JOHN BRYANT SR. came from Kent, England in 1639, although some sources state he may have come in the "Ann" in 1623; tradition says a brother to Stephen; was living in Barnstable, Mass. in 1640; moved to Scituate, Mass. in 1642; John built a home in Scituate on the Second Herring Brook in 1650 and a second residence there in 1676; house carpenter; m. (1) Nov. 14, 1643 by Timothy Hatherly, Esquire Mary Lewis of Barnstable (George and Sarah Jenkins) [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:17], bp. 1623 in Kent, England, d. July 2, 1655 in Scituate [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:49]. John Bryant is first mentioned in Plymouth Colony records Dec. 1, 1640 as a witness in court [Plym. Col. Rec., 2:5], though a John Bryan was presented at court for inordinate drinking Mar. 5, 1639, and again Sept. 3, 1639 [Plym. Col. Rec., 1:118, 1:132]. A John Bryant was presented at court Mar. 2, 1642 for "drinking tobacco upon the highway" [Plym. Col. Rec., 2:12]. In 1643 John is listed as a member of Scituate's Military Company. John Bryan of Scituate took an oath of fidelity on Jan. 15, 1645 [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:183]. He was propounded a freeman on June 7, 1653, and admitted on June 6, 1654 [Plym. Col. Rec., 3:31, 3:48]. John served as a deputy to the general Court in 1657, 1677 and 1678 [Plym. Col. Rec., 3:115, 5:231, 5:256]. He served as a surveyor of highways for Scituate in 1673 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:115], as selectman in 1677 and 1678 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:230, 5:257], as deacon of Scituate's Second Church in 1669 and was frequently being appointed or elected to other public service positions.
A history of Scituate written by Dean and quoted by Colonial Families of the United States records that on one Sunday morning, John Bryant entered the meetinghouse late. The Reverend William Witherle, after prayers, addressed him before the congregation saying: "Neighbor Bryant, it is to your reproach that you have disturbed the worship by entering late, living as you do, within a mile of this place and especially so, while here is Goody Barstow, who has milked seven cows, made a cheese, and walked five miles to the House of God in good season."
SOURCE: Plym. Col. Rec.-- Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, twelve volumes, ed. by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. (Vols. 1-8) and David Pulsifer (Vols. 9-12), 1855-61, Boston, Mass. [reprinted by AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1968].His will dated Sept. 24, 1684, probated Mar. 4, 1685 in Plymouth. In it he mentions fifteen children and makes his widow, Mary, the only executrix.
Lived in Barnstable, MA
resided in Dedham, Mass. in 1642; m. Sept. 5, 1648 Mary Fisher (Joshua and ______), d. Aug. 6/7, 1691; Mary was admitted to the church in Dedham on Jan. 21, 1648, her husband on Jan. 22, 1653; was a freeman 1654; lived in Sudbury, Mass. in 1664, but returned Dedham before 1674. He d. Feb. 8, 1706. His will was dated Feb. 6, 1702, proved Mar. 7, 1706. Name is sometimes found spelled "Battelle," "Batteley," etc.
JOHN BRYANT SR. came from Kent, England in 1639, although some sources state he may have come in the "Ann" in 1623; tradition says a brother to Stephen; was living in Barnstable, Mass. in 1640; moved to Scituate, Mass. in 1642; John built a home in Scituate on the Second Herring Brook in 1650 and a second residence there in 1676; house carpenter; m. (1) Nov. 14, 1643 by Timothy Hatherly, Esquire Mary Lewis of Barnstable (George and Sarah Jenkins) [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:17], bp. 1623 in Kent, England, d. July 2, 1655 in Scituate [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:49]. John Bryant is first mentioned in Plymouth Colony records Dec. 1, 1640 as a witness in court [Plym. Col. Rec., 2:5], though a John Bryan was presented at court for inordinate drinking Mar. 5, 1639, and again Sept. 3, 1639 [Plym. Col. Rec., 1:118, 1:132]. A John Bryant was presented at court Mar. 2, 1642 for "drinking tobacco upon the highway" [Plym. Col. Rec., 2:12]. In 1643 John is listed as a member of Scituate's Military Company. John Bryan of Scituate took an oath of fidelity on Jan. 15, 1645 [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:183]. He was propounded a freeman on June 7, 1653, and admitted on June 6, 1654 [Plym. Col. Rec., 3:31, 3:48]. John served as a deputy to the general Court in 1657, 1677 and 1678 [Plym. Col. Rec., 3:115, 5:231, 5:256]. He served as a surveyor of highways for Scituate in 1673 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:115], as selectman in 1677 and 1678 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:230, 5:257], as deacon of Scituate's Second Church in 1669 and was frequently being appointed or elected to other public service positions.
