Mattie Brewington Braswell (1883-1952) was my great-grandmother. Born in Wayne County, North Carolina to free persons of color, the only thing that I knew about her (other than her name) was that ‘she was Indian.’
My earliest Internet family history queries were to find out more about Mattie and her family. Brewington ✔️ North Carolina ✔️. I soon discovered that there are a great deal of North Carolina Brewingtons. I had to make sure that I was tracing the correct line.
Who were Mattie’s parents? What was their origin story?
In very short order, I found out that Mattie was a daughter of Joshua L. Brewington (1846-1931) and his wife, Amelia Aldridge Brewington (1855-1895). Along with Mattie, the couple had three other daughters: Tilithia (1878-1965), Bashuay (1879-1899), and Hattie Bell (1890-1981). Joshua and Mattie also had three sons: Elijah (1886-1949), Lundy (1894-1914), and Tony (1894-1973).
Photo Courtesy: Norfolk Journal and Guide
Photo Courtesy: Norfolk Journal and Guide
Photos Courtesy: L.H.
Mattie’s father, Joshua, was a son of Raiford Brewington (1812-1896) and Bashua (Bathsheba/Bashaby) Manuel Brewington (1818-aft. 1909). They were both from Sampson County, North Carolina. They’re my third great-grandparents and have a legacy of many, many descendants.
After I learned how I connected into the Brewington family, courtesy of my Aldridge (Mattie’s maternal family) family cousin, L.H., I was introduced to a 1916 bio-sketch of the Brewingtons and other allied families within this tri-racial isolate group called Croatan/Coharie people:
In petitioning the Sampson County Board of Education, the collective submitted their reasons and request for separate schooling for their Indian children.
Opinion aside, this booklet is a great resource for genealogical information and lore.
SKETCH OF THE BREWINGTON FAMILY
“The Brewington family is now the largest of any Indian family in Sampson County, most of which are the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even the great-great-grandchildren of the late Raford Brewington, father of Hardy A. Brewington. He had several other sons and daughters…
…Bill Brewington’s wife was a Cherokee Indian, by the name of Jane Brewington, who lived a good many years after her husband’s death. They had a daughter, Hannah Brewington, who if now living would be upwards of one hundred and forty years old. Hannah Brewington is well remembered by few of the oldest people of the county, namely John Emanuel, Jonathan Goodman, James Strickland, and others. They describe her as being a true specimen of the original Cherokee, she being of a copper-reddish hue, with prominent cheek-bones, straight black hair and black eyes. She bought land in the year of 1807, as the records in Clinton, N. C., now show, though before that time she and her people lived on the banks of Coharee, without any need of buying, as the land was held in common by the Indians of those days.
The above Hannah Brewington was the mother of Raford Brewington, who has already been mentioned in this section. She helped a poor illiterate bound white boy, who was, as we have been told, a son of a soldier who was killed during the Revolutionary War, while bearing arms for the independence of America. Soon after the death of his father his mother also died, leaving the child to provide for himself. His name was Simon, and as he was placed under the control of a man that owned a good many servants and slaves, he was given the title that has ever been known as his name, “White Simon.” Hannah Brewington proved to be a friend to this poor orphan boy, and in time, by early Indian custom, she and he were married. Soon after the marriage of this couple, Raford, a son, was born in their home. Simon having no real surname, adopted the name of his wife. Soon after the birth of the above Raford Brewington, his father left the State and went north. He has never returned, but was heard from a few times indirectly. Thus you see the beginning of the Brewington family of Sampson County…
Girls–Bottom Row, Left to Right: Ollie Brewington, daughter of M. L. Brewington; Bessie Jones, daughter of Jno. R. Jones: Essie Goodman, daughter of W. E. Goodman; Bessie Brewington, daughter of W. B. Brewington.
All of Herrings Township, Sampson County
Sampson County
Herrings Township, Sampson County
C. D. Brewington, grandson of Raiford Brewington, Herrings Township, Sampson County. He was educated at the Pembroke Normal Indian School and taught in the public schools of Robeson County; also taught at New Bethel Indian School in Herrings Township, Sampson County. He is a teacher and minister, and preaches in the Croatan churches of Sampson and Robeson counties. He married Bessie Chavis of Robeson County, a Croatan.
Many thanks to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for making this work widely available.
It serves as a valuable tool in excavating our family history.
This is our situation…
The Genealogy Situation Room
The Genealogy Situation Room 
My grandfather was Claude Brewington of Sampson county, I’m trying to find out more information about his family. We have been told his father was James. Claude was married to Eliza Maynor my father is Sherman born in Sampson County. I love reading about our heritage if you have any information or can recommend where I can start my search I would like it. Thank you
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Thank you for stopping by and sharing. I checked Ancestry and found that there are about 75 family trees for your ancestor, who happens to be my 1st cousin 3x removed, per Ancestry:
Claudie Ashford Brewington
•born 16 May 1889 Sampson, North Carolina, USA
•died 25 Dec 1971 Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina,
USA
Father: James A Brewington (Born 1845)
Mother: Mary Eliza Faircloth (Born 1846)
I hope that this helps! Again, thank you so much for stopping by.
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Thank you for the information, do you have any information on Mary Eliza Faircloth who was married to James Brewington.?
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You are welcome! I actually see conflicting information on Ancestry, like different names being listed for her parents and such. So, I don’t have additional information for her now, but I will certainly keep an eye out.
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do you know where/how/ what tribe i need to enroll in. Ive been on a 2 month genealogy search and made so much progress. Im Cortney Adams 26 from Fayetteville North Carolina (now in Oklahoma), my bloodline is under Nathan Brewington(the son of Hannah). Every where I look enrollments are closed but for our family to be so prominent….there should be an exception right?
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Hi, Cortney. Thank you for stopping by, your question is a natural and important one. I’ll start by saying that each Indigenous (Native) group of people decides who’s in and who’s out based on their own criteria.
Knowing that, the Coharie People (tribe) of Sampson County, North Carolina are the folks that you may look to regarding your heritage Brewington and their rolls. I cannot speak to what their practices are currently for Brewington descendants, family prominence notwithstanding.
In any case, again, thank you for stopping by and I hope that you are encouraged as you continue to learn more about the Brewington family history and legacy.
Kindly,
Barbie
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What an awesome history to connect to.
I am the daughter of Willie James Brewington, Jr. (11/24/1935 – 11/15/1994)
He served in the USA Air Force/Korea
Buried at Cumberland Cemetery, Fayetteville, North Carolina
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my great grandfather’s name was Joseph brewington
He would have been born before the turn of the century round 1898. I think he had a brother Leander Brewington He had a child with Mary E Melvin of Lisbon but he did not marry her because she was too dark. I mean dark dark . But his child Josephine looked just like him
My email is daddysgirl247e@gmail.com
If anyone can connect some dots I’d really appreciate it
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What an awesome history to be connected to.
I am Karen Eileen Brewington; born on August, the 18th, 1960, in San Francisco, CA.
I am the daughter of Alva Jean Collins and Willie James Brewington, Jr. He was born in Chicago, 11/24/1935 and died in 11/15/1994 in North Carolina. I never knew my father.
He served in the USA Air Force/Korea
Buried at Cumberland Cemetery, Fayetteville, North Carolina
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Hi Karen! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment. I took the liberty of doing a cursory search on Ancestry and found a number of family trees there that have profiles of your father, Willie James Brewington.
According to the trees, which I strongly recommend your looking into more closely and verifying, the earliest Brewington ancestor on your paternal line is: John Brewington born Feb 1848 in Clinton, Sampson County, North Carolina and passed away on 4 Sep 1920 in Sampson County, North Carolina.
I hope that this helps! Again, thank you.
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Greetings
I am Roger Brewington, Son of Willie Brewington, Son of Jarvis Brewington Sr., Son of Erias Brewington, Son of Andrew Brewington, Son of Johnson Brewington, Son of Old Johnson Brewington.
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Greetings! Thank you for sharing and stopping by. I have communicated extensively with another descendant of the related Johnson Brewington line. Welcome.
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Hi Karen,
Thanks for this information. I am granddaughter of Thomas, son of Ishmael, Ishmael is the son of Nathan, Nathan is the son of Raford, son of Simon and Hannah. Have you heard that Simon and Hannah had another son named Nathan? Do you know where the Brewington cemetery is in Clinton?
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Im Cortney Adams(26), im a descendant of Nathan Brewington. He is the brother of Raford. Im so fulfilled to know that my thoughts and spiritual feelings were true that im connected to this land. Nice to see our distant relatives connect. Brewingtons are many
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Hi Brea,
Allow me to answer some of this for you.
Yes—Nathan Brewington, (b.1815) was a brother of Raiford Brewington. This Nathan married Matilda Chestnut (b.1815).
Nathan Brewington (1859-1910), son of Raiford Brewington, is buried at Congregational Church Cemetery in Dudley, Wayne County, Virginia.
Here’s a link to the Find a Grave website for this place of rest:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245102267/nathan_r-brewington
Other Brewington family members, including: Allen B. Brewington (1856-1926), Bathsheba “Bashaby” Brewington (1818-1909), Hardy Brewington (1846-1917), Junius Arthur Brewington (1867-1949) and others are buried at Brewington Cemetery in Clinton, Sampson County, NC.
Brewington Cemetery is located at Rt 1, Beaver Dam Swamp in Clinton, North Carolina, USA.
