SEVENTH GENERATION

68. Reuben Briant Sr. ⁽¹⁾ was born about 1767/68 in Patrick County (Possibly Henry County), Virginia. He died By 15 May 1863 in Pacolet, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. Information in The Bryants of Spartanburg by J. Bland Pope, from which he took from Goodspeed History of West Tennessee, states that Reuben Briant lived until about 1870, and died at the advanced age of 103 years old. [Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998]. He was buried in Head-Bryant Cemetery, Pacolet, S. C.. He was a Farmer. Some records such as the History of West Tennessee, Goodspeed, circa 1898, by
unknown copyist says "In his youth, Reuben Briant went to S. C., where he
married and remained until his career ended. He died at the advances age of
103 years, about 1870. His wife, Nancy Tollerson, was born in S. C.; she died
in 1813, at the age of about 35. By this union they had 10 children. Mr.
Briant was married 3 times, and was the father of 14 children.

Another version says: Grandser Bryant was named Reuben (Sr - JBP). He died
about 1861 (sic) - 90 odd years of age. He married Nancy Tolleson, daughter
of John Tolleson. Reuben Bryant's children by Nancy Tolleson were: William
T., John, Eli, Alfred and Muse Bryant, Betsy, Polly, Sallie, and Charlotte.
(Note that this leaves out James, born 1809, married Polly Quinn -JBP).
Reuben Bryant's second wife was Sally Whidley, by whom were Tom, Berriman,
Dave and Nancy. Third wife, Nancy Wiott - no children.
The earliest land record found for any of the Briants is a 1793 South Carolina
grant to Rubin Briant on Pacolet River, District of Pinckney in Spartanburg
County, 640 acres, Reference - S. C. Archives, State Plats, Vol. 32, 1792-96,
page 132.
The 1860 Spartanburg, South Carolina Census lists Reuben Briant, 72, Farmer,
born in Virginia. His wife Nancy, 65, born in S. C., his mother-in-law Nancy
Wyatt, 85.

Dr. J. Bland Pope suggests that Reuben Briant, Sr. may not have been the son of Sallie
Tolleson. [Danny A. McBee, March 3, 1998].

The earliest grantee deed in Spartanburg County that is clearly related to this family of
Briants is an 1806 deed for land on Pacolet River to Reuben Briant Sr. from John Easterwood. (Deed Book L-59). The earliest grantor deed of the family in Spartanburg County is the sale by Reuben Briant Sr. of 640 acres on Pacolet River to Peter Peterson in
1795. (Deed Book E-67). This is evidently the same 640 acres granted Rubin Briant,
surveyed for him 8 August 1793 (that surveyed land adjoined Peter Peterson's land.)

Reuben Briant Sr's Will is in the South Carolina Archives, Spartanburg County Estates, File
340, 1863, proved 1863, signed with a mark. The only children mentioned, and the only heir, was son Eli. The will was signed December 17, 1855. [Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998]. He was married to Nancy Tolleson about 1790.

69. Nancy Tolleson ⁽¹⁾ was born about 1770. She died on 4 Jul 1820 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was buried in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Children were:

i. Elizabeth "Betsy" Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1790 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
ii. Charlotte Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1791 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
34 iii. William Tolleson "Gray Buck" Bryant.
iv. John Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1797 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. John Briant shows up in the 1830 and 1840 Spartanburg, South Carolina U. S.
Census. He shows up in the 1850 and 1860 Benton County, Alabama U. S. Census.
[Danny A. McBee].
v. Mary "Polly" Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1800 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
vi. Muse T. Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1804 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He died after 12 Jun 1852. Listed as father in law in a will dated June 12, 1852. [Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998]. He was a Farmer. Muse Briant was mentioned in his father-in-law's will June 12, 1852.
vii. Sarah "Sally" Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1805 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
viii. Eli Briant⁽¹⁾ was born on 29 Apr 1806 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He died on 8 Mar 1881 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Spartanburg, South Carolina. He had an estate probated in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was a Farmer. Eli Briant shows up in the 1850 and 1860 Spartanburg, South Carolina Census.
Eli may have had an earlier wife, Mary, who filed for divorce 1830 in Haywood
County, N. C. Superior Court. [Danny A. McBee, June 11, 1997].

Eli Briant's birth and death date was taken from his gravemarker located in the Bethesda Baptist Church Cemetery in Spartanburg, South Carolina. His name is listed as Ely Briant on his gravemarker. [Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998].
ix. James Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1809 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was a Farmer. James shows up in the 1850 Spartanburg, South Carolina Census with his wife
and children. He also shows up in 1860 in the Calhoun County, Alabama Census
with his wife and family. There is the possibility that James was previously
married and had two children in 1827.
x. Alfred Briant⁽¹⁾ was born about 1809 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He died after 1872 in Huntington, Carroll County, Tennessee. He was a Farmer, Sheriff, Coroner. Alfred Briant removed to Carroll County, Huntington, Tennessee in 1838. He
also fought in the Civil War. He was Captain of Company H. 55th Regiment,
Tennessee Infantry. Alfred Briant was a mason and a democrat. Alfred Briant
moved to Carroll County, Tennessee in 1838. He shows up in the 1850 and 1870
Carroll County, Tennessee Census. [Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998].

The following information came from Goodspeed History of West Tennessee: "Alfred
Briant ...was born in Spartanburgh Dist., S. C. 1809, and is the son of Reuben and Nancy
(Tolerson) Briant. The father was of Irish (sic) descent; he was born in Virginia, and
followed farming. In his you he went to S. C., where he married and remained until his career ended. He died at the advanced age of 103 years, about 1870. His wife, Nancy
Tolerson, was born in S. C.; she died in 1813, at the age of about 35. By this union they had 10 children. Mr. Briant was married 3 times, and was the father of 14 children. [Copied by Danny A. McBee, October 5, 1998, from Dr. Jennings Bland Pope's book
The Bryants of Spartanburg].

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