Bennett Bryan and Rachael Sheppard

Documents and Information
Deed #1 that refers to Bennett's Land
Deed #2 that refers to Bennett's Land
Rachel Bryan's Probate Records 1791-1795
Bennett Bryan's Will & Probate Records 1887
Shepherd Bryan's Probate Records 1821-1823
James Bryan's Revolutionary War Pension Application
Bennett Bryan is believed to have been born abt. 1714-24, probably in Delaware. His wife, Rachel Sheppard is believed to have been born abt. 1720-30, also in Delaware. Bennett and Rachel eventually settled in the Cedar Creek Hundred, just south of Milford, DE.

As a frame of reference, although settled before by Swedes and Native Americans, Delaware was claimed by the English in 1664. About the time of Rachel's birth, in 1720, there were approximately sixty families and three hundred people living near Milford, which for a while became the county seat.

"The English claim in 1664 launched a 100 year dispute for control of Sussex County between the Duke of York, the Lords Baltimore, and William Penn. The dispute was finally settled in 1760, when two English geographers, James Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were hired to settle the land dispute. The result of their survey, the Mason-Dixon Line, was to become one of the most famous dividing lines in United States History."

At the time of Bennett's passing, in Oct. 1787, the family had the following children living: James, Shepherd, Jonathan, Charity, Mary, Rachel, Sarah, Rebeckah and Elizabeth Bryan, and Comfort Bryan Cordrey. We know that Comfort was married, and that some of the children were still minors.

The extracts of Bennett and Rachel's wills state the following:
Bennett Bryan, Will Made on 28, Oct. 1787, at Cedar Creek Hundred (Delaware).
Heirs: wife Rachel Bryan; sons James, Shepherd and Jonathan Bryan; daus. Charity, Mary, Rachel, Sarah, Rebeckah and Elizabeth Bryan, and Comfort Cordery.
Exec/Trus Name: son Shepherd Bryan
Wit Name: John Jester, Daniel Sturgis, William Poynter
Will Probate Date: 05 Nov 1787
Will Book A60, Liber D Page 243-246;folios 156-157

Rachel Bryan
Admin Name: James Bryan
Will Probate Date: 03 Feb 1791
Will Book A61 Page 6

Some thoughts and notes on Bennett Bryan: By the inventory and cash in his estate, he seemed fairly successful as a yeoman, or farmer. I believe he was also fairly religious as evidenced by the fact that his first words in his will are to God, and he had a bible in his estate. Other things that I found interesting about his estate's inventory were that there were a number of Indian items, and yet no gun listed. Also, Bennett could write, and we assume read if he owned a Bible. We know for a fact that at least James and Shepherd could read and write, I assume the rest of his children could too.

5/20/01
I recently found a reference on Ancestry.com to a Bennett Bryan born 175? in Delaware with Biographical Info on Rev.War Reference {813}:1300,1331 - I need to follow up on this.

Thoughts on Bennett Bryan's Name and possible connection to the Bennett family of Sussex County Delaware. I believe it is possible that Bennett Bryan's parents could have been Miss Bennett and Mr. Bryan. It occurrs to me that Bennett is an unusual first name in the region, and is also a known last name. Also, Bennett himself named one of his sons Shepperd Bryan - Shepperd being his wife's maiden name. So I know that Wife's Maiden Name, Husband's last name is a reasonable naming convention assumption.

John Bennett (born abt 1660, Manoka, Somerset, Md, Married Feb 6, 1683 Md, died abt 1745-Cedar Creek, Sussex, DE) and his wife Sarah FURNIS (b: 20 Dec 1665 - abt. 1716 Cedar Creek, Sussex, DE) had the following daughters who may be possibles for Bennett Bryan's mother: Ann BENNETT (born abt 1687 Manoka, Somerset, Md), Sarah BENNETT (born abt 1691, Manoka, Somerset, Md), Hannah BENNETT (born abt 1697, Manoka, Somerset, Md). These were the sisters on Stephen Bennett who is referenced below in regard to the Webb family.

Bryan, Bennett, Webb Connection In 1790, Shepperd Bryan and Sylvestor Webb were the bonded Administrators of Betty Bryan's Estate. (I suspect that this is Sheppherd's sister Elizabeth Bryan becasue a husband would not usually be a bonded administrator and she had husband or children mentioned). So we know that the Bryan and Webb families knew each other.

