Membership List for the Liberty Chapel and a Letter from Marguerite Cook Clark to Eugene Ragan Pruitt.

Transcribed by Diana Bryan Quinn - Punctuation, grammar, and spelling are copied exactly as written

                                                                                                                                                        Ringgold, La.

                                                                                                                                                              August 17,1982

Dear Cousin,

I do wish I had some news about Reddick to send but haven't had a chance to hunt. I seem to spin my wheels.  It was really nice to talk to you when you called, way back in the spring.  But hopefully things will level off and I will have a bit of time to call mine, then I will get on the stick and hunt for Reddick again.

I did want to tell you tho that the letter you sent me a copy of that Elizabeth wrote to Spann sent me digging into an old book on the membership of Liberty Chapel.  That was the church that was on the property of either John Regan or the Bryan place and an uncle of mine said the Bryan place.  (they joined)  Be that as it may I used it in the history of Grand Bayou.  I am sending a program thought you might be interested, also the first recorded membership from Liberty Chapel, that can be found.  So many of the folks are listed tis interesting.

I gotta get myself up and see what the two grand children are up to. This just a note but thought you might like to see this.

Hope to hear from you and if I find Reddick I will let you know.  I think I am going to hunt in N.C.

Fondly, Marguerite Clark

Send me your phone no. please

Marguerite Clark - Marguerite Cook Clark, of Bienville Parish, was a descendant of Reddick and Elizabeth's son Joseph B. Bryan and his wife, Sarah Margaret Wimberly. I have copies of several letters that Marguerite wrote to my father and other descendants of Reddick Bryan about the Bryan family and her search for Reddick Bryan's parents.

Reddick - Reddick Bryan was born in NC in 1793. Elizabeth Regan was his second wife. The name of his first wife is currently unknown. Reddick moved from the Martin County area of NC to settle in central Georgia  around 1820, and in 1838 left his home in Houston County, GA to settle in Northwest Louisiana.

Elizabeth - Born, Elizabeth S. Regan in 1798, she was the daughter of Joseph and Dorothea Regan of Robeson County, NC.  She was first married to her first cousin, Joseph Regan, and had two boys, John and Spann. Reddick Bryan was her second husband.

Spann -   Spann Ragan, who changed the spelling of his name from Regan to Ragan, was the son of Elizabeth Regan and her first husband, Joseph Regan. Spann did not remain with his family in Bienville Parish, but settled in Georgia where he married Julius Speight. Spann died in Terrell County, Georgia in 1875.

John Regan -   John Regan was the son of Elizabeth Regan and her first husband, Joseph Regan.

Grand Bayou - Grand Bayou United Methodist Church, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, celebrated its 100th year anniversary in 1982.

"Liberty Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South, Bienville Parish was located some 6 or 7 miles SE of Ringgold on what was the Reddick Bryan place, near the Bryan cemetery was the founder of Methodism in this area.  As early as Oct. 1845 they were having Camp Meetings. Elizabeth S. Bryan reported there were only a 4 tents but they had a fine time. That had a good many hearers, and there were 13 who joined the church."

