John
Brees II was born on November 8, 1738 in Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., NJ. He was
the son of John Brees & Dorothy Riggs.
Hannah Gildersleeve was born on June 9, 1750 in NJ. She was the daughter of Zopher
Gildersleeve & Desire Day
THE FAMILY OF JOHN BREES II & HANNAH GILDERSLEEVE:
 |  |  | John Brees II & Hannah Gildersleeve | John
Brees II married Hannah Gildersleeve on January 30, 1769 in Morristown, Morris
Co., NJ and they had 11 children. The First Church Morristown, NJ Combined
Registers lists the last name as BREIS, and Hannah's sister Susan married John's
brother Azariah the next month in February 1769. At the time of their marriage,
John was listed as being from Somerset Co., NJ and Hannah was listed as being
from Morris Co., NJ. John served in the Revolutionary War Capt. William Bond's
company, in the 4th Battalion, 2nd establishment, NJ line. He was in the expediton
commanded by Major General Sullivan against the Six Nations, and passed over the
ground where Horseheads, NY now stands on Sept. 1, 1779. His colonel was Ephriam
Martin. John & Hannah moved to the Chemung valley in June, 1787, and in 1789
they settled on a farm in the area that would later become Chemung Co., NY in
1798 and the town of Horseheads in 1835. They are listed on the 1810 & 1820
census of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY; their youngest son John Brees lived with them
after he married in 1817 and he eventually inherited the family farm by paying
off the other heirs. John Brees II died on March 24, 1829 in Elmira (later
Horseheads), Chemung Co., NY. Hannah Gildersleeve Brees died on January 15, 1844
in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. The last name on both John & Hannah's
tombstones and on his memorial is spelled BREES. |
The children of John Brees II & Hannah Gildersleeve:
 | Stephen Brees | Stephen Brees was born on November 22, 1769 in Bernards Twp., Somerset Co., NJ. He died in infancy. Stephen Brees died about December 1769 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ |
| Deborah Brees | Deborah Brees was born on February 18,
1773 in Bernards Twp., Somerset Co., NJ. She was the twin of Phebe Brees.
Her parents emigrated from NJ to NY in 1787 when she was about age 14. Deborah
married Samuel McConnell in 1795 and they had 6 children. Samuel was a
Revolutionary War veteran. The family is listed on the 1800 census of Newtown,
Tioga Co., NY. They are listed on the 1810 & 1820 censuses of Elmira, Tioga
Co., NY. The family is listed on the 1830 census of Horseheads Village, Tioga
Co., NY. Chemung County was created out of part of Tioga Co., NY in 1836. Deborah
died June 17, 1839 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Notes for Deborah Brees McConnell |
| Phebe Brees | Phebe Brees was born on February
18, 1773 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. She was the twin of Deborah Brees.
Her parents emigrated from NJ to NY in 1787 when she was about age 14. Phebe married
Phineas Culver on April 16, 1794 and they had 9 children. They are probably
living in the household of Deborah Culver on the 1800 census of Newtown, Tioga
Co., NY, next door to the family of Samuel & Deborah (Brees) McConnell. I
have not found the family on the 1810 or 1820 censuses at this time. The family
is listed on the 1830 census of Veteran, Tioga Co., NY under the name Phineas
Collver. Chemung County was formed from part of Tioga Co., NY in 1836. Phineas
died in 1840, and Phebe is listed as head of household on the 1840 census of Elmira,
Chemung Co., NY. Sometime between 1840 to 1850 Phebe moved from New York to Illinois.
She is listed on the 1850 census Wheeling, Cook Co., IL in the household of her
married daughter Phebe Bruce. I have not found her on any other census records
at this time.Phebe Brees Culver died on December 28, 1873 in Horseheads, Chemung
Co., NY. She was 100 years old when she died. |
 | Elias Brees | Elias Brees was born on June 21,
1775 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. His parents emigrated from NJ to NY
in 1787 when he was about age 11. Elias married Deborah Bennett about 1805
in Orange or Tioga Co., NY. Deborah was the daughter of Abraham
Bennett & Jerusha Wanzer. Elias' brother Silas married Deborah's sister
Mary about the same year. Elias & Deborah had 10 children. The family is listed
on the 1810 census of Tioga (later Chemung) Co., NY. Elias is listed as a veteran
of the War of 1812, serving with Swartwood's Regt., NY Militia along with his
brother Lewis. The family is on the 1820 & 1830 censuses of Elmira, Tioga
Co., NY. Elias left New York sometime in May 1837 and emigrated to Ohio with several
others, including most of his children, his brother Solomon. They emigrated from
Ohio to Michigan in late 1837 or early 1838. Deborah died on September 18,
1838 in Seneca, Lenawee Co., MI. Sometime after her death, Elias returned
to Ohio. Elias is listed at age 75 on the 1850 census of Royalton, Fulton Co.,
OH, living with his son Jacob & wife. He is listed as age 85 and still living
with son Jacob & family on the 1860 census of Seneca, Lenawee Co., MI. Elias
died on January 29, 1863 in Seneca Twp., Lenawee Co., MI. The Family of Elias Brees & Deborah Bennett Notes for Elias Brees |
| Samuel Brees | Samuel Brees was born on August 31, 1776 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. His parents emigrated from NJ to NY in 1787 when he was about age 10. Samuel married Elizabeth "Betsy" Smith and they had 9 children. I have not found the family on any census records at this time. Samuel Brees died on April 03, 1849 but I'm not sure where. |
| Lewis Brees | Lewis Brees was born on September 29,
1779 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. His parents emigrated from NJ to NY
in 1787 when he was about age 7. Lewis married Rebecca Porter on November
30, 1803 and they had 12 children. Lewis settled his family along Newton's Creek
