Martin Bryant b. ca 1836

Image: Photo and accompanying story were published in "The Falcon" newspaper of Lynchburg, TN in 1900. The event was a reunion of Confederate soldiers. Martin Bryant was seated in the front row far left with his arm slung over the bench.

Below is a summary of many hours of research done by Nancy Bryant and Rebecca Bryant. Military records were analyzed by Shirley Perry.

Based on two DNA matches, plus quite a bit of the genealogical research, we know that Martin Bryant b. 1834-6 in Lincoln Co or Franklin Co, Tn was a grandson or great grandson of John Bryant Jr. and Judith Winfrey. The exact connection is unknown, but these are the possibilities:

Scenario 1: In the 1850 census, Martin was living with James Couch and Mary Leonard. Prior to marrying James Couch, Mary Leonard wedded a male Bryant and gave birth to Martin in 1836. Her Bryant husband died 1835-6. She immediately remarried James Couch in 1836-7, and they had a daughter in 1837. Martin remained with her. The male Bryant would have been either an unknown son of John Bryant Jr. and Judith or the oldest son of John Bryant III and Letha.

Scenario 2: James Couch had a sister who wedded a male Bryant. When the sister died, James took in his nephew, Martin.

Scenario 3: Martin was the second son of James Bryant and Eudocia Littrell. Martin lived with his parents in Lincoln County in 1840. By 1850, when he was 14, Martin's parents had placed him with the Couches. (Sometimes poor back country families placed a child with another family to work in exchange for food and clothing.)

Scenario 4: James Bryant had a first marriage to a Couch or Leonard female who died. Martin went to live with his aunt/uncle.

Martin's Family

On 2 Oct 1899, per his pension application, Martin said he was 64, his wife was 55 and he had 7 children 3 boys and 4 girls ages 12 to 30.

On 8 Apr 1900, also in his pension application, Martin said he was 66, b 3 Jan 1834. He had eight children: 3 boys 5 girls ages 39, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18,16, and 12. At that time, he had two wives, both dead.

Here's our configuration of his family based on the pension, censuses, and research:

Martin Bryant b. 1834-6 in Tn d. aft 1900

m1 Susan E Branham 28 Oct 1857 in Lincoln, Co. (Her actual surname was probably Brandon). She died after the 1860 census and before Martin's second marriage in 1868.

m2 Martin A. Bryant marries M. A. McGeehee in 1868 in Lincoln Co, Tn. She died between Oct. 1899 and April 1990.

Children:

1. Emma Lou b 27 Feb 1862 d. 30 June 1934 (Parkin Cross, AR)? m. Lindsay C. Harper? She was the only known child of Susan E.

2. James Franklin (Frank) b 7 July 1869 d. 27 May 1942 (Giles, TN)* m. Esther Ella Pierce

3. Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) b 20 Feb 1874 d. Jan. 27, 1934 m. George Massey

4. Charley R. b Apr 1876 d 7 Apr 1955 m. Mary Gray in Lincoln, TN

5. Georgie M. (Myrtle?) b Dec 1879

6. Ida Blanche b June 1882 d.Sept 13, 1962 (Huntsville, Alabama) m. John Cyrus Satterfield

7. Nannie Sue b 15 Dec 1884 May 7, 1948 (High Point, Guilford, NC) m. George C. Laws

8. William Martin (Will) b 7 Mar 1887 d Oct 7 1929 (Huntsville, Madison Co, AL) m1 Anna Lois Copeland m2 Maggie

*James' death certificate indicated his mother was "Martha." The 1870 census incorrectly listed his age as 6 years; the enumerator probably meant 6 months.

Bryant Connections

Strangely, although we know by virtue of DNA that Martin was part of the RIC clan, there is very little to link him to any other Bryants. These are the only proven exceptions:

1) Martin was directly connected to a Thomas Bryant, as they both enlisted in the same Civil War company. This could indicate that they were brothers, cousins, or no relationship at all. In 1860, prior to enlistment, Martin was in Dist. 2 of Lincoln. The best match is a Thomas Bryan(t) b. 1833 who was living in the household of Squire Pickle in Dist 11 of Lincoln in 1860.

