1822

On January 14,1822,  Reddick Bryan applied by letter to be administrator, in right of his wife, of the estate of Joseph Regan, her first husband.  Reddick Bryan, Turner Coley and Jesse Bryant provided a surety bond of $4,000.  

William R. Bryan, first child of Reddick and Elizabeth Bryan was born August 1, 1822.

Diana

© 2013

1821

Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Span Regan were married on September 13, 1821 in Pulaski County, Georgia.

While Reddick Bryan lived in Twiggs County, he drew lot number 82 (202 and 1/2 acres) in District 14 of Houston County during the 1821 Georgia Land Lottery. It does not appear that Reddick settled on this particular property as it was transfered to Perry Wimberly who transfered it to Peter V. Guerry and who sold it for $800 to Nehemiah Guerry in 1827.

---

Sources:

• 1822-1829 Land Records of Houston County, Georgia Volume 1, Davine B. Campbell and William R. Henry pages 265, 288  
• Marriages, 1800-1956. Georgia, Court of Ordinary (Pulaski County)

Diana

© 2012

1820

On April 1, 1820 Reddick Bryan was listed in the Georgia Journal, a local newspaper, as having mail at post office in Marion, Twiggs County, Georgia. It is assumed that Reddick lived in Twiggs County in 1820. There are no 1820 census records for Twiggs County, Georgia or for Reddick's previous home of Martin County, North Carolina.

However, the family of Elizabeth Regan and Joseph Regan was found on the census as living in nearby Pulaski County, Georgia.  The enumeration date was August 7, 1820.  Joseph Regan was listed on the census record and those counted were as follows:

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1

Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2

Free White Persons - Under 16: 3

Total Free White Persons: 5

Total Slaves: 1

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:  6

The three white males under 10 are presumed to be John Regan (age 3 ), Span Regan (age 2), and Rufus Wiley Regan who was born February 16, 1820.

The free, white male between the age of 16 and 25 is undoubtedly Joseph Regan. While Elizabeth Regan is the free white female between the ages of 16 and 25. The sixth person listed in the household is a female slave between the ages of 26 and 44.

  

Just a few months later, on December 13, 1820, Rufus Wiley Regan died.  His father, Joseph Regan passed away six days later on December 19, 1820.

A transcription of Joseph Regan's will, obtained from E. Ragan Pruitt, signed on December 18, 1820 is as follows:

In the name of God, Amen. I, Joseph Regan, of the County of Pulaski and State of Georgia, being very low in body but in perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same calling to mind the mortality body and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty that give it me and mine body I recommend to the earth to be buried in Christian burial at the discretion of my friends and as vouching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First of all I request that my mare and colt and bridle and saddle I give to my wife Elizabeth Regan Extry of her equal part the Joseph Regan do request her to have that much extry still to have all the rest of my property after my just debts is paid her life time or widowhood but and if she marry again then an equal division with the two sons in the land and negroes household and kitchen furniture one negro named Bise and Anthony and Nell and Simon, and the land that I now live on in the County of Pulaski now by the number 88 one hundred and a quarter acres if the said Elizabeth Regan marry again then and equal division between her and my sons John Regan and Span Regan and I do hereby ordain and appoint Elizabeth S. Regan executrix to carry this my last will into effect and I do hereby utterly revoke and disannul all and every other former will and testament by me in anywise before named willed and bequeathed.   In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of December One thousand eight hundred and twenty. Signed sealed pronounced and delivered by the said Joseph Regan as his last will and testament in the presents of            

Wincherd Dawson      

Sarah Dawson                                                     (signed) Joseph Regan (Seal) 

William Smith

Diana

© 2012

1819

In 1819, I am fairly certain that Reddick Bryan was living in Twiggs County, Georgia. He was living in Twiggs in 1818 and also in 1820.  

I searched old newspapers and books about Twiggs County with no mention of Reddick.  However, I did find Jacob Giddens on a jury.  Jacob is not one of my father's Bryan ancestors, but, but the brother of my great-great-great grandfather Mitchell Giddens, an ancestor on my mother's side of the family. 

