a Robert Bryan to ponder…
A “new” Bryan showed up on my radar… he is noted on the map below:
This area is the Roanoke River near Bridger’s Creek
A commenter claims he descends from a Robert Bryan who moved into NC prior to 1725. I was a bit skeptical, having not ran across the name, but my friend Jennifer from California promptly emailed a grant… as noted above.
The commenter also claims “in 1652 John (Bryan) received the land ‘twix’ the IOW and Nansemond cos. being old for the time John needed more help and 7 yrs. later brought a Robert (age 27) and Lewis Bryan as well as John Ballard from Bitton Eng. “
So with a little math, considering Robert Bryan was 27 in 1659, that would make his birthdate 1632 and his age in 1721 about 89… which is highly unlikely.
Another Robert Bryan to ponder is shown here near the Blackwater River straddling IOW and Nansemond. He also has a son Robert. But these guys seem to stay in Southampton into the 1740s as shown by later patents.
I am a bit bewildered by it all. My friend David Boyett has provided some data to back up the claim:
http://www.virtualjamestown.org/indentures/search_indentures.html
Agent: John Brian
Aug 15, 1659 Lewes Brian of Bitton, Gloucestershire
Aug 15, 1659 John Ballard of Bitton
Aug 24, 1659 John Boulton of Bitton
15 Aug 1659 (p. 432)
following bound to John Brian, Planter, to serve in Virginia:
Lewes Brian of Bitton, Glos., yeoman
Robert Brian of Bitton, Glos.,
John Ballard of Bitton
—-Bristol Records Office
24 Aug 1659 (p.433)
John Boulton of Bitton, Glos., bound to John Brian, Planter, to serve 4 years in Virginia
—-Bristol Records Office
_______________________________
Jennifer also found this reference to a Robert Brian in 1690:
Patents, v. 8, 1689-1695; Film # 008422927
121/464 (p. 92)
23 Oct 1690, Hodges Council the younger and Thomas Man, grant 200 ac, IOW county, beginning at Jno (Brown) corner, Kingsale Swamp. Transport of four persons: Thomas White, Jno Wator_, Robt Brian, Jno Barnard.
Earlier comments can be found here:
David Boyett (the DNA guru)… is doing his research and Posting as we speak… and I, as I mentioned am still bewildered by it all.
I think I’m the person that you are referring to, and if I said Robert was in NC in 1725, I apologize. That is about 25 yrs too early. 1725 is an important date. Hint: there was five Roberts, beginning with John 1 from Button Eng. Robert in NC had a Robert( brother to Elias!
Richard Bryan
April 28, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Ran across this link again. Actually I have my info in front of me. At my age one should always refer to his notes! You doubt my John Bryan,who I claimed was born in Bitton and it is his son John who first came to Va.(please note that when Robert ,Lewes and John Ballard came endentured to John Bryan, that the ship’s info refered to John Bryan-ancient planter of Va.). that means that he was here before Dale returned to England in 1617. That research requires trips to Bristol ,Eng. So, I will start in Lancaster Co. Va. Earliest records begin in 1652 for this county. 1652 Robert Bryan , son of John, say I,is married to Mary. They have 4 living children. one of which is 2 year Robert Bryan. The widow Mary marries after RB sr. dies in 1654, to Thomas Wright, who lives at Morrattico mill above Chinn ck., also in Lancaster co., but above Rapp R. The first RB lived near Urbana ck. on south s. of Rapp. In later 1660’s RB jr. obtained land in Gloucester co.-several different transactions. In 1672 Thom. Wright dies. leaves RBjr. 115 A. at Morrattico. Note : Jr. older brother Thomas had since 1663 land just West of the Mill pond. This is a good time to mention that Robert Bryant of Bitton says in his will of 1678, son Robert ,son Lewes, daugs,. Margeryand elinor, beyond the sea-REmember the two endentured to John in 1659. Now Robert Bryan jr. marries Sarah-see the Register of Abbington parish in gloucester co. Va. Robert Bryan 111 is born in1688. RBJr. dies about 1700. See 1702 deed and 1704 deed (RB “minor son of RB deceased”). In 1711 RB111 marries Mary Matthews in Christ Church Parish. Robert 1V is born in1725. See RB 111adding land in 1717 and 1724. Feb. 22,1724-300 a. north side of Nottaway R.-beginning east side of Cedar Swamp-twixt IOW and Nansemond cos.-20 shillings and the transport of Thomas and Ann Hill. In 1749 RB1V -160 a. in Halifax co. NC. in 1749 RB1V m. Ann Hickman of Southampton co. Va. He and Ann begin to sell Va. Properties and buy land in NC. 1750, Robert Bryan 111 dies in Southampton co. va. and the 1V is in NC
richard bryan
March 1, 2026 at 2:18 pm
I get lost in non sequiturs…such as: “Now Robert Bryan jr. marries Sarah-see the Register of Abbington parish in gloucester co. Va. Robert Bryan 111 is born in1688.” Who is 111 exactly? And why is Morrattico relative to my IOW or Nansemond discussion, much less North Carolina?
Marc, overwhelmingly confused…
anderson1951
March 1, 2026 at 8:36 pm
The 111 is the son of RB Jr. morrattico,is where you need to start to follow the line of Bryan’s that you are seeking! In a previous note from you ,you were calculating the age of the RB that John Bryan brought over in 1659. That RB has little to do with the RB you are interested.
Richard Bryan
May 25, 2026 at 3:40 pm