Ancestors

Jesse Bryan

Jesse Bryan was born on 20 October 1736 in Bertie County, North Carolina, by his memorial. He was the eldest son of William Bryant of Halifax County and his wife Jean, a daughter of William Andrews. His father's will of 13 March 1762 left "my son Jesse Bryant" all his wearing clothes and named him an executor with his uncle Jesse Andrews. At the June court of 1762 Jesse took the oath to carry it out. His brother William got the home plantation and its still, and his sisters were Penelope, Sally and Catharine.

He married Zipporah, called by her memorial Zipporah Hinton. His will names four children: Nathan, born in 1757, Sarah, Phereby and Penny, who married a Garrett.

The family lived in Martin County, on the Roanoke River side of the old Halifax and Bertie country. In 1779 Jesse was on the Martin County tax list. On 16 February 1781 he sold James Burnet 100 acres at Burnet's and Moses Bryan's corner on Persimmon Branch, by the savanna, with John Bryan and James Little as witnesses. On 1 September 1781 he sold Moses Bryan fifty acres on the savanna and Persimmon Branch, and his son Nathan witnessed the deed. On 14 October 1785 Jesse and "Ziporah his wife" sold 360 acres for 150 pounds; she signed with her mark.

Jesse made his will in a "low state of health, but of sound mind and proper sense, blessed be God for the same." He gave "my son Nathan Bryan" two hundred acres lying against Nathan's back line on the south side of the head of the swamp, with his wearing apparel, and lent him the pasture Nathan had fenced next to his own, "as long as he is possessed with the plantation whereon he now lives," but not to be passed to anyone else. His daughter Sarah Bryan got the upper part of his land on the north side of the swamp, from the mouth of the branch that runs out of the upper beaver dam to the side line, with a cow and calf, a feather bed and furniture, a pewter basin and three pewter plates. His daughter Pherebee Bryan got a feather bed and furniture, a cow and calf, a ewe, a pewter basin and three plates. His daughter Penny Garrett got a feather bed and furniture and a cow and calf, the cow to be put out to the best advantage and the bed kept for her until she stood in need of them. He lent "my wife Zipporah Bryan" the rest of his land and plantation, his stock and household goods during her widowhood or life, and afterwards gave the land and plantation to Pherebee. The household goods and stock were then to be divided equally among "my three children Nathan, Sarah and Pherebee." He named Elias Bryan and Needham Bryan his executors. James Burnett and Thomas Bland, who made his mark, witnessed it.

Jesse died in 1786. The will was proved in open court at the September court of 1786, on the oath of James Burnett, and recorded by Thomas Hunter, the clerk.

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Cite: Heirology, "Jesse Bryan (1736-1786)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/jesse-bryan-1736-1786-8b7aae.