James Bryant Sr. (abt. 1656 - 1731)

Born about 1656 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1731 at about age 75 in Bertie County, North Carolina

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Biography

James was born about 1656 in Isle of Wight, Virginia. His occupation was a shoemaker. There was such great demand for shoes in the colony that production was performed on a large scale. The shoemakers were not tiny cobblers trying to eke out a living for the most part. This was a thriving industry. For example on the Eastern Shore there was one shoemaking operation that employed 14 shoemakers.^[1]

Marriage

James married Elizabeth Unknown around the year 1672 or 1671 according to the estimated birth years of their children.

Children

1. Eleanor (Bryant) Braswell (abt.1672-abt.1772) m Richard Bracewell Jr. 1728 in Isle of Wright, Virginia
2. James Bryant Jr. (abt.1684-abt.1749) m. Sarah (Braswell) Bryant
3. William Bryant (1684-aft.1749) m. Patience (Dew) Bryant
4. Susanna (Bryant) Tellar (1686-1744)r m. Matthew Tellar 1718 in Isle of Wight, Virginia
5. Mary (Bryant) Sumner (abt.1690-1773) m. Richard Sumner 1714 in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia
6. Thomas Bryant (abt.1697-abt.1741) m. Alice (Unknown) Bryant
7. Sarah (Bryant) Bridgers (1705-1778)s m. Benjamin Bridgers Sr 1720 in Wayne County, NC
8. Elizabeth (Bryant) Bracewell (1706-1772) m. Richard Bracewell III 1730 in Isle, Virginia
9. Elizabeth (Bryant) Dew (abt.1708-) m. John Dew III in 1725
10. Caroline Matilda (Bryant) Smith (abt.1720-abt.1753) m. James smith

They began to accumulate lands in Virginia after this. For almost a century, there was rampant misuse of this headright system, and practically everyone in Virginia was in on it. There was no way to check one set of records against another, especially from county to county. So documents were concocted and traded with names of immigrants used over and over. For every person transported, the sponsor was able to claim a 'headright' bounty for new lands. It is impossible to tell whether or not James actually sponsored anyone, but there are three grants extant.

• On Apr 16, 1683, James was granted 315 acres in Isle of Wight County VA between Kingsale Swamp and the main Blackwater Swamp,. He had paid for the transport of seven people to Virginia viz. John Custis Ellen Brisbon James Wilson James Grandee Wm Mason Tho. Watam Sarah Briggs

To all Whereas Now know ye all, I the said Thomas, Lord Culpepper Do with the consent of the Council aforesaid accordingly Give and Grant unto James Bryan three hundred and fifteen acres of land situated Kingsale Swamp and the main Blackwater in the Isle of Wight County beginning at a pine, William Mayo's corner, and in Richard Booth'sline, thence by Mayo's south fifty five Degrees West one hundred ninety four Poles to a Hickory in Hodges Council's line, thence by Council North seven Degrees West ninety two Pole to a Pine a corner tree twixt him and Bridgman Joyner, thence by Joyner's North fifteen Degrees East three hundred and ten Poles to a Pine, thence South fifty seven degrees East one hundred and twenty Poles to a Pine in a Meadow, Thence East sixty Poles to a Red Oak, Richard Booth's corner Tree and so by Booth South twenty Degrees East sixty four Poles to the first Station. The said land being by and for the transportation of seven persons into this Colony wherefore Names are mentioned in the Records under this Patent. To have and to hold, or to be held, on Yielding and Paying Provided Dated the Sixteenth Day of April one thousand six hundred Eighty Three. ^[2]

• On Oct 20, 1689, he was granted 762 acres in Isle of Wight County VA on the Blackwater River, for the transport of 16 people to the colony^[3]
  
• On Oct 28, 1702, he was granted 100 acres in Isle of Wight County VA on the south side of the main Blackwater, for the transport of two people^[4]

North Carolina

By 1708, James moved his family across the border into North Carolina. In March of that year, Richard Braswell of Isle of Wight County, Virginia sold to James Bryant, Sr. "of the same county" rights to "the within mentioned patent" for 4,000 pounds of tobacco . John Dew was a witness. Bryant signs with an "x." Dew and Braswell were both sons-in-law. This was a 320 acres tract on the Meherrin River which had been granted to Braswell in 1706.
James is still named as "of Isle of Wight" in some of the conveyances, which indicates he maintained a residence in Virginia on one plantation the entire time he was living in North Carolina. This was quite common among the more well to do planters. The distance was not that far, a day's ride on a good road. Whether he rented it out or managed it is impossible to tell.
Deeds and Conveyances

