The following BRYAN family genealogy represents my family descendancy beginning with the first known BRYAN
ancestor in North America. I believe this information
to be correct, however the data prior to Needham I is mostly conjecture. If you
spot an error or have additional BRYAN family information to share, I would
be pleased to receive and E-mail. EEtheredge@suddenlink.net
Note: In 1721, Needham patented 640 acres of land in Bertie
County on the Moratuck River. (NC Colonial Records, II, p. 426)
In 1726 he purchased 210 acres called Snoefield plantation. He
and his three wives are buried at Snowfield. Needham was
very active in county and state affairs. He served many years as chairman of
the court of Pleas and Quarter Session and was justice of the peace in 1732,
1739, and 1745. Also was sheriff and commissioner for Bertie Co., in 1745. From
1750-59 he represented Bertie in the colonial assembly at New Bern and in
1729-30 was a church warden for Society Parish.
CHILDREN
1: Needham Bryan II
Born: October 31, 1726
Married: 1749
Died: Between September 23, 1767 and May 1777
Spouse 1: Nancy Smith
Spouse 2: Charlotte Moore
2: Rachel Bryan
Born: June 10, 1723
Married: November 6, 1741
Died: Nov. 1780
Spouse: William Whitfield
3: William Bryan
Born: October 31, 1724
Married: 1744
Died: Nov 28, 1780 in Johnston Co., NC
Spouse: Elizabeth Smith (d/o John Smith Sr. and Elizabeth Whitfield)
NOTE: William was very active in public affairs. Served as
Justice of the peace in 1756; sheriff in 1762; appointed to
commission of Peace and Dedimus in 1764. Appointed a colonel on April 4,
1776 in Johnston Co. militia.
Needham Bryan family (II)
Husband: Needham Bryan II
Born: October 31, 1726
Married: 1749
Died: Before May 1777 in Johnston Co, NC
Father: Needham Bryan I
Mother: Anna Rambeau
Spouse 1: Nancy Smith
Born: 1728
Married: Feb 5, 1748 near Springfield
Died: 1760
Father: John Smith
Mother: Elizabeth Whitfield
Spouse 2: Charlotte Moore
NOTE: Needham II was a member of the colonial assembly in
1762 and 1771. He represented Johnston Co., in the Provincial Congress
which met at New Bern on Aug 25, 1774. In 1776 he was in Battle of Moore's
Creek Bridge, the fourth Provincial Congress, and the constituent congress
which met in Halifax, NC. On April 4, 1776 the fourth Provincial Congress
resolved that "the delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress be
empowered to concur with the delegates of the other colonies in declaring
independency" of England. The constituent congress in November 1776
drew up the first constitution for North Carolina. On April 23, 1777 Needham
introduced a bill in the Colonial Assembly to establish the
town of Smithfield, NC. He died before August 1777.
NOTE: Gen. Clement Anselm Evans (1833-1911)(s/o Sarah & Anselm Evans) was reared by Loverd Bryan in
Lumpkin, GA. He was admitted to the bar at age of 19, elected judge of
county court at 22, was chosen state senator at 26, and was presidential
elector at age 27. In Nov, 1861 he was a major in the 31st Georgia Infantry,
CSA. The following spring he became a colonel and in May 1864 was a
brigadier general serving under John B. Gordon in the Army of Northern
Virginia. He was paroled at Appomattox, VA on May 10, 1865. He had been
wounded five times,
02: Margaret W. Bryan
Spouse: George Wyche (s/o James Wyche)
03: Charity Loverd Bryan
Born: April 20, 1798 in Johnston Co., NC
Married: Sept 25, 1816
Died: Oct 25, 1841
Spouse: Obediah P. Cheatham
04: Mary Smith Bryan
Born: March 18, 1800 in Johnston Co., NC
Married: January 2, 1817
Died: September 30, 1873, Crawford Co., GA
Spouse 1: John Goodwin Rains (1791-1846)
Spouse 2: Robert Howe (1782-1859)
05: Edith Bryan
Born: Sept 1, 1802 in Johnston Co., NC
Married: Dec 5, 1821
Died: Jan 7, 1842
Spouse: Martin C. Brown
06: Loverd Bryan
Born: October 13, 1804
Married: Jan 21, 1826
Died: Aug 15, 1887 in Stewart Co, Georgia
Spouse 1: Elizabeth Wyche (d/o Littleton Wyche)
Spouse 2: Mrs. Lucy Williams
07: Needham Rupert Bryan
Born: August 26, 1806 in GA
Married: March 14, 1833
Died: August 1841
Spouse: Martha Elizabeth Battle (d/o Thomas & Mary Baker Battle)
Note: Following Needhan's death, Martha married Mr. Banks
and had six more children fron that marriage.
Children of Needham Bryan and Martha Battle:
(1) Margaret Antoinette Bryan (b. 1838)
Spouse: Thomas J. Gibson
(2) Mary Josephine Bryan (b. 1834)
(3) Thomas Battle Bryan (b. 1836)
(4) Needham Rupert Bryan, Jr. (b. April 1841)
Note: Needham Jr. server in Company B, 45th GA Infantry,CSA
08: Ann Bryan
Born: Dec 18, 1808
Married: June 28, 1838 in Randolph Co., GA
Died: 1864
Spouse: William Ingram of Randolph Co.
09: Grizella Kimbrough Bryan
Born: Nov 18, 1811
Spouse 1: John Fletcher Watts
Spouse 2: Thomas Jefferson Hines of Stewart Co.
10: Emeline Bryan
Born: April 19, 1814
Married: Jan 1832
Died: 1847
Spouse: Benj. F. Watts of Clay Co.
11: David Clement Bryan
Born: March 14, 1816
Died: Abt 1840
Spouse: Nancy Carolyn Battle of Monroe Co.
Loverd Bryan family
Husband: Loverd Bryan
Born: October 13, 1804
Married: January 21, 1826
Died: Aug 15, 1887 in Lumpkin, Stewart Co, GA
Buried: Methodist cemetery, Lumpkin, GA
Father: Clement Bryan
Mother: Edith Smith
Husband: Troy Ernest Etheredge
Born: May 26, 1902 in Scurry Co., TX
Married: April 15, 1934 in Sweetwater, TX
Died: December 28, 1998 in Tyler, TX
Buried: Hobbs Community cemetery, Fisher Co., Hobbs, TX
Father: Willie Samuel Etheredge
Mother: Ruth Bryan
Wife: Flora Lorian Spencer
Born: in Decatur, Wise Co., TX
Father: Albert (Abb) Spencer
Mother: Lena Josephine McCright
CHILDREN
1: Ernestine Etheredge
Born: in Sweetwater, Texas
Married: June 30, 1957 in Port Arthur, TX
Spouse: Jay Covington
Children: (1) Christine Covington (Hunt)
(2) Arnold Jay Covington
2:Edwin Clarence Etheredge
Born: in Sweetwater, Texas
Married: December 13, 1977 in Las Vegas, NV
Spouse: Cathy Rae Wait (divorced)
Children: (1) Troy Edwin Etheredge
(2) Sarah Catherine Etheredge
3: Alvin James Etheredge
Born: in Sweetwater, Texas
Married: July 21, 1967 in Rusk, TX
Spouse: Shelta Norton
Children: (1) Tina Rae (Etheredge) Murrell
(2) Alan Wilson Etheredge