Donegore - Bryson-Wilson

[threekids5]

Threekids,

Yes, I’d still be interested in seeing a copy of John Bryson’s (1836?) will.  Or any other wills from this family which don’t survive in the PRONI catalogue.

I hope you got to Kilbride graveyard and that it lived up to your expectations.  I visited on a frosty morning about 8 weeks before your last message.

Thanks for the information on James Bryson and his line.  I don’t remember all those names, but it is too late tonight for me to look them up, so I’ll need to come back to this another time!

Gilby

Hi Lorna,

I have quite a bit of information on the branch of Brysons you’re related to. Rev. Alex Bryson’s brother Charles married Margaret Bryson, youngest daughter of James Bryson in 1835. She was 15. James Bryson was my 4th ggf’s John W. Bryson’s brother. There is a marriage announcement in the Belfast Newsletter. They were married by Alex Bryson. Charles, Margaret and family are buried at Kilbride Cemetery. I also received a Bryson packet from a researcher from PRONI. It’s an ancestry from someone from that branch who resided in Canada. I’m happy to share the pages with you.

Best wishes,

Deb Bryson Martin

[threekids5]

Hi Gilby,

I have a copy of John W Bryson’s will written in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania where he and his family immigrated to. I’m happy to share it with you. There aren’t any wills in PRONI from that branch. It created a mystery for us as there is a bequest to a grandson James Milford in 1836 and then by one of John W’s sons a bequest to “my nephew” the same James Milford in 1884. Evidently we have a missing daughter of John W. who married John Milford and probably passed away. James Milford married Joyce Bryson and they are also buried at Kilbride.

James Bryson was an interesting mystery. We only knew about him because of John W’s 1836 Will where he leaves a bequest to the children of my son James deceased. After James died his widow, Martha Ann McConnell, married a different James Bryson, son of Alexander Bryson and Mary Corry. Second James and Martha Ann are buried at Kilbride as is First James’s son Robert with Martha Ann and Robert’s family. The other son from First James and Martha Ann (James) died in Australia but is memorialized on the gravestone.

Yes, we went to Kilbride Cemetery and plan to go back next year. I have cousins from John W Bryson’s brother who live on one of the ancestral properties. The cemetery was lovely and certainly full of Brysons!  We brought some of my Dad’s ashes with us and scattered them by the gravestone of my 3rd great aunt Jane Ferguson and dedicated a lovely bench in memory of my Dad and the Bryson ancestors.

I know a lot more about where relatives are buried so I hope to make a record of the stones and who’s buried under them.

Please let me know how I can get John W Bryson’s will to you. It’s several pages.

Best wishes,

Deb Bryson Martin

[threekids5]

I also have wills from some of John W’s sons who immigrated with him.

[lmgnz]

Hi Deb

I expect Gilby will contact you by personal message to give you his email address for you to send the Will. And if you don't mind, for him to then forward on to me also. The GawnFamily story site that Gilby sent you belongs to a distant Gawn relative of mine, Billy Gawn. When we first started exchanging info in the 1990s we knew there was a connection between his Gawn family and mine but did not know where it was, except perhaps c 1750 ish.  Now if you go to the site you will find my Ancestor is the John Gawn b c1725 on the left and Billy's ancestor is the James Gawn born c1837 on the right.  My gt grandmotehr was a Gawn and she married a Graham. Gilby is related to me through my  Graham side.

[threekids5]

I’m more than happy for Gilby to share any information with you. My second cousin and I have wondered how Gawns might be related to Brysons. It’s been quite a journey with my John W Bryson branch before his 1830 immigration…not much information.

[Gilby]

Hi Deb,

I’ll send you a message with my email address.  Thanks.

According to a Fasti of Presbyterian Ministers, the Rev. Alexander Bryson’s father was a John Bryson of Ballybracken.  Does that fit with what you have found?

I know a descendant of James Milford and Joyce Bryson.  I’ll ask her if she knows her ancestor was named as a grandson in the 1836 will.

Gilby

[threekids5]

Yes, who you have for Alexander Bryson’s father is what I also have. I took a look at it today. Btw, two of Charles Bryson’s (Alexander’s brother) and his wife Margaret Bryson married Brysons. Their daughter Jainey married a David Bryson son of a Robert Bryson and their son John Alexander married a Margaret Bryson daughter of a William Bryson b1830.  David Bryson and family are buried at Kilbride and John Alexander and Margaret are buried at Kilbride in the plot with his parents Charles and Margaret. I’ll have to look at the David branch and the William branch sometime.

