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I (Marty Grant) do not know how, or if, I am related to Hugh Bryson.
Hugh Bryson was born ca 1740/50, probably in PA or VA. He is often said to be a son of my ancestor William Bryson (married Isabella Holmes), but there is no proof of that. He is the correct age to be one of William's sons, but there is no compelling evidence (so far) to put him in that family. (See notes on his daughters Rachel and Sarah below). There was another Hugh Bryson who died 1787 in York Dist, SC. It is possible (but unproven) that he was the father of this Hugh.
Hugh Bryson married Nancy Davidson, a daughter of John Davidson of Mecklenburg Co, NC prior to 1778. The Davidson family (while a large one) was also closely connected to the William Bryson family and the John Bryson of Lincoln Co, NC. So that does seem to tie all of these Brysons together in a way.
On 20 Jan 1778 John Davidson made his Will in Mecklenburg Co, NC. He didn't mention Nancy by name, but he did name his "son-in-law Hugh Bryson"
On 13 Jan 1779 James Davidson (also a child of John Davidson) sold Hugh Bryson 377 acres in Mecklenburg Co, NC. (Mecklenburg Co, NC Deed Book 9 page 272).
On 19 Jan 1779 James Davidson sold land to Samuel Davidson. Hugh Bryson was a Witness to this deed. (Mecklenburg Co, NC Deed Book 7page 356).
There are probably numerous references for the Bryson family among the Mecklenburg Co, NC records. I haven't researched them in that county yet (beyond what I have listed here already).
Hugh Bryson was listed on the 1790 census in Mecklenburg Co, NC. He was the only Bryson household listed in that county.
1790 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1790 Mecklenburg Co, NC pg 160 Hugh Bryson 2-4-4-0-0 Analysis: 2 Male(s) 16 and Up (before 1774) Hugh BRYSON (1740/50) s/o William & Elizabeth Son? (Bef 1774) 4 Male(s) under 16 (1774/1790) Son? (1784/90) Son? (1774/90) Son? (1774/90) Son? (1774/90) 4 Female(s) any age (before 1790) Nancy DAVIDSON Bryson (1740/50), wife Jane BRYSON (c1780) daughger Daughter? (Bef 1790) Daughter? (Bef 1790)
In 1800 Hugh was listed, and nearby were James Bryson and Robert Bryson. These two may be his sons.
1800 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1800 Mecklenburg Co, NC pg 566 Hugh Bryson 01001-11001-0-0 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 45 & up (before 1755) Hugh BRYSON (1740/50) s/o William & Elizabeth 1 Male(s) 10-15 (1784-1790) Son? (1784/90) 1 Female(s) 45 & up (before 1755) Nancy DAVIDSON Bryson (1740/50) wife 1 Female(s) 10-15 (1784-1790) Jane BRYSON (c1780)daughter 1 Female(s) 0-9 (1790-1800) Daughter?
Hugh did not appear on the 1810 census, though there was a Hugh Bryson listed, but he was too young, so was probably Hugh's son Hugh Jr. Another of Hugh's sons, William Bryson was also listed in 1810.
In 1820 Hugh Sr was still missing. His son Hugh (Jr) was listed, as was Mary Bryson. I'm not sure who she was a widow of, or if single, but she had 4 children residing with her.
Hugh Bryson Sr reappeared in Mecklenburg for the 1830 census. In 1810 and 1820 he may have been residing with children, or just missed by me (or the census taker).
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Mecklenburg County, NC pg 362 Hugh Bryson 0000000000100-0000001000100 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 80-89 (1740-1750) Hugh BRYSON (1740/50) 1 Female(s) 80-89 (1740-1750) Nancy DAVIDSON Bryson (1740/50) wife 1 Female(s) 40-49 (1780-1790) Jane BRYSON (1780) daughter
Hugh Bryson made his Will on 23 Aug 1825 in Mecklenburg Co, NC and mentioned only his wife Nancy and his daughter Jane Bryson. He mentioned how all of his other children had gone and left him. (Didn't name any of them though). He added a codicil to the Will on 9 Oct 1832 stating that his wife Nancy had died, and he made daughter Jane his sole heir.
Currently, I can not verify the list of children that I show for Hugh Bryson. Only Jane was named in his Will. The rest are listed mainly by association or having Mecklenburg Co, NC connections. You'll notice in the list below that there are two sons named Robert. The younger one is probably a grandson, but since I don't know how he fits in, I've included him in the main list.
Robert Franklin Bryson (1800/10) (Grandson?)
Robert Bryson was born ca 1755/74. He was listed on the 1800 census in Mecklenburg Co, NC age 26-44 (born 1755/74). No further record of him. May not be Hugh's son.
William F. Bryson was born ca 1784/94. He was listed on the 1810 census in Mecklenburg Co NC. On 30 Oct 1812 he sold 400 acres to Hugh Bryson. This shows a connection, but doesn't prove he is a son of Hugh. I show that this this William later moved to AL per "Armstrong, Branyon, Bryson and Allied Families of the South" by Ethel S. Updike, 1967. The Hobby Press, Salt Lake City.