Also: "The Bennett Family of Sussex County, Delaware 1680-1860" by J. Bennett Hill pub. 1970 p.3 & p.6 state that Stephen Bennett made a will on August 23, 1751 which was witnessed by John Johnson, Benjamin Webb (b. 2 Oct 1761) and Magdalane Webb. In my experience, wills are usually wittnessed by close friends or neighbors, so I assume the Webb's were close in some way. In addition, Norwood Cooper who is researching the Jemima Bennett and Daniel Ponder line sent me information that Sylvestor Webb married Purnal Bennett's widow, Miriam Lofland probably sometime between 1786 and 1789.



Comfort Bryan Comfort Bryan was born about 1740-1749 in DE and married Thomas Cordrey II(born abt 1729 in Missipillico Hun, Kent, Delaware) around Abt 1768 in Milford, Sussex County, Delaware. The family lived in Cumberland, MD. Comfort and Thomas had 9 known children. Jacob Cordray, Thomas Cordray III (b. abt 1762 Cumberland, MD), Isaac Cordray (b. 1768), Noble Cordrey (b. 1770), Elizabeth Cordray (b. 1772), Nathan Cordrey (b. 1774), Shepherd Cordray (b. 1778), Bennett Cordray (b. 1780), and another child. Comfort and her mother had children about the same ages. Comfort died in Cumberland, MD. around 1800, Thomas died in Tuscarawas County, Ohio on 15 Jun, 1832.

James Bryan
According to his Revolutionary War Pension Record, James Bryan was born April 12, 1764 in Sussex County, Delaware. He enrolled for Revolutionary War service at age 15 near Milford, DE. James Bryan apprears on the 1790 Sussex County Tax list and Federal Population Schedule (DES1a481343 and DES1a481385), as living in the Cedar Creek Hundred. We also know from numerous documents that James could at least write his name.

We know that he was an executor of his mother's estate. The estate took over four years to settle. As executor, James had a number of Judgements against him including one on August 29, 1792 when he had "one bed and 6 chairs" seized by the tax collector. Records also indicate that James and Shepherd had a dispute over Rachel's estate. A receipt in the estate shows that James paid Shepherd in full on Oct. 21, 1795. On Oct 23, 1795, Rachel Bryan's estate was finally settled. James' Rev. War pension record states that he moved to Fort Cumberland, MD in 1795. This is consistent with the following Sussex Co. Deed (Bk. P 15, pp 609-611 Oct. 29, 1795), James Bryan of Ced. Crk. Hd., carpenter, and Nancy, his wife, to Phebe Massey of Mispillion Hd., selling the 1/3 of the land he inherited from his father.

We know James eventually had at least 7 children who survived into adulthood, but it has been difficult to document his marriages. Family lore, as recorded by William Holmes Bryan states that "It is said, it may be rumor, that James Sr., was twice married before he moved to Maryland or Pennsylvania."

The Delaware land records indicate that in 1795, his wife's name was Nancy. This means that Nancy is the mother of at least James, Jr. and Nathaniel Bryan. These are the only of James' children we have birthdates for.

This new information would mean that records of a James Bryan marrying an Isabella Jones on Aug, 2, 1792 in Great Choptand Parish, Dorchester Co. MD, and a Hannah Sample who married a James Bryan on Aug. 5, 1794 in Frederick Co. Va. would definetly NOT be our James Bryan. It is possible that the marriage of a James Bryan and Sally Mc Cleary on Jun 2, 1810 in Allegany County, MD was our James, although he would have been 50 years old at this time and we know that there was at least one other James Bryan, if not two others in the MD area then.

In 1831 when he was living near Uniontown, PA, a land deed says he was married to a Sarah Bryan. We have found a record of a Sarah Smith who married a James Bryan on Sept. 27, 1825 in Harrison, VA. It is not known if this is our James and Sarah or not, my current guess is that it is not.

Read More About James Bryan and his Revolutionary War service.

Shepherd Bryan
Shepherd was an administrator of his father Bennett Bryan's estate in 1787. I found a will for a Betsy Bryan with an Admin Name of Sheppard Bryan, Probate date 02, Sept 1794 (A60, page 248). This may have been Shepherd's sister or wife.

