George Washington Bryson (1825) and Mary Elizabeth Conley of Macon and Jackson Co, NC

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I (Marty Grant) am a 3rd cousin 5 times removed to George W. Bryson.

Special thanks to Lawrence Wood (1937-1997), and Ethel Updike (1899-?) for their books on the Bryson family, including information on this particular branch of the family.

George Washington Bryson was born 23 Apr 1825 (source?) in Haywood (later Macon, now Jackson) Co, NC (per 1850 census).  He was probably named in part for his grandfather George Cunningham.

George W. Bryson is a son of William Holmes Bryson (1798) and Magdelena Cunningham. Both Wood and Updike report this, but I haven't seen any primary evidence proving this relationship, but it seems likely to be correct.

George was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 census, aged 5-9 (born ca 1820/25).

In 1840, George was apparently still home with his parents, aged 15-19 (born ca 1820/25).

On 19 Aug 1844, George W. Bryson received a State Land Grant of 200 acres on Tuckasegee River and Hurricane Creek. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book D page 1755 from "Records of Old Macon County, N.C. 1829-1850" compiled by Barbara Sears McRae, 1991. * Note: All deeds mentioned hereafter from books "A" through "E" are taken from this book.)

On 20 Nov 1846, George W. Bryson (and Andrew Presley) witnessed a deed from Robert Bryson (1813) (his Uncle) to Lewis Tilley. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 198).

On 30 Oct 1848, George W. Bryson obtained a marriage bond in Macon County to marry Mary E. Connelly. Mary Elizabeth Conley was born ca 1827/28 (per 1850 census) in Haywood (later Macon, now Jackson) Co, NC (per 1850 census). She is a daughter of James L. Conley and Mary Sherrill (according to Updike, and other researchers).

George and family were listed on the 1850 census in Macon County. They were listed in Deep Creek District. This is present day Swain County.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1850 MACON CO, NC Page 343B  House/Family #  382/ 390  - DEEP CREEK Twp

BRYSON GEORGE         25 M W FARMER                 650 MACON CO, NC         1824/1825
BRYSON POLLY E        22 F W                            MACON CO, NC         1827/1828
BRYSON JAMES B         0 M W 9/12                       MACON CO, NC         1849/1850

In 1851, Jackson County was formed from the section of Macon County where most of the Brysons resided, including this family.

George and family were listed on the 1860 census in Jackson County. Unfortunately, this census taker only used the first initial for most of the census entries.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1860 JACKSON CO, NC Page 325B  House/Family #  660/ 660 --  Twp  WEBSTER P.O.

BRYSON G W            35 M W FARMER            1200   560 NC                   1824/1825
BRYSON M C            32 F W                              NC                   1827/1828
BRYSON J M            11 M W                              NC                   1848/1849
BRYSON S A             9 F W                              NC                   1850/1851
BRYSON E J             7 F W                              NC                   1852/1853
BRYSON W D             5 M W                              NC                   1854/1855
BRYSON J M             3 M W                              NC                   1856/1857
BRYSON A S             1 M W                              NC                   1858/1859

According to Ms. Updike, George W. Bryson died during the Civil War on 31 Dec 1863 at Rogersville, Tennessee. I don't have his Civil War record.

Mary Elizabeth Conley Bryson married Isaac W. Fisher sometime between 1863 and ca 1868, presumably in Jackson County (though I found no marriage record).

They were listed in Jackson County for the 1870 census in Quallatown Township.

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 JACKSON CO, NC Page 257B  House/Family #   36/  36--QUALLATOWN Twp QUALLATOWN P.O.

FISHER J W            24 M W FARMER                 600   600 TN              1845/1846
FISHER MARY E         43 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    TN              1826/1827
BRYSON SALINA A       19 F W                                  TN              1850/1851
BRYSON E JOSEPHINE    17 F W                                  TN              1852/1853
BRYSON WILLIAM D      15 M W                                  TN              1854/1855
BRYSON JULIUS M       13 M W                                  TN              1856/1857
BRYSON ALLIN S        11 M W                                  TN              1858/1859
BRYSON PENDER M        9 M W                                  TN              1860/1861
FISHER GEORGE F        2 M W                                  TN              1867/1868

In 1871, Swain County was formed from the section of Jackson County where this family was residing.

Mary and Isaac were listed on the 1880 census in Charleston Township, Swain County. Some of her children were close by. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.


Children

George W. Bryson and Mary Elizabeth Conley had 7 children as proven by the various census records. I have very little additional data on them. The data that I have comes mostly from Updike and Wood, and some is from the census records and marriage records that I've been able to locate. Mary and her second husband Isaac Fisher had at least two children (George and Jessie). .


Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):


Register Report


1. George Washington1 Bryson , born 23 Apr 1825 in Haywood Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC); died 31 Dec 1863 in Rogersville, TN, Civil War, son of William Holmes Bryson  and Magdelena Cunningham .  He married on 30 Oct 1848 in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC) Mary Elizabeth Conley , born 1827/28 in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC); died 16 Mar 1910 in Neosha, MO, daughter of James L Conley  and Mary Sherrill .

 

      Children of George Washington Bryson and Mary Elizabeth Conley were as follows:

+    2          i      James Baxter2 Bryson , born 14 Nov 1849 in Macon Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC).  He married (1) Sarah Jane Gibson ; (2) Rachel Messer ; (3) Margaret A Ward .

      3          ii      Salina Artishia2 Bryson , born 1850/51 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC); died in Camp Crowder, MO.  She married (1) in 1872/80 in Jackson Co, NC Benjamin Hamilton Cathey , born 4 Jan 1836 in Haywood Co, NC; died 12 Jun 1907 in Jackson Co, NC, son of Andrew Dever Cathey  and Mary Jefferson Allison ; (2) (---) Styles .

      4          iii      Elmina Josephine2 Bryson , born 1852/53 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC); died 15 Jul 1896 in Jackson Co, NC.  She married on 2 Jan 1880 in Jackson Co, NC William Holland Thomas Jr , born 16 Dec 1858 in Haywood Co, NC; died 8 May 1897 in Jackson Co, NC, son of William Holland Thomas Colonel  and Sarah Jane Love .

+    5          iv      William D2 Bryson , born 11 Nov 1854 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Swain Co, NC.  He married Talitha Melvina Bumgarner .

      6          v      Julius M2 Bryson , born 1855/56 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC).  He married aft 1870 in Jackson Co, NC Mattie King .

      7          vi      Aldon Johnson S2 Bryson , born 1857/58 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Jackson Co, NC.  He married on 29 Oct 1879 in Jackson Co, NC Charlotte W Messer , born 1862/63 in NC; died aft 1880 in Jackson Co, NC, daughter of John Messer  and Manerva (---) .

      8          vii      Pender Mack2 Bryson , born 1860/61 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC).  He married on 1 Jan 1885 in Jackson Co, NC Sarah Ensley .

 

Generation 2

 

2. James Baxter2 Bryson  (George Washington1), born 14 Nov 1849 in Macon Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC).  He married (1) bef 1870 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC) Sarah Jane Gibson , born 1849/50 in TN; died 1880/84 in Swain Co, NC, daughter of Henry Polk Gibson  and Elizabeth Finley ; (2) on 18 Dec 1884 in Jackson Co, NC Rachel Messer , born 1851/52 in Jackson Co, NC; died 1885/93 in Swain Co, NC; (3) on 12 May 1893 in Swain Co, NC Margaret A Ward , born 1862/63, daughter of Logan Ward  and Margaret (---) .

 

      Children of James Baxter Bryson and Sarah Jane Gibson were as follows:

      9          i      Mary Elvira3 Bryson , born 19 Apr 1871 in Swain Co, NC.  She married Hugh Lee McDaniel .

      10         ii      Mattie Irlan3 Bryson , born 18 Dec 1874 in Swain Co, NC.  She married C C Ensley .

      11         iii      Isaac F3 Bryson , born 13 Jun 1877 in Swain Co, NC.

 

      Children of James Baxter Bryson and Rachel Messer were as follows:

      12         i      George3 Bryson , born 1885 in Swain Co, NC.

 

      Children of James Baxter Bryson and Margaret A Ward were as follows:

      13         i      James Henry3 Bryson , born 10 Dec 1901 in Jackson Co, NC.

      14         ii      Alice3 Bryson , born 18 Mar 1905 in Jackson Co, NC.

 

 

5. William D2 Bryson  (George Washington1), born 11 Nov 1854 in Jackson Co, NC (now Swain Co, NC); died aft 1880 in Swain Co, NC.  He married on 26 Sep 1878 in Swain Co, NC Talitha Melvina Bumgarner , born 2 Mar 1855 in Jackson Co, NC; died 3 Dec 1920 in MO, daughter of Hosea Bumgarner  and Lucinda Bryson .

 

      Children of William D Bryson and Talitha Melvina Bumgarner were as follows:

      15         i      Bertha3 Bryson , born Mar 1879 in Swain Co, NC.


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