resided during the Revolutionary war. She had two brothers, Daniel and John, and one sister, Sally, who married Mr. Sayre and went to the West. It is said that Gen. Washington once called to see her, but she declined the interview, supposing it was based on curiosity. She was very proud and sensitive.
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