Looking for information on Robert Bryan born 1532 in Devonshire, England, father of John Bryan born 1554 in England.

Question

I am looking for information on the parents of Robert Bryan.  I think it is Edmund (Brian) Bryan [1511-aft 1540] and Margaret Courtenay [abt1510-abt1560].  Robert is the father of John Bryan born 1554 died 30 Apr 1599.

Answer 1

Can you provide the source your have for John Bryan?   I cannot find a John Bryan with those dates.  Edmund Bryan and his wife Margaret do not have a son named Robert per the sources that I am looking at.

Comments

Sir Francis Bryan , Knight, Chevalier Baronet, born 1490 and died 1550  . . .  first married to Philippa,  . . .  His eldest son by first marriage  Edmund.  His eldest son,  Robert Bryan of Tor Brian, married Eleanor,  His eldest son, John Bryan of Tor Brian, married Rose Church.  Source:  Colonial Families of the United States,  page 151.

John Bryant of Tor Brian, married Rose, daughter of John Church of Erles, Colne, Co. Essex.   Source: Colonial Families of the United States of America: Volume 2 Lineage.

John Bryan    England, Sussex, Parish Registers   

Event Type ---  Burial   Event Date -- 30 Apr 1599

Event Place -- Ardingly, Sussex, England

Citing this Record:  "England, Sussex, Parish Registers, 1538-1910", database, Family Search   GS Film # 000918476   Digital Folder # 004428017    Image # 00089

 

If this does not match with what you have, I would like to know the sources for the different information you have

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According to the History of Parliament article for Sir Francis Bryan, there appear to be no children with his first wife, Philippa, and possibly his only child is a son who was illegitimate. The son's name isn't given in the article that I can see.  Also Sir Francis, wasn't a Baronet, but a banneret.

See here http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/bryan-sir-francis-1492-1550#footnote15_551l15l

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The Colonial Families of the United States, doesn't appear to cite any sources for the information, which makes it suspect as a reliable source.

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There is another problem with the Bryan line as given in the Colonial Families, book - Sir William de Bryan, the second son of Lord Guy de Bryan and his wife Elizabeth de Montacute, actually died without any dircct heirs, as his nieces, the 2 daughters of his elder brother Guy were his heirs.  Sir Thomas Bryan, Knight, d. 11th Oct 1444, can't be his son.

See the notes on p. 362 in The Complete Peerage, 2nd ed. vol. 2 https://archive.org/stream/completepeerageo02coka#page/362/mode/2up

It looks like the author of Colonial Families, may have just put lots of different families with the Bryan surname together, which was pretty common during that time.

Also Tor Bryan or Brian went to the heirs of these 2 sisters, so Edmund, Robert, and the two John Bryants if they existed at all, can't have been of Tor Brian.

Answer 2

Do the registers of Holy Trinity, Torbryan still exist? You might ask

https://www.swheritage.org.uk/devon-archives