Was William Smith Bryan, 1600-1667, the father of Richard Bryan, d. Virginia 1689

Question

Wm Smith Bryan, called Prince of Ireland, was evicted from Clare County by Cromwell in 1650.  He arrived in Virginia with his wife and eleven children.  I believe only three of the sons' names are known: Francis, Thomas, and Morgan.  My ancester Richard was in the same place at the same time, but I have seen no documentation linking him to Wm. S. Bryan

Comments

where to start :D ... There is MUCH speculation and dissention and dissagreement about a couple Williams (Bryan/Bryant, and William Smith Bryan being a major one).

Anyway, I've seen explanations that there *is* no such person as William Smith Bryan. I've also seen persuasive arguments on why it's highly unlikely any of the Bryans who came to America were the Prince of Ireland (although lots of people were evicted by Cromwell for opposing him). And not all researchers agree about his mom either.

The biographical information in William Smith Bryan's WikiTree profile is a good starting point: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bryan-102

I think William with 11 children is in Notable Southern Families (see citation & link below). This reference is a good compilation of the stories and information available when it was published, and good for giving leads, but it does contain some stories/speculation that hasn't been upheld in later years. 

Just curious... who are your ancestors leading up to Richard? I'm involved in the William Bryans because it's the name of the grandfather of my ancestor Elisha ( http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brien-35 ) - yet another William who's apparently not related to William Smith Bryan, the William Bryan who married Daniel Boone's sister, or the William Bryan who didn't marry Lady Alice Needham. 

I haven't noticed Richard as a recurring name before, but WikiTree has several profiles for Richard Bryans. Not knowing more about yours, I couldn't tell which might be promising.

Good luck!

Notable Southern Families Volume II, Compiled by Zella Armstrong, Member of the Tennessee Historical Commission, published by The Lookout Publishing Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1942. Digitized by Google, and available online through Google Books (http://archive.org/details/notablesouthern00unkngoog).

 

 

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I also noticed the book with John Bryant being on my ancestral tree.  Although John is mentioned in the book the author settles on the name James.  John born about 1754 in Virginia had a son who was named Randolph 1783, then Laben Bryant 1821, then Martha Jane Bryant 1853 and so on.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bryant-7340

Answer 1

just looked it up... Notable Southern Families does list Richard as a son, although it starts by saying of the eleven sons: "We are only sure of one, Francis, the eldest, altho Morgan Bryan ... Perhaps also ... Richard
in King George County, 1694..."

I couldn't find additional information about that Richard Bryan (who was alive after yours died), but you might want to look for yours in King George County, Virginia. (Virginia wasn't specified, but the other brothers were Isle of Wight, Virginia.)

Comments

Hi Liz

My Bryan line is Lucinda Bryan (Bryan-2574), born 1816, who married my 2nd great grand father, William H. Holland, (Holland-3342), born 1816.

I have Lucinda's Bryan line going back as follows,  

Lucinda Bryan (Bryan-2574), born 1816.

Lewis H. Bryan (Bryan-2575), born 1780.

Lewis H. Bryan (Bryan-2576), born 1745.

William Benjamin Bryan, (Bryan-2573), born 1724, who married Alice Needham,      (Needham -201), born 1659.   

John Bryan (Bryan-2232), born 1691.

Do you have any information on the truth of this line?

Thank you

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no. Actually, the opposite (as noted at the top of the profile for Needham-201). What I found about Bryan m Needham is posted on & discussed in the comments for http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bryan-1413   If you can find documentation for this line, it would be a boon all around!

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Liz, "The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register" has 'Bryan Record' page 577 ...
8 - Willima Bryan, Marquis of Thomond (a655-1742), from Ireland to Isle of Wright Co.l, VA., 1689; later settled on Albemarle Sound, N.C.; was high sheriff, justice, assemblyman; m. Lady Alice, dau., Lord Needham, Viscount of Kilmorey;

https://archive.org/stream/northcarolinahi00hathgoog#page/n602/mode/2up/search/William+Bryan%2C+

There is also listed "Orders of Nobility IN Carolina." is the book I linked below the same as you mentioned?

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Notable Southern Families and Orders of Nobility are two different books. Looks like you've got lots of sources in that last one that you can site in your WikiTree profiles!

Answer 2

I have William Smith Bryan as my 11th great grandfather.  He is said to have died in what was Big Lick - which is now Roanoke, Virginia.  I live in Roanoke Virginia.  He grave site is less than a mile and a half from my house.  He is also listed in the Salem Virginia Historical Society.

Comments

Familysearch.org has the entire family tree going back to 550ad. William Smith Bryan was first to settle in America in Gloucester Va.and it shows he died there he was my 9th ggf  My 8th was Francis Bryan who lived and died in Ireland. He had 2 sons Morgan my 7th ggf and William who settled in Salem Va. These 2 men are the real pioneers of our family. NCpedia Morgan Bryan tells his story.

Answer 3

Yes. I have done my DNA and yes I am King James Woodrow Fraley. The brothers and I have been lied to and truth has been hidden from the family. Many may ask why would any country do this to it's people? I am willing to prove truth through my DNA and at least 10 years of research. I don't understand why anyone would want to lie, steal, and cheat this Great family.