Fear Brewster

Who was Fear Brewster?

Fear Allerton née Brewster was a woman in Colonial America. She was the third daughter of Mayflower Pilgrim William Brewster and his wife Mary, born in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. She was named Fear because at the time of her birth, the Puritans were holding secret meetings and were under constant threat of arrest. Her early years, and indeed her whole life, were full of unrest. In 1608 she moved, along with the other pilgrims, to Amsterdam.

Fear was only 14 when her parents and two younger brothers, Love and Wrestling, left for America on the Mayflower. She was left in the care of her older siblings, Jonathan and Patience. Jonathan joined the pilgrims in 1621 on board the Fortune. Fear arrived in America with Patience on board the Anne in July 1623.

Fear married Isaac Allerton, another Mayflower pilgrim, around 1626. He was 20 years her senior. They had a son, Isaac Allerton Jr., born about 1627. There is speculation that they had a daughter, Sarah Allerton, who was baptised on August 13, 1633 and probably died in infancy.

Fear died young, but the exact date is unknown. She died sometime before her sister Patience's death December 12, 1634.