2) There was a direct but convoluted link between Charles Robert (son of Martin) and Sarah (daughter of James Bryant, a son or grandson of John Jr.) Try to follow this: James' daughter Sarah was living with her daughter Eliza Bryant Atchley in Jackson Co., Al, when Eliza's step daughter Sarah Atchley married Amos Bryant (son of Charlie Robert and grandson of Martin) of Madison Co, Al. Although it could be a coincidence, this seems to indicate a family that continued to visit and stay connected despite living in different counties. Unfortunately, it does not tell us the nature of the possible family relationship.

3) A detailed analysis of James Bryant's neighbors in the 1840 census for Lincoln County indicates that that they were clustered in 3 different places in 1850, at which time James had moved on to Franklin Co. One of those locations was proximate to where Martin had been living in in 1840. This renders a 33% possibility of a physical linkage between James and Martin.

Military Record

Summary by Shirley Perry:

The records I have show Martin Bryant was a private in Co. E, 44 Tennessee Inf., and then Co. B on all except 1 record, which shows Co. A. This record has the middle initial "J."

In Martin's pension papers, he cited Co. B with Col. McDaniel & Capt. Spencer; and Co. B with Col. McDaniel, Col. Fulton, & Capt. Spencer. He further cited wounds in battles at Knoxville, Beans Station, Tn., and Petersburg, Va. Martin served from Dec. 7, 1861, thru April, 1865.

William Elisha Bryant (son of James, son or grandson of John Jr.) served from Dec. 7, 1861, thru June 29, 1862. His records show Co. A, K, & I, and his pension papers cite Col. Fulton and Capt. Stiles. A record sent in 1906 from the War Dept. indicates that Co. I was also designated Co. A & Co. D.

From Fold3:

Martin Bryant muster rolls show him as initially in Company K and then B. He enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months

A Thomas Bryant (mentioned above, parents unknown) was enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. In May and Jane 1862. He was in Company K of the 44th Reg. In July and August and thereafter he was listed in Company B. He was initially a private, but by March and April 1863, he was listed as a 2nd Lieutenant. By July and Aug 1863, he was listed as a 3rd Lieut. Then back to a 2nd Lieut later. He was described as having a fair complexion, dark hair, grey eyes, height 6' 1." The record states he was from Lincoln County TN. He surrendered May 2, 1865 at Dalton GA and signed an oath of allegiance on May 17 1865. (There is no record of a pension application from Thomas Bryant, indicating that he was either dead by the time it became available, out of state, or didn't need the money by 1891, when it became available.)

William Elisha Bryant (son of James, son or grandson of John Jr.) also enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. He was in Company D and then A. He was discharged 29 Jun 1862 (note: this was less than 12 months)

James W. Bryant enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. His first Muster roll slip says company D and all later ones say company A. He was captured near Chickamauga 19 Sep 1863 and sent to Louisville for exchange 5 Oct 1863. Some of his muster slips say James W., some say William J., some say W. J., and one says William G. His date of discharge was 3 Oct. 1863. He was in a hospital at Dalton GA.

John D. Bryant also enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. He was originally in Company D and then later Company A. He was captured at Chickamauga 19 Sep 1863. Initially, it was reported that he was captured and not heard of since. Then he was listed as a prisoner at Camp Douglas Ill. He signed the aath of allegiance at Point Lookout MD on 23 Jun 1865 and was released at Point Lookout 23 June 1865. He was described as dark complexion, dark hair, hazel eyes and height of 5' 8". Residence was stated as Lincoln County TN. Similar to Martin Bryant, he was last paid by Malone.

Robert M Bryan was also listed as Robert M Bryant. He also enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. He was listed in Company A, then B, then F. He was absent without pay for days at a time. He was last paid by Malone, captured at the Battle of Chickamauga 20 Sep 1863, and sent to Louisville Ky for exchange. He was discharged at Camp Douglas IL on 3 Oct 1863, transferred to Point Lookout MD on 23 Mar 1865, and released 9 June 1865. He signed oath of allegiance

William D. Bryan is also listed as William D. Bryant. He also enlisted Dec 7 1861 at Camp Trousdale by Col. Farquharson for 12 months. He started as a Private and ended as a Captain. He wa listed in Company A, then F. He was also paid by Malone. He was captured at the Chickamauga 19 Sep 1863.