• In Jul 1714, James Bryant Sr of Old Albemarle Co., planter to John Dew, 2 Pound 10 Shilling sterling for 320 acres joining Meherrin River and mouth of Deep Run. Wit George Holiday, John Byrd. 10 Feb 1714/5
• 4 Feb 1717 - James Bryant of Albemarle Co in NC to Thomas Davis of Isle of Wight - 315 acs between Kingsale Swamp and the main Blackwater River adj William Mayoe, Richard Boothe, Hodges Council, and Bridgeman Joyner being part of a patent granted to said James Bryant on 22 Feb 1683 Wit John Barnes, Richard Drake, Richard Beel
• In Jul 1717, John Dickinson assigned title to "this within mentioned deed" to John Dew, with James Bryant and William Bryant as witnesses.
• In Nov 1717, James Bryant of Albemarle County NC sold 315 acres between Kingsale Swamp and Blackwater River to Thomas Davis of Isle of Wight County VA, for 22 barrels of tar. Bryant's mark was an anchor.
• In Feb 1717/18, James and Elizabeth Bryant appointed their son Thomas Bryant to appear in Isle of Wight County VA to acknowledge the sale of 462 acres on the north side of Black Water River to William Beal, part of a patent of 762 acres granted Bryant on Oct 20, 1689. Also a sale to Thomas Davis of 315 acres, land patented to Bryant on Feb 22, 1683. ^[5]
• In Feb 1718/19, James Bryant "of the lower parish of Isle of Wight County VA" sold to James Tullagh "of the same place" for 4500 pounds tobacco, 250 acres, part of a patent for 762 acres granted to said Bryant Oct 20, 1689. James Bryant signed with an anchor.
• In Feb 1718/19, James Bryant, Sr, and William Bryant witnessed three deeds of John Council of Virginia to Thomas Britt, John Britt, and Alexander Shirer for land on the north side of the Meherrin River. James signed with a weighted "x"
• In Aug 1720, James Bryant of NC sold to Matthew Jones of Isle of Wight County VA, 100 acres on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp, as granted to Bryant Oct 28, 1702. John Dew, Robert Scott and Thomas Bryant were witnesses. James Bryant's mark was a weighted "x." Elizabeth Bryant relinquished dower
  

James signed with an "x" whose ends are weighted like an anchor. He does this on several transactions. This unique mark in lieu of a signature is evidence that he was illiterate.

There was another James Bryant who began to appear in Isle of Wight records about this time, signing his own documents with a capital "I." This James had wife Joanna and left a will in Isle of Wight County dated 1761 and recorded in 1763. The two James are sometimes confused, so the individual 'marks' must be used to distinguish between the two.
^[6]

James was a Quaker, or at least sympathetic enough to give land and money to build a Friends Meeting House.
In 1722, Bertie County was formed from Chowan County, and James Bryant's land now lay in Bertie County.

Death

James died in 1731 in Bertie County, leaving a will. He mentioned his sons James II, William, and Thomas, and sons-in- law John Dew, Richard Braswell, and Matthew Telar. James Bryant II and John Dew were executors, and John Daniel and Aaron Drake were witnesses.^[7]

Last Will & Testament

In ye name of god amen I James Bryant of ye govermen of Northcarolina and in ye presinct of burty being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and thanks be to god for it I so make and ordaine this to be my Last will and testament in maner and formed following on
First I give and bequeath to my son William Bryant my Land and plantation on ye North side of Maherin River together with all its Immoveables to him and his heirs for Ever and all my goods and Chattels of my Son aforesaid hath in his possession I give to my Sone aforsaid and all -kept of my good
I give to be Equaly divided betwen all my Children after my death and after my funirall Charges is paid John Dew and Richard Braswell James Bryant Thomas Bryant and Matthew Selar and I -- apoint John Dew and James Bryant to be my Exectors of this my Last Will and testament Revoking disanuling and making --ly Void all other wills. In witness Whearof I have heare unto set my hand and fixt my seal this 11th of march 1731.