Both Reddick and Jacob  were close in age; Jacob, 25, and Reddick, 26. I feel that they must have been acquainted, if not in Georgia, then in Bienville Parish, where both eventually lived and died.  Some of their grandchildren married and I have found several people researching both my Bryan and Giddens families. 

This wouldn't be such a surprise if both my families were from the same area, but my father was from West Texas and my mother from Long Island, NY. They met while in the Navy in the 1950s.  What is the chance that their ancestors would have lived and socialized in the same communities over 100 years before? 

Diana

© 2012

1818

                                            

It is assumed that Reddick Bryan was living in Twiggs County, Georgia in 1818.   It is unknown when he actually made the trip. He probably came with his family; a wife and two young sons. Or, maybe just two young sons as it is unknown as to when his first wife died. 

The trip from Reddick's home of Martin County, NC to Twiggs County, GA is slightly less than 500 miles and according to Google Maps, it would take 152 hours to walk.  I would imagine that it would be a little faster by horse. Did he travel with a group? Where did he stop along the way? Did he visit other family members as part of his journey? He would have traveled through South Carolina, close to Florence, where other Martin County Bryans had relocated. 

Found in the March 10, 1818 issue of the Georgia Journal:

Will be sold on the 13th of next month, at the late residence of James Bryan, deceased, in Twiggs County; all the personal property of said deceased; consisting of horses, hogs, household and kitchen furniture. (signed) Henry Mathews, Redick Bryan, Adm'r.

Who was Henry Mathews and why was he also an administrator? Was James Bryan the father of Reddick?

On August 24, 1818, Reddick purchased a cow and yearling from the estate of Needham Bryant of Pulaski County, Georgia.  The purchase price was $37.75 and the note for the sale was vouched for by Jesse Sutton for the amount of $37.871/2.

Span Regan was born on April 01, 1818 to Elizabeth Regan and her first husband Joseph Regan. There is conflicting information about Span's place of birth as various records indicate both North Carolina and Georgia. 

                             

Diana

© 2012

1817

Reddick Bryan sold land on January 16, 1817 in Martin County, North Carolina to Thomas H. Weathersbee. This sale was witnessed by Lewis L. Hyman and James Mayo. This was approximately one hundred and fifty seven acres of land adjoining John Hyman's land. 

Note: Reddick received only approximately 50 acres from James Bryan in 1813. Was this part of the land sale to Thomas Weathersbee? If so, how did he acquire the remaining 100 + acres? And, if not, when did he acquire the approximately 157 acres? There is no mention in this deed that he is selling the land for James as Attorney-in-Fact and there are no other records indicating that Reddick purchased or was given land. 

Simeon Baker Bryan, son of Reddick and his first wife was born on January 19, 1817 in 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. Was this James the father, brother, uncle, or cousin of Reddick? I suspect it was his father, but this is not proven. 

Another question - In January 1817, Reddick Bryan's residence was Martin County in North Carolina, but in December 24, 1817, Reddick applied for letters of administration for a James Bryan who died in Twiggs County, Georgia. Was Reddick applying from Martin County or was he living in Twiggs County?

Diana

© 2012

1816

Dr. Howard Jones, a Bryan researcher, wrote that in the 18th century, there was a nest of Bryans in Martin Co., NC, living close together, mostly along Conehoe Creek. That they were related is obvious; how they are related is the problem. 

How Reddick is related to the many Bryans that he had interactions with, both in Martin County and in Georgia, is problematic. Little is known about James Bryan, the man that is thought to be his father. Both his mother and his first wife are unknown. The origin of his name, Reddick, is also unknown. There were many Reddicks, Cherrys, and Hymans living in Martin County and Bryans were intertwined with all by marriage. 

The above deed was witnessed by Reddick Bryan and Howell Cherry in Martin County, NC on January 22, 1816 and proven in court by Reddick Bryan in December 1816. Chartoty Bryan sold about 19 acres for eighty dollars to Benjamin Bowers. Other Bryans mentioned were Polly Bryan and Joseph Bryan. 

Diana

© 2012

1816

John Regan, first son of Elizabeth Regan and her husband, Joseph Regan, Jr., was born on September 12, 1816 in North Carolina; presumably in or near Robeson County. 

                        Diana

                            
                                                                                                                      © 2012 

1815

James Bryan
Courtesy of Mary Smith 2004

Reddick’s first child, James Bryan, may have been born on February 9, 1815 in North Carolina. According to transcriptions of family information found in both Reddick Bryan’s and Joseph Bryan’s family bibles his birth year is 1815. However, his headstone indicates that he was born on February 9, 1816.

The name of Reddick's first wife, James' mother, is not know. Her name is said to be Teletha or Lilitra and her last name has not been proven. Some have said that as Reddick's second son is named Baker, that her maiden name is Baker, but I believe that the last name of Baker is just an assumption.  

In May 1815, James Bryan, possible father to Reddick, gifted a slave to his daughter. Reddick Bryan was a witness.  

March 17, 1815

____ to whom these presents shall come, I, James Bryan of the Co. of Martin and State of NC, planter, for and in consideration of love, good will, and affection which I have and bear towards my loving daughter, Amy Bryan, of the Co. and St.aforesaid have given and granted and by these presents do ___ ___grant unto the said Amy Bryan, her heirs, executors, admns. and assigns ___ ___ ___ to have and to hold all the negro slave to her the said Amy Bryan ___ ___ & from henceforth as her and her property absolutely, without any ___ consideration. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day March 1815 __ Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of.

Benj. Bowers

Reddick Bryan

James Bryan {his mark}

Martin Co. Dec. term 1816, this bill of sale proven in open court by the oath of Reddick Bryant, one of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be registered.

H.B. Hunter clk

Also, on May 15, 1815 Reddick Bryan, acting as attorney-in-fact for James Bryan, sold land belonging to James in Martin County, North Carolina. A transcription of the deed by Dennis Bryant is below.

This indenture made this fifth day of May One Thousand Eight hundred and fifteen, between Reddick Bryan, attorney for James Bryan Senr. of the State of North Carolina and Martin County of the one part and Arthur Staton of Edgecombe County, and State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Reddick Bryan lawful attorney for James Bryan Senr. for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and forty two and a half dollars to him in hand paid at or before the sealing and delivery hereof the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge myself fully satisfied contented and paid and do by these presents bargain sell convey and confirm unto the said  Arthur Staton a certain tract or parcel of land beginning at a pine, formerly Lewis Bryan's corner, running north 85', W 2ll poles to  Arthur Staton's corner the Alnea (?) path thence southerly along said  path, it being Staton's line to a pine at corner of R. Brown or Hineses line, thence south 85', E along Hineses line one hundred and sixty poles to a pine, thence along Hineses line to John W. Mayo corner, thence along said Mayo line to the first station, one hundred and ninety acres of land, to have and to hold the above granted land and premises with all profits priviledges and appurtenances to the same belonging and the said Reddick Bryan, attorney for  James Bryan Senr. hath fu11 power to sell and dispose of the same and will warrant and defend the said land and premises unto the said Arthur Staton, his heirs and assigns and against the 1awfu1 right, claim, or demand of any person or persons whatsoever    In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & afixed my seal the day and date writen, signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us.

This deed was witnessed by Thomas Bryan and W. D. Staton.  Reddick Bryan signed the deed. It was proven in open court during the December 1815 term by the oath of W. D. Staton. 

Diana

© 2012

1814

Elizabeth Span Regan married her first cousin, Joseph Regan on November 11, 1814. This date was found in her obituary*. Joseph Regan was the son of John Regan of Robeson County, North Carolina.  As two sons were born in North Carolina, it is thought that they were married in North Carolina. 

*A date of November 11, 1818 was transcribed from the Reddick Bryan family bible. As both of her children were born prior to this date, it is assumed that the date was earlier and that the actual bible was difficult to read.  Randy Regan has information on his site indicating that the marriage was on September 7, 1815. 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn