Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

the church. His son, John Joseph Erving,
was born in West Hartford, in July, 1832,
and died in East Hartford in October,
1889.. In early life he learned the trade
of bootmaker. That was before the days
of shoe factories, and men learned every
detail of the trade as practiced by the best
custom shoemakers now. Mr. Erving followed
the trade for some years on his own
account, and later entered the States
Prison at Wethersfield as an instructor
and held that position until a few years
before his death. He was a loyal member
of the Democratic party, but by no
means a politician. In 1857 he married
Sarah A. Brewer, born December 25, 1833,
of Hockanum, daughter of George and
Fannie Brewer, a resident of the Willow
Brook district of East Hartford.
The Brewer family was one number-
ing many notables in England, and the
name of the French branch of the family
was de la Bruyere. There were Englishmen
named Brewer among the passengers
of the "Mayflower," and if this line does
not lead back to them (as is entirely possi-
ble), its origin in America is nearly con-
temporary. The earliest record of the
name is in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The
earliest Connecticut Brewer came from
Lynn, Massachusetts, and was born about
1658. This was Thomas Brewer, and he
settled in Glastonbury, and married Sarah
(no record of surname) July 13, 1682.
His son, Daniel Brewer, was born March
25, 1699, and lived in the neighborhood
of Middletown. His will was probated
January 19, 1749, and an old record states
that he "purchased one acre of land near
the plains and adjoining river at Church-
ell's Landing, now Goodspeed's, Portland,
Connecticut, of Joanna Wilcox, 1727. and
paid £10." He married Eleanor Goodale.
Their fifth child, Daniel Brewer, born
May 3, 1 73 1, married (first) Anna Van
Sant, and from that union was born one
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
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child, Daniel Brewer, May 14, 1751. He
settled in East Hartford and became a
prominent man in the community. His
youngest child, George Brewer, was born
July 6, 1800. He was educated in the
common schools, and worked long hours
on the homestead farm until his first mar-
riage, September 12, 1820, to Sarah Treat,
born September 7, 1794. She died in 1828,
and Mr. Brewer married (second) Fannie,
widow of Jason Stevens, of Glastonbury.
Their third child, Sarah A. Brewer, mar-
ried John Joseph Erving. They had three
children : Dora L., who married Charles
B. Case, of West Granby; Rollin King,
of whom further ;
and Fannie J., who mar-
ried John Geiselman, of East Hartford.
The parents were members of the Con-
gregational church.
Rollin King Erving was born January
29, 1861, in East Hartford. He was edu-
cated in the public schools, and then engaged
in farming on the home place,
growing tobacco for three years. He then
came to Hartford and entered the employ
of James G. Betts, book publisher. He
remained there two years, but desiring
wider experience, left them in 1880. going
to J. B. Burr & Company. Three years
later the Burr Index Company was organ-
ized, and Mr. Erving has been connected
with it since that time as secretary and
treasurer. The business has grown from
very small beginnings, as the years have
passed, until it is now a concern of more
than local importance. Responsibilities
have increased in proportion, but Mr.
Erving has met them in a clear-headed
way that has made his associates glad to
depend upon him. The company special-
izes on books for county records, and the
product is handled largely through job-
bers. Mr. Erving is also a director of the
company. Mr. Erving is a public-spirited
man. He has served for sixteen years as
secretary of the Hartford Republican