A history of Scituate written by Dean and quoted by Colonial Families of the United States records that on one Sunday morning, John Bryant entered the meetinghouse late. The Reverend William Witherle, after prayers, addressed him before the congregation saying: "Neighbor Bryant, it is to your reproach that you have disturbed the worship by entering late, living as you do, within a mile of this place and especially so, while here is Goody Barstow, who has milked seven cows, made a cheese, and walked five miles to the House of God in good season."
SOURCE: Plym. Col. Rec.-- Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, twelve volumes, ed. by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. (Vols. 1-8) and David Pulsifer (Vols. 9-12), 1855-61, Boston, Mass. [reprinted by AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1968].His will dated Sept. 24, 1684, probated Mar. 4, 1685 in Plymouth. In it he mentions fifteen children and makes his widow, Mary, the only executrix.
...clothier from East Greenwich, Kent County, England before 1633; sworn a freeman of Plymouth Colony on Jan. 3, 1637 [Plym. Col. Rec., 1:48]; m. (1) about 1634 in England Sarah Jenkins; moved to Barnstable, Mass. before 1641; lived at times in Plymouth and Scituate, Mass. George was among those freemen of Scituate granted land on Jan. 1, 1638, provided that they erect a ferry over the North River [Plym. Col. Rec., 1:72-3]. He was one of those Barnstable townsmen found fit to bear arms in Aug., 1643 [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:193]. He m. (2) Mary ______. George probably d. after 1663 as his will was brought forward in 1664, dated Mar. 3, 1663 and names a wife, Mary, sons, Ephraim, Thomas, James, Edward, and John and daughter, Sarah. Mary swore an oath to the truth of the inventory of his estate on Mar. 1, 1664 [Plym. Col. Rec., 4:55]. George may have had a brother, John, who came from Tenterden, Kent County, England in the "Hercules" in 1635 with his wife Sarah and one child.
SOURCE: Plym. Col. Rec.-- Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, twelve volumes, ed. by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. (Vols. 1-8) and David Pulsifer (Vols. 9-12), 1855-61, Boston, Mass. [reprinted by AMS Press, Inc., New York, 1968].
John Bryant Jr, built a sawmill on the Second Herring Brook as early as 1690.
John's brother David married Hannah Church, who had a daughter, Mary. Mary married John CURTIS of Scituate, MA.
Francis did not settle in Killingworth with his father, choosing instead the neighboring town of Saybrook and then the new plantation of Norwich in which he was an initial proprietor. A map of the initial land allottment in Norwich (1660) shows that the homelots were laid out along the river as follows (Starting at outer Northwest lot and moving southeast):
J. Tracy, Baldwin, Royce, Allyn, Francis Griswold, J. Calkins, H. Calkins, Edgerton, T. Post, Gager, Wade, Birchard, Bowers, W. Hyde (northeast of Bowers, off the river), J. Post, Bingham, Waterman, Mason, T. Tracy (northeast of Mason, off the river)
Like his father, Francis was apparently quite publically spirited, having served as deputy to the General Court from Norwich (1660 - 1671). In 1662 he was appointed to the Court of Commissions and served as Lieutenant of the trainband.
The Saybrook records refer to Francis as Lieutenant Griswold and indicate that he died Oct 1671 of "apparent disease" leaving seven children including an 18 day old infant. Thomas Adgate and John Post, Sr. were appointed guardians.
Sources: SLLawson; The Griswold Family, England - America, Griswold, Glenn E. -1935; History of Norwich, Connecticut .. to the Year 1866, Calkins, Frances Manwaring - 1866; Genealogy of the Crane Family, Crane, Ellery Biicknell - 1900; Tolland and Windham CT Biographies - 1903; Saybrook CT Vital Records; Norwich CT Vital Records; Commemorative Record of New Haven County Connecticut - 1902
Francis, freeman 1657, removed to Saybrook, thence to Norwich, CT, of which he was a first proprietor and active citizen, and which town he represented in General Court from 1661 to 1671 inclusive.
Married first: William Bullard
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