Mrs. Mary Manning

 “     Eliza  Bryan

 “     Sarah Bryan – Absent

 “      John Regan - moved

Mr.   John Regan -      “

Mr. James Bryan

Mrs. A. M. Bryan

Mr. Kenneth Wardsworth  Died

Mrs. Ann Wardsworth

Mrs. Amanda Watts

Mr. T. L. Bryan and wife

Mrs. Sarah M. Bryan

Mrs. Laura F. Martin

  “     Fannie Thomas

 Mr. J. L. Wimberly

Mrs. Fannie Wimberly

 “  Lucy Thomas

Mrs. Martha Caldwell

Mr.Terrell Bryan – Withdrawn

Mrs. Harriet Bryan

 “   Lou M. Brice

Mrs. Fannie Davis   Absent by letter

Mrs. Lizzie Watts

Mrs. Lizzie Carr

Mrs. Cate Cabones

 “   Lucy Lawson

 “ Josie Cook

Mrs. Alice Huckaby

Mr. E. B. Watts

 “ Thomas Wimberly  Died

Mrs. Sophronie Cutter

Mr. Ezekel Wimberly

 “  John Bryan – Droped

 “  R. Bryan Regan

 “ Edward Prothro

 “ Andrew Shepherd – Droped

 “  Roger Lawson

 “  George Prior -  Died

Mrs. Dorrathy Rogers – Droped

 “      Amanda Prior  Droped

 “  A. G. Davis  Droped

I have identified these individuals using family records, The Wimberly Family History, the GenWeb site for Bienville Parish and census records. Thirty-one of those listed can be connected to the Bryan/Regan families. There may be errors and I would appreciate any corrections or additional information about the persons listed.

Mrs. Mary Manning - May have been the wife of Benjamin Manning or his father, Simon Manning

 “     Eliza S. Bryan - Born, Elizabeth S. Regan in 1798, she was the daughter of Joseph and Dorothea Regan of Robeson County, NC. In 1875, she was the widow of Reddick Bryan.

 “     Sarah Bryan – This could be Sarah Lawson Bryan, widow of Miles Bryan who died in 1863. Miles is thought to be the half-brother of Reddick Bryan.

 “      John Regan - Martha Davis was married to John Regan.

Mr.   John Regan -   John Regan was the son of Elizabeth Regan and her first husband, Joseph Regan. It appears that all surviving children of John Regan and Martha Davis were on this membership list.  Three of the Regan's four sons were killed during the Civil War.

Mr. James Bryan - James Bryan, first son of Reddick Bryan and his first wife. James Bryan married Alice Mary Wimberly.

Mrs. A. M. Bryan - Alice Mary Wimberly, daughter of William Wimberly and wife of James Bryan.

Mr. Kenneth Wardsworth  - currently unknown 

Mrs. Ann Wardsworth - currently unknown

Mrs. Amanda Watts   - Catherine Amanda Bryan, sometimes called "Manda."  She was the daughter of Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Regan and the widow of James C. Watts.

Mr. T. C. Bryan and wife - Tilman C. Bryan, son of Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Regan, was married to  Mildred Manning Prothro Bryan

Mrs. Sarah M. Bryan - Sarah Margaret Wimberly was married to Joseph B. Bryan. She was the daughter of William Wimberly.

Mrs. Laura F. Martin - Laura Frances Bryan, the first child of Joseph B. Bryan and Sarah Margaret Wimberly. She was married to Thomas Jefferson Martin.

  “     Fannie Thomas - This may be Frances Louisa Wimberly, daughter of William Wimberly. She was married to Benjamin Franklin Thomas.

 Mr. J. L. Wimberly- John Lawson Wimberly, son of William Wimberly

Mrs. Fannie Wimberly - Georgia Ann Frances Bryan was the daughter of Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Regan.  She was first married to James S. Pittman who was killed in the Civil War and later to Ezekiel Wimberly.

 “  Lucy Thomas - This is probably Lucy T. Wimberly, daughter of John Lawson Wimberly and Sophanny A. Nix.  She was a granddaughter of William Wimberly. Lucy married Newport L. "Port" Thomas.

Mrs. Martha Caldwell - Currently unknown, however, I did find a Martha Susan Lawson who married Issac Caldwell in Bienville Parish in 1850 and a Martha Rebecca Leatherman who was married to Alexander Hamilton Caldwell.

Mr. Terrell Bryan - Terrell Bryan, the son of Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Span Regan, was born in Georgia in 1936.  He served in the 16th Louisiana Infantry during the Civil War and wounded at Shiloh and Missionary Ridge. He left Louisiana for Texas after the Civil War and by 1878 had settled in Erath County, Texas where he and his wife are buried.

Mrs. Harriet Bryan - Harriet Louisa Albritton, born in Twiggs County, Georgia in 1836, was the daughter of Peter and Hollon Albritton. She married Terrell Bryan in 1855 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Harriet died in Stephenville on February 9, 1909.

 “   Lou M. Brice - I believe that Lou M could be Louise Marian Regan, born October 29, 1840. She was married to Columbus Brice.  She and many other Brice family members are buried in the Brice Cemetery. According to Bible records, she was married to a John Gregg. She and Columbus Brice had boys T.Bryan Brice and Sam Reagan Brice, both with Bryan/Regan family names.  In 1880, also living with Brice family members was a Lila Gregg, stepdaughter to Columbus. The Brice Cemetery Transcription and family histories submitted to Ancestory.com list Louise's maiden name as Davis.  Louise Marian Regan's mother was Martha Davis. Her father was John Regan.

Mrs. Fannie Davis -  currently unknown 

Mrs. Lizzie Watts - Martha Elizabeth Wimberly married to Edmund B. Watts. "Lizzie" was the daughter of John Lawson Wimberly and Sophanny A. Nix.

Mrs. Lizzie Carr -This is Elizabeth Frances Regan who married John Carr. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Regan and Martha Davis and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Span Regan Bryan.

Mrs. Cate Cabones - This is Mary Catherine Regan who married Andrew Cabiness.  "Cate" was the daughter of John Regan and Martha Davis and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Span Regan Bryan.

 “   Lucy Lawson - This is Lucy Miranda Regan who married Roger Lawson.  Lucy was the daughter of John Regan and Martha Davis and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Span Regan Bryan.

 “ Josie Cook - Joseph Sarah Catherine Bryan was the daughter of Joseph B. Bryan and Sarah Margaret Wimberly.  Josie was adopted by her Aunt Alice Mary Wimberly Bryan and Uncle James Bryan, a childless couple. 

Mrs. Alice Huckaby - Alice E. Watts, daughter of James C. Watts and Catherine Amanda Bryan. Alice was married to G. H. Huckaby.

Mr. E. B. Watts - Edmund B. Watts , son of Catherine Amanda Bryan and James C. Watts

 “ Thomas Wimberly - This may be Thomas Henry Wimberly who died in 1871. Thomas Henry Wimberly was the son of William Wimberly and Lucy Wimberly. He was married to Josephine A. Davis.

Mrs. Sophronie Cutter - currently unknown, this name was very difficult to read

Mr. Ezekel Wimberly - Ezekiel S. Wimberly was the second husband of Georgia Ann Frances Bryan Pitman. He was the son of David Wimberly.  This family's relationship to the William Wimberly family is unknown.

 “  John Bryan – This name was difficult to read. This may be John Terrell Bryan son of Joseph B. Bryan and Sarah Margaret Wimberly.  John was adopted by his Aunt Alice Mary Wimberly Bryan and Uncle James Bryan, a childless couple. 

 “  R. Bryan Regan - Reddick Bryan Regan was the son of John Regan and Martha Davis. He was married to Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Gardner.

 “ Edward H. Prothro - son of Mildred R. Manning Prothro Bryan and her first husband, E. Hartwell Prothro.

 “ Andrew Shepherd – Husband of Delpha Bryan, daughter of Miles Bryan and Sarah Lawson.

 “  Roger Lawson - Husband of Lucy Miranda Regan

 “  George Prior  - George Prior probably George Pior was the first husband of Dorthy Emily Regan

Mrs. Dorrathy Rogers – Dorthy Emily Regan was the daughter of John Regan and Martha Davis. She was first married to George Prior / Pior and second married David A. Rogers.

 “      Amanda Prior (maybe Pior)  -  currently unknown

 “  A. G. Davis - currently unknown - I did find A.G. Davis on the Bienville GenWeb pages as marrying L. E. Smith on March 2, 1871.

Bryan Family Documents

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