with several of his brothers, and he built the first mill on that creek. The family
is on the 1810 census of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. Lewis served in the War of 1812
in Swartwood's Regt., NY Militia along with his brother Elias. The family is listed
on the 1820, 1830, 1840 & 1850 censuses of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. They are
listed on the 1860 census of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Rebecca Porter Brees
died on February 27, 1861. Lewis Brees died on July 6, 1864 in Horseheads,
Chemung Co., NY. Both Lewis & Rebecca are buried in the Breesport Baptist
Cemetery, Chemung Co., NY. Although the 1850 & 1860 censuses spell
the last name BREESE, on their tombstone the last name is spelled BREES. Notes for Lewis Brees |
 | Azariah Brees | Azariah Brees was born on September 15, 1781
in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. His parents emigrated from NJ to NY in
1787 when he was about age 5. Azariah married Abby Jane Miller about 1807
and they had 12 children. The family is listed on the 1820, 1830, 1840 & 1850
censuses of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. They are listed as Israel & Jane Breese
on the 1860 census of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Azariah Brees died on June
21, 1866 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Jane died a few months later
on August 15 1866. Azariah & Jane are buried in the Horseheads Cemetery, Horseheads,
Chemung Co., NY. Notes for Azariah Brees Tombstone of Abby Jane Miller Brees |
 | Silas Brees | Silas Gildersleeve Brees was born on May 05,
1783 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. His parents emigrated from NJ to NY
in 1787 when he was about age 4. Silas married Mary Bennett about 1807
in Orange or Tioga Co., NY. Mary was the daughter of Abraham
Bennett & Jerusha Wanzer. Silas' brother Elias married Mary's sister Deborah
about the same year. Silas & Mary had 8 children. The family is listed on
the 1820, 1830, & 1840 censuses of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. Mary Bennett Brees
died on March 14, 1850, and Silas is listed on the 1850 census of Elmira with
daughter Mary and a 13 year old name William that may be a grandson. Silas
Brees died on October 05, 1855 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Silas &
Mary are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Notes for Silas Gildersleeve Brees Portrait of Silas' son Ulysses Brees |
| Hannah Brees | Hannah Brees was born on March 17, 1786 in Bernards
Twp, Somerset Co., NJ. Her parents emigrated from NJ to NY in 1787 when she
was about age 1. Hannah married Lot Peterson about 1812 and they had at
6 children. There is a Lot Peterson listed as head of household on the 1820 census
of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY, on the 1830 census of Veteran, Tioga Co., NY, and
then on the1840 census of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. Based on census info, Lot and
Hannah separated at some point between 1840 to 1850. Hannah is listed in the household
of her married son Daniel Peterson on the 1850 census of Elmira, Chemung Co.,
NY, and I have not found Lot that year. Hannah is also listed in Daniel's household
on the 1860 census of Superior, Wastenaw Co., MI and I find a Lott Peterson the
right age and birthplace in Ridgebury, Bradford, Pennsylvania with a female named
Laner that is 22 years younger. Hannah is again in Daniel's household on the 1870
census of Pittsfield, Washtenaw Co., Michigan, and Lot is in the household of
son Silas in Wayne, Cass, Michigan. Hannah Brees Peterson died on October 21,
1873 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., MI. I do not know when Lot Peterson died.
Children for Lot Peterson & Hannah Brees are: Unknown Son (1813), Daniel (1815),
Orson (1916), Silas (1818), Jerome (1820) and Mariah (born 1821-1825) Notes for Hannah Brees Peterson |
| Sarah Brees | Sarah Brees was born on February 18, 1789 in Tioga
(later Chemung) Co., NY. She was the first white child born in the Chemung
Valley in New York. Sarah married John Jackson about 1825 and they had
4 children. They are listed on the 1830 census of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY,
and are on the 1850 census of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY living by Sarah's nephew
Theron Brees (son of her brother Azariah). John & Sarah are on the 1860 census
of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY living by son Lyman. John died on June 09, 1863.
Sarah is listed on the 1870 & 1880 censuses of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY,
living in the household of her married son Lyman Jackson. Sarah Brees Jackson
died on May 14, 1881 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. She was age 92 when
she died. John & Sarah are buried in the Horseheads Cemetery, Horseheads,
Chemung Co., NY Notes for Sarah Brees Jackson |
 | John Brees | John Brees was born on April 29, 1791 in Tioga
(later Chemung) Co., NY. He is living with his parents on the 1810 census
of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. John married Mary Ann Truesdell (also spelled
Truesdale) on January 14, 1817 in Elmira, Chemung, NY and they had 11 children.
John & Mary Ann lived with John's parents until his father's death on March
24, 1829, and then came in possession of the family farm by paying off the other
heirs. They are listed on the 1820, 1830, 1840 & 1850 censuses of Elmira,
Chemung Co, NY, and on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of Horseheads, Chemung Co.,
NY. Mary Ann died on March 03, 1874, and John is listed as widowed on the 1880
census of Horseheads. John Brees died on May 28, 1882 in Horseheads, Chemung
Co., NY. John & Mary Ann are buried in the Horseheads Cemetery, Horseheads,
Chemung Co., NY. Bio of John Brees & Mary Ann Truesdale Notes for John Brees Tombstone of John Brees & Mary Ann Truesdale |
