A Record of Enslavement - Could this be Mourning Iverson of Bienville Parish?

I have had this Bill of Sale for quite a long time, but mine was faded, and the enslaved person's name could not be seen. This copy, from Martin County's Deed Book F, found at FamilySearch last week, can be easily read. 

To all People to whom these presents shall come, I, James Bryan of the county of Martin and State of North Carolina planter for and inconsideration of love good will and affection which I have and bare towards my loving Daughter, Amy Bryan of the County and State aforesaid have givin and granted and by these presents do freely and grant unto the said Amy Bryan her heirs Executors, admns and assigns one negro named mornin to have and to hold all the negro slave to her the said Amy Bryan her heirs Exors and from henceforth as her and her property absolutely without any manner of consideration. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day March 1815 - Signed sealed and delivered and in the presence of

                                                                                                                                       James Bryan {his mark}

Benj. Bowers

Reddick Bryan

Martin County December Term 1816  this bill of sale was proven in open court by the oath of Reddick Bryant, one of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be registered.

H.B. Hunter Clk

Persons Named in this Bill of Sale

Benjamin Bowers and Reddick Bryan witnessed this transaction. No information has been found to positively identify Benjamin Bowers. Reddick Bryan was my second great-grandfather. Much about him can be seen by clicking on this page. 

James Bryan

I have long suspected that James Bryan, of Martin County, North Carolina and  named in the bill of sale, was the father of Reddick Bryan. Two years before this transaction, he deeded land to Reddick with no mention of cost. Reddick witnessed this document where James names Amy as his daughter. It is thought that James moved to Twiggs County, Georgia. Reddick was one of the administrators of a James Bryan's estate in 1817 in Twiggs.

Amy Bryan

Amy Bryan was named as the daughter of James. It is thought that she moved to Twiggs County with her family as Reddick, who was living in Twiggs, was the administrator of an estate of an Amy Bryan in 1826 in Twiggs County. 

Mornin

Mornin was an enslaved woman gifted to Amy Bryan by her father James. Mornin's age is not known, but if Amy Bryan went to Twiggs, it was very soon after this transaction and Mornin probably went with her. 

When I read this bill of sale, I was surprised to see the name Mornin. Mornin was very similar to the name Mourning, which I found when writing about records of persons enslaved by Reddick Bryan at Slavery and the Bryan Family

An enslaved woman, 43-year-old Mourning, was listed on an 1856 transaction between Reddick and his son, Joseph B. Bryan, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. She was not listed in the family bible transcription but was one of several enslaved persons who would remain with Elizabeth Bryan as reported on the Partition of Slaves recorded after Reddick Bryan's death in 1864. This same person was found as Mourning Iverson on the 1870 United States Census in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. 

Mourning appears to be the mother of several of the enslaved persons named in Reddick Bryan's probate. The ages of her enslaved children indicate that she probably came with the Reddick Bryan family on their move to Louisiana from Georgia. 

Could Mourning Iverson and Mornin, found in the 1815 Martin County Bill of Sale, be the same person? 

More Questions than Answers 

Unfortunately, there are more questions about the relationships between these people than answers. Twiggs County records burned in 1901, leaving absolutely no early records. I cannot say that James was the father of Reddick and Reddick, the brother of Amy. Reddick could easily be a nephew or cousin. 

And I cannot say that Mornin is Mourning Iverson.

Although I don't know the answers to these questions, it is important to share this information.  I may never solve these hard genealogical puzzles, but future researchers will have more clues than I did when I started researching. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

"Administrator's Sale," Southern Recorder (Milledgeville, Ga.), 5 September 1826, p.4, col.5; digital images, Digital Library of Georgia, (https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn82016415/1826-09-05/ed-1/seq-4/ : accessed 9 March 2024).

"Administrator's Sale," The Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, GA), 6 January 1818, p.3, col.6; digital images, Digital Library of Georgia, (https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn82014251/1818-01-06/ed-1/seq-3/ : accessed 9 March 2024).

Diana Bryan Quinn "Slavery and the Bryan Family," blog page, 24 June 2020, Moments in Time: A Genealogy Blog (https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/p/throughout-my-bryan-family-research-i_10.html : accessed 9 March 2024).

