Third Generation

17. Peter Bryan^{2,3,4,16,17,18}. Birth: about 1755, Augusta County (now Rockingham County), Virginia. Rockingham County was created from Augusta County in 1778, and the Bryan land was on the portion of Augusta County that became Rockingham County.

There was a law suit in November 1793 in Rockingham County, North Carolina.¹⁹ Nov. 1793 - Peter is listed as one of the Heirs-at-Law of Thomas Bryan Sr Deceased in a lawsuit against the Heirs of Thomas by Casper Moyers. It said "Peter did not attend & it appeared to the satisfaction of the Court that he was no longer and inhabitant of this County." (The 1793 law suit was surely a dispute over the land which was sold to Gasper Moyers by Thomas Bryan and Peter Bryan in 1791.)

Bryant Family, Rockingham Co., Ct. of Q.S., 25 Nov, in chanc: Casper Moyers (pltf.) against Thomas Bryant, Peter Bryant, William Bryant, Allen Bryant, Rebecca Bryant, John Ruddle and Deborah his wife, John Waring and Alse his wife, William Bryant and Mary his wife, and Sarah Bryant heirs at lay of Thomas Bryant dec'd (defs.) (BVCG 13 Jan 94). (Robert K. Headley, Genealogical abstracts from 18th-century Virginia Newspapers, Genealogical Pub. Co, 1987).

Residence: 1796, Sevier County, Tennessee. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION OF 1796 [To create the Tennessee State Constitution and Bill of Rights during a period of 27 days] pp. 650-651: The following members appeared in Knoxville, produced their credentials, and took their seats, to wit: . From the County of Sevier Peter Bryan, Samuel Wear, Spencer Clack, John Clack, Thomas Buckenham.

p.669: The first court held for Sevier County, under the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, was begun and held at the Court House in Sevierville, July 4, 1796. The Justices were Samuel Newell, Joshua Gist, Joseph Wilson, Joseph Vance, Robert Pollock, Peter Bryant.

pp. 687-688: According to provisions of the Constitution, elections were held in August of this year [1797]. John Sevier was again elected Governor, and William Charles Cole Claiborne Representative to Congress. On Monday, September 18, the General Assembly convened at Knoxville. The Representatives were from .Sevier [County] Spencer Clack and Peter Bryan.

He appeared in the will of on 16 July 1809.

from Ansearchin' News, Vol. 13, No. 3, Jul-Sep 1966, page 108.
Madison County, Alabama, Deed Book A, page 41. Last will and testament of Samuel
Elder, dec'd., being a transcript from Sevier County, Tennessee. I, Samuel Elder
of Sevier Co., Tenn •••• to wife Hanna Elder the plantation I now live on ••• while
she continues to live with my son Andrew Elder, but if wife Hannah Elder leaves, she
shall give up part. Daughter Esther Widnor, wife of Michael Widnor, son Robert
Elder, rest of my sons William Elder, Jacob Elder, Samuel Elder, John Elder, Andrew
Elder. Friends Allen Bryan Sr. and Peter Bryan, Executors. 16 July 1809. Witnesses
Peter Bryan, Thomas Bryan, James McElhaney, Jr. Proven in Sevier Co., Tenn. 20 June
1811. Peter and Allen Bryan refused to act as executors. Recorded in Madison Co.,
M.T. 17 May 1813, proved by oath of James McElhaney.

Residence: 1813, 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, Peter Bryan, 688 acres, French Broad, 2 black poles. The absence of a white poll indicates that he was more than 50 years old.

Death: between 25 November 1823 and 26 June 1824, age 68, Sevier County, Tennessee. His traditional date of death is 1810, when it is said that he drowned while turning a boat in the French Broad River. His date of death was reported as 1815 by Elizabeth Cate Manly and William Jackson Bryan. There was legislation in the Tennessee legislature to the benefit of Peter Bryan of Sevier County on 24 Nov 1823, so presumably he was still living at that point. Land of Benjamin Hufft adjacent to Peter Bryan deceased was entered in the survey book on 26 Jun 1824, so he had died by that point (Book1, p.52, No.99 Benjamin Hufft. Entered: 26 Jun 1824, Surveyed: 4 Oct 1824. 50 acres on the waters of Dumplin Creek. Adjacent: Farnell Hester, William Bryan, Peter Bryan deceased. Survey Chain Carrier: James Henry, Allen Bryan).

