1James Robert Bent Hathaway, James Robert Bent Hathaway, The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, p. 577 (1900).
"William Bryan came to America, settled in Isle of Wight Co., Va., afterwards he and two sons Needham and John Bryan came to North Carolina about 1722, his son William re-married in Virginia and is thought to be the ancestor of William J. Bryan.
William Bryan I. was said to have come originally from Ireland. He is buried in Pasquotank County, N. C. He married in England about 1689 Alice Needham said to be the daughter of Lord Needham, they had one son Needham Bryan born Feb'y 23rd, 1690, who come from Virginia and settled at Snowfield, Bertie Co., N. C., he md Annie Rombeau Nov. 11th, 1711. She died Jan'y 16th, 1730. Augt 24th, 1732 he married his second wife Susanna Harrell. She died in 1752, then he married 3rd Sarah Woodward. They are all buried at Snowfields.".