Margaret Brewster’s 1868 will — explicit Diven cousin relationships

Original Perry County, Pennsylvania, Will Book C, pp. 367–368; FamilySearch DGS005534477, image 223/559 (catalog C–D, 1854–1880). Margaret Brewster of Landisburg signed by mark on 24 March 1868. Proved 14 April 1868; letters testamentary 20 April 1868. Full original and enlarged name/date passages visually inspected.

EXPLICIT RELATIONSHIP TESTIMONY: Margaret gives household goods and the benefit of Union National Bank of Philadelphia stock to the family of “my cousin James A. Diven,” repeated as “my aforesaid cousin James A. Diven.” She gives $10 to “my cousin Anna Bella Fetter” and appoints “my cousin James L. Diven” executor. Silver spoons go to James L. Diven, son of James L. and Margaret J. Diven, and Harvey Diven, son of John L. and Emily Diven. Witnesses William S. Linn and John L. Diven. The cousin degree, common ancestor and whether the relationship runs through birth or marriage are not specified.

IDENTITY LIMITS: James Senior’s 1818 will separately names granddaughter Margaret Brewster. The testator here is a strong local candidate, but the identity between those records still requires a documented correlation. The 1868 beneficiary James A. must also be securely correlated to Junior’s son before this can connect Junior’s group. No father–son link, first-cousin degree or identity merger has been added. This is a qualified research lead, not accepted proof of Junior’s parentage. The original 1818 passage does not name Margaret’s mother; published Ann parentage remains unverified.

CENSUS ORIGINAL: Landisburg Borough, 6 July 1860, p.88/stamped521, line27: Margaret Brewster57, Pennsylvania-born, personal estate $300, separate household613/610 (earlier crossed-out numbering remains visible). The preceding household contains Mary Jane Diven55, Wm B. Diven21 and John L. Diven33. Proximity supports a local network but states no kinship. Index https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXRL-4Q8 ; original https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBS6-9T7R , image195/598.

GRAVESTONE PHOTOGRAPH: Judith Warner Bookwalter’s original photo, posted2October2002, Find a Grave memorial6797375, visually reads Margaret Brewster, died March24,1868, aged about70years. No parents engraved. The approximate grave age differs from census57 in1860; preserve both and infer no exact birth date. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6797375/margaret-brewster . Original photographer credited in attachment; no ownership claim.

NEGATIVE COLLATERAL CHECK: Henry Fetter’s1859 will, proved1863, pp.221–222, DGS005534477 image145, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99B-2DZD , was downloaded and visually inspected at enlarged scale. Its annuity is to Mary Diven and Margaret Evinger, with reversion to James Diven/Jacob Evinger heirs, not Margaret Brewster. Do not use it as Brewster identity evidence. That unrelated original is not attached here.

Preservation: the full will JPG, full census JPG and original grave photograph are attached. The will execution date was corrected from an initial whole-page misreading to 24 March after enlarged inspection of “twenty fourth.”