Burial: Sevier County, Tennessee. He was living in Sevier County at the time of his death and there is no reason to expect that he would have been buried anywhere else. The exact place of his burial in Sevier County is unknown. His burial place is often listed as the Bryan-Drinnen-Cate Cemetery in Kodak, Sevier County, Tennessee. The D.A.R. did place a historical marker there honoring his Revolutionary War service, but the marker is not a grave marker and the cemetery was not established until over 50 years after his death. The traditional place of burial is the Paw Paw Cemetery in Sevier County, but there is no grave marker for Peter at the Paw Paw Cemetery and there is no primary evidence to support the tradition. Peter Briant qualified as Lieutenant, August 1781.

1782 & 1783 Rockingham Co. VA personal Property Tax, Peter Bryant 1 tithe, 5 horses & 10 cattle. (LDS Microfilm #0033507 1782-1796)

23 Jun 1783 - Peter Bryant VS Peter Brandon. Attach. David Robinson, Constable, returned that he had attached one staking knife, one fleshing knife & 1 buckskin & chissel, a cloth coat & an old bay horse lost in the country's service, the property of the defendant. Ordered that the said attached effects be sold or so much thereof as will be sufficient to satisfy debt & costs & the money arising therefrom be paid to the Plaintiff being L2.11s.2d. & cost. Rockingham co. Virginia Minute book, 1778-1792, Part 1 1778-1786, by Constance & Louise Levinson, Greystone Publishers, Harrisonburg, VA. Pg. 200.)

23 Mar 1784 - Peter Bryant juror (Ibid, pg. 231)

24 Aug 1784 - Petition for jury service, Peter Bryant 2 days. (Ibid, pg. 251)

1784 Peter was on the Heads of Families Rockingham County with 5 White souls and 1 building. It is thought that the 3 children are daughters since Thomas is said to be the first son & born in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

1784-1786 Rockingham co. NC Personal Property Tax Peter Bryant 1 poll 21 & over, 1 slave, 10 horses & 4 cattle.

28 Sep 1785 Peter Bryant was a Juror in Rockingham County with Thomas Bryant, Morgan Bryant, Jacob Lincoln & others. (Rockingham Co. VA Minute Book, Pg. 298)

8 Feb 1786 Peter was one of the witnesses of the Will of John Lincoln, along with Wm. Bryan, John Bryan, another Wm. Bryan, and Cornelius Bryan Jr in Rockingham Co.

1787 & 1788 Rockingham County Personal Property Tax Peter Bryant 1 poll over 21, 3 horses, 10 cattle, No blacks. (Peter is on no further Rockingham co. Personal Tax Lists. BP)

24 Feb 1789 - Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. IV, Pg. 567, "Jacob Lincoln is a fit and proper person to commission for Captain in the room of Peter Bryant" (This may indicate the time Peter went to Territory South of the Ohio River.)

1791 - Rockingham County Deed Book #00, pp 89, 381-383 - Gasper Moyers purchased 150 acres on the waters of Linville Creek from Thomas Bryan and Peter Bryan for 100 pounds, and the land was mortgaged to John Kring Sr. Micheal Trout co-signed for the mortgage, and the contracted stated that if payments were not met he could sell the property through the Winchester Gazette. Adjoining property owners were John Bryan, William Bryan, and Jacob Lincoln. (John Bryan was probably Peter's uncle, and William Bryan was probably Peter's brother.)

(The following text from Grant Moyers concerns the land that was sold to Gasper Moyers.) You may be aware that there is an 18th century log cabin on the original 300 acre tract of land that was purchased from James Mckay in 1762. Some sources, including "Historic Houses in Rockingham County" by Anne Terrell Baker, state that the cabin was built by Captain George Baxter Sr. before 1800. I can find no evidence of this. In fact, my research suggests that the cabin was likely built by Thomas Bryan Sr. shortly after 1762 and used as a starter home. Further, the cabin seems to have been part of the land deal in 1791 to Gasper Moyers since the going rate for land at the time was ~30 pounds/100 acres. I have never seen any documents that have mentioned the cabin, just the land. Since my relatives still live in the cabin, it is of particular interest to find out the actual builder of the structure. I'm almost 95% certain that Thomas Bryan built the cabin and that the information comes from bogus family legend since Gasper Moyers' granddaughter married Levi Baxter and took over the property ca. 1860. My distant cousins didn't get the story right and unfortunately were interviewed by book writers and researchers. At this point in time, it may be hard to get the facts turned around as the national registry likely has it wrong as well.

