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I (Marty Grant) am a 2nd cousin 6 times removed to James H. Bryson.
Special thanks to Lawrence Wood (1937-1997), Ethel Updike (1899-?) and Albert Swain Bryson (1851-1900) for their various write-ups on this family. In his book, Lawrence Wood thanked Leona Bryson Porter (1881-1966) and Linda Gray for shared research on this branch of the family, so I'd like to thank them too.
James Holmes Bryson was born 28 Jun 1819 (per tombstone), though I suspect "1818" is more likely since his brother Samuel was also supposedly born in 1819. One must be incorrect. He was probably born in Haywood (now Macon) Co, NC (per 1860 census). He seems to have been named for his grandfather James Holmes Bryson (1740/50).
James H. Bryson (1819) is a son of Andrew Bryson (c1785) and Margaret White. This is proven by several sources, including several deeds from Margaret to James in 1848. Margaret was living with James in 1850. Albert Swain Bryson (son of James H. Bryson) wrote a short history of the family and he said that James Holmes Bryson was a son of Andrew Bryson and Margaret White.
James was apparently home with his parents for the 1820 census, aged "under 10" (born ca 1810/20).
In 1830, James was apparently home with his widowed mother, aged 10-14 (born ca 1815/20).
On 24 Aug 1839, James H. Bryson and M. Russel witnessed a deed from Margaret Bryson (his mother) to Allison Clark Guy. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book C page 1470).
James moved to neighboring Cherokee County sometime in the 1830's, but before 1840. He was listed on the 1840 census in Cherokee, it was just him and a slightly younger male who could be his younger brother Stephen.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Cherokee Co, NC pg 233 James H. Brison 0001100000000-0000000000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) James H. BRYSON (1819) s/o Andrew & Margaret 1 Male(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Stephen BRYSON (1820/25) brother
On 8 Jan 1848, Isaac Moore (his brother-in-law) deeded James H. Bryson 50 acres on Sugartown River. Witnesses were A. T. Davidson and J. H. Collett. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 309 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 21 Jan 1848, Margaret Bryson (his mother) deeded James H. Bryson 1/3 of the estate of Andrew Bryson, reserving her life estate to the land for her natural life as widow of Andrew Bryson. Witnesses were A. T. Davidson and J. H. Collett. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 307)
On 28 Jan 1848 Margaret Bryson deeded something to James H. Bryson for $20, being a quit claim to a tract she purchased in 1836. Witnesses were J. H. Collett and A. T. Davidson. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 307)
On 2 Feb 1848, James H. Bryson of Cherokee Co, NC sold 95 acres on Sugartown Fork to John H. Ledford of Macon. Witnesses were John McDowell and Ulrick Keener. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 303)
On the same date (2 Feb 1848), James H. Bryson sold 63 acres to John H. Ledford. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 305)
On the same date (2 Feb 1848), James H. Bryson sold 55 acres on Sugartown Fork to John H. Ledford.. Witnesses were John McDowell and Ulrick Keener. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 305)
On the same date (2 Feb 1848), James H. Bryson sold 50 acres on Sugartown River to George T. Ledford. Witnesses were John McDowell and John H. Ledford (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 308)
On the same date (2 Feb 1848), Clark Guy of Macon sold 50 acres on Sugartown Fork to James H. Bryson. Witnesses were John McDowell and John H. Ledford (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 310)
On the same date (2 Feb 1848), James H. Bryson sold 50 acres to James H. Ledford. Witnesses were John McDowell and Ulrick Keener (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 311)
On 3 Feb 1848, James H. Bryson sold 87 acres to George T. Ledford. Witnesses were John McDowell and Ulrick Keener (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 304)
On 13 Mar 1848 James siblings sold him their share of their father's estate. Samuel Bryson, Isaac Moore and wife Rachel, and Stephen Bryson, all of Cherokee County, sold to James H. Bryson, of Cherokee County, for $1000, their interest in 147 acres purchased by Andrew Bryson, deceased, on Sugartown Fork of Tennessee River, which descended to them as heirs (the list of heirs also included James H. Bryson). Witnesses were S. W. Davidson and John J. Rose. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 324)
On 13 Dec 1848, James H. Bryson obtained a marriage bond in Macon County to marry Cornelia A.Siler. She was born 4 Aug 1830 (per tombstone) in Macon County (per 1860 census). I'm not sure of the source, but I have her parents listed as William Siler and Althia Swain. I believe this is from the work of Albert Swain Bryson.
James and family were listed on the 1850 census in Cherokee in the Town of Murphy. He was listed as a Merchant. His widowed mother Margaret was living with them, as was Margaret's unmarried sister Charity White. They were just four houses from his 1st cousin William H. Bryson (c1815).
