Gathering Giddens: Elizabeth Giddens of Wayne County, North Carolina married William Bryan

On the 1800 U.S. Census naming John Giddens as head of household, there were two white females living in his household. One was between the ages of 10 and 15, and the other was under the age of 10.[1] Elizabeth Giddens may be one of those girls. Elizabeth is one of five of John's children found in documents naming the senior John Giddens. 

I only found one record naming Elizabeth. This Wayne County deed named Elizabeth as an heir of John Giddens. According to the deed, Elizabeth and her husband, William Bryan, who lived in Wayne County, sold land to Jesse Norris for 136 pounds.[2]

This land on Jethroes Marsh contained seventy-four acres. Jethro's Marsh Branch is seen in deeds for land sold by other children of John Giddens as well as the land Sarah Giddens received as her dower. [3]

In the probate, John Giddens' estate was divided equally between the widow and eight children. Although Elizabeth is not named as John Giddens daughter in the deed, the statement "it being the same piece or parcel of land Laid of and Lotted to Elizabeth Bryan by the Committee appointed to Divide the Land of John Giddens Dec’d among his heirs" tells us that she is an heir.[4]   

Jesse Norris owned land adjacent to John Giddens and in 1796, John sold Jesse Norris 25 acres of his land that bordered the land owned by Jesse Norris.[5]

Note that William Bryan signed his name, but Elizabeth signed with a mark. Her thought to be sister, Jemima, also signed with a mark, but all of her said to be brothers were literate.[6] 

Witnesses were John Jones and D. M. Graddy. John Jones was brother to the husband of Jemima Giddens. D. M. Graddy and Justice of the Peace, Ezekiel Slocumb, were on the committee that divided the estate of John Giddens.[7] 

 

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Next Steps

Elizabeth and her husband, William Bryan, were reported to be living in Wayne County in 1810 when they sold the land.[8] There are two William Bryans having a wife and young children in Wayne County on the 1810 census.[9] As only the head of household is named it is difficult to tell which head of household might be William, the husband of Elizabeth. Researching the Bryan families who lived in Wayne may reveal more about Elizabeth.

Next Giddens Post

Gathering Giddens: Jacob Giddens - Wayne County, North Carolina to Bienville Parish, Louisiana

Posts in this Series 

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, a Planter in North Carolina

Gathering Giddens: Sarah Taylor the "said to be" Wife of John Giddens

Gathering Giddens: Isaac Giddens - from North Carolina to Alabama

Gathering Giddens: Jemima Giddens, Wife of William Jones of Wayne County, North Carolina  

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, Another Son Who Moved from North Carolina to Alabama

Gathering Giddens: Elizabeth Giddens of Wayne County, North Carolina married William Bryan

Gathering Giddens: Jacob Giddens - Wayne County, North Carolina to Bienville Parish, Louisiana

His Name was Jacob Giddens. He had No Middle Name. Please Make This Correction in Your Online Family Tree.

Gathering Giddens: Too Many Abrahams

Gathering Giddens: David Giddens and Sophia Britt of Wayne and Sampson Counties in North Carolina 

Don't Blame Ancestry. Look Carefully at the Facts You Add to Henry Benjamin Giddens' Profile (Or Any Other Profile) in Your Online Family Tree.

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Diana

© 2022

    1. "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRD-ZJR: accessed 15 January 2022), John Giddens, Wayne, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 856, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 32; FHL microfilm 337,908. 

    2. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 320, William Bryan and wife, Elizabeth, to Jesse Norris, 17 September 1810; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98Q-Q27Z?i=163&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 164-165. 

    3. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 13: 5, Asher Flowers to David Giddens, 30 May 1823; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998Q-7HHG?cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 308. Also, Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 437, Jemimah and William Jones to Jesse Flowers, 20 December 1811; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98Q-Q2W9?i=221&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 598. Also, "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9CF-2P37?cc=1911121&wc=Q649-S69%3A1066694502%2C183295401%2C1066696236 : accessed 3 January 2022), Wayne County > G > Giddens, John (1802); State Archives, Raleigh.

    4. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 320, William Bryan and wife, Elizabeth, to Jesse Norris, 17 September 1810; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98Q-Q27Z?i=163&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 164-165. Also, "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9CF-2P37?cc=1911121&wc=Q649-S69%3A1066694502%2C183295401%2C1066696236 : accessed 3 January 2022), Wayne County > G > Giddens, John (1802); State Archives, Raleigh.

    5. Thomas M. Byrd, Land Grant Map Mount Olive Quadrangle Duplin, and Wayne Counties, North Carolina (Cary, North Carolina: n.d.). Also, Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 354, John Giddens to Jesse Norris, 1 January 1796; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98Q-Q23G?i=180&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 354.

    6. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 320, William Bryan and wife, Elizabeth, to Jesse Norris, 17 September 1810; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98Q-Q27Z?i=163&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 164-165. Also, Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 437, Jemimah and William Jones to Jesse Flowers, 20 December 1811; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98Q-Q2W9?i=221&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 598.

    7. "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9CF-JS1V?cc=1911121&wc=Q649-SSB%3A1066694502%2C183331401%2C1066699209 : 21 May 2014), Wayne County > J > Jones, William (1788) > image 4 of 7; State Archives, Raleigh. Also, "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch, Giddens, John, 1802; State Archives, Raleigh.

    8. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 9: 320, William Bryan and wife, Elizabeth, to Jesse Norris, 17 September 1810; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98Q-Q27Z?i=163&cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 164-165.

    9. "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2V-H56 : accessed 16 March 2022), William Bryan, Wayne, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 834, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 43; FHL microfilm 337,916. Also, "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2V-HF7 : accessed 16 March 2022), Willaim Bryan, Wayne, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 822, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 43; FHL microfilm 337,916.