William Brewster

     William Brewster was born in 1566 at probably Scrooby, Nottingham, England; There is also a theory that William was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, but no records have yet been located.¹ He was the son of William Brewster and Mary Smythe. William Brewster married Mary (?) before 1593.¹ William Brewster died on 10 April 1644 at Duxbury, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts.¹ He was buried at Burial Hill, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts.²
     Elder William Brewster was probably born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, but when he was about 8 or 9, his family moved to Scrooby Manor. By the time he was 13, he had enrolled at Cambridge University and was offered a good Biblical background as well as the opportunity to learn free thinking. Donald Ward wrote an article for "The Mayflower Quarterly" [Aug 1990] which gives us insight to his life before Plymouth. After Cambridge, William Brewster spent several years "on the edge of Queen Elizabeth's court". William Davison had become Brewster's mentor of sorts, and he was one of the queen's diplomat. His association with the court all ended after the execution of Queen Elizabeth's cousin Mary Queen of Scots. "After much indecision the Queen finally ordered Davison to draw up the document authorizing the execution...", but after the fact, the Queen placed blame for such influenec on Davison so she might escape the blame herself. Davison was placed in the Tower of London.
William Brewster returned to Scrooby Manor to help his ill father as administrator of the Manor as well as Postmaster. He had undoubtedly learned a great deal from his mentor about "undeserved oppression" and this probably aided his "resolve to dedicate is life to the pursuit of religious freedom". The Scrooby Separatists left England for Holland in this pursuit in 1608. Again, according to Ward, Brewster made a living as a teacher and a printer. He published "The Perth Assembly" which criticized King James' and his attempt to fashion the Church of Scotland after the Church of England. The king was quite angry about this subversion and ordered the book's publisher immediately found. After learning of the manhunt, William Brewster went into hiding. Punishment for such an act held a hefty fine, and he could be sentencd to a whipping, being set in a pillory, having his ears cut off, nose slit, branded, and be imprisoned for life. William Brewster was smuggled on board the Mayflower, according to Ward. He was obviously unsure of its success, by refusing to take his son with him. Mary Brewster brought only the youngest two children, leaving the eldest three behind.
Ward tells us that he held "a charming and gentle disposition. Bradford describes him as always cheerful". Brewster also brought along at least two hundred books on ship to be used in their New World. William Brewster was the fourth signer of the Mayflower Compact, preceded only by Carver, Bradford, and Winslow.