John Bryson (1800) and Jane Ann Rogers of Macon Co, NC and Towns Co, GA

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I (Marty Grant) am a 2nd cousin 6 times removed to John Bryson.

John Bryson was born 8 Nov 1800 (per L. Wood page 6) in Buncombe Co, NC. He is a son of John Bryson and Ann Land.

I don't know what proof there is that John Bryson (1800) was a son of John Bryson (1769). I haven't seen any primary source documentation on this, but it seems to be accurate based on various tradition and circumstantial evidence.

John Bryson was not named in the the estate of his brother Andrew Bryson (1809-1884) of Jackson Co, NC. In Andrew's estate settlement dated 15 Apr 1884 which names Andrew's siblings as heirs, it does not refer to John Bryson at all, though he was dead at that time, others were listed who were deceased (and so noted). (Jackson Co, NC Will Book A page 65).

Frank L. Bryson (1890-) wrote a brief Bryson family history, and listed "John A" as a son of John Bryson and his 1st wife. See a transcript of Frank's Bryson family history. I've never seen any record showing this John with a middle initial of "A" or anything else.

Ethel Updike included John Bryson as a son of John and Ann in her book: Armstrong, Branyon, Bryson and Allied Families of the South (1967) on page 135 (See my commentary on that book). She listed him as "John (Countryman)", which, I assume, means she thought his middle name was "Countryman", but wasn't sure (therefore the parenthesis). I've not seen any evidence that he had a middle name. She also included a list of John's children on page 148, with only a few details given on them.

Lawrence Wood also included John as a child of John and Ann in his book: Bryson Family of Western North Carolina 1664 to 1980 (1981) on page 6(See my commentary on that book). He had full birth and death dates for John and his wife, as well as birthdates for the children, and who they married.

When John was born (1800), his family lived in Buncombe Co, NC, which at that time included all of western NC, excepting lands still owned by the Cherokees. I'm not sure where they lived exactly at this time, if within the bounds of modern Buncombe County or not.

John Bryson (1769) and family later lived on the west side of Cullowhee Creek in what was then Haywood County. This area became Macon County in 1828, and Jackson County in 1851.

John Bryson (1800) married Jane Ann Rogers in Haywood Co, NC on 17 Dec 1822 (per L. Wood, page 6). I'm not sure what the source for that date was. I didn't find this marriage bond in the Haywood County marriages. Lawrence Wood probably got it from the same source he got the families birth dates from, either a family bible or from family members (he didn't say in the book).

John Bryson was listed on the 1830 census in Macon Co, NC as John Bryson "Jr". His father was listed as "Sr". There were other John Bryson's in the county at the same time, though I think I have them properly sorted out. His father-in-law Thomas Rogers was just eleven households away, and his father John Bryson just 14 houses away.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Macon County, NC pg 28 John Bryson Jr 1000200000000-1100100000000
Analysis:
2 Male(s) 20-29        (1800-1810)	John BRYSON (1800) s/o John & Ann
					Brother? Brother-in-law? (1800/10) --> gone 1840
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1825-1830)	Tilman H. BRYSON (1829) son
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1800-1810)	Jane ROGERS (1802) wife m 1822
1 Female(s) 5-9        (1820-1825)	Jane Ann BRYSON (1824) daughter
1 Female(s) 0-4        (1825-1830)	Sarah M. BRYSON (1827) daughter

On 31 Dec 1831 John Bryson Jr obtained a State land grant, either on his own behalf, or as assignee of John Queen. The deed is confusing, so I don't know who was getting the land for who. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book A page 114).

Between 1831 and 1835 John Bryson and family moved down to the Young Harris, GA area, in Union County, GA (now Towns County). They were not listed on the 1834 tax list for Union Co, GA, so either missed, or moved there just after that.

On 1 Sep 1835 John Bryson "of Union Co, GA" sold 50 acres on Cullowhee Creek to William H. Bryson (his brother). This deed was witnessed by his father-in-law Thomas Rogers, and his brother-in-law J.B. Allison. I don't know when he obtained this land, but it was probably when the area was still part of Haywood County.  (Macon Co, NC Deed Book A page 253).

On the same day, he sold another 83 acres to William H. Bryson. This deed was witnessed by the same two as the other one. I don't know when he obtained this land, but it was probably when the area was still part of Haywood County.  (Macon Co, NC Deed Book A page 254).

John Bryson was listed on the 1840 census in Union Co, GA. His household contained an older male and female of perfect age to be his in-laws: Thomas Rogers and his wife Jane Young. John Bryson was listed next door to my ancestor William Cathey (his wife was Elizabeth Bryson, daughter of Andrew Bryson Sr). This puts them in the Young Harris or Brasstown area.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Union County, GA pg 12 John Bryson 1010110010000-0211010010000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 60-69        (1770-1780)	Thomas ROGERS (1770/80) father-in-law
1 Male(s) 30-39        (1800-1810)	John BRYSON (1800) s/o John & Ann
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	Brother? Brother-in-law? * Not in 1830 unless 1800/10
1 Male(s) 10-14        (1825-1830)	Tilman H. BRYSON (1829) son --> Hd 1850
1 Male(s) 0-4          (1835-1840)	Mangum H. BRYSON (1837) son
1 Female(s) 60-69      (1770-1780)	Jane YOUNG Rogers (1770/80) mother-in-law
1 Female(s) 30-39      (1800-1810)	Jane ROGERS Bryson (1802) wife
1 Female(s) 15-19      (1820-1825)	Jane Ann BRYSON (1824) daughter m 1845
1 Female(s) 10-14      (1825-1830)	Sarah M. BRYSON (1827) daughter
2 Female(s) 5-9        (1830-1835)	Rachel Caroline BRYSON (1832) daughter
					Martha M. BRYSON (1835) daughter



The 1850 shows John and family in Union County, GA. They apparently lived in the Brasstown area, which later became Towns County (in 1856). John was two households away from his brother Uel Bryson. John had two nephews (Carson Patton Bryson and James Newton Bryson) residing with him on this census, both sons of his brother William H. Bryson.

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 UNION CO, GA Page 218   House/Family #  221/ 221  - 85TH DISTRICT Twp

BRYSON JOHN           49 M W FARMER                7000 NC                   1800/1801
BRYSON JANE           48 F W                            NC                   1801/1802
BRYSON SARAH          22 F W                            NC                   1827/1828
BRYSON RACHEL         18 F W                            NC                   1831/1832
BRYSON MARTHA         15 F W                            GA                   1834/1835
BRYSON MANGRUM        13 M W                            GA                   1836/1837
BRYSON WILLIAM         8 M W                            GA                   1841/1842
BRYSON C P            21 M W MECHANIC                   NC                   1828/1829
BRYSON J N            19 M W MECHANIC                   NC                   1830/1831

In 1856 the section of Union County where they lived (and part of Rabun county) was cut off to form Towns County. They were found in that county for the 1860 census. John was the Census enumerator for the county that year, and was listed in the first household.

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 TOWNS CO, GA Page 115   House/Family #    1/   1

BRYSON JOHN           59 M W FARMER            7000  1250 NC                   1800/1801
BRYSON JANE           57 F W                              NC                   1802/1803
BRYSON SARAH          33 F W                              NC                   1826/1827
BRYSON MANGUM H       22 M W FARMER                   150 GA                   1837/1838
BRYSON WILLIAM        18 M W FARMER                       GA                   1841/1842
THOMAS URIAH          24 M W HIRELING                     NC                   1835/1836
ROGERS MAGDELENE      18 F W                          500 GA                   1841/1842


In 1870, they were still in Towns Co, GA. They were listed next door to his brother Uel Bryson.

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 TOWNS CO, GA Page 221   House/Family #  478/ 480

BRYSON JOHN           69 M W FARMER                2000   500 NC              1800/1801
BRYSON JANE           67 F W KEEPING HOUSE                    NC              1802/1803
BRYSON SARAH          48 F W NO OCCUPATION                    NC              1821/1822

John Bryson died on 29 Jun 1874 (per L. Wood, page 6) in Towns Co, GA.

His widow, Jane Rogers Bryson was still in Towns Co, GA for the 1880 census.

1880 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)
1880 TOWNS CO, GA Page 480B  House/Family #   261/ 276 -- BRASSTOWN DIST # 918 Twp

BRYSON JANE          W F  77    W KEEPING HOUSE        NC  NC  NC  1802/1803
BRYSON SARAH A       W F  52 D  S AT HOME              NC  NC  NC  1827/1828
SOUTHER SARAH A      W F  20 GD S                      GA  NC  NC  1859/1860
SOUTHER WILLIAM J    W M  22 GS S WORKS ON FARM        GA  NC  NC  1857/1858


Jane Rogers Bryson died on 9 Aug 1884 (per L. Wood, page 6) in Towns Co, GA.


Children

John Bryson and Jane Rogers' seven children are proven by the 1850 through 1880 census records. Ethel Updike included five of the children. Lawrence Wood includes all seven in his book, and has birth dates for each, as well as who they married, and death dates for some of them. He also has additional data on their descendants.

Jane Ann Bryson (1824)

Sarah Melvina Bryson (1827)

Tilman Holmes Bryson (1829)

Rachel Caroline Bryson (1832)

Martha M. Bryson (1835)

Mangum H. Bryson (1837)

William Young Bryson (1842)


Jane Ann Bryson was born 28 Mar 1824 (per L. Wood, page 6) on or near Cullowhee Creek in Haywood Co, NC (now Jackson County). She married James W. Carson on 30 Oct 1845 in Union Co, GA (now Towns County). They were in Macon Co, NC for the 1850 census. Lawrence Wood's book (page 6) has data on this family, including their children and the birth dates for most of them and who they married, but does not follow the line past the children.


Sarah Melvina Bryson was born 15 Jun 1827 (per L. Wood, page 6) on or near Cullowhee Creek in Haywood Co, NC (now Jackson County). She was home with her parents for the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census. Apparently she never married.


Tillman Holmes Bryson was born 15 Aug 1829 (per L. Wood, page 6) on or near Cullowhee Creek in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson County). He married Mary Elizabeth Kirby in 1848. See his own page for more on them.


