John Bryan, of Rowan County

Was he the son of Morgan Bryan?

Not the same as John Bryan, of Ireland; John Bryan, Sr.; or John Bryan, of Edgefield County

John Bryan

• Born 9 Apr 1730 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia (?)
• Died 18 Nov 1797 at age 67 in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States
• (perhaps) the son of Morgan Bryan Sr and Martha Strode
• Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Bryan — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Origins

Married Sarah. Genforum has: George Eaton, Jr., married by bond dated 1779, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Morgan) Huey. I've learned they went to Kentucky and then Posey Co Indiana. Elizabeth's brother Thomas Huey married, by bond dated 7 Feb. 1787, in Rowan Co Mary Bryan, daughter of John and Sarah Bryan. This John was probably the son of Morgan Bryan, grandfather of Rebecca Bryan, wife of Daniel Boone.

From https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/bryan-morgan

John, who is believed to have lost two Tory sons during the Revolution, farmed his land in the Bryan Settlements throughout his life. He died there in the winter of 1799–1800.

Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-210216

The wife of John Bryan is named Sarah in his will dated 18 November 1797 and proved 5 November 1800, Rowan County, North Carolina. The will also names nine children:[2]

Abstract of transcription of John Bryan's 1797 will:[2]

• wife Sarah
• son Samuel
• grandson John (son of John, deceased)
• son James
• daughter Jean Ortan
• daughter Jinnet Ortan
• daughter Elizabeth Davis
• daughter Serah Allen
• daughter Merey Huey
• daughter Margere Allen

Executors: son-in-law Joseph Ortan and William Law
Witnesses: Samuel Casey jun., Thomas Allen, Jacob Foote

Children include

1. Samuel Bryan b. 1759 m. Margaret Morrow
2. Elizabeth Bryan b. 1762 m. John Davis
3. Jannet Bryan b. 1763 m. Joseph Orton
4. Mary Bryan b. 1764 m. Thomas Huey
5. James Bryan b. 1765 m. Margaret Johnson
6. Margaret Bryan b. 1766 m. Thomas Allen
7. Sarah Bryan b. 1766 m. Zachariah Allen
8. Jane Bryan b. 1750 m. John Orton
9. John Bryan, Jr. b. 1754 deceased at time of will m. Rebecca Orton

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Will

• Will of John Bryan, Sr., transcribed:: 18 November 1797, Rowan Co, NC.
• In the Name of God Amen.
• The Eighteenth Day of November in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, I john Bryan of Rowan County and state of North Carolina, planter, being in perfect health, tho weake in Body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of almight God who gave it, and for my body, I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a christian like and decent manner at the direction of my Executors, and not doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
• Also I give and bequeath unto Sarah my dearly beloved wife the sum of Ten pounds in money yearly of the land during her widowhood and likewise I bequeath unto her one Negro wench named Sal and likeways one horse named Runt, likewise two Cows and likewise two sheep and two Beds and chest and Dow chest with what of the dresser furniture she pleases. With one pot with the choice of the Bee gum and likewise at my widows death I order the Negro wench Sal to be sold and be equally devided among my daughters.
• Also I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Samuel Bryan two hundred Acres of land along the north line of my plantation only I bequeath twenty pounds out of that part to my beloved grand son John Bryan, son to John Bryan deceased. Likewise I bequeath one Negro boy to my beloved son Samuel Bryan named George and likewise my close:
• Likewise I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son James mail heirs, Two hundred acres of land it being the old improvement where I now live to be sold and put to interest for their use when come of age to share and share alike.
• Likewise I will that the residue of my movable property be put to sale and the money equally devided amongst my Daughters Jean Orton, Jinnet Ortan, Elizabeth Davis, Serah Allen, Merey Huey and Margere Allen likewise all debts dew with too young negro wenches Grace and Love.
• Lastly I do hereby make, constitute, ordain and appoint my beloved son in law Joseph Ortan and William Law to be the only Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disanull all and every other former testaments, wills and legacies. Bequests and Executions by me in any way before this time mentioned, willed and bequeathed ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day above written.
• His (seal) John Bryan
• Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said John Bryan as his last will and testament in the presence of these subscribers Samuel Casey jun. , Thomas Allen, Jacob Foote[1]

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Notes

LifeSketch: John Bryan was born Opequon Creek, Spotsylvania, VA and is the son of Morgan Bryan [L85X-C1B] and Martha Strode.

John, being a civil engineer by profession, was engaged in surveying in the State of Kentucky. It is said that he and Daniel Boone were the two first white men who stood on the banks of the Kentucky river. He was High Sheriff of Garrard County, Kentucky and several times was a member of the Kentucky Legislature.

Even more ironic was the fact that Samuel Bryan, brother of Morgan, William, James and John Bryan and an uncle of Susannah Bryan Boren, was a Tory Colonel, in command of the North Carolina Tory Regiment which fought against Samuel's own brothers at King's Mountain!

Following the Battle of King's Mountain, Morgan and James Bryan returned to their families at Bryan's Station, Kentucky,

• Bryan's Station
• (Marker Number: 21)
• County: Fayette State: KY
• Location: 5 mi. N. of Lexington, Bryan Station Pk.

Description: Camping place in 1775-76 of the brothers Morgan, James, William and Joseph Bryan. In 1779 was fortified as a station which in Aug. 1782 repelled a siege of Indians and Canadians under Capt. William Caldwell and Simon Girty.

References

1. Seven Sons and Two Daughters of Morgan Bryan (1671-1763) Irish Immigrant and Some of Their Descendants, Authored and Compiled by David C. McMurtry, David R. Bryan, Kathryn H. Weiss, John K. Bryan, Jr., and Pat R. Forbis. Vol 2 of 2, Privately Printed 2009, Lexington KY.
2. “Bryan Family History: Descendants of John and Sarah Bryan of Rowan County, North Carolina; Samuel and Margaret Bryan of Davidson County, Tennessee; Samuel and Charlotte Bryan of Maury County, Tennessee; Finus and Caledonia Bryan of Hill County, Texas.” By Robert Brooks Casey and Bernice (Brooks) Casey (2004). < PDF >
3. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bryan-109 (has errors as of 21 October 2023)