Sunday, March 6, 2011

Tracing the Sir Name Bilbrew Part II


Our Link to Slavery
A Brief History on Slavery in the United State of America (USA):

  The definition of slavery covers slave systems in historical perspective in which one human being is legally the property of another, can be bought or sold, is not allowed to escape and must work for the owner without any choice involved. As Drescher (2009) argues, "The most crucial and frequently utilized aspect of the condition is a communally recognized right by some individuals to possess, buy, sell, discipline, transport, liberate, or otherwise dispose of the bodies and behavior of other individuals. A critical element is that children of a slave mother automatically become slaves (By Law). A law used by Male slave owner to deny legal obligations or freedom to their offspring of slave mothers.  


The first documented event of Africans, arriving in present day United States were part of the San Miguel de Gualdape colony (most likely in present day Georgia), founded by Spanish explorer Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon in 1526. The ill-fated colony was almost immediately disrupted by a fight over leadership, during which the slaves revolted and fled the colony to seek refuge among local Native Americans. De’Ayllon and many of the colonists died shortly afterwards of an epidemic, and the colony was abandoned, leaving the escaped slaves behind on North American soil (The original Black Native Americans).

Thirty nine years later in 1565 the colony of Saint Augustine in Florida, founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles became the first permanent European settlement in North America, and now the oldest city in the United States. The colony included an unknown number of free and enslaved Africans.

The first English colony in North America, Virginia, first imported Africans in 1619, a practice established in the Spanish colonies as early as the 1560s. Most slaves were black and were held by whites, although some Native Americans and free blacks also held slaves; there were a small number of white slaves as well. Before the widespread establishment of chattel slavery (outright ownership of a human being, and of his/her descendants), much labor was organized under a system of bonded labor known as indentured servitude. This typically lasted for several years for white and black alike. People paid with their labor for the costs of transport to the colonies.

In being accurate and fair on this subject I must restate the fact that there were Black slave owners by the 1860s. There were two main reasons, 1. Freed blacks being unable to acquire family members by legal means sought to purchase their family’s freedom. 2.There were slave owners of color (mainly Creole, and Mulatto) that had acquired land and slaves from there European fathers (mainly French). They were planters mainly in the New Orleans/Louisiana area ( Antoine D. Dubuclet mulatto male and a sugar planter owned over 100 slaves). Source: Ancestry.Com 1860,70, and 80 United States  Federal Census

Slavery was a contentious issue in the politics of the United States from the 1770s through the 1860s, becoming a topic of debate in the drafting of the Constitution. In 1808 Congress bans the importation of slaves from Africa, however the smuggling of slaves started as well 2nd and 3rd generations of African slaves could be legally imported from the Caribbean Islands and the other Americas. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, an estimated 12 million Africans were shipped as slaves to the Americas.  Of these, an estimated 645,000 were brought to what is now the United States. By the 1860 United States Census, showed the slave population had grown to four million.

Between 1810 and 1860, in the United States, world demand for cotton triggered the largest internal forced migration of slave laborers that has ever occurred in the history of the world. As a result, Northern and Upper South (Virginia, North and South Carolina) slaveholders exported to the Lower South nearly one million black laborers between 1790 and 1860.


In 1861 the southern states seceded from the United States of America and formed the Confederated States of America led by Jefferson Davis. Declared civil war against the Union by the act of attacking Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all persons held as slaves within the Confederate states “are now and henceforward shall be free”

1865 The Civil War ends, President Lincoln is assassinated, and The Thirteenth Amendment was added abolishing slavery throughout the United States. On June 19, 1865 (Black Independence Day) Juneteenth slavery in the United States effectively ended when 250,00 slaves in Texas finally received the news that the Civil War had ended two months earlier. The southern states passed the Black Codes and the Ku Klux Klan (K.K.K.) is establish

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States, http://www.blackpast.org/?q=timelines/african-american-history-timeline-1600
(an excellent resource for Black History) ,http://www.infoplease.com/timelines/slavery.html, http://americancivilwar.com/authors/black_slaveowners.htm, and
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~afamerpl/slavetrade/WV/wheeling.html

The Bilbrew Family’s Plausible Link To Slavery

The 1870 United State Federal Census is one of the first sources and the first census
after the Civil War that shows the surname BILBREW  as people of color. You should also note for some of them, their estimated year of  birth will show a time period during the height of slavery in the United States.



