Donegore - Bryson-Wilson

[threekids5]

It would certainly help if we could find our James's grave. We know he existed and have DNA matches to his grandchildren but no burial. There are unmarked graves at Kilbride so maybe he's buried in one of those.

[lmgnz]

I started to update the Bryson information this morning and thought I posted on the two Brysons, James and  Robert, listed at McVickersland in the 1833 Tithes. But when I returned later it had not gone through. I will get back to them later if they still have not appeared but it is quite likely that the James Bryson in the Tithes was the missing James Bryson, son of John W Bryson.

However looking back through the posts I realise I did not get back to Lorna about the family of Robert Bryson and Eleanore Gawn. I happened to be looking through my Gawn DNA matches last night and realised I have a DNA match in this family.

As Lorna said Robert Bryson died quite young and as Gilby said there were only two sons from this marriage that we know about. My information came from the GawnFamilyStory website but I extended from that information in Ancestry trees.

One son James Bryson died young and did not have any family but the other son, John Alexander Bryson did marry ( to Mary Gamble) and emigrated to Ottowa Canada where he died in 1895. By my count John and Mary had 4 sons and 5 daughters born in Canada. My DNA match lies in the family of the second son Robert Bryson and his wife Sarah Reid.

My common Ancestors with my  Bryson DNA match are my 5th gt grandparents John Gawn and Mary Brooks and we are 6th cousins so only share a small amount of DNA. But fortunately enough for Ancestry to connect us via a common ancestor.

It also seems that yDNA has just confirmed the connection between the Bryson family of Ballybracken (belonging to Robert Bryson b c1790 who married Eleanor Gawn), and the family of John W Bryson of Ballywee which is also a very distant connection.

From the behind scenes research it appears that Robert Bryson was the son of John Bryson b c1752 of Ballybracken and his wife Janet. This information comes from a tombstone transcription for plot#25 Kilbride.

"Erected in memory of John Bryson of Ballybracken who departed this life 1st May 1812 aged 60 years, also 3 of his children, also his wife Janet Bryson who departed this life 10th August 1833 aged 73 years."

This John Bryson was probably a cousin of John W Bryson of Ballywee who is listed in an 1803  deed as a brother of James Bryson of Holestone. James Bryson of Holestone erected a tombstone in Kilbride for his father James Bryson who died 1803 aged 71. (plot #223)

[lmgnz]

Before I repost on the James Bryson of McVickersland, I want to mention a couple of Deeds unearthed by Gilby.

The first is ROD 797/255/538390
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-Q9HQ-5?i=163&cat=185720

I will not attempt to transcribe this but in summary a John Bryson obtained the lease of a 51 acres farm in Ballybracken from a John Sittlington who was granted that lease in 1769. This JOhn Bryson was the father of James Bryson (who became his heir) and his brothers John, Alexander and Hugh. James Bryson transferred that lease, which he had inhertited, to his brothers in 1779. JOhn Bryson of Ballywee was witness to that transfer.

By 1823 Alexander had been granted part of that farm by his brother Hugh (who died shortly after) so at the time of this deed owned half the farm, and this deed records the transfer of that half of 51 acres to a John Bryson of Ballybracken. Alexander was presumably the brother of the John Bryson of Ballybracken who was born c1752 and died 1812, so the John Bryson of Ballybracken of this 1823/24 deed, was probably Alexander's nephew.  John Bryson, who was the oldest son of John Bryson born c1752,was born c1785 and married Margaret Ballah.

The other deed is dated 1825. I hope the link works. Date: 3 Nov 1825
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-SS32-6?i=246&cat=185720

This deed refers to another memorial deed dated 1 Nov 1803 between John Bryson of Ballywee and James Bryson of Holestone, who were brothers. James Bryson of Holestone erected the Tombstone transcribed below which says their father James Bryson died 1 June 1803.

This stone is erected by James Bryson of Holestone in memory of his wife Isabella who died 1st April 1797 aged 41.  Also his father who died 1st June 1803 aged 71.  Also his mother who died 1st May 1807 aged 65 and two of his children.  Also the erector who died 20th February 1832 aged 64 years.

This James who died 1803 (born c 1732) was possibly the James Bryson of "then of Ballyvoy"  who was the heir of John Bryson in the first deed.

[lmgnz]

Moving on to James bryson son of John Bryson of Ballywee; there are two main contenders for this James Bryson. They are:

1 James Brison of Ballybracken who married Ann McConnel of Ballyvoy on 19 Jan 1829 (1st Donegore)
2 James Brison of Holestone  who married Martha Ann McConnell of Ballywee on 5 Jul 1831. "

The transcription of the tombstone #223 Kilbrde) erected by James Bryson of Holestone in the previous post also has the following after the death of the erector in 1832 "Likewise his granddaughter Lizziie Bryson who died 26 March 1858 aged 10 years and his grandson Thoas Bryson who died 26 Aug 1860 aged ?19 years" Both of these grandchildren belonged to parents James Bryson and Martha McConnell who are buried in plot #224. Both Lizzie and Thomas are listed again on the tombstone for plot 224. So James Bryson who married Martha McConnell was the son of James Bryson of Holestone.

Which leaves James bryson of Ballybracken as the main contender for the son of John Bryson of Ballywee, whose 1836 Will says that James was deceased but had surviving children.

Other deeds show that John Bryson of Ballywee had sold his Ballywee lease and purchased other leases in Ballybracken in the 1820s.

In the 1833 Tithes (online at PRONI) James Brison of McVickersland held two farms, one of 21 acres and the other of 42 acres.

