Fifth Generation

110. William G. Bryan^{1,2,20,25,45,46} was born on 25 Sep 1793 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was born in what became Sevier County in 1794. A number of researchers list his middle initial as "G", but I have been unable to find a primary source for his middle initial.

He appeared in the tax list in 1800 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Capt. Carson's Company, William Bryan, 1 white poll.

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 census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

p.113, line 4, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1830
William Bryan 121001-110001

00-04 1 1 1826-1830 William Bryan Jr., Elizabeth Emaline Bryan
05-09 2 1 1821-1825 Pleasant B. Bryan, Peter Lenoir Bryan, Mary J. Bryan
10-14 1 0 1816-1820 James C. Bryan
15-19 0 0 1811-1815
20-29 0 0 1801-1810
30-39 1 1 1791-1800 William Bryan, Lucinda (Lucy) Cate

He was living about 1835 in McMinn County, Tennessee. William and Lucy moved from Sevier County to McMinn County about 1835.

He died on 5 Sep 1839 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He and Lucy died within eleven days of each other, probably of typhoid fever. Charles W. McDonald and Lucy's brother Charles Cate were appointed guardians of the 8 minor children. Later Pleasant B. Bryan and Peter L. Bryan were guardians for the minor children.

He was buried about 6 Sep 1839 in Hopewell Baptist Church, Coile, McMinn County, Tennessee.⁴⁶ Tombstone: Age 45 years, 11 months, 10 days. The church is near Riceville.


The following is from Elizabeth Cate Manly p.28:

William Bryan, son of Peter Bryan (1755-1815), is not as well-known as his father. Yet in the brief span of his life, 1793-1839, he had served his country as a soldier, and had come to lower East Tennessee soon after McMinn County was organized. At his death at the age of fifty-four,he had real estate and slaves enough to leave each of his nine children "a slave or $1,000", BBJ said. Court records bear out the truth of her statement. He and his wife, Lucy Cate Bryan, died within eleven days' time, probably victims of typhoid fever. They left one son twenty-one years old, the remaining eight children minors.

William Bryan was a native of Sevier County. He was a Quartermaster in the War of 1812-14, serving under Capt. Isaac Williams of Dandridge (McCown & Burns, Soldiers of the War of 1812 Buried in Tenn., p. 14; GSA Records). By 1834/5 he was in McMinn County (McMinn Co. DB A, p.73, Grant #3172). He married Lucy (Lucinda) Cate of Jefferson Co., with John Cate, Sr. as Bondsman. Lucy's mother, Mary Enyard Cate, had died, so she was evidently living with her grandfather at the time of her marriage (Jefferson Co. Marriage & Lichens Book, p. 105, #1344).

A war record is GSA BLW7 55-160-84161- War of 1812. All of William Bryan's children are named and their birth dates are given.

Seemingly sad incidents have been of inestimable worth in preparing this family history: the suit William Cate's second wife brought against his children, thereby naming them; the court records involving the care of minor heirs of William and Lucy Cate Bryan, for example:

"Commissioners appointed to divide the lands and negroes of Wm. Bryan, decd.

"Allotted to James Bryan and Peter Bryan all the lands on the SW side of Mouse Creek, NW quarter section, 2nd township, 3rd range, west of meridian (McMinn DB J, p. 348), other property to Pleasant and Thomas Bryan, to Mary Bryan Wasson, a negro boy Jacob; to Elizabeth Emeline Bryan, a negro girl Sarah Jane; to Nancy Maria, a negro woman Carender and boy George; to Allen, a negro boy; to William, a negro boy Bradley.

Chas. W. McDonald and Chas. Cate, brother of Lucy Bryan, were appointed guardians first. Later Pleasant B. Bryan and Peter Bryan were guardians for the minor children. In 1850 they sold 100 acres on Mouse Creek to Wm. G. Horton, brother-in-law of Peter Bryan (McMinn DB J, p.412).

It is of interest that the negro woman Carender (known affectionately as "Aunt Class") and her children Bradley and Harry had been sold to "Wm. Bryan of Sevier County" by his father-in-law, William Cate of McMinn County, for the sum of $500 on the 22 May 1833 (McMinn DB D, p.55).

September 22, 1962 was a never-to-be-forgotten day for three of William and Lucy Cate Bryan's descendants: Mary A. Shambaugh Dantzler, Marie Bryan Morelock, and the writer. We set out early for Horton's Campground in McMinn County, hoping that we would find the burial place of the Bryans. Serving as our guide was Mrs. Carruth of Riceville, a friend of Cousin Ann Grubb, familiar with the section. A citation in a book of cemetery inscriptions had given the clue:

"Located 1 and 1/2 miles SW of Coile, 5 miles S. of Athens, the Baptists established Hopewell Church in 1835. The church later moved to New Hopewell. No one has been buried at the first site for about 100 years, it being low. Mr. Lee Cate donated the land for the church and cemetery (McMinn Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol. I, p.327 (Boyer)).

We found a few grave stones behind a private residence, and when we could decipher the names of William and Lucy and others of their family connection, we felt that we were indeed on holy ground. Our pride in our heritage and accomplishment in finding the site was mingled with a pang of regret that we had not known earlier of the place. Some of the stones were broken and moved from their original places. The record stated that there were at least 50 unmarked graves. Since 1962 several of us have been back more than once.

William G. Bryan and Lucinda (Lucy) Cate were married on 28 May 1817 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.^25,47 William Brian to Lucey Cate 05/18/1817, John Cate Jr. bondsman. Elizabeth Cate Manly has the bondsman listed as John Cate Sr. I need to look at the bond myself to see if I can tell for sure it was John Cate Sr. or John Cate Jr. But in any case, it it not clear why John Cate Sr. or Jr. was the bondsman since there is no proven relationship between the John Cate Sr. line and Lucy Cate. On the other hand, the bondsman may really have been Lucy's brother John E. Cate.

Lucinda (Lucy) Cate^1,2,3,45,46 (daughter of William P. Cate and Mary Enyard) was born on 24 Feb 1795 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

She was christened on 28 May 1817 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Since the date for this christening is the date for her wedding, the record for the christening may be a record for a wedding which was entered incorrectly.

She was living about 1835 in McMinn County, Tennessee. William and Lucy moved from Sevier County to McMinn County about 1835.

She died on 16 Sep 1839 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She and William died within eleven days of each other, probably of typhoid fever. Charles W. McDonald and Lucy's brother Charles Cate were appointed guardians of the 8 minor children. Later Pleasant B. Bryan and Peter L. Bryan were guardians for the minor children.

She was buried about 17 Sep 1839 in Hopewell Baptist Church, Coile, McMinn County, Tennessee.^46,48 Tombstone: Age 44 years, 6 months, 22 days. The church is near Riceville.

William G. Bryan and Lucinda (Lucy) Cate had the following children:

+205	i.	James C. Bryan.
+206	ii.	Pleasant B. Bryan.
+207	iii.	Peter Lenoir Bryan.
+208	iv.	Mary J. Bryan.
+209	v.	Elizabeth Emeline Bryan.
210	vi.	William Bryan Jr1,46,49 was born on 15 Jul 1829 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Robert M. Newman and James Bryan were Administrators of William's Estate. At Tasso United Methodist Church cemetery, there was a grave "Infant son of W.G. & E.E. Bryan. Born and died March 6, 1878" Grave seen by Nancy and Dick Urban. This was probably William G. Bryan, Jr.'s son.
+211	vii.	Nancy Mariah Bryan.
212	viii.	Thomas G. Bryan1,23,46,49 was born on 7 Mar 1834 in Sevier County, Tennessee. He died in 1865. He was buried near Riceville, McMinn County, Tennessee. 1860 McMinn County Tennessee Census, NA #M653-1262, Pg. 350, Family 807, Thomas G. age 24, Clerk in store, is living with his brother Peter and family. Was in Co. H, 43rd Tn. Inf., organized 1861. (Goodspeed, History of E. Tenn., p. 951 and Lindsley Military Annals, of Tenn., CSA, p.521) He was 1st Lt., Nov. 1861-May 1863 , when he was promoted to Captain. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg 15 Jul 1863, and in Aug. 1864 was in a hospital in Lynchburg. En route home after long service for the Confederacy, he stopped at a churchyard to get a drink and a "Bushwhacker" shot him in the back. The following is from Elizabeth Cate Manly: It is sad that two sons of William Bryan gave their lives in the War Between the States. One of our most prized possessions is a letter Thomas G. Bryan wrote to his brother, P.L. Bryan. It was as follows: Camp Morgan Charleston, Tenn. July 15, 1862 Mr. P.L. Bryan, My Dr Brother, I just rec'd yours of the 14th inst. I d'nt know when I will get an opportunity to come see you all. A man to be a soldier and the right cind (sic) of one need not to expect to be at home much. In fact I have no chance to come see you or I would. I was sorry to hear of so many of your family being sick. I hope they are better by this time. I would be much pleased to see that little namesake of myne (sic) (Thos. L. Bryan, b. Feb. 1862-Elizabeth Cate Manly). I want you to come see me and bring as many of the family as you can with you. Tell Bill and Dan to come bring the little dog I sent them. They must keep him for me. He was given to me by a young lady. I got a letter from her. She inquired what i had done with my little dog. His name is Raymond. I have no news at present. We drill most of the time. Come down soon as we expect we will leave this place soon. Do you want any money? I have some you can get cheap as I have no use for it. Joseph M. Horton was up to see me the other day. What is Jim doing? Bring him down with you. I send this letter by Charles Riggins. Your Brother, T.G. Bryan
+213	ix.	Allen Dennis Bryan.