I’m very grateful my ggf+ didn’t marry any of his children to Brysons…talk about confusing. 

I got your email address and will send John W’s 1836 will to you soon.

Deb

[Gilby]

Thanks again for the will.  Yes, too many Bryson-Bryson connections by the sounds of it!

Who was the Jenny Bryson (dau of a Charles Bryson) who married William Bryson in 1896?

[Gilby]

Some deeds which may be relevant. 

1778 – David Smith to James Bryson – Ballyvoy - ROD 328/44/216594
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-G9KC-6?cat=185720
Memorial of assignment dated 2nd Jul 1778 between David Smith of the parish of Kilbride, Co Antrim, farmer, and James Bryson of Bellyvoy, parish of Kilbride, farmer.  David Smith in consideration of £60 sold Bryson part of Ballyvoy in the parish of Donegor or Kilbride containing 38a 1r 31p IPM, being same as was in the occupation of Margaret Smith widow.  For 3 royal lives or 41 years.  Witnessed by Bristow Miniss and Robert Young, both of the town of Antrim, merchants.

[This farm was in the south/middle of Douglasland.]

1787 – James Lather to James Bryson – Ballyvoy and Lisnalark – ROD 394/349/260564
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-BN8C?i=199&cat=185720
Memorial of release dated 4th Oct 1787 between James Laher the younger of Kilgavanagh, Co Antrim, farmer, and Jas Brison [James Bryson] of Holestone, farmer.  For £130 16s 9p, Lather sold Bryson 14a in Ballyvoy, 8a 2r 12p in Lissnalark, and 8a 1r 7p in Lisnalark aforesaid, all Co Antrim.  For 3 royal lives and remainder of a term of years.  Witnessed by John Williamson and Hugh Williamson, attorney.

[The two Lisnalark properties formed the eastern tip of Moss-side.]

1803 – Williamsons to Bryson – Lisnalack - ROD 560/60/373156
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-D9SS?cat=185720
Memorial of sale dated 1st Nov 1803 between John Williamson and Hugh Williamson both of Freemanstown, Co Antrim, only sons of Hugh Williamson late of Freemanstown, Co Antrim, attorney, deceased, 1st; and John Bryson of Lissnalack, farmer.  Williamsons sold Bryson part of Ballywee in Donegore containing 29a 2r 35p IPM.  For 41 years from 1st Nov 1794 as held by said John and Hugh Williamson.  Witnessed by Mary Williamson of Freemanstown, Co Antrim, widow, and James Bryson of Holestone, and John Wilson of Ballybracken.  Memorial witnessed by said James Bryson and John Wilson.

[Middle property on the east of Ballywee in Donegore parish.]

1812 - James Ballah to William Wilson - Ballybracken - Book 674 / Page 8 / Number 463243
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-3Q5P-F?i=9&cat=185720
Memorial of indenture of assignment dated 1st Apr 1812 between James Ballah of Ballybracken, farmer, and William Wilson of Ballybracken, farmer.  For £999 19s 11d Ballah sells to Wilson 79a 1r 26r plantation measure in the Quarterland of Ballybracken.  To have and to hold for the remainder of 61 years from 1st Nov 1800.  Witnesses Robert Ballah of Ballyvoy, John Bryson of Bally[wee?], farmers and John Williamson of Freemanstown Gent, attorney.

[Possibly the farm on the north side of what became Crawfordsland.]

1818 - William Wilson to John Bryson - Ballybracken - ROD 735/307/501242
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ9-K9XX-Y?cat=185720
Memorial of assignment dated 17th Dec 1818 between Wm Wilson senr of Ballybracken, Co Antrim, farmer, and John Bryson of Ballybracken, farmer.  Reciting that Marquis of Donegal by indenture 1st Jun 1805 demised to said Wm Wilson the farm of land In Ballybracken hereinafter mentioned containing 16a 5p IPM for 61 years.  Wilson now agreed to sell same to John Bryson for £350.  Same more or less as was demised by Arthur late Marquis of Donegal to John Wilson by indenture dated 14th Aug 1769 which said land was then in possession of William Wilson.  Wm Wilson witnessed by Alexander Bryson of Ballybracken and William Crozier atty-at-law.  John Bryson witnessed by said A. Bryson and Wm Crozier. 

^ I’m not sure if this is John Bryson senior or his son John Bryson who died in 1872?  Alexander Bryson the witness is probably not the minister because he would have been a Rev by 1818.