I GIVE YOU THE BILBREWS OF COLOR ,BEFORE AND AFTER SLAVERY IN AMERICA

George Bilbrew (52) in 1870 was born around 1818 during the time period of slavery. He was born in the same county as slave owner William P.Bilbrew (Bedford county, VA) I believe I can safely say the surname Bilbrew was that of a slave owner and a member of our family may have chosen (however undocumented) to retain the name or chose the name before arriving in Mississippi.

George Bilbrew and Family 1870    *                           

Name            Sex    Race    Age    Birth Year    Birth State                Resident
George          M      Black    52           1818                 VA     Chamblissburg, Bedford, Virginia
Melinda         F       Black    24           1846      
George Jr.    M      Black     6             1864      
Rosa A.          F       Black     4             1866      
Frances         M      Black    14            1856      


Isam Bilbrew and Family                *

Name         Sex    Race    Age    Birth Year    Birth State                    Resident
Isam            M      Black    50          1820                SC          Fredonia, Chamber, Alabama
Barbary       F      Black    45         1825                 GA  
Lisabeth      F       Black    18          1852                AL  
Clarra           F      Black     16          1854               AL  
Viney           F       Black    14          1856                AL  
Henry          M      Black    12          1858                AL  



Cornelius Bilbrew and Family 1880 *

Name            Sex     Race    Age    Birth Year    Birth State                    Resident
Cornelius      M       Black    52           1828                 GA           Marion, Perry, Alabama
Selina              F        Black    38          1842                  GA  
Alice                F        Black    14           1866                 AL  
Thomas         M        Black    11           1869                 AL  
Americus      M        Black     8            1872                AL  
Lewis              M        Black     2             1878               AL  



Micheal Bilbrew                                                 *
Micheal Bilbrew     M       Black      19     1861   AL   Hackneyville, Tallapoosa, Alabama
The oldest child of Cornelius and Selina Bilbrew living on his own.
Alabama, (Census show he was a border and his parents were born in Georgia)

Unknown Bilbrew  1900           *
? Bilbrew      M     Black  65   1835  married to Mary   AL  Lafayette, Chambers, Alabama

Amanda Bilbrew  1930                                        *                                           
Amanda Bilbrew        F        Black      88       1842      GA   Precinct 7, Jefferson, Alabama
(She is shown residing with her son-in-law Charlie 37 & daughter Harney 36 King)
 Source: Ancestory.Com 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1930 United States Federal Census
(1870 was the1st Federal Census after the Civil War)

THE LINK
Ben Bilbrew                                                           *                                  
Ben Bilbrew age 40 in 1900 was born Mar 1860, one year before the Civil War begins. He was born in Mississippi to parents (names unknown) that were both born (dates unknown) in the state of Alabama. Based of Ben’s date of birth, it would definitely place his parents births during the height of slavery. In the 1900 United State Federal Census Ben is shown living in Livingston, Madison County, Mississippi. He was married (spouse unknown) and lived with his sons Prezzy 15,(1885) and Ellis 12,(1887). He could read, write, and speck the English language. He was also a farmer and owner of mortgage free land.
Source: Ancestry.Com 1900 United State Federal Census




Nat Bilbrew                                       
Nat Bilbrew age 63 in 1930 was born in 1867 even though this is two years after the Civil War, we can again place his parents being born doing slavery. He was also born in Mississippi, however the census show is parents being born in Mississippi as well. He was married to Sally at the age of 23 (Nat) and 13 (Sally). He is a framer employed by Gen. Farms. He lives with his wife and son Yandell 24 (1906), and can also read, write and speak English.

Source: Ancestry.Com 1930 United State Federal Census
 
Up to the1860s Madison, Yazoo, Issaguena and Washington Counties were Planters and Plantation country. The Balford family was one of Mississippi’s largest and most prominent plantation owners in these counties. The Balford family owned multiple plantation (including Homestead of Livingston, Madison County, Mississippi) and hundreds of slaves. Source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~msissaq2/balfour.html

It is also rumored  that the our family’s surname grew from a slave owner in Mississippi by the surname of Bilbo/Bilbro/Bilbrow and was changed in order to dispel the connection to the owner. My research so far has not validated this theory. However I did find a John C. Bilbro of Madison County, also W. O. and John Bilbrow of Rankin County, Mississippi on the 1860 Federal Slave Schedule. The only full names on a slave schedule would be that of the slave owner. Names of slave were not listed, just a count by age, sex, and color (black, mulatto, and creole).