James does not appear in the Griffiths valuations and Ann Bryson of Ballybracken, widow, nee McConnell married Malcom Barkely of Ballyclaverty on 3 May 1850

Ann Barkley died 1875 aged 71 and her death at Ballywoodock was registered by William Samuel Bell.

Mary Bryson of Ballyclaverty, daughter of James, married William Samuel Bell on 20 May 1858 at Parkgate
Robert Bryson of Ballyclaverty, son of James married Sarah Caldwell of Holestone on 13 Sep 1860 at Parkgate

Mary Bryson appears to have been born c1836/1837 so could well have been a posthumous child of James Bryson.

Robert was probably born c1830 so there is potential for another child born 1829 or possibly two others born between Robert and Mary.

[Pezzy]

Hello,

I’m new here and hoping someone might have more information on Ellen Bryson (or Nevin) and her children, Sarah Bryson (born 1896) and Robert Bryson (or Nevin) (born 1898).

It seems Sarah was staying with the Andrews family at age 14, listed as a "visitor," which is puzzling. However, I’ve read that Margaret, the wife of William Andrews, was a Bryson, which could explain the connection. Ellen, their mother, was unmarried and her maiden name was Bryson.

Sarah later had a child out of wedlock, named James Bryson (born 1918). He was initially left with a family in Ireland while Sarah moved to the UK and settled in Coventry. She then married a widower and returned to Ireland to bring James back to Coventry. The stepfather unofficially added his name to James’s birth certificate, which has caused some complications.

We don’t know much more beyond this. My father-in-law is James’s son, and we’d love to uncover more information. Sadly, James (Jim) passed away in 2008 without ever knowing who his father was.

Any additional details or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Xx

The 1911 census record for Ellen Nevin shows 4 children born and 3 alive. The two children listed with Ellen and John Nevin were his children born after they married in 1901. So it looks like one of Ellen's two children Sarah and Robert Bryson  born before 1901 was still alive in 1911. I can see one Sarah Bryson aged 14 listed as a visitor in Owensland in 1911 who would be a possibility.

Thanks.  I’d miss-read “Nivin” as “Nixon” the other day for some reason.  The child who had died by 1911 was John James Nevin (1903-1906). 

They seem to have counted Ellen’s first two children (Sarah in 1896, Robert in 1898) as being born to the 1901 marriage, which suggests John James Nevin (senior) was their biological father.

I agree that it is probably Ellen’s daughter Sarah aged 14 in Owensland in 1911.  It is interesting that she is still a Bryson though, which contradicts my previous point.

Anyway, if that is Ellen’s daughter in Owensland with the Andrew family, that could be significant for the Bryson connections.  William Andrew’s wife Margaret (d. 1908) was a daughter of Robert Bryson of Ballyvoy.  From the will of Robert’s brother John (1859), we know they had a brother James (in America at the time) who had a son called Robert.

[lmgnz]

Hi Pezzy

I hope Threekids sees this soon as I believe the Ellen Bryson whose family you are interested in, is related to her.

If you note reply # 130 then we are talking about the family Robert Bryson and Sarah Caldwell of Ballymarlow.

John W. Bryson (c1764-1836)
---- James Bryson (c1800-c1835)
-------- Robert Bryson (c1830-1897) m. Sarah Caldwell
-------- Mary Bryson (c1838-1903) m. William S. Bell

If I have it right then Threekids has DNA matches in the families of daughters Annie Bryson b 1864 who married Hugh O'Hara and Agnes Bryson born 1873 who married John Foster.

In between those are daughters Martha b 1866 and Ellen b 1871 @ Ballymarlow. You will find Martha's 1886 marriage to William Gordon on either page 15 or 16 of this thread. It is Martha who registered the birth of Ellen's daughter Sarah.

I have not traced either family further from this point but Threekids may have more information on the families of her DNA matches.

Robert Bryson then of Ballyclaverty (and later father of Ellen and sisters) married Sarah Caldwell on 13 Sep 1860 at Parkgate Donegore.

I hope this helps

Linda

I think Robert's Will names his son William Bryson of Ballymarlow, as one of his executors.  Robert died 1897.

[aghadowey]

I think Robert's Will names his son William Bryson of Ballymarlow, as one of his executors.  Robert died 1897.

Probate of the Will of Robert Bryson late of Ballymarlow County Antrim Farmer who died 7 April 1897 granted at Belfast to William Bryson of Ballymarlow and William Bell of Ballywoodock Farmers.

You can see the wording of the Will here- just put in Robert Bryson:
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearch.aspx

[lmgnz]

Thank you Aghadowey for the link.

I have a spreadsheet with notes from the Bryson Wills but had not gone back to the original. All I have noted for Robert's will is that the executors were his son William Bryson and William Bell of Ballywoodock. William Bell was presumably his brother in law, husband of Mary.

[lmgnz]

Regarding Threekids post# 133 about this family there are a few things that have possibly altered since that post (at least in my mind)

Firstly I think Robert Bryson was the son of James Bryson and Ann McConnell of Ballyvoy (not Martha) and they married at 1st Donegore on 18 Jan 1829.

Ann Bryson, widow of Ballybracken, married again in 1850 to a Malcolm Barkely of Ballyclaverty. This is how I think Robert Bryson and his sister Mary came to be at Ballyclaverty when they married.

Ann Barkley died 1875 aged 71  at Ballywoodock and her death was registered by William Bell.
 
Secondly the death of Ellen Byrson listed by Threekids is not for the correct Ellen Bryson as she was alive when her children Sarah and Robert were born and again later when she married at Ballymena and later again in 1911.