Hugh W. Bryson was born ca 1790/94. He was listed on the 1810 census in Mecklenburg Co, NC. He may be the Hugh that purchased 400 acres from William F. Bryson in 1812. He was listed on the 1820 census in Mecklenburg. I didn't find him in 1830, but by 1840 he was in Iredell Co, NC. According to Updike, he moved to Sumter Dist, SC where he died ca 1842 or after.
Cynthia Bryson was born ca 1784, and she married Jonathan Potts in Mecklenburg Co, NC. They later moved to AL.
Sarah Bryson is supposedly a daughter of Hugh Bryson, and she married Robert Bogle in 1808 in Wilson Co, TN. The Samuel Bryson family moved to Wilson Co, TN, so this may indicate that Hugh (Sr) had also moved there around this time (accounting for his absence from Mecklenburg in 1810 and 1820). If Hugh did go there, that adds credence to him being a son of William Bryson (making the above mentioned Samuel a brother to Hugh).
Rachel Bryson also married in Wilson Co, TN, to Thomas Bogle in 1811. Thomas and Robert Bogle were brothers, sons of Samuel Bogle (who was a brother of Susanna Bogle who married William M. Bryson and Martha Bogle who married Samuel Bryson).
Robert Franklin Bryson was born ca 1800/10. He might be a grandson of Hugh's instead (if the elder Robert was Hugh's son, that is). He was listed on the 1830 census in Iredell Co, NC, and the 1840 census in Mecklenburg Co, NC.
Ann Jane Bryson was born ca 1780. She never married. She was named in the Will of Hugh Bryson (1825/1832) as his daughter, and in 1832 as his sole heir. She was listed on the 1840 census as "Miss Jane Bryson" in Mecklenburg Co, NC. She wrote her will on 20 Mar 1863 in Mecklenburg Co, NC. I haven't yet seen it, so I don't know who she names. If she named her brothers and sisters, that would prove this family out fairly well. I'll have to get this Will.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Hugh1 BRYSON [4111], born 1740/50 in Lancaster Co, PA; died 1832 in Mecklenburg Co, NC, son of (---) BRYSON [28012] . He married bef 20 Jan 1778 Nancy DAVIDSON [16604], born 1740/50; died 1830/32 in Mecklenburg Co, NC, daughter of John DAVIDSON [20258] and Mary MORRISON [20259] .
Children of Hugh BRYSON and Nancy DAVIDSON were as follows:
+ 3 ii William F2 BRYSON [16631], born 1784/94 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died in AL. He married unknown.
+ 4 iii Hugh W2 BRYSON [16632], born 1790/94 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died aft 1842 in Sumter Dist, SC. He married Mary JOHNSON [16638].
+ 5 iv Cynthia2 BRYSON [16633], born abt 1784 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died in AL. She married Jonathan POTTS [16639].
6 v Sarah2 BRYSON [16634], born abt 1787 in Mecklenburg Co, NC. She married on 2 Jun 1808 in Wilson Co, TN Robert BOGLE [16640], son of Samuel BOGLE [20097] and Jane LEACH [22584] .
+ 7 vi Rachel2 BRYSON [16635], born abt 1790 in Mecklenburg Co, NC. She married Thomas BOGLE [16641].
8 vii Robert Franklin2 BRYSON [16636], born 1800/10 in Mecklenburg Co, NC.
9 viii Ann Jane2 BRYSON [16637], born 1780 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died 1863 in Mecklenburg Co, NC.
3. William F2 BRYSON [16631] (Hugh1), born 1784/94 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died in AL. He married unknown.
Children of William F BRYSON were as follows:
4. Hugh W2 BRYSON [16632] (Hugh1), born 1790/94 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died aft 1842 in Sumter Dist, SC. He married in 1800/10 in Mecklenburg Co, NC Mary JOHNSON [16638], born 1790/94 in Mecklenburg Co, NC, daughter of James JOHNSON [27280] .
Children of Hugh W BRYSON and Mary JOHNSON were as follows:
12 ii Mary A3 BRYSON [27276], born 1832 in Statesville, Iredell Co, NC; died 12 Jun 1842 in Iredell Co, NC.
13 iii Nellie J3 BRYSON [27275], born Aug 1839 in Statesville, Iredell Co, NC; died 10 Jul 1904.
5. Cynthia2 BRYSON [16633] (Hugh1), born abt 1784 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; died in AL. She married bef 1814 in Mecklenburg Co, NC Jonathan POTTS [16639], died in AL.
Children of Cynthia BRYSON and Jonathan POTTS were as follows:
7. Rachel2 BRYSON [16635] (Hugh1), born abt 1790 in Mecklenburg Co, NC. She married on 26 Feb 1811 in Wilson Co, TN Thomas BOGLE [16641], died 1815 in Wilson Co, TN, son of Samuel BOGLE [20097] and Jane LEACH [22584] .
Children of Rachel BRYSON and Thomas BOGLE were as follows:
16 ii Samuel3 BOGLE [30726], born 1814 in Wilson Co, TN.
17 iii Thomas3 BOGLE [30727], born 1815 in Wilson Co, TN.
14. Caroline3 POTTS [27274] (Cynthia2 Bryson, Hugh1), born 1814 in Mecklenburg Co, NC. She married bef 1858 in AL (---) GLASS [27273].
Children of Caroline POTTS and (---) GLASS were as follows: