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I (Marty Grant) am a 2nd cousin 6 times removed to James 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.
James Bryson was born 15 Sep 1823 (per Cowee Baptist Church Records) in Haywood (now Macon) Co, NC (per 1850 and 1860 census). He was probably named for his grandfather James H. Bryson (1740/50). If this James (1823) had a middle initial, I have not found a record of it.
James Bryson is a son of Samuel D. Bryson (1795) and Rebecca Caylor, as proven by Samuel's Estate records (according to Updike; I have not seen these records yet).
James was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 census, aged 5-9 (born ca 1820/25).
In 1840, James was apparently home with his parents, aged 15-19 (born ca 1820/25).
On 13 Nov 1843, James Bryson obtained a marriage bond in Macon County to marry Elizabeth E. Shepherd. Elizabeth Emaline Shepard was was born 11 Dec 1826 (source?) in Haywood (now Macon) Co, NC (per 1850 and 1860 census). She is a daughter of Thomas Shepherd and Narcissa Welch (according to Updike, and other researchers).
On 2 Jan 1850, James Bryson (presumably this one) witnessed a deed from John Panther to Samuel Bryson (his father). (Macon Co, NC Deed Book F page 466 from "Records of Macon County, N.C. 1849-1858 Deed Books F, G, H and I" Abstracted by Barbara Sears McRae, 1998. * Note: All deeds mentioned hereafter from books "F" through "I" are taken from this book.)
James and family were listed on the 1850 census in Macon County. They were not near any of the other Bryson households.
1850 MACON CO, NC Page 340 House/Family # 337/ 344 - TENNESSEE VALLEY Twp BRYSON JAMES 26 M W FARMER MACON CO, NC 1823/1824 BRYSON ELIZA E 21 F W MACON CO, NC 1828/1829 BRYSON MARY E 7 F W MACON CO, NC 1842/1843 BRYSON SAMUEL W 6 M W MACON CO, NC 1843/1844 BRYSON MATILDA 3 F W MACON CO, NC 1846/1847
On 7 May 1854, Adam Low made a mortgage with James Bryson, using sundry livestock as collateral. Witnesses were Eli McKee and J. R. Gray. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book G page 386)
On 28 Jun 1854, James Bryson received a State Land Grant of 50 acres on Cowee Creek. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book G page 518)
On 9 Nov 1855, James Bryson received a State Land Grant of 100 acres on Cowee Creek and Tennessee River. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book H page 410)
On 15 Dec 1855, James Bryson sold land to Nathaniel Low, being 1/4 part of land on Cowee Creek and Tennessee River (no acreage listed). Witnesses were A. Hall and James Fouts. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book H page 293)
On 15 Mar 1856, The heirs of Samuel Bryson, deceased (heirs not listed here), sold James Bryson a 150 acre tract on Cowee. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book I page 89)
On 16 Mar 1856, James Bryson gave Jesse J. Millsaps and Logan Millsaps one half of the mineral interest in his 100 acre entry on Cowee Creek and Tennessee River, for their work and labor in testing the land for minerals. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book I page 239)
On 22 Mar 1856, Thomas Shepherd (father-in-law) sold James Bryson, 46 acres on Cowee Creek. Witnessed by J. D. Franks. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book I page 100)
On 15 Apr 1856, The heirs of Samuel Bryson, deceased (heirs not listed here), sold James Bryson a 150 acre tract on Cowee. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book I page 88)
On 10 Mar 1857, James Bryson sold 106 acres to Daniel West, land on Cowee Creek. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book H page 541)
They were listed on the 1860 census in Macon, but once again, not near any other Bryson families.
1860 MACON CO, NC Page 240 House/Family # 170/ 174 -- TENNESSEE VALLEY Twp FRANKLIN P.O. BRYSON JAMES 36 M W FARMER 2000 2000 MACON 1823/1824 BRYSON EMELINE E 33 F W MACON 1826/1827 BRYSON SAMUEL W 14 M W MACON 1845/1846 BRYSON REBECA A 12 F W MACON 1847/1848 BRYSON THOMAS S C 8 M W MACON 1851/1852 BRYSON SUSANNAH T 6 F W MACON 1853/1854 BRYSON ARTY ELIZABET 1 F W MACON 1858/1859
They were still in Macon for the 1870 census. Brother Samuel Bryson was next door.
1870 MACON CO, NC Page 288 House/Family # 86/ 87--COWEE Twp FRANKLIN P.O. BRYSON JAMES 46 M W FARMER 1500 800 NC 1823/1824 BRYSON ELIZABETH E 43 F W NC 1826/1827 BRYSON THOMAS C 19 M W NC 1850/1851 BRYSON SUSANNAH T 16 F W NC 1853/1854 BRYSON ARTY E 12 F W NC 1857/1858 BRYSON GEORGE T 9 M W NC 1860/1861 BRYSON NARCISSUS 7 F W NC 1862/1863 BRYSON ADONIRAM J 4 M W NC 1865/1866 BRYSON ROBERT L 1 M W NC 1868/1869
They were listed on the 1880 census in Cowee Township. Brother Samuel was nearby as in 1870.
