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"James BRYSON, Daniel BRYSON and Andrew BRYSON. These three Bryson brothers are believed to have emigrated from the Province of Ulster in Ireland to Pennsylvania, and from there they came southward. They settled in Anderson District (now county), South Carolina. They must have settled in Anderson District before the Revolutionary War of 1776. All three of the brothers were in the American Army. At one time they were in a battle with the British forces very near their own home, and after the fighting was over, the wife of James BRYSON went out to the battlefield to see if her husband or brothers were killed, looking at the faces of the dead; fortunately they were not hurt. This fact obtained from Mrs. Talitha ALLEN, sister of Daniel BRYSON, near Sylva, Jackson Co, NC.
These three BRYSON brothers moved from South Carolina in 1799 to Western North Carolina and settled in Richland Valley on Richland Creek, in what is now Haywood County, a few miles from Waynesville.
James BRYSON, the elder of these brothers, married a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth COUNTRYMAN, who lived to the advanced age of 118 years and is buried in an old cemetery near the Daniel BRYSON homestead on Scotts Creek. By this marriage James had six sons and four daughters, all of whom were probably born in Anderson District, SC before the family moved to Western North Carolina in 1799. The names of the sons were: John, William, James, Daniel, Andrew, and Samuel. These sons all married and settled in this section, except James, who some years after his marriage moved to northern Georgia and the future changes in this branch of the family are unknown to the families in North Carolina.
The names of the four daughters were Ibby, who married an ARMSTRONG in Anderson District, SC and remained there when the family moved to NC. Peggy married a WOODS and lived in North Carolina. Betsy married a GABBY and lived in NC. Sallie married a HICKY first, and then a GROSS and lived in NC.
DANIEL BRYSON, who was the second of the three BRYSON brothers, coming from South Carolina, married and raised a family. He lived in Sugar Fork Creek in Macon County, NC. He was Colonel of a volunteer regiment which drove back the Indians in Western North Carolina after several severe skirmishes.
ANDREW BRYSON, was the third of the three brothers coming from SC. He was married twice, and lived on Cullowhee Creek, NC.
Daniel BRYSON, who was the fourth son of James BRYSON, the elder of the three original BRYSON brothers, married Miss Artimesia DILLARD, and reared a family of five children; Talitha, who married an ALLEN; Dorcas, who married a FISHER; Artimesia, who married a CLAYTON. The sons - Daniel, who married Miss Carolina BUCHANAN; Thaddeus, who married Miss Mary GREENLEE."
Mary Telitha Bryson (1811-1898)
(Daniel G. Bryson 1787/Artie Dillard-James H. Bryson 1740-50/Sarah Countryman-William Bryson c1720/Isabella Holmes)The Telitha Bryson Allen history is thought to be the earliest known Bryson history for our family. The version that I have seen is typewritten, and refers to her in the 3rd person, so probably was not a verbatim copy of something she wrote, or dictated, but it is generally attributed to her anyway. It must have been made by someone close to her, perhaps one of her children, or a niece or nephew. Since she died in 1898, it had to have been prepared (or began) before her death. If she did write it, it was certainly updated by someone else.
Analysis: The Telitha Allen history seems to be mostly accurate, however, there are some mistakes. Let me take it paragraph by paragraph:
James BRYSON, Daniel BRYSON and Andrew BRYSON. These three Bryson brothers are believed to have emigrated from the Province of Ulster in Ireland to Pennsylvania, and from there they came southward. They settled in Anderson District (now county), South Carolina.
These three brothers were not the immigrants, but their father (William Bryson) probably was an immigrant from Ulster, Ireland (Northern Ireland). Also they did not settle in Anderson District, SC, but rather in Pendleton District, which later became Anderson District (in 1826). However, changing county lines and names are not really an error, but certainly worth pointing out.
They must have settled in Anderson District before the Revolutionary War of 1776. All three of the brothers were in the American Army. At one time they were in a battle with the British forces very near their own home, and after the fighting was over, the wife of James BRYSON went out to the battlefield to see if her husband or brothers were killed, looking at the faces of the dead; fortunately they were not hurt. This fact obtained from Mrs. Talitha ALLEN, sister of Daniel BRYSON, near Sylva, Jackson Co, NC.
They did not settle in SC before the Revolutionary War, though James may have. The rest joined him there later on (in the 1780's).
The story about James Brysons wife is often retold, but such a story can not be confirmed. Neither can the Revolutionary War Service of James and Andrew. Andrews son James N. Bryson did apply for a Revolutionary War Pension for his father, but it was rejected for lack of evidence.
These three BRYSON brothers moved from South Carolina in 1799 to Western North Carolina and settled in Richland Valley on Richland Creek, in what is now Haywood County, a few miles from Waynesville.
The above statement seems accurate.
James BRYSON, the elder of these brothers, married a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth COUNTRYMAN, who lived to the advanced age of 118 years and is buried in an old cemetery near the Daniel BRYSON homestead on Scotts Creek.
This statement about James being married to a daughter of Elizabeth Countryman is confirmed by a 1797 deed wherein Mrs. Elizabeth Countryman deeds property to her daughter Sarah Bryson, wife of James Bryson (in York District, SC). Some researchers have misread the above statement, and concluded that James was married to Elizabeth Countryman who lived to b 118, when in fact the statement clearly says that he married a daughter of Mrs. Countryman, and that it was the mother who lived to be 118. I have not found any direct evidence proving that Mrs. Countryman lived this long, but I have not looked into it either.
By this marriage James had six sons and four daughters, all of whom were probably born in Anderson District, SC before the family moved to Western North Carolina in 1799. The names of the sons were: John, William, James, Daniel, Andrew, and Samuel. These sons all married and settled in this section, except James, who some years after his marriage moved to northern Georgia and the future changes in this branch of the family are unknown to the families in North Carolina.
This statement seems to be accurate, except that not all of them were born in South Carolina.
The names of the four daughters were Ibby, who married an ARMSTRONG in Anderson District, SC and remained there when the family moved to NC. Peggy married a WOODS and lived in North Carolina. Betsy married a GABBY and lived in NC. Sallie married a HICKY first, and then a GROSS and lived in NC.
This statement also seems accurate. For some reason when Mrs. Updike wrote her Bryson book, she decided that Ibby Bryson Armstrong did not belong in this generation, but instead moved her "up" to be a sister to James H. Bryson, instead of his daughter. Im fairly sure that Telitha Allen was correct, and that Ethel Updike was wrong in this matter.
DANIEL BRYSON, who was the second of the three BRYSON brothers, coming from South Carolina, married and raised a family. He lived in Sugar Fork Creek in Macon County, NC. He was Colonel of a volunteer regiment which drove back the Indians in Western North Carolina after several severe skirmishes.
This statement seems to be correct, except Ive found no record of him being a Colonel, though he does appear as Major on some records. He was a Revolutionary War Pensioner.
ANDREW BRYSON, was the third of the three brothers coming from SC. He was married twice, and lived on Cullowhee Creek, NC.
Andrew married three times, and Im not sure if he lived on Cullowhee Creek or not.
Daniel BRYSON, who was the fourth son of James BRYSON, the elder of the three original BRYSON brothers, married Miss Artimesia DILLARD, and reared a family of five children; Talitha, who married an ALLEN; Dorcas, who married a FISHER; Artimesia, who married a CLAYTON. The sons - Daniel, who married Miss Carolina BUCHANAN; Thaddeus, who married Miss Mary GREENLEE.
This statement seems accurate. This is where the paper ended. Since it did not include any younger generations than this one, it is probably safe to say it was written within Telitha Allens lifetime (died 1898) or soon after her death.
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