Find a Grave link:
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2564299/brewington-cemetery
It may be that the Coharie Tribal Center has more information on this cemetery. Their telephone number: (910) 564-6909.
I hope that this helps. By all means, Karen, feel free to reply, also.
Brea—thanks for stopping by!
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I have enjoyed reading the provided information. I am trying to search more of my paternal and maternal side. Nancy Jacobs married Nathan brown and moved to Pitt county. Namon brewington is my great grandfather who is also from Sampson co and moved to Pitt. I only found him in th 1890 census then Pitt county. I’m trying to find more about both sides. What advice do you have?
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Thank you for stopping by!
Just a quick check—
I believe that I have located your ancestor, a 10 year old Namon Brewington, living in the 1900 Sampson County, NC household of his grandparents , Jim (James?) and Tener(sp?) Brewington, in the census of that year.
I also located the 1950 death certificate of your ancestor, 90 year old Nancy Brown nèe Jacobs. Her parents were listed as Archie (Archibald?) and Matilda Jacobs.
My advice for you is to create a family tree on either FamilySearch or Ancestry and follow the genealogical paper trail of primary sources to learn lots more.
Hope this helps!
—Barbie
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yes this is correct. I can’t find anything on my great grandfather parents the Brewington’s. Nancy is on my mom side. Her off spring are hard to find as well. Ernest brown is who I descended from. His brother W. Archie Jacobs.
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Will definitely keep an eye out for you!
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my grandmothers name is Vanessa C brewington and her fathers name is william d brewington and her Mother is betty cox I’m trying to go farther than that and see who was before them and trace my family line back they are from North Carolina as well I found the picture of hardy ashford brewington in our acestory tree and we took a dna test and it does show early North Carolinas native ancestry
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I did a quick check of records and found your ancestor, William Davis Brewington (1933-1994). According to records, his parents were Harvey Brewington and Oral Covington. Harvey Brewington may have been the son of King Solomon Brewington (born abt. 1861) in North Carolina. King Solomon Brewington may have been a son of Robert Brewington (born abt. 1832 in North Carolina).
Looks like some profiles incorrectly have William D. Brewington listed as the son of Joseph Harvey Brewington (1882-1948) and Annie Bell Jacobs (1894-1936).
Joseph Harvey Brewington (1882-1948)
was a son of Hardy Ashford Brewington (1845-1917), my 2nd great granduncle.
So far, I am not showing any DNA matches to the 10 Ancestry profiles that have your William D. Brewington in their family trees.
I would encourage you to follow the records and your DNA matches to confirm everything.
Hope this helps! Thank you for stopping by.
Barbie
$TGSRoom
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My grandmother was Katie Brewington and her parents were Johnson & Catherine Brewington. Catherine’s maiden name was Jacobs. They originated from Clinton, NC in Sampson County. I do know Johnson Brewington’s father was also Johnson and his wife was Nancy Manuel. I have heard of the names of Hannah Brewington and White Simon, who I believe were Johnson Sr’s father. I believe Hardy & Joshua were Johnson Sr.’s brothers.
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Hello, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing about your Brewington connections. I am learning more and more about the Johnson Brewington/Nancy Manuel line, so I appreciate your insight.
There seem to be a number of variations on different family trees on Ancestry. In terms of Joshua and Hardy, their father was Raiford, a son of “White Simon” Brewington (actually a Sessions family descendant, per DNA testing results) and Hannah Brewington.
It’s possible that Johnson Sr. was a brother to Raiford, but I have seen other Johnson Brewington descendants flatly deny that via Ancestry commentary. While I do have some DNA matches with descendants of Johnson Brewington, I am not sure if they also have other Brewington lines. Even so, I am sure that there is relatedness between these sets of Brewingtons, primary sources will certainly help us continue to learn more.
Again, thank you!
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Thank you Beverly for writing this. I too am a descendant of Johnson Brewington and Nancy Jane Manual and have not found a definitive clue to it being factual of the parentage of Johnson. I have added Johnson and Hannah as siblings which would be contradictory to what Ms. Barbie is expressing. I do hope that we can find an end to this confusion.
Good Luck and Best wishes.
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Hey there! I’m so excited to learn about this! I’ve always heard there were two sets of Brewingtons in North Carolina. After my dad passed, I started working on my family tree, but I couldn’t find any names that sounded familiar. But I was told we had some Native American ancestors. James “Jim” Simmons and Winnie P. Simmons (Medline) are my 4th great grandparents on my dad’s side. Do you think there’s any connection between me and the Croatian Indians through my 4th great grandparents? If you have any information, I’d love to chat with you. Peace and blessings!
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Hi! I appreciate your sharing and stopping by. The connection is possible, comparing DNA test results would be definitive. Happy to keep an eye out for all potential Brewington connections.
Kindly, Barbie
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