Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp Bryant Family 1731—1992 By Nelle Bryant Kemp Page 1 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK ** Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp Bryant, Bryan Family (Taken from the William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 18, 1938, pp. 352-353) James Bryant Sr. first lived in Isle of Wight County. Virginia. He might have sprung from the Bryants of New England. for many families came from that section to settle in southeastern Virginia or northeastern North Carolina. The will of James Bryant Sr. was made in Bertie County, North Carolina, on March 11, 1751 (Grimes). and mentioned 1. William Bryant, son. 2. James Bryant Jr, son. 3. Thomas Bryant, son. 4. John Dew (Jr), son-in-law. and executor. He married Elizabeth Bryant. 5. Sarah Bryant married John Drake. according to the will of the latter made in Bertie County on January 5. 1728 (Grimes). 6. Mary Bryant married Richard Sumner. whme will was made in Bertie County on April 12. 1729 (Grimes). William Bryan of isle of Wight County. Virginia, may have been a brother of James Bryant above. He was in Isle of Wight County as early as 1688. He left 1. John Bryan of Bertie and Edgecombe Counties, North Carolina. 2. Needham Bryan Jr. of Bertie County. North Carolina. William Bryant son of James Bryant Sr, lived most of his life in Bertie County. North Carolina. His own will was made in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. on September 21. 1749. and probated in February Court, following (Grimes). leaving 1. Joseph Bryant. son. 2. Williams Bryant Jr, son. 3. Patience Bryant, daughter. 4. Sarah Myhand. daughter. 5. _______ McDaniel. daughter. 6. Patience Bryant. wife. She was the daughter of John Dew, Esquire, of Bertie County. James Bryant Jr. on September 14, 1734, was executor of the Will of Robert Braswell in Bettie County, probated in November Court, 1736, and Patience Bryant and Thomas Bryant were witnesses (Grimes). On February 25, 1740, he was a juryman for Bertie and Edgecombe Counties (N.C. Colonial Records, IV, p. 521). On September 30, 1751, he witnessed the will of William Bridger in Johnston County (Grimes). Thomas Bryant, son of James Bryant Sr., was on a grand jury at Edenton on July 27, 1725 (NC. Colonial Records, 11, p. 591). He was a juror again on July 28, 1727 (idem, II, p. 704). He was executor and witness of the will of John Cotton, Sr. probated in May Court, 1728, in Bertie County (Grimes). On January 18, 1752, he witnessed the will of John Bass in Bertie County (idem). On January 22, 1752, he was appointed Commissioner of Indian trading in the Province of North Carolina (Colonial Records, 111, p. 414). In a Court of July 15, 1755, he bound out several free Negroes until they should be of age (idem, III, p. 556). On February 17, 1758, he received a grant of 400 acres in Edgecombe County (idem, IV, p. 529). He was Member of the North Carolina Assembly (idem, IV, pp. 414, 495, 495, 499, 559, 384, Page 2 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK ** Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp 591, 526, 529). Thomas Bryant, “Burgess Of Bertie,” was dead by April 13, 1749 (idem, IV, p. 1171). Dr. John Bryan moved from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, to Bertie County, North Carolina. On March 5, 1721, he was a juror in Chowan County (N.C. Colonial Records, 11, pp. 455—56). In 1725, he patented 640 acres in Bertie County (idem, II, p. 771). A Court of November 20, 1752, fined him 2/8/10 (idem, III, p. 575). On May 8, 1751, he was appointed a Justice Of the Peace for Bertie County. 42 Page 3 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK ** Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp James Bryant James Bryant was born March 5, 1800 in Halifax County, North Carolina and was christened on April 30, 1855 at Lee’s Chapel Church in Nash County, North Carolina. He was the son of Lewis Bryant who was the son of Robert Bryant of Bertie County, North Carolina. James married Elizabeth Johnson. daughter of Steven and Teresa Collins of Nash County, North Carolina. Her father, Steven, was the son of Mathew Johnson (see will). James died May 25, 1893 in Nash County and Elizabeth died October 13, 1899 in Nash County. Both are burial in the Bryant Family Cemetery in Nash County, North Carolina. James and Elizabeth had four sons: Augustus, Evan, Berry and James H. Augustus Bryant was born May 30, 1856 in Nash County. He was married the first time to Nancy J. Strickland. His second marriage was to Polly Balentine. He had ten children. (See his biography.) Evan Bryant was born September 26, 1836 and died in 1867. He married Marzella Perry and they had two sons. Van Buren and Davis. Evan served during the war and received an honorable discharge. He died shortly after returning home. Berry Bryant was born in 1843. He was a private in Company B of the 47th Regiment of N. C. Volunteers. He is buried about 7¾ miles outside of Zebulon, North Carolina on Massey Road. He has descendants living near Laurinburg and Raleigh, North Carolina. James H. Bryant was born in 1847. He was a farmer in Saratoga, North Carolina. He married Issac Susan Scarborough. (See his biography.) 43 Page 4 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK ** Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp Augustus Bryant Augustus Bryant was born May 50, 1856 to James and Elizabeth Johnson Bryant of Nash County, North Carolina. Augustus was married December 51, 1857 to Nancy Strickland of Nash County. Nancy was born September 26, 1855 to Calvin and Annie O’Neal Strickland. (Annie was the daughter of Carson O'Neal of Johnston County, North Carolina). Nancy had three brothers: Stephen Burrell, Henry Carson and Calvin, Jr. Augustus was a farmer and a magistrate. His family was also in the turpentine business. He volunteered January 26, 1862 in Company A of the 47th Regiment of the NC. Volunteers. This regiment was part of the army of northern Virginia. Engagements with the enemy were at Wilderness and Gettysburg where Augustus was wounded and suffered the loss of a leg. Augustus and Nancy had ten Children: Quinton B., born August 29 1859; Frankie, born October 3, 1861; James Andrew, born January 11, 1865; Robert Lafayette, born April 2, 1867; Thatous Alice, born September 26, 1869; William Turner, born May 19, 1871; Martha, born September 11, 1874; Mary, born September 26, 1874; Ora Jane, born July 7, 1877; and Lilly M., born April 13, 1880. Augustus was married a second time to Polly Balentine, born in 1846 and 1926. She was buried at Lee’s Chapel Church in Nash County, North Carolina. Augustus died September 28, 1907 and Nancy died October 26, 1890. Both are buried in the Bryant Family Cemetery. 44 Page 5 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK ** Bryant Family, 1731 – 1992 by Nelle Bryant Kemp ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian. This document and others can be found on our website: BMGEN We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work. COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site: GNU Free Documentation License In short, use what you like. But if you use our stuff, mention us as the source. Brent R. Brian Martha M. Brian BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com Page 6 of 6 ** PAGE BREAK **