1880 MACON CO, NC Page 539B House/Family # 5393/5393 -- COWEE Twp BRYSON JAMES W M 56 M FARMER NC NC NC 1823/1824 BRYSON EMALINE C W F 53 WF M NC NC NC 1826/1827 BRYSON SOUSA T W F 26 D S NC NC NC 1853/1854 BRYSON GEORGE T W M 18 S S NC NC NC 1861/1862 BRYSON NARCISSA C W F 16 D S NC NC NC 1863/1864 BRYSON ADONIRAM J W M 13 S S NC NC NC 1866/1867 BRYSON ROBERT L W M 10 S S NC NC NC 1869/1870
I don't yet have their 1900 census listing, but I assume they were still in Cowee Township.
James Bryson died on 6 Jun 1904 (per Cowee Baptist Church Records), presumably in Macon County. I think he is buried at Cowee Baptist Church.
I don't have Emaline's 1910 or 1920 census entries yet. She died on 25 Sep 1920, and is probably buried at Cowee also.
James Bryson and Elizabeth Shepherd had 10 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 Macon County marriage records.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. James1 Bryson, born 15 Sep 1823 in Haywood Co, NC (now Macon Co, NC); died 6 Jun 1904 in Macon Co, NC, son of Samuel Decater Bryson and Rebecca Caylor. He married on 13 Nov 1843 in Macon Co, NC Elizabeth Emaline Shepherd, born 11 Dec 1826 in Haywood Co, NC (now Macon Co, NC); died 25 Sep 1920 in Macon Co, NC, daughter of Thomas Shepherd II and Narcissa Welch.
Children of James Bryson and Elizabeth Emaline Shepherd were as follows:
2 i Margaret E2 Bryson, born 1 Apr 1843 in Macon Co, NC; died 23 Sep 1918. She married on 30 Jan 1859 G B Dean, died 16 Oct 1905.
3 ii Samuel W2 Bryson, born 9 Dec 1844 in Macon Co, NC; died 18 Jun 1863 in Yazoo, MS, Civil War.
+ 4 iii Rebecca Matilda2 Bryson, born 13 Dec 1846 in Macon Co, NC; died 20 Jul 1916. She married Joseph Manning Wild.
+ 5 iv Thomas A Clingman2 Bryson, born 1 Mar 1851 in Macon Co, NC; died 8 Nov 1940. He married (1) Mary S Morrison; (2) Eva Eldo Israel.
6 v Susannah T2 Bryson, born 19 Dec 1853 in Macon Co, NC; died 30 Aug 1915 in Macon Co, NC.
7 vi Arty Elizabeth2 Bryson, born 31 Oct 1858 in Macon Co, NC; died 5 Aug 1879 in Macon Co, NC.
8 vii George T2 Bryson, born 21 Jun 1861 in Macon Co, NC; died 12 Feb 1936 in Macon Co, NC. He married on 13 Nov 1887 in Macon Co, NC Rebecca Ella Matlock, born 1867 in Macon Co, NC; died 1944 in Macon Co, NC, daughter of John Matlock and Jane Elvira West.
9 viii Narcissa Catherine2 Bryson, born 1 Aug 1863 in Macon Co, NC; died 7 Jan 1936. She married on 23 Apr 1891 Eldred C Simpkins.
10 ix Adoninon Judson2 Bryson, born 9 Feb 1866 in Macon Co, NC; died Jun 1946 in NY. He married in NY Bertha May Senn, born 1876 in Monroe Co, NY.
11 x Robert Lafayette2 Bryson, born 1 Jun 1869 in Macon Co, NC; died 23 Jun 1946 in Franklin, Macon Co, NC. He married on 7 Mar 1889 in Macon Co, NC Laura Haseltine Wild, born 1 May 1871 in Alamance Co, NC; died Sep 1962 in Franklin, Macon Co, NC, daughter of Posey Caler Wild and Elizabeth Franks.
Generation 2
4. Rebecca Matilda2 Bryson (James1), born 13 Dec 1846 in Macon Co, NC; died 20 Jul 1916. She married on 6 Dec 1866 in Macon Co, NC Joseph Manning Wild, born 1838/39 in NC; died 31 Jul 1901 in Macon Co, NC, son of John J Wild and Margaret Hensley.
Children of Rebecca Matilda Bryson and Joseph Manning Wild were as follows:
12 i Virginia3 Wild, born 1867/68 in Macon Co, NC.
13 ii James B3 Wild, born 1869/70 in Macon Co, NC.
14 iii Ada J3 Wild, born 1872/73 in Macon Co, NC.
15 iv Helena C3 Wild, born 1873/74 in Macon Co, NC.
16 v Margaret E3 Wild, born 1875/76 in Macon Co, NC.
17 vi Albert C3 Wild, born 1878/79 in Macon Co, NC.
5. Thomas A Clingman2 Bryson (James1), born 1 Mar 1851 in Macon Co, NC; died 8 Nov 1940. He married (1) on 29 Jan 1879 in Macon Co, NC Mary S Morrison, born 8 Apr 1863 in Macon Co, NC; died 8 Sep 1882 in Macon Co, NC; (2) on 13 Feb 1889 in Buncombe Co, NC Eva Eldo Israel, born 24 Aug 1864 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 14 Apr 1935, daughter of Jesse T Israel and Lavina Grace Young.
Children of Thomas A Clingman Bryson and Mary S Morrison were as follows:
18 i Hattie3 Bryson, born 1879 in Macon Co, NC.