Too see a 1860 list of all the large plantation owners of Madison County Mississippi visit
Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ajac/msmadison.htm

One other fact to mention is that  in 1860 there were few freed blacks in the state of Mississippi. There was almost 400,000 slaves in the state of Mississippi with only 773 freed Blacks/People of Color. Records show only two males and two females in Madison county, Jackson, Hinds county Mississippi had only thirty six totaled.
Source: http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/45/a-contested-presence-free-blacks-in-antebellum-mississippi-18201860 or http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/php/

SUMMARY
We must note the 1st large (forced) migration of black slaves in the United States occurred between 1810 and 1860 (Upper South to Lower South). We know now there were slave owner in the Upper South with the surname Bilbrew. The 1870 United States Federal Census also list George Billbrew and family residing in the Upper South after slavery but were born during slavery.

Is it possible our ancestors were part of this migration? YES!
Is it possible that John C Bilbro of Madison CO or  W. O. and John Bilbrow of Rankin CO were owners of some our ancestors? YES!

As we can see the 1870 United State Federal Census, was the first census to show blacks in the South with Sir Names being enumerated. The 1900 United State Federal Census shows the numbers of southern Blacks grow dramatically with direct links and possible links to slavery. We also note the surname Bilbrew among people of color appearing in other southern states in large numbers. It is plausible Ben Bilbrew born in Mississippi before the Civil War was more than likely the child of enslaved parents born in Alabama. Remembering the law (A child born of a slave mother is itself a SLAVE). 

In the next Blog The Bilbrew Family of color begin to appear more frequently on the Federal census in  Mississippi, California, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
Please feel free to join this Blog and receive new post email notifications. I look forward to your comments and input as our family’s journey takes us home.
To Madison County, MS and Beyond Part I (Looking For The Tap Roots)

* Dates are of births before, during and immediately after the Civil War

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tracing The Sir Name Bilbrew Part I


TRACING THE SIR NAME BILBREW PART I
From England to Slavery
As we can see from our previous Blog the surname Bilbrew hails from the UK and is more than likely English. Another fact to be given close attention is the surname Bilbrew  in  America starts out 100% of Anglo-Saxon descent .











1.Thomas Bilbrew 1812
(Notations within “Peter N. to America“)
Source: Nafzger Heritage News Vol XVI No 3Raw OCR Page 4- 8/04/04

In 1795 Samuel was appointed surveyor of the highways with William Kyle. In 1798 he was appointed constable. In 1790 Samuel signed a petition together with other German Baptists Botetourt county asking that their military obligation be commuted into public service labor in the form of work projects. Whether it was accepted is unknown. In the history of Looney’s Creek, Samuel was named as a leader of the German group who settled in that area of the Shanadoah Valley. In 1810 census Samuel was enumerated with 7 other people in the household. In 1812 his daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Bilbrew, Samuel was also enumerated in 1820 and 1830 census. Samuel died prior to May, 1839. His will named his children as Elizabeth (married to Thomas Bilbrew), Abraham, Issac, Sally (Sarah) and Polly ….
Source: http://www.noffsinger.org/nafzger/NHN/ocr.php?issue=NHNvXVIn3

1.1Thomas Bilbrew  August 7, 1820
Lewisburg, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Source: Ancestry.Com (1820 United States Federal Census)

1 Free White Male 26-44, 2 Free White Male under 10
1 Free White Female 16-25, 3 Free White Female under 10

1.2Thomas Bilbrew 2 Sept 1822
Source: (Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Court Orders [Book ? Page 333})

Know all men by these presents that we David Combs, Jonas WIGGINS, Thomas BILBREW and Mark OVERHOLS are held and firmly bound unto Martin KITTINGER in the penal sum of Three hundred dollars the payment of which well and truly to be made to the said KITTINGER his Heirs, etc. We bind ourselves our heirs to jointly or severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 8th day of May 1822.…
Source: http://www.combs-families.org/combs/records/ky/muhlenberg/

