Eleanor Bryan

Detached as daughter of Thomas Winnifred

Biography

Updated 9 March 2024

Little is known of the origins of Eleanor, wife of Thomas Bryan. except that she was born in about 1663 in Old Rappahannock County, in Virginia's "Northern Neck" area.

Eleanor married Thomas Bryan Jr., born in 1659 in Richmond County, British colony of Virginia, in about 1687. He was from an Irish Protestant family that fled County Clare in1650 due to the Irish and English Civil War raging there at that time. Thomas & Eleanor Bryan had 6 children:[2]

1. Thomas BRYAN, Jr., b: 12 JULY 1688 in Richmond Co., Virginia
2. Margaret Morgrave BRYAN b: 23 JULY 1693 in Richmond County, Virginia
3. John BRYAN b: ABT. 1694 in Richmond County, Virginia
4. Winifred BRYAN b: ABT. 1694
5. MARY (Winiford) BRYAN b: 28 MAY 1697 in N Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., VA
6. George BRYAN b: 3 MAY 1699 in Richmond County, Virginia

The Bryan family had a tobacco plantation in Richmond County, Virginia. Eleanor Bryan died there in March 1719, just a few months after her husband's death in October 1717.

She wrote her Last Will in January 1718 and it was proven on April 2, 1719, the month following her death.

Will

Will of Eleanor Bryan[3] In the Name of God Amen January the Eighth Anno Dom: One Thousand & Seven Hundred and Eighteen, I Elleanor Bryan Relict & Executrix of Tho: Bryan, Late of the County of Richmond dec'd: being very weak of body but of perfect & sound memory, Praises be God for the same do make this my Last Will & Testament. First of all I recommend my Soul to God & my Body to the dust and my Estate I dispose of as follows, that is to say, I give and Bequeath all my Estate, after-Debts and funeral Charges defrayed, to be Equally divided between my Son Tho: Bryan and my Daughter Mary Bryan and I d o hereby Constitute &c my said Daughter Mary, Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Revoking all others & Confirming this to be my Last Will Testam't. In Testimony where of I hereunto set my hand the Day & Year above written. Elleanor Bryan Published and Pronounced In the Presence of: Alexr Benneham, James Hinds Att. at Court Continued & held for Richmond County, the Second Day of April 1719. This Will was proved in open Court by the Oath of James Hinds, one of the Witnesses thereto, and admitted to Record. Test.: M. Beckwith, Ct. Cur.

Eleanor died 2 April 1719 (date will proved) in Richmond County, Virginia Colony. She was Thomas Bryan's widow.

Parents seen as Thomas Winnifred and Mary Winnifred. Not proven as of March 2018

Family

She married Thomas Bryan BEF 1688. He died 1718 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony.

Children of Thomas Bryan and Eleanor:

1. Thomas Bryan Jr. was born 12 JUL 1688 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony. He married Mary Unknown.
2. Margaret Bryan was born 22 JUL 1693 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony, and died 1750. She married Caran Brannan.
3. John Bryan was born ABT 1694, and died 18 FEB 1726 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony.
4. Winifred Bryan was born ABT 1694, She married Hugh McVay. He was born ABT 1690.
5. Mary Bryan was born 28 MAY 1695 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony, and died 1780 in Amelia County, Virginia, USA. She married John Hightower.
6. George Bryan was born 12 MAY 1699 in Richmond County, Virginia Colony, and died BEF 1717.

Will abstract, Thomas Bryan

Richmond Co, VA, Will Book #4, 1717-1725, pg 97, LW&T written 26 Oct 1717, probated 02 Apr 1719, gave all land to son Thomas; mentions wife Eleanor; grandson George BRYAN alias (Asbun) the son of his eldest son John; daughters Winifred McKay and Margaret Brannan; no ex; wits: George Murdoch, Alexander Benneham, James Hindes

Will

Name: Richmond County Courthouse

Note: Book 4, Page 97: In the Name of God Amen January the Eighth Anno Dom: One Thousand & Seven Hundred and Eighteen I Elleanor Bryan Relict & Executrix of Tho: Bryan Late of the County of Richmond decd: being very weak of body but of perfect & sound memory Praises be God for the same do make this my Last Will & Testament. First of all I recommend my Soul to God & my Body to the dust and my Estate I dispose of as follows, that is to say, I give and Bequeath all my Estate, after-Debts and funeral Charges defrayed, to be Equally divided between my Son Tho: Bryan and my Daughter Mary Bryan and I do hereby Constitute &c my sd Daughter Mary Sole Executris of this my Last Will &c Revoking &c all other &c Confirming &c this to be my Last Will Testamt In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand the Day & Year above written.

Elleaner Bryan

Published and Pronounced
In the Presence of Alexr Benneham James Hinds

Att a Court Continued & held for Richmond County the Secon Day of Aprill 1719.

This Will was proved in open Court by the Oath of James Hinds one of the Witnesses thereto, and admitted to Record. Test M: Beckwith, Ct. Cur.

Source: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hrhdah/genealogy/fg01/fg01_075.htm

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References

• https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hightowe...
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hrhdah/fg01/fg01_075.htm
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/i/l/Susan-E-Tilleman/G...
• http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/blyton/1058/wga6.html
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mpearce&i...
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Winniford-2