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From Shirley Perry:

Company E, 44th TN Infantry, Private, mustered in Dec 7 1861 for 12 months at Camp Trousdale

On April 18, 1862 the 44th TN Infantry was consolidated into 5 companies and united with the 55th TN Infantry to form the 44th infantry (Consolidated)

Martin Bryant, Company B, 44th TN Infantry, remained at at Camp Trousdale

Nov and Dec. 1862. Last paid. By Whome: Malone. Remarks: Detailed as Teamster

Jan and Feb. 1863. Last Paid: By Whome: Malone. Absent. Detailed as Teamster. Dec the -- by Captain Holt

March and Apr. 1863. Present. Returned from Detached service March 13, 1863 (Teamster in Lincoln County)

May and June, 1863. Last Paid: Capt Malone. Feb 28, 1863. Absent. Detached as teamster May 9, 1863 by special order from division. Hd. Irs. No 8 May 8, 1863

July and Aug, 1863 -- Still absent, same reason

Sept & Oct 1863. Paid by:Capt. Dibrill

Martin continued to be present through April 1864 roll.

May and Jane 1864. Absent Captured in front of Petersburg June 17, 1864

Appears on rolls of Prisoners of War at Point Lookout, Maryland., Date of Arrival: City Point July 24, 1864, Transferred to Elmira NY July 27, 1864

Transferred for exchange, Feb 25, 1865

Name appears as a signature to a Parole of Prisoners of War, Paroled at Elmira, N.Y. Feb 25, 1865 and sent to James River for Exchange

Links between Couches and Bryants

Buckingham Co, Va

John Bryant, Sr and John Couch were very close neighbors on Rock Island Creek.

John Bryant Sr. was born bef. 1732. He lived in Cumberland/Powhatan for an unknown period of time. He was in Albemarle bef. 1754 and Buckingham Co bef. 1772. He continued to live there on Rock Island Creek until his death in 1798.

James Couch owned land on Rock Island Creek before 1782. Capt John Couch, his presumed but unproved brother, had 200 acres on Thomas’ Creek by 1782.

Bryants and Couches continued to live adjacent to each other on Rock Island Creek for decades. On December 12, 1832 because a John Couch and a William Anderson recorded a deed for 170 acres “on small branches of Rock Island Creek joining lines of John Briants."

Lincoln Co, Tennessee

1820 Census: On the same page as John Bryant Jr. and son Randolph Bryant, there are two Couch households (John B and Barrister). On the same page with John Bryant III and the Shelton family, there are 4 Couch households (Eli, Millington, Jonathan and Mary). Born in Va in 1776, Mary Couch (mother of James) is 26-45 and has 6 children living with her.

1840 a 64 year old Mary Couch lived next door to James Couch. Her household includes a boy 5-10 (Martin?), a woman 30-40, and two girls.

In 1850: Martin Bryant was living in this household: James Couch 34 Mary Couch 34 Mary Couch 13 Elizabeth Couch 10 Newton Couch 8 Franka Couch 6 Vina Couch 4 Jane Couch 1 Martin Bryant 14 (The name "Newton" recurs in Couches who have Group 5 DNA)

In 1860, the Couch family is living in Franklin Co, Tn. and an older Mary Couch, designated as mother, was living with James and his wife Mary. James (44), Mary (44), Mary (24), Newton (18), Frankly (16), Viny (13), Minerva (8), George (3), Nelson (6 mos), J.M. Alley (25), and Mary (84)

In 1880, James & Mary with their three youngest children were still in Franklin Co.

Couches and Bryants both intermarried with Luttrells & Sheltons. The Taylor girls Mahulda Jane and Phoebe Grace married Thomas Couch and William Elisha Bryant, respectively. A third sister, Nancy, married a Bennett and was the mother of John J. Bennett. 1857 Martin Bryant married Susan Branham or the same day that John J Bennett married Melissa Couch.

South Carolina

A note on the Couch website indicated that Millington Couch and Edward Couch & drew land grants from Revolutionary Claims filed in South Carolina between Aug 20 1773 and Aug 31, 1786 as kept by the Auditor General James McCall. Note the Millington Couch above in Lincoln Co.