James Bryan, Jr. and wife Mary Goodge Bryan

Documents
Read More about James Bryan's War of 1812 Records.
Partial List of Bryan's M.E. Church Cemetary
Goodge Research
Goodge Alternate Spelling Research

James Bryan, Jr., son of James Bryan, Sr., and brother of Nathaniel has been placed last so as to simplify the recording. His order of birth is not known. He is supposed to be younger than Nathaniel, that's all. He was born Jan. 1, 1795, and died Nov. 11, 1868, and buried in the Bryan Church Cemetery, near the Bryan farm, about two miles from Dawson, Pa. These dates are taken from his tombstone at the Cemetery. James' birth place is unknown, but it is supposed to have been on a farm near Uniontown, Pa., but might have been in Maryland.

The inscription on the tombstone reads: "Whilst in his tomb our father lies His spirit rest above In realms of bliss it never dies, Pa___ knows a saviors love Weep not for me my frinds so dear _____ I am with christ you need not fear "

We now believe stongly that James was born either in or near Cumberland, MD or in Cedar Creek, HD in Sussex County Delaware. We know his father and Aunt Comfort Cordrey lived there. Also, on October 29, 1795, his father sold his land in Delaware. On the land record from that date, James' Sr. wife was named Nancy Bryan. Because of the proximity of dates, I am assumming Nancy is James', (and Nathaniel's) mother. -Karen

We know form his war record received from the National Archives that James enlisted in the Maryland Militia in on August 11, 1814 at the age of 19. At the time of his enlistment, James was discribed as having dark hair, light complexion, height 5' 10 1/2" and a wagon maker by trade. He became part of Captain McLaughlin's Company. In the file sent by the Archives, there were letters from others who served in his company attesting to his service. Read More about James Bryan's War of 1812 Records. James was honorably discharged on October 13, 1814. He re-enlisted the same day, and this time served in in Captain Loury's Company of the Maryland Militia. James was honorably discharged from his second tour on January 10, 1815.

For his service James received two 80 acre parcels of bounty land, both of which he sold (49675 and 2913 - might be interesting to look up some day.) As part of Mary's Widow's Pension Application, the file also included an affidavit from his brother in law, John Goodge stating that John was at his wedding in 1821.


James, Jr., met and married one Mary Goodge whose family lived near the Bryan family near Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pa., the marriage having been solemnized on or about the first of August, 1822. Actual date per Pension records was September 8, 1821 in Uniontown, Fayette County, PA. James was 26 and Mary was 18 years old at the time of their wedding. The service was performed by Reverend William Brownfield.

Note: The History of Fayette County Pennsylvania by Franklin Ellis 1882 p 321 states that "Rev William Brownfield was Preachers licensed.-The following list shows the licenses granted to young men by this (Great Bethel Church - Baptist) church, permitting them to enter the ministry:" "William Brownfield, April 6, 1799; ordained Dec. 19, 1800" The book goes on to tell the story about how Rev. Brownfield led the church for many years until 1833 when there was a split in the congregation between Rev. Brownfield who held strict Baptist tennents and a much younger Rev. Sutton who believed in a missionary church.


These pictures are charcol and chaulk, artist and date unknown, but believed to be around the early 1860's. There is a similar portrait of Miriam Stewart Bryan who married into the family in 1862 and passed in 1867. These pictures are housed in beautiful ornate frames made of gilded plaster on wood. (Although the frames have sustained damage over the years.) They were in the care of Gwen Bryan King until 1999, when they were passed to Karen Stezowski.

James Bryan (1795-1868)Mary Goodge Bryan (1800-1889)


Mary Goodge is known to have had a sister Catherine who married one William Cottom near Uniontown, and to have had a brother John who married one Nancy (family name unknown), also of the Uniontown vicinity. John and Nancy later moved to Nevada, Vernon County Misourri, documented there October 19, 1878. From these unions have spread Bryans, Cottoms, and Goodges throughout many states of the Union, many of whom have distinguished themselves as educators, ministers of the Gospel, physicians, lawyers, and in other trades and professions.

Catherine Goodge was born 27 Sep 1798 in Uniontown, PA. She married William Cottom on 6 Jul 1817. Catherine Cottom passed on 20 Apr 1884. William Cottom was born on November 18, 1792 in Maryland, he passed on October 6, 1875 in Lower Tyrone Township, Fayette County, PA.)

Mary Goodge was born May 16, 1803, near Uniontown, Pa., and died February 18, 1889, and is buried beside her husband in the Bryan Cemetery, which formerly was part of the last Bryan farm and homestead. I have heard recently that Mary had another sister who has not been mentioned before. I am unable now to verify the statement. This sister is supposed to have been given the old Family Bible before Mary Bryan died and this Bible is supposed to have been written the usual record of the family, probably some record of her husband's father and family, James Bryan, Sr.

The 1880 Census shows Mary Goodge Bryan stated that both her parents were born in Maryland. BUT her sister stated on the same census that her parents were both born in PA. All three siblings, Nancy, Catherine, and John Goodge state that they were born in PA.

After their marriage in 1821, James and Mary moved on to a farm of some 160 acres, it is stated, near Uniontown, Pa. Some have given the locality as Upper Middleton, Plumsock, or Dunbar. Here James and Mary lived and raised a large family of children. James and Mary were members of the Methodist Church and strict adherents to the faith and they brought their children up to their way of worship thru kindness and example.

Four daughters of James and Mary. Nancy, Maria, Jane, and Mary. The extrordinary picture at the left is of four of James and Mary's daughters taken in their later lives. (Back row L-R) Jane Bryan Herbert, Maria Bryan (Front row L-R) Mary Bryan Ober, and Nancy Bryan Smith. Thanks to Sam Bryan for sharing this photo, and Special Thanks to his mother, Margaret Bryan for writing on the back!

After about forty years on this farm, James disposed of it and bought a smaller farm of about 80 acres in Lower Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pa., about two miles from Dawson where he either built a house or built an addition to it and made such other improvements as were necessary to the comforts of home.The farm was next to the Cottom homestead and was possibly sold to a Cottom son.

Big Image(The Bryan Church from a bulletin in 1992 is shown on right.)  Partial List of Bryan's M.E. Church Cemetary.I have no church history to guide me in saying that James and wife were instrumental in building a new Methodist Church in their neighborhood and that a few acres of the farm were deeded to the Church for ground and a cemetery. James and wife must have been the leading workers in this project, for the Church was dedicated "The Bryan Church" and it is still known as such. Current Address is Bryan U.M. Church, R.D. #1 Box 2304, Dawson, PA 15428, It is the writer's pleasure to state that he has preserved the photographs of the church and graveyard stones of James and Mary, several of their children buried there, and other relatives, and of the last homestead of the Bryans.

"BRYAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church was organized in 1856 with about eighty members. A house of worship was erected, at a cost of about nine hundred dollars, on the property of James Bryan. The first pastor was the Rev. Sylvester Burt. Among his successors in the pulpit of this church there have been the Revs. McAlier, W. A. Steward, Moffatt, Appleton, J. Mansell, Taylor, Eaton, and S. Lane, the present pastor. The church is now in a flourishing condition with about forty members. It is out of debt, and its house of worship is in good repair. It has a Sabbath school of seventy-five scholars, with Irvin Cottom as superintendent.
History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania 1882, p. 799

It is stated by a grandchild that the mother of the late Vice President Henricks and Grandmother Mary Goodge Bryan were cousins. And by another relative it is stated that Mary Goodge Bryan was a niece of Martha Washington, wife of our first President. Which side of Martha Washington's family is not stated. The encyclopedia of the history of the families mentioned were available to almost every one to consult.

The Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County Pennsylvania by Jordan, Vol. 1 p. 244 states "He (William Cottom) married, July 6, 1817, Catherine Goodge, born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, (then Beesontown), in a house that stood across the road from the present Grand Opera House, September 27, 1789, died April 20, 1884, a grand-niece of Martha (Dandridge) Custis, widow of Colonel Daniel Custis, and the wife of George Washington, first president of the United States. "

To the union of James and Mary (nee Goodge) Bryan were born the following children in their order of birth: Jane, Maria, Nancy, Elizabeth, John G, Daniel S., James Hamilton, Samuel W., Mary, R. Alsinas, and William.

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