1.3 Thomas Bilbrew 1827
Will of Thomas Bilbrew 1827 Muhlenberg County Kentucky
 Source: Micro Flim of Wills Book2 Page 445 (Muhlenberg County, KY Court Records)

In the name of God Amen
I, Thomas Bilbrew of the County of Muhlenberg and State of Kentucky, being
of sound mind and memory and understanding, but considering the uncertainty
of this life think fit to make this my last will and testament in the
following manner Viz;……
Source: http://files.usgwarchives.org/ky/muhlenberg/wills/b4160001.txt

2.Dicy (Bilbrew) McFarland  1800
Source: Internet Archive (Genealogy of the Cloyd, Basye and Tapp Families in America)

144a. THOMAS EWING WILLIAMSON, (b. 2-15-1818 ; d. 6-
20-1870), son of George, 43, and Hannah (Mabray) (Crutch-
field) Williamson, m. 10-20-1847, Fannie Elizabeth McFarland,
(b. 6-3-1877 ; d. 1904), dau. of James P., and Dicy (Bilbrew) Mc-
Farland. He was a farmer, a Presbyterian and democrat. He
resided at Green Hill, Wilson Co., Tenn.
Source: http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofcloyd00cloy/genealogyofcloyd00cloy_djvu.txt

3.Dewel Bilbrew 1800
Source: Guy Zimmerman.Com. (from the1800 US census of NC)

Bilbrary, John Brn 20A [Brunswick]
Bilbrew, Dewel Edg 187 [Edgecomb]
Bilbry, John Cht 191 [Chatham]
Source: http://guyzimmerman.com/07112010/b51.htm or http://guyzimmerman.com/07042008/b50.htm

3.1Dewell Bilbrew , 1800 in Edgecombe, North Carolina
Source: Ancestry.Com (From the 1800 US Federal Census) Roll 30, Page 187, Image 189, Family History Library Film: 337906

Dewell Bilbrew (1Free white female  45 and over , 1Free white male  45 and over)
Source: http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=view&r=0&dbid=7590&iid=4440859_00189&fn=Dewell&ln=Bilbrew&st=r&ssrc=&pid=317463






















4.Nathaniel Bilbrew’s/Bilbrue’s 1800 family and slave count in Edgecombe, North Carolina
Source: Ancestry.Com (From the 1800 US Federal Census) Roll 30, Page 181, Image 183, Family History Library Film: 337906

No. in Household: (1 Free white male age 26 to 44,1 Free white female age 26 to 44, 1 Free white female age 10 to 15, 3 Free white females under 10) and 4 Slaves

5.James C. Bilbrew’s 1850 family in Lincoln County, MO of the 1800s
 Source: linclon.mogen web.org (From the 1850 US Federal Census)

Surname    Name       Age   Sex    Race     Birth State    Birth Year    Page  Line

Bilbrew   James C       38     M        W           Virginia            1812             102    19
                   Judith W     38     F          W           Virginia            1812                        20
                   Julius           14    M         W           Missouri          1836                         21
                   Jesse W      10     M        W           Missouri          1840                         22
                  Martha J       8      F          W           Missouri          1842                        23
                  Penelopy       6     F          W           Missouri          1844                        24
                  Benjamin       2     M         W           Missouri          1848                        25
                  Lucy J        8/12   F          W           Missouri          1850                        26


Source: http://lincoln.mogenweb.org/census/1850-US-Census-Index-By-Name.htm orhttp://www.mogenweb.org/lincoln/census/1850-US-Census-Index-By-Page.htm

5.1 Slave Schedules Record for James C Bilbrew 1850
Source: Acestry.Com 1850 Slave Schedules (1850 U.S. Federal Census [database on-line 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls])

Male                  Age    Birth Year     Female                   Age    Birth Year
1 Male Black      60       1790           1 Female Black      19       1831
1 Male Mulatto  12        1838          1 Female Black       15       1835
                                                                   1 Female Black      10       1840
                                                                   1 Female Mulatto     6       1844