Peter and John Ruddle his brother-in-law went to Tennessee, also there was an Allen Bryan that might be his brother Allen. Peter & John Riddle/Ruddle were in the Muscle Shoal battle in 1791.

Nov. 1793 - Peter is listed as one of the Heirs-at-Law of Thomas Bryan Sr Deceased in a lawsuit against the Heirs of Thomas by Casper Moyers. It said "Peter did not attend & it appeared to the satisfaction of the Court that he was no longer and inhabitant of this County." (The 1793 law suit was surely a dispute over the land which was sold to Gasper Moyers by Thomas Bryan and Peter Bryan in 1791.)

"Jefferson County Tennessee Grant Book No. 1, 1792-1794", by James L. Douthat, Pg. 8, Peter Bryan, Grant registered 1793, Grant No. 1080, 300 Acres, Greene County, on French Broad river, 17 Jan 1793, adj. James Hubert, Robert Carr.

Aurelia Cate Dawson, "Our East Tennessee Kinsman".

Acts of 1795, Chapter 7, Page 21, recited that the act to appoint commissioners to erect a court house, prison, and stocks in Sevier County had proved ineffectual. This act appointed Peter Bryan, Joshua Gist, Mordecai Lewis, and John Clark as Commissioners to act in conjunction with the Commissioners heretofore provided for, to agree and contract for 25 acres of land in Sevier County, as near the center as possible, and to agree and contract with workmen to build a court house, prison, and stocks thereon. They would lay off the plat into one-half acre lots, lay out the streets and alleys in the 25 acres for a county seat which would be called Sevierville. The lots would be sold at public auction to the highest bidder and the proceeds used to build the public buildings. The purchaser must build on the lot within 2 years from purchase or land would revest into the Commissioner's hands.

21 Apr 1795 - Peter Bryan served on a grand jury (Knoxville Gazette, found in Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 5, No. 3, p.162)

Peter was 1st major of the Sevier County Regiment 4 Oct 1796.

1807 - Knoxville Tennessee register of Deeds 1806-1823, FHC #0502437, Pg. 148, #417, Peter Brian registered 238 acres of land by Right of Occupancy in Sevier County on the waters of French Broad River, 10 Jul 1807, proved 1 Aug 1807.

14 Jun 1810 - Sevier County land grant #1484, Peter Brian, 238 acres, book 2, p. 564

Elizabeth Cate Manly, "Bryan, Hortons and Allied Families". 1978, says, "Peter Bryan's death date is uncertain but on Oct 1, 1977, a gravestone was appropriately placed, by the DAR for him in the Bryan Cemetery in Sevier County with the dates 1755-1815."

Peter's death appears to be after 21 Mar 1823 according to this Knoxville Register article sent to Roberta Pierson by Cherel Henderson of East TN Historical Society. "21 Mar 1823, Sheriff's sale, By virtue of two fifa's issued to me, one from circuit court of Knox County in favor of Wm. Carroll, governor, and the other from County Court of Sevier County, in favor of George McCown, trustees, and both against William Mitchell and his securities, PETER BRYAN, Peter Andes and Thomas Locke. Will expose to public sale at courthouse in Sevierville on the 3rd day of May next for ready money 1 tract of land situated in Sevier County on the waters of Knob Creek, granted to the said William Mitchell by the state of Tennessee being No. 1175, containing 117 a, 3r, 39p. S/ M. C. Rogers"

Acts of 1823, Chapter 258, Page 222, authorized Samuel Blair and Peter Bryan, securities of the late William Mitchell, Sheriff of Sevier County to collect for one year all the uncollected taxes the said Mitchell could have collected while he was in office. People who might own taxes will be permitted to set off any claim they might have had against Mitchell, or they may apply the same as partial payment on the. If agreement cannot be reached, a Justice of the Peace shall hear the case and render judgment accordingly, either party being given the right to appeal. All money collected will be divided pro rata between these and other securities of the Sheriff. November 24, 1823.