Rachel Caroline Bryson was born 3 Nov 1832 (per L. Wood, page 6) on or near Cullowhee Creek in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson County). She married Stephen Souther on 6 Feb 1851 in Union Co, GA (now Towns County). Lawrence Wood's book (page 7) has data on this family, including their children and the birth dates for most of them and who they married, and carries part of this family several generations more.


Martha M. Bryson was born 29 Mar 1835 (per L. Wood, page 6) in the Young Harris area of Union Co, GA (now Towns County). She married Isaac Swanson on 20 Mar 1856 in Union Co, GA (now Towns County). Lawrence Wood's book (page 10) contains additional data on this family.


Mangum H. Bryson was born 19 Dec 1837 (per L. Wood, page 6) in the Young Harris area of Union Co, GA (now Towns County). He married Arminta J. Corn on 19 Aug 1860 (per L. Wood, page 10). Lawrence Wood's book (page 10) contains additional data on this family.

I didn't find Mangum and family on the 1870 census in Towns Co, GA. The census taker may have missed htem, or I may have missed them, or they might have been in another county in 1870.

Mangum and family were listed on the 1880 census in Towns Co, GA.

1880 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)
1880 TOWNS CO, GA Page 481B  House/Family #   280/ 297 -- BRASSTOWN DIST # 918 Twp

BRYSON MANGUM H      W M  42    M FARMER               GA  NC  NC  1837/1838
BRYSON ARAMINTA J    W F  37 WF M KEEPING HOUSE        GA  NC  NC  1842/1843
BRYSON JAMES C       W M  16 S  S WORKS ON FARM        GA  GA  GA  1863/1864
BRYSON LOLA F        W F  13 D  S                      GA  GA  GA  1866/1867
BRYSON KITTIE W J    W F  10 D  S                      GA  GA  GA  1869/1870
BRYSON MARY A        W F   7 D  S                      GA  GA  GA  1872/1873


William Young Bryson was born 25 Jan 1842 (per L. Wood, page 6) in the Young Harris area of Union Co, GA (now Towns County). He was home with his parents in the 1850 and 1860 census. He died 31 Jul 1864 (per L. Wood, page 6), presumably in relation to the Civil War.


Researcher List

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


Register Report


1. John1 Bryson , born 8 Nov 1800 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 29 Jun 1874 in Towns Co, GA, son of John Bryson and Ann Land . He married on 17 Dec 1822 in Haywood Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC) Jane Ann Rogers , born 28 Dec 1802 in Buncombe Co, NC; died 9 Aug 1884 in Towns Co, GA, daughter of Thomas Rogers and Jane Young .

Children of John Bryson and Jane Ann Rogers were as follows:

 

Generation 2

2. Jane Ann2 Bryson (John1), born 28 Mar 1824 in Haywood Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC). She married on 30 Oct 1845 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA) James W Carson , born 1822/23 in Rutherford Co, NC.

Children of Jane Ann Bryson and James W Carson were as follows:

4. Tilman Holmes2 Bryson (John1), born 15 Aug 1829 in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC); died 22 Jun 1893 in Towns Co, GA. He married on 10 Feb 1848 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA) Mary Elizabeth Kirby , born 3 Jan 1829 in NC; died 1 Oct 1901 in Towns Co, GA, daughter of Bailey Kirby (Rev) and Elizabeth Sherrill .

Children of Tilman Holmes Bryson and Mary Elizabeth Kirby were as follows:

5. Rachel Caroline2 Bryson (John1), born 3 Nov 1832 in Macon Co, NC (now Jackson Co, NC); died aft 3 Dec 1884 in Towns Co, GA. She married on 6 Feb 1851 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA) Stephen Souther , born 29 Apr 1829 in Burke Co, NC; died 8 Nov 1862 in VA, Civil War, son of Joseph Souther and Sarah Davis .

Children of Rachel Caroline Bryson and Stephen Souther were as follows:

6. Martha M2 Bryson (John1), born 29 Mar 1835 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA); died 1 Nov 1903. She married on 20 Mar 1856 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA) Isaac Swanson , born 1827.

Children of Martha M Bryson and Isaac Swanson were as follows:

7. Mangum H2 Bryson (John1), born 19 Dec 1837 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA); died 9 Sep 1913 in Towns Co, GA. He married on 19 Aug 1860 in Towns Co, GA Arminta J Corn , born 19 Aug 1843 in Union Co, GA (now Towns Co, GA); died 27 Feb 1932 in Towns Co, GA, daughter of Alfred E Corn and Nancy Cook .

Children of Mangum H Bryson and Arminta J Corn were as follows:

 

Generation 3

21. William Sherrill3 Bryson (Tilman Holmes2, John1), born 18 Jun 1861 in Towns Co, GA; died 5 Dec 1917. He married on 2 Nov 1879 in Towns Co, GA Rhoda Jane Hooper , born 13 Jun 1862; died 21 Aug 1939.

Children of William Sherrill Bryson and Rhoda Jane Hooper were as follows:

 

 


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