Dave Bryan in Delaware was able to find the following listing in the 5 volume Delaware Archives Military series: Sheppard--Sept. 30, 1782, Nehemiah Tilton certified that Samuel Owens brought to me for commitment, Sheppard Bryan, a Delaware soldier, captured at Dames Quarter, Somerset County, Maryland, 118 miles from Dover Gaol, the place of confinement, where he is now committed. (On back) I have received by hand of Samuel Owens, signed Shadrack Howell, for James Miller, gaoler. Nov. 13, 1782 at Dover, received of Capt. James Moore, 3 pounds for apprehending Shappard Bryan, a deserter from the Delaware Regt., and the sum of 2 pounds 19 shillings at six pence per mile from Dames Quarter, Somerset County, State of Maryland, computed to be 118 miles from this place. Samuel Owens. He must have been found innocent, since he is still in service at a later date. Dec. 28, 1783, muster roll, Delaware Regt. inspection at Philadelphia (includes) Sheppard Bryan. His name is also on an undated Return of Delaware troops under Captain Jaquett.

Shepherd Bryan apprears on the 1790 Sussex County Tax list and Federal Population Schedule (DES1a482240), as living in the Cedar Creek Hundred. Shepherd Brian also appears on the 1800, and 1810 Census. He was a head of household with a least one women and a few children living with him - indicating that he was married. Need key to this census to interprate correctly.
1800 Males 1 (10-15 yrs) 1 (26-44 yrs) Females 2 (16-25)
1810 Males 1(under 10) 1 (15-25) 2 (?)


10/5/00 Received wills from DE Archives. Analysis follows.
Shepherd Bryan and Sylvestor Webb were bonded Adiminstrators of the estate of Betty Bryan on November 10, 1790. Occupations of both Shepperd and Sylvestor are Yeoman. They were bonded "in the sum of 500 pounds of lawful money". Their job was to make " a true and perfect inventory of all and f(s)ingular the goods, chattels, and credits which were of the f(s)aid deceaf(s)ed, at his death, which have, or f(s)shall come to the hands of poffeffion (possession) of him the f(s)aid Shepherd Bryan." and they had to have completed the task by February 10, 1791.

The inventory was dated December 31, 1791. Items included in the inventory and their values as near as I can make out are listed below.

Waring Aprial (Clothes) 2 : 13 : 6
Old Bed Quilt and Sheet 1 : 0 : 0
1 Small Cark and some Crockery Ware 0 : 3 : 9 or 5
Some Old Cupper Waise 0 : 1 : 6
1 Iron Kittle and small Hammon 0 : 5 : 0
Old Bed and Blad 0 : 1 : 0
1 Old Pine Table 0 : 2 : 6
Cash 0 : 1 : 3
Total 4 : 8 : 6


The next record dates from September 2, 1794. This is the Administrative Account of Betsy Bryan's estate showing how much the accountant charged, funeral expenses etc. Her estate overview was 8 pounds 7 shillings and 3 pence. (How much in today's money?)

Shepherd Bryan died late in 1821 in Sussex County, Delaware. His estate was handled by Thomas May. It was valued at 111.59 1/2 dollars. Read the complete documents in Shepherd Bryan's Probate File.

Jonathan Bryan
Dave Bryan in DE found the following reference in the 5 volume Delaware Archives Military series: Jonathan Bryan--muster roll of Capt. Nathan Adams Company and Delaware Regt. of Continental Troops, commanded by Col. John Haslet, in barracks at Dover, April 12, 1776, (includes) Pvt. Johathan Bryan (sick in quarters); his enlistment date Jan. 15, '76.

Jonathan Bryan apprears on the 1790 Sussex County Tax list and Federal Population Schedule (DES1a481789 and DES1a481791), as living in the Cedar Creek Hundred. Although, I also found a will with a probate date of 23 March 1789 for a Jonathan Bryan in Sussex County, Will Made Date 07, Feb 1789, Heirs: dau Ann Bryan, no exec'r. Wit Name Milby Simpler and William Matthews. (Will Book A60, Liber D, Page 248;folio 219). I also found a will of Jonathan Bryan, who was administered by Comfort Bryan (although our Comfort was already married to Cordrey at this date), with a Probate of 1789 (A60, page 249) the extract says it mentions Betsy Craig, minor of John Craig, John, Mary, Sarah, Lydia, David, and William Craig.

10/5/00 Received wills from DE Archives. Analysis to follow.

Question: When was his land sold, and by whom?

Charity Bryan Nothing more known at this time.
Mary Bryan Nothing more known at this time.
Rachel Bryan Documents in her mother's estate indicate that Rachel had a dispute with Shepherd over corn to feed her "Creatirs". Read the Account. This would further indicate that Rachel was unmarried as of Aug. 3 1791. Nothing more known at this time.

Sarah Bryan Nothing more known at this time.
Rebeckah Bryan Nothing more known at this time.
Elizabeth Bryan
May be the Elizabeth Bryan whose estate was handled by Shepherd Bryan. Nothing more known at this time.

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