1850 CHEROKEE CO, NC Page 2B House/Family # 25/ 25 - TOWN OF MURPHY Twp BRYSON JAMES H 32 M W MERCHANT NC 1817/1818 BRYSON CORNELIA A 20 F W NC 1829/1830 BRYSON WILLIAM A 0 M W 6/12 NC 1849/1850 BRYSON MARGARET 57 F W GA 1792/1793 WHITE CHARITY 50 F W GA 1799/1800 DAVIDSON SAMUEL W 26 M W CLERK NC 1823/1824
They were still in Cherokee for the 1860 census. James was listed as a Hotel Keeper and he did have a few extra folks living with him. Apparently he was still in the Town of Murphy.
1860 CHEROKEE CO, NC Page 333 House/Family # 2/ 2 -- MURPHY Twp P.O. BRYSON JAMES H 41 M W HOTEL KEEPER 2000 2000 MACON 1818/1819 BRYSON CORNELIA A 29 F W MACON 1830/1831 BRYSON WILLIE A 10 M W CHEROKEE 1849/1850 BRYSON ALBERT S 8 M W CHEROKEE 1851/1852 BRYSON SAMUEL C 6 M W CHEROKEE 1853/1854 BRYSON MARGARET A E 4 F W CHEROKEE 1855/1856 BRYSON ELLEN S 2 F W CHEROKEE 1857/1858 BRYSON ADELIN A W 1 F W CHEROKEE 1858/1859 EVANS ABRAM 25 M W BAR KEEPER 50 350 HAYWOOD CO, NC 1834/1835 CROMWELL JAMES 25 M W CABINET MAKER SURRY 1834/1835 HUSKINS JASON 20 M M SERVANT BURKE 1839/1840
Sometime in the 1860s, James and family moved into neighboring Macon County in Cartoogechaye Township. They were the only Brysons in that Township. There were Silers there, so probably Cornelia's relatives.
1870 MACON CO, NC Page 279B House/Family # 51/ 56--CARTOOGECHAYE Twp FRANKLIN P.O. BRYSON JAMES H 52 M W FARMER 3000 725 NC 1817/1818 BRYSON C E 39 F W NC 1830/1831 BRYSON W A 20 M W AT HOME NC 1849/1850 BRYSON S E 16 M W NC 1853/1854 BRYSON M A E 15 F W NC 1854/1855 BRYSON M E L 13 F W NC 1856/1857 BRYSON A A W 11 F W NC 1858/1859 BRYSON C J L 7 F W NC 1862/1863
They were still in Cartoogechaye for the 1880 census.
1880 MACON CO, NC Page 520C House/Family # 61/ 61 -- CARTOOGECHAYE Twp BRYSON J H W M 63 M FARMER NC NC NC 1816/1817 BRYSON C A W F 49 WF M NC NC NC 1830/1831 BRYSON SAMUEL E W M 26 S S NC NC NC 1853/1854 BRYSON M E A W F 24 D S NC NC NC 1855/1856 BRYSON A W W F 22 D S NC NC NC 1857/1858 BRYSON J C W F 16 D S NC NC NC 1863/1864 BRYSON H E H W F 9 D S NC NC NC 1870/1871 BRYSON LOIS W F 0 GD S 1 5/12 NC NC NC 1879/1880 JONES N C W F 26 BO M TN TN TN 1853/1854 JONES M E W F 0 S 1 7/12 GA GA TN 1879/1880
James H. Bryson died on 5 Jul 1897 either in Cherokee or Macon County. Cornelia died on 19 Mar 1900. They are both buried at Valleytown Cemetery in Andrews, Cherokee County.
James H. Bryson and Cornelia Siler had 8 children as proven by various census records and other sources. Much of the dates I have on them (beyond the census and marriage records) are from Lawrence Wood's book, and some from Ethel Updike's book.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. James Holmes1 Bryson Major, born 28 Jun 1818 in Haywood Co, NC; died 5 Jul 1897 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, son of Andrew Bryson and Margaret White. He married on 13 Dec 1848 in Macon Co, NC Cornelia A Siler, born 4 Aug 1830 in Macon Co, NC; died 19 Mar 1900 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Valleytown Cem, Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of William Siler and Althia Swain.
Children of James Holmes Bryson Major and Cornelia A Siler were as follows:
+ 2 i William Andrew2 Bryson, born 21 Mar 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC; died in Cherokee Co, NC. He married (1) Frances Amanda Cooper; (2) Caroline Harrison.
+ 3 ii Albert Swain2 Bryson, born 30 Dec 1851 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 5 Jul 1900. He married Leona L Lyle.
4 iii Samuel Edward2 Bryson, born 1 Mar 1853 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 15 Jun 1929 in Cherokee Co, NC. He married on 17 Dec 1902 in Macon Co, NC Julia Christy, born 23 Nov 1866 in Cherokee Co, NC.
+ 5 iv Margaret A Eva2 Bryson, born 24 Jun 1855 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married unknown.
