My Maine Heritage - June 2023 - Person Sheet
My Maine Heritage - June 2023 - Person Sheet
NameStephen Bryant Sr.
Birth Dateabt 1620
Birth PlaceEngland
Death Date19 Jun 1701 Age: 81
Death PlacePlymouth, Plymouth Co., MA
FatherJohn Bryant Sr. (1578-)
MotherAnn
Misc. Notes
Emigrated from England on the ship Handmaid in Aug. 1630.
From: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gwindor&id=P-879683758
BRYANT FAMILY. Stephen Bryant (i), the
immigrant ancestor, was born and reared in England. He was in the Plymouth colony as early as
1632, and his name appears on the Plymouth records in 1648. He removed to Duxbury, where he
is reported as among those able to bear arms in 1643. He had a case in court in 1651. He was admitted a freeman, June 6, 1654, at Plymouth, where he removed to again about 1650. He was a constable in Duxbury, June 6, 1654, highway surveyor at Plymouth, June 1, 1658, served on the jury, March 5, 1660-61 and was constable in Plymouth, June I, 1663. He married Abigail Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, who came from England.
The truth is that the parentage of Stephen Bryant, Sr. is unknown except for the fact that his mother widow Ann Bryant married John Doane in England. Then she and John along with her children from her first marriage and his (six altogether) sailed on the "Handmaid" and 2 months later, 29 October 1630, arrived in Plymouth Colony.
The date of his birth is unknown but Plymouth town records for 1636 show that he must have been of age in 1636 as he had his cattled marked and registered in the town book at Plymouth that year. Thus he must have been born on or before 1615.
John Doane rated highly in the estimation of Govenor William Bradford and Thomas Prence. His name appears many times in the old records of the colony. He held many offices and s mentioned frequently on various committees. He had charge of settling many estates and handling the legal affairs of numerous minors.
Following a practice common in those days, John and Ann bound out two of the Bryant boys to good friends. Thomas went to Mr. Eddy and Stephen went to John Shaw. This practice offered the boys financial opportunities and connections independent of and supplementary to those which their own parents could offer them as they grew up.
John Shaw had preceded the Doanes and Bryant boys from Kent County, England, arriving at Plymouth Colony at least by 1627. On 22 May 1627, he is listed in the colony records as one of 12 men drawing lots for the division of the responsibility for caring for the colony's common heard of cows and goats.
In "Plymouth Plantation" written by Governor William Bradford the following has to do with colony affairs in 1638:"....nominated and appointed Thomas Prence, Gent.; Govenor William Brandford and Edward Winslow, Gent.; and assistants of the government: Stephen Bryant or Doane; John Doane; Thomas Willette, Gent.; and John Dunham to have power and authority for these next four years to put forth and dispose of said stock of cows to the inhabitants of the poor of the said town of Plymouth as shall be thought fit to partake therein." Governor Bradford added the name Doane to Stephen Bryant for the purpose of identifying him as the step-son of John Doane.
Jonathan Shaw and Stephen Bryant were working together A deed dated 5 May 1643, records a sale of 40 acres of upland "at high cliffe" from Edward Dotey to Stephen Bryant and Jonathan Shaw for the price of 12 pounds ten shillings to be paid in corn or cattle. Two years later, in 1645, Stephen Bryant married the Shaw's daughter, Abigail.
In 1651, Stephen bought 8 acres of marsh meadow from Jonathan Shaw; 4 months later he sold of those acres to William Ford, and 8 years later he sold 3 acres of the same to Edward Cook. Also in1651, Stephen bought more property at "the high cliffe" from Benjamin Eaton and sold it to Edward Gray. Among other transfers of land where Stephen Bryant's name occurs are sales to Samuel Wood, Samuel Sturtevant, Johnthan Shaw, Edward Gray and Jacob Cook and purchases from Samuel Eddy, Benjamin Eaton and Jonathan Shaw.
