Fifth Generation

108. Thomas C. Bryan Sr^{1,2,20,23,40,41} was born in 1790 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. His birth date is given as 1785 by Elizabeth Cate Manly and William Jackson Bryan. However, he must have been born about 1790 because Peter Bryan is said to have come to Tennessee in 1790, and Thomas Bryan is said to be the second white child born in the confines of what is now Sevier County. Also, he was age 60 in the 1850 census and age 70 in the 1860 census.

He served in the military on 6 Aug 1812. Captain Volunteer Rifle Company attached to 11th regiment.

He was living in 1813 in Sevier County, Tennessee. He signed a Sevier County petition to the Tennessee General Assembly requesting debt relief.

He appeared in the tax list in 1814 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Capt. William's Company, Thomas Bryan, 1 white poll.

He was living on 26 Mar 1818 in Sevier County, Tennessee. He appeared on pp.198-203 of the Jefferson County, Tennessee estate book: Sales of estate of James Laurance, March 26, 1818: Buyers:John Douglas, Jacob Black, John Thomas, Isaac Cantrell, Thomas Cate, Daniel Thorp, John Hays, George Wilkerson, John Douglas, Jacob Fout, Thomas Ireland, John Cate, Jacob Black, David Hill, Adam Carter, Nehemiah Watkins, Pleasant Garrett, Isaac Watkins, John Lawrence, Benjamine Watkins, John Hays, Wm. Elder, Gibson Mainard, Robert M. Newman, John Henderson, Joseph Bell, Chaney Moore, Benj. Allen, George Wilcockson, Thomas Bryan, Wm. Miller, Rec. in open ct. June session 1818: Joseph Hamilton, Clerk.

He appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

p.113, line 18, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1830
Thomas Bryan 1220001-1211010001

00-04 1 1 1826-1830 John W. Bryan, Rachel Narsisus Bryan
05-09 2 2 1821-1825 Ahaz W. Bryan, Robert Reedy Bryan, Sarah C. Bryan, Elizabeth Bryan
10-14 2 1 1816-1820 William Enyard Bryan, Peter H. Bryan, Eliza J. Bryan
15-19 0 1 1811-1815 Mary Bryan
20-29 0 0 1801-1810
30-39 0 1 1791-1800 Nancy Cate
40-49 1 0 1781-1790 Thomas C. Bryan Sr.
50-59 0 1771-1780
60-69 0 1761-1770
70-79 1 1751-1760 Betty Hubbard (probably)

Since Nancy's mother died before 1830, it is very likely that the 70 year old woman was Betty Hubbard Bryan, mother of Thomas. She is said to have died in 1830. Thomas Bryan named twelve children or heirs in his will, made 24 March 1867. Elizabeth Cate Manly

He appeared in the census in 1840 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

p.185, line 6, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1840
Thomas Bryan 01121001-1213001 14 total, 4 engaged in agriculture

00-04 0 1 1836-1840 Lucy E. Bryan
05-09 1 2 1831-1835 Thomas C. Bryan Jr., Margaret Angeline (Angeline) Bryan
10-14 1 1 1826-1830 John W. Bryan
15-19 2 3 1821-1825 Ahaz W. Bryan, Robert Reedy Bryan, Sarah C. Bryan, Elizabeth J. Bryan, Rachel Narcissus Bryan
20-29 1 0 1811-1820 Peter H. Bryan
30-39 0 0 1801-1810
40-49 0 1 1791-1800 Nancy Cate
50-59 1 1781-1790 Thomas C. Bryan Sr.

He appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. 12th Eastern Subdivision, Sevier County, Tennessee, 24 Oct 1850; p.455, HN 973, FN 973; Bryan Thomas 60 m w farmer $1500 TN; Nancy 58 f w TN cannot R/W; Elizabeth 26 f w TN; John 21 m w TN attended school; Angeline 19 f w TN attended school; Brown 16 m w TN attended school; Thomas 14 m w TN attended school; Lucy 12 f w TN attended school. Children Ahaz, Peter, and Rachel Keener and families were living next door.

He appeared in the census in 1860 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Dist. 8, Sevier County, Tennessee, 24 Jun 1860, Henrys X Roads PO; p.346a, HN 328, FN 327; Bryant Thomas 70 m w TN; Nancy 68 f w NC; Elizabeth 35 f w house keeper TN; John 28 m w school teacher TN; Thomas 24 m w farm hand TN; Keener Narsissus 33 f w widow TN; John 13 m w TN attended school; Caroline 12 f w TN attended school; Nancy 10 f w TN attended school; George 8 m w TN attended school. Narsissus Keener was his daughter, and the Keener children were his grandchildren.