+ 6 v Ellen Siler2 Bryson, born 28 Oct 1856 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married Leander Oliver.
7 vi Adeline Antoinette W2 Bryson, born 4 Jun 1858 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 11 Aug 1895.
+ 8 vii Cora Irene Lee2 Bryson, born 13 Jun 1863 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 19 Mar 1948. She married Thomas J Christy.
+ 9 viii Harriett Holmes2 Bryson, born 1 Dec 1870 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married Matthew L Knight.
Generation 2
2. William Andrew2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 21 Mar 1850 in Cherokee Co, NC; died in Cherokee Co, NC. He married (1) on 26 Dec 1883 in Cherokee Co, NC Frances Amanda Cooper, born 8 Aug 1859 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 27 Nov 1907 in Cherokee Co, NC; buried in Harshaw Methodist, Murphy, Cherokee Co, NC, daughter of James Warner Cooper and Emily Isabella Henry; (2) aft 1907 in Cherokee Co, NC Caroline Harrison.
Children of William Andrew Bryson and Frances Amanda Cooper were as follows:
10 i Lillian3 Bryson, born 19 Jun 1887 in Cherokee Co, NC.
11 ii Beryl3 Bryson, born 1890 in Cherokee Co, NC.
3. Albert Swain2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 30 Dec 1851 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 5 Jul 1900. He married on 20 Jan 1875 in Macon Co, NC Leona L Lyle, born 21 Dec 1854 in Macon Co, NC; died 9 Feb 1934 in Tuscon, AZ, daughter of John M Lyle Dr and Laura A Siler.
Children of Albert Swain Bryson and Leona L Lyle were as follows:
12 i Laura Amelia3 Bryson, born 21 Oct 1875 in Macon Co, NC.
13 ii Albert Swain3 Bryson, born 4 Jun 1877 in Macon Co, NC; died 28 Oct 1877 in Macon Co, NC.
14 iii Jean Paul3 Bryson, born 19 Aug 1878 in Macon Co, NC; died 9 Jun 1907 in Macon Co, NC.
15 iv Leona Cornelia3 Bryson, born 8 May 1881 in Macon Co, NC; died 12 Nov 1966.
16 v Margaret French3 Bryson, born 11 Nov 1882 in Macon Co, NC; died 14 May 1963 in Phoenix, AZ.
17 vi Albert Swain3 Bryson, born 29 Nov 1884 in Macon Co, NC; died 4 Mar 1885 in Macon Co, NC.
18 vii Frank Lyle3 Bryson, born 25 Nov 1890 in Macon Co, NC.
5. Margaret A Eva2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 24 Jun 1855 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married unknown.
Children of Margaret A Eva Bryson were as follows:
19 i Lois3 Bryson, born 17 Jul 1878. She married in Jun 1900 William Aldrich.
6. Ellen Siler2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 28 Oct 1856 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married on 26 Oct 1871 in Macon Co, NC Leander Oliver.
Children of Ellen Siler Bryson and Leander Oliver were as follows:
20 i William H3 Oliver, born 2 Jan 1876.
21 ii Charles L3 Oliver, born 29 May 1877.
22 iii Mary Laura3 Oliver, born 20 Aug 1879.
23 iv Florence3 Oliver, born 19 Feb 1884.
24 v Hugh W3 Oliver, born 16 Dec 1885.
25 vi Annie3 Oliver, born 5 May 1889.
26 vii Fred S3 Oliver, born 23 May 1891.
27 viii Adelia3 Oliver.
28 ix Eugene3 Oliver, born 23 Feb 1900.
8. Cora Irene Lee2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 13 Jun 1863 in Cherokee Co, NC; died 19 Mar 1948. She married on 23 Oct 1888 in Macon Co, NC Thomas J Christy, son of John Christy and Aurelia Roberts.
Children of Cora Irene Lee Bryson and Thomas J Christy were as follows:
29 i Cornelia3 Christy, born 25 Jul 1889.
30 ii John3 Christy, born 10 Apr 1891.
31 iii Harold3 Christy, born 10 Apr 1893.
32 iv Ralph3 Christy, born 17 Jun 1898.
33 v Aurelia3 Christy, born 3 Jun 1900.
34 vi Gladys3 Christy, born 9 Jul 1902.
35 vii Ellen S3 Christy, born 20 Aug 1904.
36 viii William R3 Christy, born 30 Dec 1906.
9. Harriett Holmes2 Bryson (James Holmes1), born 1 Dec 1870 in Cherokee Co, NC. She married on 6 Nov 1895 in Cherokee Co, NC Matthew L Knight.
Children of Harriett Holmes Bryson and Matthew L Knight were as follows:
37 i Kenneth3 Knight, born 30 Sep 1896.
38 ii James T3 Knight, born 8 Sep 1899.