- John Wesley Drewer's death certificate indicates that he was born in Baltimore, MD, in 1847 and died 10 Sep 1912. His age was listed as 69, which would have made his birth 1843. This is a closer match to the 1850 Census information, which showed his age as 9, which would have made his birth 1841. The information on the death certificate was provided by his son, Lloyd Drewer. His place of birth was also listed as Maryland in the 1880 Census. Others say that he and his sister came to Saxis from the Guilford or Cattail area of Acc Co, VA. This is based on the story told by some older members of the Drewer family that as children he and his sister, Rebecca Ann or "Becky," came walking across the marshlands east of Saxis, each with a pillow under their arm. They did not have any adults with them. In 1850, John Drewer, age 9, and his sister Rebecca, age 13, were both living on Saxis with their step-father, William Russell Sr., age 30, and his son, William Russell Jr., age 15, all in the household of Gillet Marshall. William Russell had married John and Rebecca's widowed mother, Susan, in 1849. Their Acc Co Marriage License Bond showed her as "Susan Drury, widow of Drury" with Gilbert Marshall and Richard S. Taylor listed as securities. The name "Drury" has been found listed among Irish pedigrees, which is further substantiated by the middle names of two of John's sons, John "Riley" and Lloyd "McDuffy" Drewer. After John was married he and his family lived in the home at Saxis across the "new lane" from the Drewer family cemetery. After his death this was the home of his son, Lloyd, and after Lloyd's death, the home of his son, Claude. The family cemetery was set aside form a portion of his property. He was a waterman and farmer. He was known as very patriotic and a christian gentleman. He requested that the "Stars and Stripes," the U.S. flag, be flown form the top of his tombstone once a year on the 4th of July. This was done by a member of the family, usually his youngest son, Marvin Drewer, until his death in 1967. Mrs. Olevia Dennis, a Saxis resident, is quoted as saying "if Mr. John Drewer told me the sky will fall tomorrow, then I fully expect that it would." This attested to her faith in his character. He acquired the property on the east side of Saxis, bordering the marsh where his home stood. He raised his family here. He also purchased the land he farmed including several lots across the county road and westward to the shoreline. He gave each child a lot along the "new" lane which he marked off for their use. He sold others to his grandchildren. The following information was provided by Mrs. Lovie (Bonawell) Marshall (1891-1981) in an interview in 1977 with Kathryn (Drewer) Miles and her son M.K. Mrs. Lovie was 85 years old at the time. "Now what my mother said she could remember of them was that they come, there weren't no road here, walking across the marsh with their things wrapped up into a table cloth or a sheet or something and a stick run through it on their back. They saw these two children coming across the marsh and they knew that there were deep holes there and people went and guided them. When they came in they had nowhere to go and they told them that nobody lived in that house and to go and live in there. So they went there and lived. Aunt Becky was older than Mr. John Drewer was. When he got old enough he went out and was quite lucky in his work. He bought that whole piece of land where Minnie's house is at and all of that, clear to the shore. I think Mama said for $250. Well nobody wanted it and he had a right to buy it. And he gave all of his children lots off of it. Mr. Drewer gained in wealth, he was right well to do, and was a good christen man. When you seen him coming into church, with a flower in the back of him, you could tell he was going to address the Sunday school. He was a waterman and farmer. I'll tell you what a good man Mr. Drewer was. My sister said that if she was going to die instead of anybody else having her funeral she'd want Mr. Drewer. When his wife, Miss Liza Jane Drewer, was paralyzed they went after him out on the water and he come-a-shore. He didn't go in the room where she was at, he went in the room towards going up the outlet there, and got down on his knees. They said he prayed for 2 hours and when the doctors tried her temperature she was paralyzed. He said, she's going to survive this, and she did. Now she talked a little bit thick tongued, but leaving out that, she got all right for a while. He had that home built