Martin County, North Carolina, Deed Book F: 378, Bill of Sale, 17 March 1815; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L983-N3LW? : accessed 9 March 2024), image 193. 

Martin County, North Carolina, Deed Book F: 220, Deed, 10 September 1813; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G983-NQ3B? : accessed 9 March 2024), image 114. 

Last Week, Everything Changed . . . Finding Reddick Bryan Using FamilySearch's Full-Text Search

Two weeks ago, I started on a much-procrastinated project - my brick wall, Reddick Bryan. He lived in Martin County, North Carolina, moved to Georgia and later to Bienville Parish, Louisiana. I am hoping to find more information that points to his parents. There are many public trees giving him a variety of parents, but none show adequate documentation. 

Exhaustive searches in Martin County, North Carolina records and Bienville Parish records were completed years ago, but I had never spent enough time looking at deeds and other records in the surrounding counties or in Pulaski, Houston, and Twiggs Counties in Georgia, where Reddick was said to have lived. 

In addition, Reddick was closely connected to a Miles Bryan in both Georgia and Louisiana. I don't know the family connection, but YDNA says it's close. 

I began by reading unindexed succession records in Bienville Parish, looking for any pages or clues I may have previously missed. I spent much time in the library reviewing Bienville Parish deeds on Family Search and much more time at home looking at Bryan family deeds in Houston County also on FamilySearch. I even wrote a blog post about searching the Bienville succession records on Ancestry.com - Look Beyond the Indexed Records When Searching Louisiana Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry.com 

Last Week, Everything Changed . . .   

Then, last week, at RootsTech, it was announced that FamilySearch Labs released Full-Text Search, allowing us to search scanned images of records not previously indexed. According to the website, there are currently only two collections available to search: the United States Land and Probate Records dating from 1630-1975, and the Mexico Notary Records collection, with most records created before the 1900s. However, new collections will be added regularly. 

This means that all of those wonderful land records that were digitized from microfilm will be searchable by name, place, or whatever phrase I use. Not only are they searchable, but when you locate a record, a transcription can be seen along with the record. 

This record of Reddick Bryan was found when I entered the search terms "Bryan" and "Twiggs." These terms are highlighted in the document. The transcription of the two pages was below the record, which was saved as a PDF. I clipped the bottom portion of the transcription to give you an idea of what you will see. 

In only a few days, I completed county searches in North Carolina and Georgia that would have taken me years to complete prior to Full-Text Search. I found records I did not find in previous searches. I was able to search by decade, state, and county. I searched for Bryan using a variety of spellings and full names in quotation marks, such as "Reddick Bryan," as well as only surnames or less common first names. 

A search for "Twiggs" in the 1810s and 1820s showed numerous deeds in other Georgia counties and states naming those who lived in Twiggs County, Georgia, during the time Reddick Bryan was living there. This is especially valuable as Twiggs County's early records were burned in a fire in 1901.

In less than a week, I accomplished the following:

• Complete searches of deed records at FamilySearch for Bryans in Houston, Twiggs, Pulaski, AND all surrounding counties in Georgia. Began searches for Bryans in counties surrounding Martin County, North Carolina. 

• Determined that Reddick Bryan probably never lived in Pulaski County, as seen in many family trees. There will be more on this in a later post. 

• Determined that Reddick probably left Martin County in North Carolina to settle in Twiggs County, Georgia, where he lived before moving to Houston County, Georgia. Again, more about this will be in a later post. 

• Found new clusters of friends, associates, and neighbors of both Reddick and Miles Bryan that need to be investigated.

With AI, I was hoping for good transcriptions of handwritten records, but I never expected to get something this good in my lifetime! Now waiting for court records, Freedmen's Bureau records, and Irish birth records. Thank you, FamilySearch!

For Descendants of Reddick Bryan and Miles Bryan 

As many of you reading this post will be descendants of Reddick Bryan, I want to offer my help and ask for yours. I have been researching Reddick and his family since the late 1990s. I have collected much information and am willing to share what I have. 

I would also like your input. If you have family documents, a Bible, or family photos, please share. You never know what kind of clue will be in the documents, on the back of a photo, or in a family Bible. Click below to send me an email. 

Click to send 

More About Full-Text Search

Learn how others are using this fabulous tool at the links below. 

Testing the Full Text Search in FamilySearch Labs - An Immediate Success!! from Randy Sever (read his lessons learned and advice) 

12 Strategies for Using FamilySearch Full-Text Search from Kimberly Powell

Try It! FamilySearch's New Full-Text Search from Marian B. Wood

Full-Text and AI comes to FamilySearch from James Tanner

John Coor of Copiah County Made an Agreement with Joel Hoggatt from Lisa S. Gorrell

Exploring FamilySearch’s New Full-Text Search Tool & AI Transcription Comparison from Dana Leeds

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County, North Carolina during the 18th and early 19th centuries - compiled by Dr. Howard V. Jones

In June 2000, my father and I traveled to
Williamston to visit the Martin County
courthouse to view the deed records and get a
few specific records for Dennis and Howard.
This was my first time looking at courthouse
records. I was clueless and thankful the
women working at the courthouse were
so patient.

Reddick Bryan
1793-1864

As I began my search for my great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan, I was assisted by two very experienced, thoughtful genealogists. First, J. Dennis Bryant of Georgia who found Reddick Bryan in Martin County, North Carolina deed records. Second, Dr. Howard V. Jones of Iowa who was a descendant of a Martin County Bryan family. I never met either of these men, but through phone conversations and other correspondence, both showed me the importance of the exhaustive research needed to produce evidence-based conclusions. 

From Howard and Dennis, I also learned the value of land records and other documents found in deed books. And, they encouraged me to take my first genealogy trip to the courthouse in Martin County, North Carolina to find additional deed records.

In early 2000, through correspondence, I introduced Howard and Dennis. They shared documents and the next year, Howard sent me a wonderful 37-page document titled The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This document is a compilation of Howard's research and information shared with him. This is an invaluable tool if you are researching Bryans in North Carolina, especially near Martin, Halifax, and Edgecombe Counties.

Howard Vallance Jones
1922-2013

Using deed records and wills, Howard shows possible relationships of these Bryan families. Howard wrote that there is much speculation in this document and all should not be confused as fact. One example of the speculation is Howard placing Reddick as a son to James Bryan on page 19. This is not proven; however, Howard gives me a good place to begin my research. Look at the land records related to Reddick and his thought-to-be family. Researching these other Bryans, neighbors, or even witnesses on deed records may give me some new family information.

Howard asks questions and makes very helpful comments throughout this document. I use a copy of The Bryan Puzzle to make notes and add information when researching North Carolina Bryans. Download a copy of The Bryan Puzzle by clicking on this link. 

Dr. Howard Vallance Jones, Jr., 91, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died May 17, 2013. Click here to see his obituary. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020

Sources

Family photographs from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn

The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County, North Carolina during the 18th and early 19th centuries - compiled by Dr. Howard V. Jones, Jr.  Used with permission. 

#52ancestors Post Thirty-One: The Oldest Document Known to Name Reddick Bryan

On September 10, l8l3, James Bryan of Martin County, North Carolina transferred 5O acres of land inherited from his father Needham to Reddick Bryan This deed from James Bryan to Reddick Bryan does not specify any monetary consideration. Could this have been a gift to Reddick upon his marriage? His wife is thought to be a Telitha or Lilitra as a first name was seen in a family bible, but it was not clearly written. The date of Reddick's marriage to his first wife is also not known, but it is assumed that he married about this time of the birth of his first child in 1815. The deed, transcribed by Dennis Bryant, is below. 

State of North Carolina, Martin County
Know all men by these presents that I, James Bryan, Senr of the State and County aforesaid do grant bargain & sell & confirm unto Redick Bryan of the State and County aforesaid a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County  aforesaid beginning as follows.  Beginning at a white oak Bryans and John D. Hymans corner thence along said Hymans line to Lewis Bryans line, thence along said Bryans line to a pine, thence a line of marked trees to the head of the Paster branch, thence along the various courses of said branch to the run of Cains branch, thence along the various courses of said branch to a Cypress Johnathan Cherry corner in Coneho creek, thence down the various courses o, said creek to a Maple, thence to the first station, containing fifty Acres more or less, To have and to hold forever he and his heirs with all improvements and appertenments this the tenth Day of September in the  year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

This deed was signed by James Bryan (his mark) and witnessed by James Cherry and Thomas Bryan. The deed was proven in open court by the oath of Thomas Bryan in September 1814.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Deed from James Bryan Senior to Reddick Bryan., 10 September 1813 Matin County, North Carolina, Deed Book F, page 220-221. Transcribed by J. Dennis Bryant. 