Acts of 1822, Chapter LXXVIII, pp.76-77 An Act to Incorporate the Smoky Mountain Turnpike Company.

Acts of 1821, Chapter CCV, pp.205-209, An Act to Incorporate the Smoky Mountain Turnpike Company. James P.H. Porter, Alexander Preston, Simeon Perry, Robert Rogers (of Sevier County), Peter Bryan, William Cate, sen'r. of Jefferson County, and John Underwood and their associates are hereby incorporated a Turnpike Company, to be called and known by the name of the Smoky Mountain Turnpike Company.... November 16, 1821.

Peter's two times great grandson Joe Bryan died of drowning in 1935. Joe was said to have died in the same fashion as Peter Bryan.

(I have seen references to Peter Bryan drowning in 1810 while turning a boat on the French Broad River. But these reports have appeared in GEDCOM posted on the Internet, and I have been unable to substantiate the references. The drowning may or may not be correct, but the 1810 date seems incorrect in any case. RGB)

The Spencer Clack Chapter DAR Sevierville, on Oct 2, 1977, dedicated a marker to Peter Bryan in the Bryan-Drinnen-Cate Cemetery, near Kodak, Sevier County TN.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP TO THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WASHINGTON, D.C.-- NATIONAL NUMBER 512454 By Elizabeth Cate Manly, resident of Cleveland, Tennessee, Descendent of Peter Bryant, Accepted by the National Board of Management on 8 Dec 1965 (Quote)

Peter Bryant, born in 1755, in Augusta County, Virginia, was the son of Thomas Bryan, Sr., one of the pioneers of Augusta County, who settled in that parts which became Rockingham in 1777. In 1778, Peter Bryant serves in the Company of Capt. Thomas Gaskins, 3rd Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. Wm. Heath. In 1781, he was made Lt. In the Rockingham Co. Militia, qualifying August 27, 1781. The Virginia Enumerations for 1784 show him to have been a resident of Rockingham c.

Inheriting the pioneer spirit of the family to which he belonged, the next year Peter Bryant emigrated to the District South of the Ohio River, and settled in the struggling State of Franklin. He explored the valley of the French Broad and settled on Dumplin Creek, in that part of Green County which became Jefferson, and later, Sevier County, in 1794. In 1791, with Colonel James Hubbard and fifteen others, Peter Bryant embarked at the mouth of Dumplin to take possession of the Tennessee Grant at Muscle Shoals. After this unsuccessful expedition, they returned to Dumplin.

[On] September 4, 1793, Peter Bryan received a grant for land in Jefferson County (Register’s Office Book A, Dandridge, Tenn.). The next year he took a prominent part in the organization of Sevier County, being one of the magistrates who held the first court, November 8, 1794. Peter Bryant was a member of the convention of 1796 for Sevier Co. for organizing the state of Tennessee. He was accidentally killed about 1810 while turning a boat in the French Broad River. The name is spelled O’Bryan, Bryan, Bryant, [and] Brien
in the old records. He used the final T, but both his father and sons dropped it. The said Peter Bryant is the ancestor who assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of soldier, Third Virginia Regiment, and Lt. in the Virginia Militia.
(End Quote) THE ANNALS OF TENNESSEE TO THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY, by J. G. M. Ramsey, A.M., M.D., Printed 1853, Reprinted 1926

(Quote starting on page 550) Not deterred by the Federal prohibitions, [in] 1791, Colonel Hubbardt, Peter Bryant, and fifteen others, embarked at the mouth of Dumplin, and went with Zachariah Cox to take possession of the Tennessee Grant near Muscle Shoals. In a small boat and two canoes, and with so few men, the enterprise was hazardous in the extreme. The Narrows were still in the occupancy of the same savage [Cherokee] hordes who, in 1788, had butchered and captured Colonel Brown’s Company. His sad fate was a warning, which Hubbardt and his comrades could not disregard. They proceeded with the utmost caution and circumspection. Below the Suck, at the Indian Old Fields, a small party of Indians came out in their canoes and hailed them. The same number of white men were sent out to meet them, advancing firmly with their rifles in their hands, but with orders not to fire till the last extremity. Their canoe floated down towards the Indians, who observing their
preparation for attack, withdrew and disappeared. A little further down, night overtook the voyagers, and when, from the dangers of the navigation at night, it was proposed to steer to the shore, they saw upon the bank a row of fires, extending along the bottoms as far as
they could see, and standing around them armed Indian warriors. They silenced their oars by pouring water upon the oar pins, spake not a word, but glided by as silently as possible. The dogs barked from the bank. The Indians rekindled their fires and appeared to listen.
The boat escaped. Several times the next day the Indians tried, by various artifices, to decoy them to land. On one occasion three of them insisted, in English, to come and trade with them. After they refused, and had passed by, three hundred warriors rose out of the
bush. They were then beyond the reach of their guns and escaped. For three days and nights they did not land, but doubled on their oars - beating to the south at night, and in the middle of the river through the day. Cox and his party built a block-house, and erected other works of defense, on an island at the Muscle Shoals. The Glass, with about sixty Indians, appeared shortly afterwards, and informed them, if they did not peaceable withdraw, he would put them to death. After some further conference, the works were abandoned.
The Indians immediately reduced the works to ashes.

A bill of indictment was twice sent to the Grand Jury against Cox and his associates, at the next term of the Superior Court of Washington District, but the indictment was not sustained as a true bill.(End Quote)

(Quote on page 589) The notice of the Paymaster, as published in the 1793 Gazette, of the payment of the troops in the service of the Territory, furnishes the only list that can now be procured, of the captains who served in 1792 and 1793. They are here given: Captains Hugh Beard, Lusk, Brown, Rains, Doherty, Briant,.(End Quote)

(Quote on page 637) The magistrates who held the first court, Nov. 8, 1794, were The Worshipful Samuel Newell, Joseph Wilson, Joshua Gist, Peter Bryant,….(End Quote)

Biographical Directory of the Tennessee General Assembly, Volume I, 1796-1861 by Robert M. McBride and Dan M Robison, Edited by Robert M. McBride, Published by THE TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES and the TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, NASHVILLE, 1975 (there are several erros in this information) Bryan, Peter (1755-1810) (pp.92-93) House, 2nd General Assembly, 1797-99, representing Sevier County. Born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1755; son of John and Frances (Battle) Bryan. Early settler in French Broad country; frontiersman and Indian fighter in Dumplin Valley; lived at Henry's Crossroads, near the present Douglas Dam in Sevier County. Married in 1777 to Bettie Hubbard; children-Thomas, William, Allen, Bertie Bryan, and two daughters whose names are not known. In Revolutionary War: served under Captain William Heath, 3rd Virginia Regiment, 1778; lieutenant in Rockingham County, Virginia, militia, 1781; commissioned major of Sevier County militia, 1796. Described as being very interested in the political and religious life of his community and the welfare of its people. Died in Sevier County in 1810; place of burial unknown. Father of Allen Bryan, sometime member Tennessee General Assembly. Sources: Armstrong, Notable Southern Families, II, 35; Tennessee Cousins, 110; Moore, Records of Commissions in the Tennessee Militia, 28; Goodspeed, History of Sevier County, 835; D.A.R., Roster and Soldiers, 362; Bryan file in the Tennessee State Library.

Peter Bryan and Betty Hubbard Marriage: 1777, Augusta County, Virginia.²⁰

Betty Hubbard^3,4,16,21. Birth: about 1760, Virginia.

Census: 1830, Sevier County, Tennessee, Age 70-79, enumerated household of her son Thomas C. Bryan Sr. The 70-79 year old woman is not proven to have been Betty Hubbard, but it seems to be the most likely possibility.

Death: 1830, age 70, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Her birth and death dates are educated guesses. A woman 70-79 years of age was living with the family of Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and Nancy Cate at the time of the 1830 census enumeration. Since Nancy's mother died before this date, it is very likely that this was Thomas's mother, and Thomas's mother is said to have died in 1830. (Elizabeth Cate Manly)

Betty Hubbard is thought to be related to Col. James Hubbard the well-known Indian fighter of Jefferson County, Tennessee. On the other hand, there seems to be no primary evidence to indicate the name of Peter Bryan's wife.

Peter Bryan-96 and Betty Hubbard-97 had the following children: