Originally printed in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Copy provided by Edna Wood Smith.
William Bryan, (S6699, N. C. Service and Agency: admitted to $26.66 p. a. on roll of N. C. from 4 March 1831 to 11 Feb. 1846 when he died; Cert. 37093 issued to children 24 April 1847; Act 7 June 1832).
William Bryan, Johnston Co., N. C., applied for benefit Act 7 June 1832, in two affidavits, one 26 April 1845, 84 yrs. old, and other 12 Dec. 1845, 85 yrs. old; stated family and name of Bryan very numerous, widely connected and influential in Johnston Co., N. C. long before the Revolutionary War and continued so during struggle for Independence, sharing largely in its support by their wealth and influence; same name has continued thus distinguished nearly up to this period, though many have removed to distant parts; Johnston County embraced several adjacent counties; his family lived in middle, extreme North, now perhaps Wake Co., and in extreme South end which was the family of the declarant; his father, Lewis Bryan, raised only three sons; Asa born 1750, John born 1753 and William born about 1760 (the declarant); known distinction of his family was "of Mill Creek," and all served in the Revolution; brother John was an officer in county and then removed to Georgia where he died about 30 years ago; Asa, captain in Revolution died about 20 years ago, leaving declarant only living son of his father, Lewis Bryan; when the declarant was 16 years he weight 157 pounds, and entered early in the Revolution; all family was Whig and Patriot; he served in Revolution about 12 mo.; under Capt. Whitley in 1778, in S. C. at time of Battle of Briar Creek (not in said battle); discharged; called out under Col. Needham Bryan; short service under Capt. Raiford, marched down Neuse River and encamped near Green's Ferry, then occupied by Thomas Gray, a lawyer about 1780-1; foraged horses in soft corn in Wm. (?) Gray's field; drafted 1781 for 5 mo., under Capt. Edmond Griffin, ordered to Wilmington, N. C.; William Roberts, was Lt., James Holt, Ensign, and declarant, Sgt.; remained there until news of Cornwallis' surrender; had smallpox when at Wilmington and nearly lost his life; paid only partly for services in pay and subsistence, which was all in certificates; there was another William Bryan who died about 20 years ago who belonged to the family in the North of the County, Swift Creek; he knew him well but he did not serve in Capts. Whitley or Griffin's companies; declarant's age was in a book kept by father who was a man of learning and education, but book either lost or destroyed or carried to distant parts; he was born 3 August 1760, as Nancy Hobby now an elderly woman in adjacent county of Cumberland and who lived near parents of affiant can testify; also Ann Bryan, widow of his late brother Asa Bryan who is near his age, always lived near him, now in Cumberland Co., near the Johnston Line, will testify; affiant has not heretofore applied for a pension because he lived in an obscure vicinity 18 miles from a post office and where no newspaper taken in several miles of his residence; affiant has lost his property and does not get about much; been to court house only once in 6 or 7 yrs.; would not throw himself on the charity of his country as long as his circumstances were easy, but now for several years his means are almost all gone from debts of securities not expected by him for a great part of his life.
Jesse Adams, Minister of the Gospel, born in and resident of the neighborhood of William Bryan, declares he believes in deponents Revolutionary services, 2 May 1845.
John Q. Adams, J. P., and Thos. Bagley, Clk. Ct., Johnston County, N. C., attested both affidavits, 4 June 1845 and 17 Jan. 1846.
Anna Hobby, Cumberland Co., N. C., 15 Dec. 1845, 97 or 98 yrs., b. 1748 in Johnston Co., N. C. in south end of county; married Ruben Hobby in 1770, and near neighbors of Lewis Bryan of Mill Creek, Johnston, N. C.; states he had 3 sons, Asa nearly the age of deponent, John a High Sheriff of county and Surveyor; next William Bryan who now lives within 2 or 3 miles from where he was born, and about 5 miles from where she lives, though in different counties; he is 10-12 years younger than she; all Bryan sons served in Revolution; remembers that when William Bryan retd. from Wilmington in Rev. serv. he was badly marked with small-pox, which he had with Capt. Griffin.
James Hodges, J. P., lives 3 miles from Anna Hobby, declares he knows her to have an astonishing mind and memory.
John McLaurin, Cumberland Co., Clk. Ct., attested.
William F. Collins, Compt. Public Recounts, Raleigh, N. C., 9 March 1846, certified that Edmond Griffin, Johnston Co., N. C. was allowed by the Auditor, Newbern Dist., L 472.10 for serv. in Feb. 1782 in Rev., Rec. 3, Bound Book, p. 146 ent. Compt. Office of Kingston.
Ashbey Sanders; N. C., House of Commons, from Johnston Co., N. C. 2 Jan. 1847, declared William Bryan was a candidate for the legislature in 1825 and in campaigning referred to his Revolutionary serv.
Jno. MacLeod, Raleigh, N. C., 5 Jan. 1847, declared he was a member of the legislature 1820-1824, and William Bryan was also a candidate and re. to himself as a Rev. soldier.
Wm. Dallas Haywood, J. P., attested, Wake Co., N. C.
Jas. T. Mamoh, Clk., Wake Co., N. C., by W. H. High, deputy, attested 16 Jan. 1847.
William F. Collins, Compt., Raleigh, N. C., certified that William Bryan had the following specia certificates: l20.5, Bk. 23, p. 47, pd. by Sheriff of Johnston Co.;L 10, Bk. 2f, p.32; and L 11.14, Bk. 3, p. 5.
The Secretary of War, 24 April 1847, in conformity with the law of the U. S., 7 June 1832, certified that William Bryan, deceased, late of N. C. who was a pvt. in Rev. is entitled to receive $26.66 per annum to commence 4 March 1831 and terminate 11 February 1846, day he died, and such amount is payable to only surviving children as follows:
| Asa H. Bryan | Eliza Bryan |
| Janet Bryan | Alice Bryan |
| Joseph Bryan | Joanna Thorton (or Thornton) |
payment to be made at Fayetteville, by John Huske, agent in N. C.
Statement that William Bryan left no widow.
Cert. sent to I. L. and A. S. Smith. Also reference made to Cert. 32561.