#52ancestors Post Nine: Two Important Bryan Family Wills

This week's writing prompt for #52ancestors is will. Very few of my ancestors wrote wills. If more of my ancestors had written wills, I could spend less time searching and have more time to clean and cook!

Copies of these wills were given to me in 1999 by J. Dennis Bryant, an avid Bryan/Bryant researcher. Dennis was the researcher who found my great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan, in Martin County, North Carolina. My father and others in his generation knew Reddick was born in North Carolina, but Reddick was not located in the state until Dennis searched deeds in Martin County.

This first will is that of Needham Bryan. He died in 1797 in Martin County, North Carolina.  He was the son of Robert Bryan and father of James Bryan. James is thought to be the father of Reddick Bryan.

The following will was transcribed by Kelly Midura and can be found on her blog Bembry Roots. Her ancestor, Ann Bryan, was the daughter of Needham Bryan and the wife of Miles Bembry.

NEDAM BRYAN; Martin County will book page 343; 11 March 1797.

In the name of God Amen I Nedam Bryan of the County of Martin and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and Memory Calling to mind the uncertainty of this Transitory life Do make and Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form _____ ________ To wit bequeath my soul to God, who gave it measure and Certain hopes of a Joyfull  Resurrection at the last day and my body to the Earth to be Entered at the Discretion of my beloved wife and my executors who I shall hereafter name as to my Worldly Goods which is hath pleased God to bless me with in this life.  I dispose of in manner and form following after my Just Debts being paid:

Item: I lend my unto my beloved Wife Jerusha Bryan all my hole Estate Real and personal During her Natural lifetime and After her Death in the manner and form following to wit. Item: I give and____ unto my Son James Bryan my plantation wherein I now live and all the land thereto belonging and my Still to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item: I give unto my Daughter Ann Bembray one hundred acres of land where James Bellflower formerly lived now possession of So (?) Bembray also one Negro girl named Hannah which she now has in possession to her and her Heirs forever. And it is Further my Will and Desire that all my Savanna Land that I have not all ready disposed of be Equally Divided among my five Children also all the Negros that I have not already given away to be Equally Divided Among all my five children including all the Rest of my personall  Estate to be Equally Divided as Above mentioned.

Last I Also ____and apoint my Loving friends Hardy Bryan and John Hayman and Timothey Ward Excr. to this my Last Will and Testament Revoking and Annulling all Other form of wills heretofore made by my hand and seal this 11 Day of March 1797.

___________published and declared in presents of

Test. Williams C. King

Henry Cooper

 Nedom Bryan (seal)

Dennis Bryant wrote the following about Needham Bryan:

 "This was doubtless the Needham Bryan that is recorded as a Captain of Militia during the Revolution in Volume I of the MARTIN COUNTY HISTORY by Manning and Booker. Captain Needham Bryan patented several tracts of land in Martin Co. in the l750's. Some of that land is included in the will of "Nedam" Bryan in Martin Co, which is dated March ll, l797. Nedam specifically mentions his wife, Jerusa (this may be Jerusa Cain), and his son James in the will. I believe this is the James Bryan that was the father of Reddick Bryan. This James Bryan transferred 5O acres of his inherited land to Reddick Bryan on Sept. l0, l8l3 with no purchase price specified in the deed." 

This does not prove Reddick Bryan to be the son of James and grandson of Needham, but certainly gives some well-needed information to further an investigation.  

This will, found in Martin County's Will Book I, was the last will and testament of Robert Bryan. On December 16, 1773, Robert Bryan resided in Halifax County, North Carolina. His will was proved in July of 1774 in Martin County, North Carolina.  This change from Halifax to Martin probably occurred due to a change in county boundaries. In 1774, the southeastern part of Halifax County was combined with part of Tyrrell County to form Martin County. 

In the name of God Amen  I Robert Bryan of the County of Halifax in the Province of North Carolina being in perfect Health of Body and in cense of Mind and Memory thanks be to Almighty God but calling to mind the mortality of mankind and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make Ordain Constitute and appoint this my last will and Testament in manner and form to wit  First I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Elias Bryan all my land from a line of marked trees [blank space in document] at a place called Little Island the corner a Gum I [blank space in document] Elias Bryan to him & his heirs forever also one [blank space in document] Feather Bed and Furniture to my Elias Bryan and his heirs forever  Item, I Give to my well beloved son John Bryan all my land from my son Elias Bryan lower line to a line of marked Trees Begginning on the Mark at a Pine Between the place where he now living and the plantation whereon I now live also one Feather Bed and Furniture I say to my son John Bryan to him and his heirs forever.  Item, I also lend the use of all and Every Individual of the rest of my whole Estate to my well beloved wife Ann Bryan During her life or widiow and after her death to be Equally divided amongst all of my children that Remains a live at her death, Elias Bryan Excepted I also appoint my two sons Needham Bryan and Elias Bryan Executors to this my last will and Testament  Given under my hand this sixteenth day of December in the year 1773   

Test                                         Robt. (R) Bryan.                                               

Arthur Barden

Jesse Johnson

Sarah (x) Hull

William Hyman  

Martin County July Court 1774  

then the above instrument of writing was in open Court duly proved by the oath of William Hyman to be the last will and Testament of Robert Bryan according to Law and on motion orders to be recorded.  

                                              Test  T. Stuart Clerk.

This will shows Needham Bryan to be the son of Robert. Robert's land was passed down to James through Needham. Note that although only John, Elias, and Needham were named in the will, there were probably other children. Another avid Bryan researcher, Dr. Howard V. Jones, wrote "Needham, John, and Elias are mentioned in Robert's will as sons.  Robert III must be a son because of his possession of some of Robert's land.  William is proved because he mentions brother Needham in his will." Dr. Jones believed there could be others and named Hardy, Jesse, and Moses as possible sons or nephews. 

--------------------------------------------

When I began my #52 Ancestors posts, I had planned to focus only on the Hairston family. I was excited to pick up where I left off in 2014 with 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. However, with #52 Ancestors, there are writing prompts. I like the challenge of the prompts and the Hairston family history, as I know it, won't always fit the prompts. Today, the Bryan family was chosen for the post as I have two Bryan family wills and no Hairston family wills.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Bryan, Robert. Last will and testament. 16 Dec. 1773. Martin County, NC, 1774. 

Family photographs, correspondence, and documents from the collection Diana Bryan Quinn.

 Halifax County, North Carolina Genealogy Genealogy - FamilySearch Wiki. Web. 4 Mar. 2018. <https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Halifax_County,_North_Carolina_Genealogy>.

Needham Bryan’s Will | Bembry Roots. WordPress.com, 2014. Web. 4 Mar. 2018. <https://bembryroots.com/2014/02/15/needham-bryans-will/>.

Bryan Family Relationships Found in Account Books of a Martin County, North Carolina Merchant

When I discovered this microfilm, I had hoped to find my Reddick Bryan buying merchandise for his mother, father, and grandparents. All would be named and their relationship to Reddick confirmed. 

The microfilm I am referring to is the Thomas Devereux Hogg Papers (see the complete reference in my sources). Included in Mr. Hogg's papers were David Clark's account books from the years 1798 to 1836. Mr. Clark was a planter at Albin and a merchant at Hogston and Hamilton in Martin County, North Carolina. 

Although I read the entire film, the most valuable portion for my purposes was that of Volume 6 - Daybook for mercantile business at Hogston and Hamilton, Martin County, 1798 - 1811. There were many Bryans in Martin County during the early 1800s and sorting families can be difficult. This gave me Bryan names and some relationships.  Unfortunately, not Reddick Bryan's family. 

Bryans found in the Daybook

Not all years were complete. The list stopped in 1808 and was followed by a few miscellaneous records. 

1798

Joel Bryan

Lemuel Bryan

Lewis Bryan

Hardy Bryan

Joseph Bryan

Robert Bryan

James Bryan

The Other Reddick Bryans

My great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan. Born 1793 in North Carolina, he
lived in Georgia before moving to Bienville Parish, Louisiana in 1838.
He remained in Bienville Parish until his death in 1864.
This drawing is copied from an early photo of Reddick Bryan and was
found in the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. The artist is unknown. 

There are two men from North Carolina who are often confused with my great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan, in online family trees. The title to my post is a little deceiving as these men weren't actually named Reddick Bryan. 

Redick O'Bryan was said to have come from Chatham County in North Carolina and by 1815, when married to Elizabeth Bourland, he was living in Hopkins County, Kentucky. His parents were said to be Thomas O'Bryan and Sylvania Frances Copeland. Both born about 1760 and said to be from Chatham County. Redick O'Bryan died and was buried in Hopkins County, Kentucky in 1879. 

Riddick Bryan of Northhampton County, North Carolina is sometimes seen as Reddick Bryan, but most documents indicate it was Riddick. He was born about 1810 and can be found living in Northampton County until his death sometime around 1888.  He married Charity Bryan in 1833 and Sarah Bryan in 1864. 

Although I cannot find any documents connecting these three men, it does not mean they were not connected. Very little can be found about my great-grandfather while he lived in North Carolina. From deed records, I know he lived in Martin County before moving to Georgia.  However, I have found no other information as many records were lost in two Martin County Courthouse fires prior to 1900.  

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2017

Sources

Ancestry.com. "Public Member Trees." Web. 14 Jan. 2017. <http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx>.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.


Martin County, North Carolina Genealogy Genealogy - FamilySearch Wiki. Web. 1 Mar. 2017. <https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Martin_County,_North_Carolina_Genealogy>.

The Parents of Reddick Bryan

Reddick Bryan was born February 18, 1793. This date can be seen on his headstone in the Bryan Cemetery in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. According to the 1850 United States Federal Census Record of Bienville Parish, Reddick Bryan was born in North Carolina.

Reddick’s father is thought to be James Bryan, son of Needham Bryan, both of the Martin/Halifax areas of North Carolina. There is no documented proof showing James as Reddick's father. James gave land to Reddick and Reddick completed land transactions with Power of Attorney for James; all in Martin County, North Carolina.  

On December 24, 1817, in Twiggs County, Georgia, Reddick Bryan applied for letters of administration on the estate of a James Bryan, late of Twiggs County.  This was found in the January 6, 1818 issue of the Georgia Journal.  In March of 1818, Reddick was listed as one of two administrators for the estate of a James Bryan. This was seen in several issues of the Georgia Journal. No records of estates are available as the courthouse in Twiggs was burned in 1901. This 1818 estate notice is the last mention of Reddick associated with James Bryan. I believe this James Bryan was the James thought to be Reddick's father. 

Reddick Bryan’s mother is unknown. 

Some Public Member Trees found on Ancestry.com state that his mother is Elizabeth Hall.*  She is not his mother. In most of those Public Family Trees her birth year is 1803, ten years after Reddick's birth. 

Mary Bembry, born in 1821 is another person found as Reddick's mother in several Public Member Trees.  Bembry is a name found in the Martin / Halifax area, but Mary is much too young. 

Other Public Member Trees indicate Reddick’s mother was Mary Reddick Bryant / Bryan born in Crawford County, Georgia. This Mary’s maiden name of Reddick has not been proven and she was married to a James Bryan who died around 1850. I have not seen documentation indicating Mary and her husband, James, were parents of Reddick. 

*I added a story about Reddick's parents to my Public Member Tree at Ancestry in 2012. I wrote that Elizabeth Hall was the mother of a Redick O’Bryan who was born in NC and spent much of his adult life in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Elizabeth Hall was NOT the mother or wife of Redick O'Bryan.  I will delete that story and replace it with this post. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 


Diana

© 2017

Sources 

Ancestry.com. "Public Member Trees." Web. 14 Jan. 2017. <http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx>.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn

Georgia Journal. Milledgeville. GenealogyBank. 1818. GenealogyBank.com. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. <http://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11AA291041B55CD8%40GB3NEWS-14FC881574C6B630%402385139-14F1FB92545F39A8%402-14FCE97CF3E051B8?search_terms=henry%2Bmathews&p=GB3NEWS&docrefer=v2%3A11AA291041B55CD8%40GB3NEWS-14FC881574C6B630%402385139-14F1FB92545F39A8%402#>.


Quinn, Diana B. "Bryan Family." Rootsweb Freepages. 2002. Web. 14 Jan. 2017. <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bryanquinn/Bryanfamily.htm>.