He signed a will on 24 Mar 1867 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Sevier County, Tennessee, WB I, p.109

Will of Thomas Bryan


In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Bryan of the County of Sevier and State of Tennessee being of sound mind and memory and in view of the uncertainty of this Transitary life do There fore make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say after all my lawful debts are paid The residue of my Estate I give and bequeath and dispose of as follows to wit

To my beloved wife my household & kitchen furniture one cow six sheep all the poultry one bed stand during the term of her Natural life and after her death all to be Sold by my executors except the bureau loom & cooking stove which are then to belong to my Daugher Lucy

To my son William E. Bryan I will the lands on farm on which he now lives as surveyed to him with thirty acres additional on the south side of my William Bryan entry by his paying to my Estate four hundred Dollars in addition to the one hundred heretofore paid

To my Son P W Bryan I will the lands cultivated & possessed by him and surveyed to him containing one hundred & seven acres more or less by him paying to my estate two hundred & twenty five Dollars in addition to the one hundred & twenty five Dollars heretofore paid

To my son A W Bryan I will the lands or farm on which he now lives & as surveyed to him containing one hundred & seventeen one one half acres more or less by his paying to my Estate one hundred & seventy five Dollars in addition to the one hundred seventy five Dollars heretofore paid

Page 110

To my son R. R. Bryan and his heirs and to my Daughter Lucy & her husband William H. Brennen I will the home sted embracing all of said tract not included in the Surveys of William E, P H & A W Bryan and also all my Land known as the Back entry adjoining the Lands of Thomas Furgason & others on the following conditions to wit that my self & wife remain in the house & be supported by them as long as each of us may live by my son Robert paying to the two heirs of T. C. Bryan Deceased each one hundred & fifty Dollars on or before they are twenty years of age & that he also pay to Dr. S. Cunningham of Jonesboro one hundred Dollars And that he also pay to my wife if she should need it one hundred dollars & if her necessities should not require him to pay the full amount the balance of the hundred Dollars to be paid to my Estate & William H. Drennen is to pay to my Estate Six hundred Dollars my son Robert has the privalige of selling his interest provided he invests the same in land for his heirs and as heretofore Directed

My tract of land known as the hester place with the entry between it and all Bryans tract and all the William Bryan Entry except the thirty acres left to William E. Bryan is to be sold and all my stock goods and effects not heretofore excepted to be sold I will my daughter Mary Newman Eliza J. Wooten Sarah C. Henry and Margaret A. Gaut each three hundred Dollars and to Rachel N. Elder one hundred Dollars and to each of her two Daughters Carline Manard and Nancy Layman fifty Dollars to be paid out of the last payment received on the lands left my sons

Page 111

And to George A. Keener I will one hundred Dollars to be paid to him when he is twenty one years old it is my will that my executors pay the remainder of the dues of T C Bryan Decd. then the estate shall be wound up and all my lawful debts paid and aftering paying the amount herein specified should there be still a remainder on hands it is my will that it be equally divided among those of my heirs who have not received land & should the Judgment I have obtained against Allen S. Bryan be collected it is my will that the amount so collected by equally divided among all my heirs

Should I die before the present crop is made it is my will that William Drennen be allowed my horse & mule & farming tools to raise the crop with & that he be allowed all the grain & hay Now on hands except one crib of corn one fourth of the ensuing crop after paying the work hands to be mine

It is my will that my executors have the graves of my two Decd. sons J. W. & T. C. Bryan marked by tomb stones or otherwise if they deem best

Likewise, I make constitute and appoint my said sons P H & R R Bryan to be executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affix my Seal the twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven

Thos. Bryan (Seal)

Signed in the presence of

Perry Cate
Thomas Brennin
Elisha S. Cate


a true copy from the original

W. H. H. Duggan Clerk

He died on 30 Aug 1867 in Sevier County, Tennessee.⁴²

Thomas C. Bryan Sr and Nancy Cate were married on 15 Aug 1813 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.²³ Jefferson County, Tennessee Marriage Bond #1050, p.105, John Cate bondsman. Edythe Rucker Whitley, "Marriages of Jefferson Co., TN, 1792-1836, 1982, pg. 23, '#1050 Aug 15,1813, Thomas Bryant (sic) to Nancy Cate.'

Nancy Cate^1,2,3,20,43 (daughter of William P. Cate and Mary Enyard) was born in Mar 1792 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Some sources say that she was born in North Carolina. Other sources say she was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee. But she has older siblings who appear to be born in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 30-39, enumerated in the household of her husband Thomas C. Bryan Sr.

She appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy 58 f w TN cannot R/W.

She appeared in the census in 1860 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy 68 f w NC.

She appeared in the census in 1870 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Bryan Nancy 78 f w unemployed TN cannot W.

She died on 4 Feb 1871 in Sevier County, Tennessee.⁴²

Nancy is the sister of Lucy Cate who married Thomas' brother William.

Will of Thomas Bryan written 3 Mar 1867, to my daughter Lucy & her husband William H. Drinnen I will the home Sted embracing all of said tract not included in the Surveys of William E,. P.H. & A.W. Bryan and also all land known as the back entry adjoining the lands of Thomas Furgason on the following conditions to wit that my self & wife remain in the house & be supported by them as long as each of us may live.

William E. is William Enyard Bryan, P.H. is Peter H. Bryan, and A.W. is Ahaz W. Bryan.)

1870 Sevier County Tennessee Census, Pg. 23, Family 5, Nancy Bryan age 78, is living with her daughter Lucy and William Drinnen and family.

The following is from Elizabeth Cate Manly p.17

"She was b. ca 1790/93, the daughter of William and Mary Enyard Cate, and the granddaughter of John Cate, Sr. and his first wife Catherine. Her sister Lucinda (Lucy) married William Bryan, brother of Thomas, making their children double first cousins."

Subsequent research by RJP has shown that Nancy's father was William P. Cate who is the son of a John Cate who is not "the" John Cate Sr. So Nancy is the granddaughter of a John Cate who is not "the" John Cate Sr.

Thomas C. Bryan Sr and Nancy Cate had the following children:

+185	i.	Mary (Polly) Bryan.
+186	ii.	William Enyard Bryan.
+187	iii.	Eliza J. Bryan.
+188	iv.	Peter H. Bryan.
+189	v.	Ahaz W. Bryan.
+190	vi.	Robert Reedy Bryan.
+191	vii.	Sarah C. Bryan.
192	viii.	Elizabeth J. Bryan1,2 was born in 1824 in Dumplin Valley, Sevier County, Tennessee. She appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 05-09, enumerated in the household of her father Thomas C. Bryan Sr. She appeared in the census in 1840 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 15-19, enumerated in the household of her father Thomas C. Bryan Sr. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Elizabeth 26 f w TN. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Elizabeth 35 f w house keeper TN. She died between 1861 and 1869 in [Sevier County, Tennessee]. (Next four notes from RJP.) Elizabeth age 35 was living at home in 1860. According to the birth dates of the Wooten children Elizabeth would have been married by 1840. Either Elizabeth is a 2nd wife or this is the wrong Elizabeth. Will of Thomas Bryan, written 4 March 1867, Eliza J. Wooten given $300. Eliza and George moved to Mt. Vernon, Lawrence Co., MO. SOURCE: "Bryans, Hortons & Allied Families", by Elizabeth Cate Manly, 1978, Pg. 22. (Remaining notes from RGB.) Elizabeth Cate Manly and William Jackson Bryan give the birth date as 1817 and give the name as Eliza J. Bryan. Census data seems to confirm the 1824 birth date and the name of Elizabeth because Elizabeth age 26 was living at home in 1850 and Elizabeth age 35 was living at home in 1860. We need to resolve Eliza vs. Elizabeth and 1817 vs. 1824. RJP (see above) notes that the first Wooten child was born in 1840. Elizabeth Cate Manly reports that Wooten children were born from 1840 through 1861, with the last being born in Missouri. I think there were two Eliza/Elizabeth daughters of Thomas Bryan and Nancy Cate -- Eliza born 1817 and Elizabeth born in 1824, and Eliza was the one who married George W. Wooten. Instead of being a daughter, Elizabeth could possibly be a niece or other relation of Thomas Bryan who was living with the family, or could be a widow of a son or nephew or other male relation of Thomas Bryan. The basis for this theory is that it is basically impossible that Elizabeth Bryan b. 1824 was married to George W. Wooten all those years having all those children and moving to Missouri and was the same woman who was living with Thomas Bryan and Nancy Cate in 1850 and 1860. Further evidence comes from IGI data. Aliza Bryan m. George W. Wooten about 1837, Aliza Bryan was born about 1816, and George W. Wooten was born in 1812 in Buckingham, Virginia.
+193	ix.	Rachel Narsisus Bryan.
194	x.	John W. Bryan1,2 was born in 1829 in Dumplin Valley, Sevier County, Tennessee. He appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 00-04, enumerated in the household of his father Thomas C. Bryan Sr. He appeared in the census in 1840 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 10-14, enumerated in the household of his father Thomas C. Bryan Sr. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. John 21 m w TN attended school. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Sevier County, Tennessee. John 28 m w school teacher TN. He died on 28 Apr 1865 in Sevier County, Tennessee.42 John age 28 was living at home in 1860. John apparently had no heirs as none were named in his father's 1867 will.
+195	xi.	Margaret Angeline (Angeline) Bryan.
196	xii.	Brown Bryan1 was born about 1834 in Tennessee. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Brown 16 m w TN attended school. He died after 1850. 1850 Brown Bryan is 16 years of age. There is no further record of Brown Bryan on censuses & he is not named in his father's 1867 will.
+197	xiii.	Thomas C. Bryan Jr.
+198	xiv.	Lucy E. Bryan.