6.William P. Bilbrew’s 1850 family in Bedford County, VA of the 1800s
 Source: Ancestry.Com (From the 1850 US Federal Census)

Surname      Name          Age    Sex    Race     Birth State    Birth Year    Page   Line
Bilbrew      William          36      M        W          Virginia           1814              539      15
                       Mildred J.    27      F         W          Virginia           1823                            16
                       Mary J.          11      F          W          Virginia           1839                            17
                       John               10      M        W          Virginia           1840                            18
                      Ann R.              8       F         W          Virginia            1842                            19
                      Sarah                5       F         W           Virginia           1845                            20
                      Mildred A.      3       F         W           Virginia           1847                            21


6.1 Slaves owned by William P. Bilbrew 1840
Source:Acestry.Com (1840 U.S. Federal Census [database on-line 1840.Roll: 253; Page:550; Image: 514; Film: 0029683])

Male               Age            Female          Age
1 Male     24 to 35         1 Female     24 to 35
2 Males     10 to 23       2 Females    10 to 23
2 Males    Under 10      5 Females    Under 10



7.Allen Bilbrew 1836
Source: Acestory.Com 1870 United State Federal Cenusu

Allen Bilbrew  1836  34 White  VA now W VA      London, Kanawha, West Viriginia was Virginia
8.Foster (Bilbrew) Mount 1859
Source: FamilyTreeMaker.Genealogy.Com

+Foster Bilbrew MOUNT b: 26 Oct 1859 in Tennessee m: 15 Jan 1891 in Collin County, Texas d: 14 Apr1943 in McKinney, Texas (Descendants of John Sledge Jr)
Source: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/o/g/Herman-A-Rogers/PDFODT3.pdf

9.John J. Bilbrew  1863 Civil War Confederate Soldier
Source: Ancestry.Com (National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System)

J. J. Bilbrew VA (Private, 34th Regiment 34th Virginia Infantry Company H)
Source: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/

10.Jacob Bilbrew 1870 and Spouse
Source: Ancestory.Com1870 United State Federal Cenusu

Jacob Bilbrew   1843   27  White  M   New Jersey          Wall, Mommouth, New Jersey
Elisabeth           1840   30  White  F    New Jersey          Wall, Mommouth, New Jersey
                                                                                                                 
SUMMARY
  The Sir Name Bilbrew appeared in America sometime before the American Revolution and at this time was100% White Anglo Saxon. The 1800 United State Federal Census shows Dewell Bilbrew  female was at least 45 years of age (b.1755) or older ,  Nathaniel Bilbrew was no younger than 26 (b.1774) and no older than 44 (b.1756), and Thomas Bilbrew  on the 1820 census was no younger than 26 (b.1794) and no older than 44 (b.1776) 

Based on my research up to this point our Sir Name is that of a possible slave owner. However I have not been able to connect a known family member to a slave owner. As you can see there were a few  slave owners with the surname of  Bilbrew in the following states  (James C. of MO,  Nathaniel of NC, and William P. of VA). I’ve also found a Black family with the surname Bilbrew on the 1870th U.S. Federal Census in Virginia (the 1st census after slavery). We know, after the Civil War,  the Emancipation, and the Thirteenth Amendment  millions of people of color required full names for the first time in their life. Some created names, some chose their master’s or previous master’s name, others were just given a name. History also state many people of color change their original name from one census to the next after migrating to other regions.

I will venture into more details in our next Blog: Tracing the Sir Name Bilbrew Part II (The Link to Slavery). Please feel free to join this Blog and receive new post email notifications. I look forward to your comments and input as our family journey takes us home.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011


 The Origin of/and Defining the Sir Name Bilbrew

The Journey Begins

The Sir name Bilbrew hails from the United Kingdom (England) and is consider Old English with some Scottish influence. The earliest records on the Sir Name Bilbrew I could I locate thus far are listed below

Source: Ancestry.Com
Name               Birth Year      Resided In                 Name            Birth Year    Resident In
James Bilbrew     1850          Suffolk England      Kate Bilbrew      1883      Suffolk England
Emma Bilbrew     1851          Suffolk England      Frank Bilbrew     1886     Suffolk England
Alice Bilbrew       1877          Kent England           Walter Bilbrew    1887     Suffolk England
Charles Bilbrew   1879          Suffolk England          

