Brey Research: No known relationship

Michael's family members are not known. Some possible candidates appear in the 1810 census. In Upper Saucon township, besides Michael Brey there is listed a Philip Brey and wife. Their ages are between 16 and 25. They have a son and a daughter under 10 years, and a daughter 10-15 years (so the parents are probably aged 25).

Nearby in Upper Milford township are Conrad and Jacob Brey, and possibly Andrew Bryer (poorly legible name). The census index lists an Adam Brey, not found. Jacob Brey and wife are aged 16-25 years, with a son and a daughter aged under 10 years. Conrad Brey and wife are 45 or older. They have two daughters aged 10-15 years, and a son and daughter aged 16-25 years. Andrew (Bryer?) and wife are aged 45 or older. One son and two daughters are under ten; two sons and one daughter are 10-15.

For comparison, Michael Brey is 37, and has a man aged 45 or over living with his family. We would expect his father to be aged 53 or older in 1810. Jacob Brey is 16-25 and Philip Brey is about 25. Both Conrad Brey and Andrew (Bryer?) are 45 or over. Adam Brey's age is unknown.

There are also Breys in Marlborough township, Montgomery County PA in 1810: Christian, Conrad, George, Martin and possibly William (the last being poorly legible).

A research correspondant reports that Elizabeth Brey's death record says that she was born in Montgomery County. This record was found on microfilm at the LDS Library, Salt Lake, extracted but not copied. In fact the northernmost corner of Montgomery County (Upper Hanover township) is immediately adjacent to Lower Milford township, Lehigh County, where the family of Michael Brey are first located in our sources. The next township to the southeast of Hanover is Marlborough township. The Hosensack Creek flows through Lehigh County's Lower Millford township and joins the Perkiomen Creek which flows through Upper Hanover and Marlborough townships and on south through Montgomery County into the Schuylkill River. The Perkiomen valley divides the diamond-shaped Montgomery County in half, and was an early settlement area.

There are records of earlier Breys, no relationship known, living in Marlborough township, Montgomery County. Christopher Brey is an application for pension, for Revolutionary War Service. This application was found in the LDS Library at Salt Lake; an extract of this information, and a partial photocopy was supplied by a correspondant.

Christopher Brey served as a drafted militiaman in 1776, and again as substitute for his brother George Brey in 1778. He was born in Marlborough township, Montgomery Co. 7 Apr. 1758 (see Bible loose leaf inclusion, below). He resided there when called to service, "and since". The signature appears to be same script as rest of document; Christopher signed with an X mark.

The partial photocopy reads:
"quarters of a month in the second term in the year 1777. And upwards of two months and three quarters in the year 1778 and was out in the service in the several tours above incurtions together not less than twelve months and a half. Declarant has no documentary evidence of his service and he now knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Declarant was born in Marlborough township Montgomery county aforesaid, on the seventh day of April 1758. He has no record of his age except on a loose leaf in his Bible; hereto annexed. Declarant resides in Marlborough township aforesaid when called into the Revolutionary War where he now resides. Declarant went out as a drafted militiaman and the first tour in (War) and was (suddenly) called out by the Captain the next day after the Battle of Brandywine to (oppose) the British in the (second campaign?) 1777. In the year 1778 he went out as a substitute for his brother George Brey, who was a draafted militiaman. He does not recollect the names of the officer who was with the troops where he served except those above named. He (hasn't) received any written discharge. Declarant is known to the reverand George (Roiller), Michael Cope Esquire, Abraham (Geihard) Esquire, Col. Philip (Reed)...treas. and others who reside in his present neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. Christopher (his X mark) Brey " [Additional notations re. document at left border].

Accompanying the Christopher Brey application is a document in German script, the Bible record of his birth.

[Initial four lines of script, followed by]: 1. Johan Conrad geboren im 24 November 1740
2. Jacob Im 7 Mart 1742
3. (J snn sil) im 20 Mai 1744
4. Johan Georg im 30 Mart 1745
5. (blank)
6. Johan Jacob im 27 Februai 1750
7. Elisabeth Barbara im 1 Mai 1752
8. Johan Conrad im 23 Januar 1754
9. Maria Catharina im 4 Januar 1757
10. Johan Christopher im 7 April 1758
Tauf farlangen..." [seven lines of script.]

The 1800 census for Upper Milford township has, on page 1 Michael Brey, Conrad Brey and George Brey, all within a few lines. Conrad Brey lists 2 males 10-16, 3 males 16-26 and 1 male >45, and 2 females 10-16, 2 females 16-26 and 1 female >45. The families of both Michael and George have 1 male <10 and 1 male 26-45 and 1 female <10 and one 26-45. This certainly fits for Conrad being the father and George and Michael the sons. The 1790 census (page 3) for Upper Milford shows only Conrad Brey with a household of 3 males >16, 3 males <16 and 2 females. Again, this fits for Michael and George still being in their parents' home. Michael would be 17 at this time. Finally, the passenger list index shows a Hans George Brey arriving in Philadelphia in 1727. This would make sense as the origin of our Brey line, but we will need more evidence to make this firm.