that he lived into. He lived where Hidla Drewer lives. His will, written on 18 July 1912, states: I, John Wesley Drewer of Saxis Island, Virginia being feeble in body but sound in mind and feeling, that I would like to leave my estate after my death in a business like shape, in such as I have always tried to keep may affairs in, make this my last Will. To enable me to divide my Real Estate intelligently among my heirs I have employed the County Surveyor to survey and make plat of the main body of my land on Saxis Island and this survey and plat is hereby made a part of my will. The Grave Yard as given on the plat is reserved for the benefit of the Drewer Family. (1) I give to my son John R. Drewer Lots 1, 16, 17, but the same is to pay to my wife Elisa J. Drewer the sum of $63.50 on account of the larger size of the above lots. (2) I give to my son Lloyd M. Drewer Lots 2, 15 and 19. (3) I give to my daughter Maud E. Taylor Lots 3, 14 and 20. (4) I give to my son Wm. Cleveland Drewer Lots 4, 13 and 21. (5) I give to my daughter Mary J. Linton Lots 5, 12 and 22. (6) I give to my son Harvey A. Drewer Lots 6, 7 and 8, but the same shall pay to my wife Elisa J. Drewer the sum of $38.50 on account of the higher valuation of said Lots. (7) I give to my son Marvin T. Drewer Lots 9, 10 and 11, but the same shall pay to my wife Elisa J. Drewer the sum of $103 on account of the higher valuation of said Lots. (8) I leave Lot #18 to be sold to the highest bidder among my seven children for a sum of not less than $100.00, the purchase price to go to my wife Eliza J. Drewer. (9) All of my Real Estate on the North side of the County Road not disposed of before this by Deed and not shown on the plat I give unto all of my seven children, the same to be sold and money to be equally divided between them. (10) I give to my wife Elisa J. Drewer the Home Place for life and after her death to my son Lloyd M. Drewer, but to him only in consideration of a sum of money equal to 6/7 of the actual value of the place, said value to be ascertained by three appraisers chosen by a majority of my heirs and the money to be divided among my other six children. (11) Should my son Lloyd M. Drewer be unable or not willing to meet the above obligation within one year after the death of my wife or one year after my death, should I be the longest liver, another one of my heirs shall have the same privilege to purchase the Home Place and should not one of them be able or willing to do so, then the same shall be put up at Public Auction and the purchase money be equally divided between them. (12) I also give to my wife Elisa J. Drewer all my personnel property, house hold and kitchen furniture, my half interest in the Canoe "Nancy Hanks" and the whole of the old canoe called "Edward." (13) I also give to my wife Eliza J. Drewer all notes due me now outstanding as follows: from John R. Drewer due me $150.00; from Lloyd M. Drewer due me $75.00; from W. Cleve. Drewer due me $75.00; from Mary J. Linton due me $75.00; from Harvey A. Drewer due me $75.00; from Peace Milburn balance of note and all cash money after paying all my bills and burying expenses. (14) And should my wife Eliza J. Drewer leave this earth before I do, then in event of my death all property given to her by this Will, excepting the Home Place shall be divided equally among my children. 15) Whereas my son Harvey A. Drewer has by far the largest interest in the oyster planting grounds owned by us I hereby appoint him as sole manager of the same and not one of the other heirs shall have the right to work on or take oysters form our grounds without his knowledge and consent and he shall, after payment of first cost and all expenses, distribute the proceeds of my share equally among my seven children excepting however the ground sub-leased to Mrs. E.A.F. Fletcher, who receives one fourth of all the profits after payment of the first cost of $400.00 has been made to her, the balance of said profits to be equally divided among my children. The oysters planted by me in partnership with my son John R. Drewer however shall be handled by him and my share of the profits be equally divided among my children. (16) I hereby appoint my sons John R. and Harvey A. Drewer executor of this my last Will without Bond or Remuneration for their trouble excepting actual expenses. Witnesses: George N. Weaver, James T. Weaver and Fred. E. Ruediger.
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1843 - 1912 (69 years)
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