JEREMIAH BRYAN(T)
( -ca. 1804)
ByJeremiah Bryant died sometime before Aug 30, 1804.
Because the records below reflect the period of an adult Jeremiah Bryant from 1737 to 1804, and because the children listed at the end of this chapter were all born after 1760, judging from their marriage dates, then I may be showing here the records of a father-son.
In the book Lost Trails and Forgotten People, The Story of Jones Mountain by Tom Floyd, published by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, this narrative about Jeremiah Bryan begins on page 21:
“The first land patents on Jones Mountain were granted to pioneers John Pickitt and Jeremiah Bryan. Pickitt acquired about 250 acres in 1737. About half of the land was in what is now Shenandoah National Park, along the banks of the Rapidan and the lower Staunton River. . .
“About this time, Jeremiah Bryan purchased land in what is today the Staunton River Valley of Shenandoah Park. His land was also on the present-day Staunton River Trail, below Bear Church Rock, and extended across both sides of the river. Althrough Bryan was one of the first small landowners in the back country of Jones Mountain, it is doubtful that he lived there. He also owned valley land in the Rapidan areas, where his heirs lived after he died. Some of the heirs lived on the Staunton tract in later years.
“Bryan’s mountain place came close to a 40,000 acre parcel, known later as the Big Survey, which was owned then by Thomas Smith. . . . Other landowners upstream included Franky Branner, Adam Willard, George Baily, and William and Elizabeth Taylor. Branner, one of the legatees of Jeremiah Bryan, bought up most of the interests of the other heirs in 1804 and acquired two additional tracts on both sides of the river. The Bryan land had probably been occupied off and on since the 1750s. During that period, the legatees of Jeremiah Bryan (including Mark Stowers and later William Stowers) used the land across the river from Rock Church. . .” (pp 40-41)
“Je Bryan” was listed in an undated Orange County, Virginia Tithables 1734-82. On Aug 1, 1766, Jeremiah Bryan was listed as a Tithe, along with Edward Bryan.
In Nov 1766, 312 individuals were listed in another Orange County Tithables under the following heading, “ A List in my Bounds & Number of Tithes pr me Jeremh Bryan.” His title at the end of the list showed him as “Constable.”
On Jul 23, 1767, “Jere Bryant as Constable took the oath.” (Orange County Order Book 7, Orange County Minute Book 1)
In 1768, Jeramiah Bryan’s name appeared at the heading of another Orange County VA Tithables list, “his List of Sucker hunting tiths.” On this list were Edward Bryan, Joshua Jackson, and David Jackson.
On Nov 24, 1768, Jeremiah Bryan(t) was listed as “Constable for Viewing Tobacco Fields.” (Orange County Minute Book, page 201)
On Mar 23, 1769, “Anthony Golding appointed Constable in the Room of Jeremiah Bryan.”
In 1792-3, Madison County was formed from part of Culpeper County, Virginia. Culpeper County had been formed from a part of Orange County in 1749.
On Aug 13, 1804, seven children of Jeremiah Bryan signed the following document, recorded in the Madison County, VA Deed Book 4, 1804-1810:
"Know all men by these presents that we Edward Bryan and Mary his wife Mark Stowers and Ann his wife, Drury Jackson and Elizabeth his wife, Larkin Lindsay and Sarah his wife, John Lindsay and Ruth his wife, David Snyder and Martha his wife and Margaret Marshall, all legatees of Jeremiah Bryan late of the County of Madison deceased, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds to us in hand paid by Franky Branner, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, have devised, released, & forever quit claimed, for us our heirs and assigns, and by these presents do devise, release and forever quit claim unto the above said Franky Branner her heirs and assigns all our right title Claim and Interest in and to a Certain Tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Madison and on the West side of the Stanton river, and bounded by the Lands of Abraham Eddins and Adam Banks on the one side and bounded by the river on the other, which Lands the aforesaid Jeremiah Bryan purchased of John Lewis and died in Seized of. In Witness whereof the parties have respectively set their hands and fixed their seals this Thirteenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and four."
On Aug 30, 1804, seven children of Jeremiah Bryan filed the following document, recorded in the Madison County, VA Deed Book 4, 1804-1810, page 20:
“Know all men by these presents that we Edward Bryan and Mary his wife Mark Stower & Ann his wife, Drury Jackson & Elizabeth his wife, Larkin Lindsay & Sarah his wife, John Lindsay & Ruth his wife, David Snyder & Martha his wife & Margaret Marshall, all Legates of Jeremiah Bryan, late of the County of Madison deceased, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds to us in hand paid by Franky Branner, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, have --, released, and forever quit claimed, for as our heirs and assigns, & by these presents do re --, release and forever quit claim unto the above said Franky Branner her heirs and assign all our rights title claims and interest in and to a Certain Tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Madison and on the West side of the Stanton river, and bounded by the land of Abraham Eddins and Adam Banks on the one side and bounded by the river on the other, which land the aforesaid Jeremiah Bryan purchased of John Lewis and deed in Seized of --
“In witness whereof the parties have respectively set their hands and fixed their seals this 30 Aug 1804. Edward Bryan, Mary Bryan (her mark) Test: Thomas Graves Jussid, Joel Eddins, Jud. Graves, Ann Stowers (her mark), Drury Jackson, Elizabeth Jackson, Larken Lindsay, Sarah Lindsay, John Lindsay, Ruth Lindsay, David Snyder, Martha Snyder, Margaret Marshal. At a court held for Madison County 27th day of September 1804 This Deed was produced unto Court and proved by the oath of Thomas Graves Junior, Joel Eddins, & John Graves, witnesses. Thereto and ordered to be recorded Teste John Walker, Jr. En.”
On Sep 24, 1804, a similar document was recorded. It is reprinted in Pamunkey Neighbors of Orange County, Virginia (Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1985), page 197:
“Know all men by these presents that we Mark Stowers and Ann, his wife, Drury Jackson and Elizabeth his wife, Larkin Lindsay and Sarah, his wife, John Lindsey and Ruth, his wife, David Snyder and Martha, his wife, Margaret Marshall and Frances Bruenner, all legatees of Jeremiah Briant, late of the county of Madison, deceased, for and in consideration of the sum of 100 pounds to us in hand paid by Edward Briant. . . have released all our rights and claims in a parcel of land lying and being in the county of Madison on the east side of the Stanton River and bounded by the same, and the lands of Adam Banks and John Lindsay, which lands the aforesaid Jeremiah Briant seized of. In witness whereof the parties have respectively set their hands and seals this 24th day of Sept. 1804. Presence of Thomas Graves Junr. Jos. Graves, Joel Eddins.” (Signed by those named above)
On May 24, 1805, the following item was recorded in Madison County (Virginia) OB 3, p 104:
“Robert Smith against Jeremiah Bryant and John Lyndsey, It appearing to the court that the deft., Bryant, has departed this life, on mot. of Plt. leave is given him to renew his execution formerly issued from this office against the deft., Lyndsey, if he sees cause.”
Jeremiah Bryant had the following children:
i Ruth, m. John Lindsay on Mar 2, 1789 in Culpeper Co, VA
ii Sarah (Sally), m. Larkin Lindsay bef. 1800, d. bef. 1820
iii Ann, b. 1720, m. Mark Stowers
* iv Elizabeth, b. ca. 1760, m. Drury Jackson, d. after 1820
v Martha, m. David Snyder on Dec 21, 1788 in Culpeper Co, VA
vi Margaret, m. William Marshall on Aug 19, 1798
vii Frances, m. John Bruenner on Jan 8, 1798
viii Edward, m. Polly Hambleton on Mar 15, 1793 in Culpeper Co, VA
Larry Patrick Cornwell
Sep 20, 2003
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