Millie Bryant

The photo above of Millie W. Bryant Adams represents the earliest Bryant generation captured in a photo.

Millie's granddaughter Emma Walker Briar stated that:

1. "My grandmother told me she was born in 1806 but never mentioned the month."

2. "When I lived with her after my mother died, I sometimes wrote letters for her to one of her sisters who lived in Indiana and she always had me sign her name as Millie Ware Adams." (She was named for an aunt who married a Ware.)

3. "... when I was a small girl I have heard my mother mention an Uncle Willis Bryant."

4. "I have heard my mother say that her parents lived for awhile in Missouri on or near Gasconade River, but there was so much chills and fever and snakes there, that they did not stay very long."

5. "My grandmother and grandfather Adams had five daughters and one son, namely Eliza, Rhoda Ann, Nancy, Elizabeth, Margery and Richard. Richard was with General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi but he was taken sick there and was removed with other sick and wounded to Memphis, Tennessee where he died and was buried. My grandfather went down there to get his body but he was already buried when he got there and they could not find the grave..."

Over 4 censuses, Millie consistently stated her DOB as 1806. She was born in Buckingham Co, Va. Following the death of her father, she moved to Kentucky with her mother and siblings. There are three documents relating to Millie's marriage in the Green Co records:

1. Rhoda sent a note (see image above) to the Green County Clerk, giving Millie permission to marry. Teste: John Mann (brother-in-law) and Squire Bates (brother of sister-in-law)

2. Marriage bond was provided by William Adams (Millie's fiancé) and Squire Bates. Teste: Green B. Jameson.[1]

3. Marriage Book B shows a marriage date of 20 April 1824 with Rev. James Hill, performing the ceremony.

Additional milestones:

Ca Aug 1825: Millie and William went to Missouri with her brother, Willis Bryant

1826: Oldest daughter Eliza/Sarah b. in Morgan Co, Illinois

1829: William and Millie bought land in Morgan Co.

1830: Listed in Morgan Co. under "Wm Adams" with 3 girls under 5.

1840: William and Millie with all 5 children were ennumerated in Maucopin, Illinois.

1845: Eliza ("Sarah") married William S. Jarret in Maucopin, Illinois.

1850: The census for Morgan Co, Illinois listed William Adams (45) and Millie (44) with Rhoda, Nancy, Elizabeth, Richard, and Margery.

1852: Rhoda Ann m. Joseph Cowan and Nancy m. Alva Horrom.

1860: William and Millie lived in Beardstown, Cass Co, Illinois, which had been carved out of Morgan Co.

1861: Elizabeth m. Darius N. Walker

1862: Richard, a soldier for the Union Army, died in Tennessee.

1866: According to the “History of the Bryant Family,” Millie returned to Kentucky in 1866 accompanied by a niece--a daughter of William Price Bryant, who was referred to as “the Widow Staley.”

1870: Millie was head of household with three grandchildren in Hickory, Cass Co., Illinois.

1880: Millie (74) was living alone in Cass Co, Illinois. She stated that her mother Rhoda was b. in Va and her father Anthony was born in Va. (Millie stated erroneously that she herself was b. in Ky. In fact, she moved to Ky from Va as a young girl of about 7.)

1881: Millie died in Cass Co, IL.

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[1] According to researcher, Patricia Archer: Green B. Jameson was born in October 1805 in Kentucky (probably Barren County or Warren County). He became an attorney while in Kentucky and went to Texas in 1828. He practiced law out of San Felipe and was among those in San Antonio that voted for delegates to attend the Convention of 1836. He was put in charge of shoring up the battlements of the Alamo, and died there on 6 March 1836 during the battle between the inhabitants of the Alamo and Santa Anna's forces. For more information: http://www.famousjamesons.com/people/Green_Jameson.php