James his (?) mark Bryant

Aron his (A) mark Drake Jurat

John his (I) mark Daniel Jurat

One Mary Bryant Sumner is noted in 1722 as a daughter to James Bryant. She is not listed in his will; Mary Bryant Sumner 1689-1773.

Notes

• James will, dated March 11, 1731, names child Richard Braswell. Richard would actually be his son-in-law.
  

Son: William Bryant. John Dew, Richard Braswell, James Bryant, Thomas Bryant and Matthew Telar are named as children. Executors: John Dew and James Bryant. Witnesses: Aron Drake and John Daniel. No probate.

Research Notes

• James Bryant's father was probably John Bryan (abt.1625-abt.1711) but this is uncertain because there should be a primary source to prove relationship. So far the sources are from texts.
• From the William & Mary Quarterly:

Two brothers, William Bryan I (1655- ) and James (1656- ) Bryan, settled in Isle of Wight County.^[8]

JAMES BRYANT SR. first lived in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He might have sprung from the Bryants of New England, for many families came from that section to settle in southeastern Virginia or northeastern North Carolina.

On February 4, 1717, JAMES BRYANT “of Albemarle" deeded certain lands in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, proving that he had already moved to North Carolina (Isle of Wight Great Book, p. 233). On April 6, 1718, he witnessed the will of CHARLES MERRITT in Chowan County (Grimes, "Abstract of N. C. Wills"). In August, 1720, he patented 100 acres on Bear Swamp (N. C. Colonial Records, II, p. 522).

The will of JAMES BRYANT SR. was made in Bertie County, North Carolina, on March 11, 1731 (Grimes), and mentioned:

1. WILLIAM BRYANT, son.
2. JAMES BRYANT JR., son.
3. THOMAS BRYANT, son.
4. JOHN DEW (JR.), son-in-law, and executor. He married ELIZABETH BRYANT, and for their descendants see White's “History and Genealogy of the Dew Family."
5. SARAH BRYANT married JOHN DRAKE, according to the will of the latter made in Bertie County on January 5, 1728 (Grimes).
6. MARY BRYANT married RICHARD SUMNER, whose will was made in Bertie County on April 12, 1729 (Grimes).

Sources

1. ↑ "Studies of the Virginia Eastern Shore in the Seventeenth Century," Susie B. Ames (Dietz Press,) Richmond, 1940, pp. 132-39.
2. ↑ Isle of Wight Patent Book 7 Digital File 007_0255
3. ↑ Isle of Wight Patent Book 8, page 28 see Exhibit F
4. ↑ (Patent Bk 9)
5. ↑ Isle of Wight Co., VA, Deeds, Book 2, "Page 154, 18 November 1717
6. ↑ Will Probate 5 May 1763 • Isle of Wight County, Virginia, USA Book 7-240 James Briand. Leg.-to John Briand's son John; grandson Peter Council; son-in-law James Council; wife Joanna. Ex., James Council.
7. ↑ John Bryan Grimes, Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of State, 1910), p. 53.
8. ↑ William & Mary Quarterly Vol 1. Bryant families with James Bryant Sr. land records in Virginia & North Carolina and his will abstract Bertie County, North Carolina, 1731, page 490.

See Also:

• "Bertie County, North Carolina Vital Statistics, 1700s-1920" Author: Herrin, Cynthia, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.Original data - Sentinel Publications.
• "The Bracewell or BRASWELL Family" compiled by Hugh Buckner Johnston, published 1963, FHLC microfilm
• "Bertie Beginnings: The Story of Our County and Its Distinguished Citizens". Kinston, NC, USA: Sentinel Publications, 1921 Note: Herrin, Cynthia, comp., Bertie County, North Carolina Vital Statistics, 1700s-1920 (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA)
• Cavaliers and Pioneers Nell Marion Nugent Vol 2 pp 309,375
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Isle of Wight County, Virginia Patent Bks 7, 8, 9
• Chowan Deed Bk W1 362,386,399
• Bertie County Deed Bk F-136, Deed Bk C-361
• Isle of Wight Deed Bk 2-153,154,155,233
• Chowan Deed Bk B1 #1238-40.
• Isle of Wight Deed Bk 2-422
• Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812
• (http://paigeramsey.com/familytree/1400.htm).
• (http://www.bmgen.com/document/pdf/History_William_Mary_College_Quarterly_Vol_1_Bryant.pdf).