John was born 21 February 1790 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales. The entry in the Chepstow Parish register for his birth simply states: "John Son of John and Mary Brew was baptiz'd".
There are banns and a marriage registered in Chepstow Parish in 1811 for John Brew and Rachel Prickett. Interestingly, they were also married on 24 December, like John's parents, John and Mary. Their banns were published on three consecutive Sundays, 17 November, 24 November, and 1 December 1811. They were married by the minister, William Jones, and the witnesses were Orpheus Lewis, who undersigned, and John Prickett (her father or brother?), who marked with an 'X'. Although Rachel undersigned her own name, her new husband, John, marked his name with an 'X'.
John and Rachel had four children in Chepstow for which we have found registered births in the parish register: Elizabeth, christened 10 April 1814, John, christened 31 March 1816, Thomas, who was deaf, christened 17 January 1819, and who died 12 February 1895, Sarah, assumed born ca.1823. The address given at the first two christenings was Watkins Court, and the 'Back' at the third. John's profession was registered consecutively as 'Ropemaker', 'Mariner', and 'Ropemaker'.
The I.G.I. indicates John and Rachel also had other children, namely Mary, born 1821, Jane, born 1826, and Hannah, born 1831, but is most likely an error as John's brother Thomas had children by these names.
Emma Brew was born a "base child" (illegitimate) to Elizabeth Brew, John and Rachel's oldest daughter, in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales, on 26 February 1835. On the birth certificate, Elizabeth's occupation is stated as a "Charwoman". When Emma married on 18 October 1854, she is described as daughter of John Brew, which would apply Elizabeth's parents took in her daughter as if she were their own child. Perhaps they adopted her or perhaps it was a well-kept family secret. Interestingly, however, like her older "brother" (actually uncle), her mother's brother Thomas, Emma was also deaf. When Elizabeth married in 1838 (Emma was three years old), it appears she didn't take her daughter with her into the family, but rather left her in the care of her own parents, where she stayed until Emma herself married in 1854. Perhaps Emma grew up thinking her grandparents were her real parents, and never really knew the truth? We will never know.
No.13, Registration District of Chepstow, in the sub-district of Shirenewton, in Monmouthshire, Death on 5 November 1843 in Portskewett, John Brew, male, 56 years , occupation: Boatman, died of Fever, informant: Rachel Brew, present at death, Portskewett, registered: 28 November 1843, registrar: Charles Harding.
The 1851 Census shows Rachel Brew, a 63-year-old widow (implying a year of birth of 1788), born in Mathern, Mon., Wales (a few miles from Chepstow), head of the house at 100 Old Hill in Chepstow and a dressmaker. She still had two children at home, Thomas, born in 1819, who was a 32 year old agricultural labourer and deaf, and Emma, (see above) who was born in 1835 who was a 16 year old house servant.
No. 470, Registration District of Newport, sub-district of Newport, County of Monmouth, Death on 11 October 1861 at Bolt Street, Newport, St. Woolos, Rachel Brew, female, 77 years, widow of Thomas [sic, should read John], a seaman in the merchant service, cause of death: concussion of the brain from a fall, informant: Richard Wm. Lord, present at the death, Bolt Street, Newport, registered 14 October 1861, registrar: W. D. Evans.
The 1881 Census shows Thomas, born 1819, as a single, 62 year old farm labourer, resident in Caldicot, Monmouthshire.
No. 459, Registration District of Chepstow, sub-district of Chepstow, Monmouthshire, death on 12 February 1895 at the Union Workhouse in Chepstow, Thomas Brew, male, 71 years, occupation: General Labourer of Caldicot, cause of death: cancer of lip and exhaustion, informant: Evan Davies, Master, Union Workhouse, Chepstow, registered 15 February 1895, registrar: J. Rymer.
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Death |
| John (Father) | 21 February 1790 | 24 November 1811 | 5 November 1843 |
| Rachel nee Prickett (Mother) | ca. 1788 | 24 November 1811 | 11 October 1861 |
| Elizabeth | 10 April 1814 | 7 January 1838 | After 1881 |
| John | 31 March 1816 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Thomas - Deaf | 17 January 1819 | Apparently never married | 12 February 1895 |
| Mary - ? | 1821 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sarah | ca.1823 | 18 November 1844 | Unknown |
| Jane - ? | 1826 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hannah - ? | 1831 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Emma (Adopted) - Deaf | 26 February 1835 | 18 October 1854 | After 1881 |