Now in order to give you a plausible theory based on Old English of how the name Bilbrew may have come about we need to go back in time to as early as the 7th century.
The oldest use of family names or surnames is unclear. Surnames have arisen in cultures with large, concentrated populations where single, personal names for individuals (John, Mary) became insufficient to identify them clearly. Many cultures use additional descriptive terms(John Tailor, Mary Cook) in identifying individuals. These terms may indicate personal attributes, location of origin, occupation, parentage, patronage, adoption, or clan affiliation. These descriptors often developed into fixed clan identifications which in turn became family names as we know them today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name


 A lot of today’s Old English Sir Names were once full names (given name, and surname) and/or Sir names of  clans were combined through marriages and treaties (Millerbrooks/Miller, Brooks). The last facts to consider as time passed names were shorten or smaller names were created to represent a larger name (Lawrence/Larry, Judith/Judy).

Now with these facts in mind we can now look at the Sir Name (BILBREW)
We will start by separating the name into two parts (BIL BREW or BILL BREW). We also know (BIL/BILL) as being a shorten form on (WILLIAM). We now have (WILLIAM BREW). The word brew in Old English is some type of alcoholic beverage (Ale, Beer). So in theory we can say (WILLIAM BREW, BREWS or maybe BREWER) was either a producer or retailer (Tavern owner) of alcoholic beverages. This type of business was very profitable as is today and one could easy afford a voyage to America and slaves in the new world.

Behind the Name.Com
Bill: Gender: masculine; Usage: English; Pronounced: BIL
Short form of William. The spelling was first used in the 19th century. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish pronunciation of the name.
http://www.behindthename.com/name/bill

William: Gender: masculine; Usage: English; Pronounced: WIL-ee-am, Wil-yam
From the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the element wil “will desire” and helm “helmet, protection” The name was most common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England.
http://www.behindthename.com/name/william

Surnamedb.Com
""Recorded as Brew, an Isle of Man version, Brewer and Brewster, this is an English and sometimes Scottish, surname. Of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origins it is or rather was, occupational for a brewer of beer or ale. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th century verb 'breowan', meaning to brew, that became in medieval English 'brewere'. Until the 14th century, Brewster was the feminine equivalent of Brewer, although after that date the term was used equally for male and female brewers. Early examples of recordings include Roger Breuestere, of Suffolk, in 1221, and Emma le Breustere, in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire, in 1279. On April 2nd 1553 Edward Brewster, was christened at St. Andrew's, Enfield, in Middlesex, whilst John Brew was recorded in Douglas, Isel of Man. An interesting namebearer was William Brewster (1560 - 1644) of Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. He sailed for Virginia aboard the Mayflower in 1620, and founded New Plymouth, (New England), where he worked as a teacher and preacher. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Briwerra, which was dated 1192, in the register of Ancient Charters of Hampshire, during the reign of King Richard 1st known as 'The Lionheart', 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Brew

The Progressive Dictionary of the English Language (Books Google.Com)
Ale-brew er (al”bro/er), n. One whose occupation is to brew ale.

Brew ster (bro/ster),n. [Brew and term.-ster] One who brews; a brewer; more especially, a female who brews

Em brew (em-bro),v. {Prefix em for em and brew
1. To brew, to distill or strain
2. To steep, to brue, to moisten
http://books.google.com/books?id=vulBAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Progressive+Dictionary+of+the+English+Language&source=bl&ots=kgNB4WWbdK&sig=W3zb3aV-i8mrSEsvyYrJfGeNqRQ&hl=en&ei=2Ww_TZm0G4LLgQeQ4KzyAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=brew&f=false
Pages 24,90, and 187






SUMMARY
I must remind everyone this is just a plausible theory based on some of the rules of Old English. Research only shows Bilbrew as a English name  with some Scottish influence at this point.  I hope this will help clear up some of the mysteries and questions about our Sir Name Bilbrew. Please feel free to add too or join in our family’s journey through our  history.  Follow this  Blog on Facebook @ The Bilbrew Family, and bilbrewroots@yahoo.com. Coming soon Tracing The Sir Name Bilbrew Part I (From England to Slavery).