Person:Martin Brill (1)

About Martin Brill

Martin Brill was born about 1710 in the German-speaking part of Europe. He is likely from the Marburg area of Germany, due to the fact that Herman Brill is a name used extensively in this area of Germany and not used in southern Germany. His death record in 1791 in Loudoun County, Virginia states that he was 81 years old.

Martin Briel would have been 44 years old when he arrived at Philadelphia on the ship Halifax on 20 October 1754. The Passenger Arrival List of 22 Oct 1754 for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania lists a Martin Brill, Herman and Heinrich on the ship Halifax. The captain of this ship was Capt. Thomas Coatam and the ship sailed from Rotterdam to Plymouth, England. Listed on the ship were 10 Roman Catholics, and 370 souls. The passengers were listed as from Wirtenberg, Hesse, Franconia, and the Palatinate. Name spelling for these three men were: Marttin Briel, Johann Henrich Briehll, Johann Herman Briell. (Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. Vol. 1 pages 651-655.)

Martin Brill was buried on 1 May 1791 from the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Lovettsville, Loudoun County, Virginia, age 81. (Frederick S. Weiser, New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lovettsville, Loudoun County, Virginia Parish Register 1784-1836, page 228 Death: Lovettsville, Loudoun Co., Va Parish Register film no 538120 and 0

Source: Mower Family Association Website

Land Records of Martin Brill

• Martin Brill purchased 20 acres of land which was surveyed 19 March 1755. A land warrant was issued to Martin Briel of the County of Bucks, Pennsylvania granting him the right to acquire a 20 acre tract of land in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The price was at the rate of 15 pounds 10 shillings for a hundred acres. The warrant was issued by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. Later on 11 Jan 1759 in Nockamixon Township, he purchased an additional 25 acres. (Warrant Number 263, Division of Land Records, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pa)

• Martin Brill purchased a tract of 49 acres in Tenecum Twp., Bucks, Pa was surveyed for Martin Briel on 19 Jan 1759 pursuant to a warrant issued 13 Jan 1759. The tract was located on Tenecum Creek. The survey is marked on the reverse side as follows: Martin Briel--- 49 acres--- Nockamixon, Bucks County--- 19th 1 mo. 1759--- 263. Nockamixon Township is adjacent to Tinicum Township. The present spelling is Tinicum rather than Tenecum. It is not clear why the warrant was for 25 acres but the survey was for 45 acres. (Survey Number A-26-166 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pa)

• Martin Brill apparently sold the 20 acre tract in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Michael Burger, prior to Burger's survey of the land on 13 April 1768. (Survey Number C-6-148 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pa)

Source: Mower Family Association Website