What was Stephen doing with all of these parcels of Land? William Bradford wrote in his book that the first impression he had of the site of Plymouth Colony was "so goodly a land and wooded to the brink of the sea". Back from the coastline, the colony was a vast area of swampland extending for miles in many directions. These swamps, bogs and marshes were overgrown with cedar trees. One of the first manufacturing enterprises in New England sprang up here as the land was stripped of the cedar trees, which were made into barrels, used for shipping to England the tar and pitch into which the costal pines were being converted. Additional cedar staves and heads were shipped to England for use as beer barrels and wine casks. Unlike other woods, cedar did not damage the flavor of the beverages. By the year 1649 the cooparage industry had developed so rapidly that Sunday work, a grave crime in the eyes of the Plymouth Church, had become prevalent. On 6 June of that year, Stephen Bryant was presented in court for carrying a barrel to the tar pits on the Lord's Day. He was cleared "with admonition", but his brother-in-law, Jonathan Shaw, was sentenced on the same day to sit in the stocks for working those tar pits. The swamp region was filled with numerous streams and ponds alive with pickerel, red perch, trout and herring. Wild ducks, turkeys, geese and pigeons in enormous flocks helped fill the larder, as well as the pillows and feather ticks. Moose, deer, bear and rabbit provided food and clothing. Beaver, mink, muskrat and skunk pelts were bartered for necessities.
In 1646 he is on a list of inhabitants of Plymouth. In 1647 he is not on the list at Plymouth, but in Duxbury, married to Abigail Shaw, where she gave birth to their first child, Abigail. In 1654 he is appointed constable of Duxbury, and in 1658, he is back at Plymouth, being appointed surveyor of highways. Thus, sometime between 1654 and 1658 he returned to Plymouth.
On 16 January 1650, John Cary of Duxbury sold two acres of meadow grount "lying upon the north side of Pine Point" to Stephen, John Shaw signed as a witness. Five generations later, Stephen's descendant, William Cullen Bryant, found much poetical expression in this natural beauty.
The Plymouth town records show that Stephen was called upon to fill certain public offices. He was appointed constable for 1663, road surveyor for 1658,1659,1670, 1674, 1676. He also served on juries in 1653,1659-62, 1670-72, 1674-76, 1678-79 and 1681.
The Plymouth Church records, dated 27 July 1684, read as follows: "The Church was desired to stay after public worship they if any, had any just exception of admission of Old Goodman Bryant with the church they might express it. The issue of the agitation was that nothing appeared to his calling forth to declare himself on the next Lord's Day." A later entry reads: "Stephen Bryant, Senior, admitted to the church."
From: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gwindor&id=P-879683758
BRYANT FAMILY. Stephen Bryant (i), the
immigrant ancestor, was born and reared in England. He was in the Plymouth colony as early as
1632, and his name appears on the Plymouth records in 1648. He removed to Duxbury, where he
is reported as among those able to bear arms in 1643. He had a case in court in 1651. He was admitted a freeman, June 6, 1654, at Plymouth, where he removed to again about 1650. He was a constable in Duxbury, June 6, 1654, highway surveyor at Plymouth, June 1, 1658, served on the jury, March 5, 1660-61 and was constable in Plymouth, June I, 1663. He married Abigail Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, who came from England.
The truth is that the parentage of Stephen Bryant, Sr. is unknown except for the fact that his mother widow Ann Bryant married John Doane in England. Then she and John along with her children from her first marriage and his (six altogether) sailed on the "Handmaid" and 2 months later, 29 October 1630, arrived in Plymouth Colony.
The date of his birth is unknown but Plymouth town records for 1636 show that he must have been of age in 1636 as he had his cattled marked and registered in the town book at Plymouth that year. Thus he must have been born on or before 1615.
John Doane rated highly in the estimation of Govenor William Bradford and Thomas Prence. His name appears many times in the old records of the colony. He held many offices and s mentioned frequently on various committees. He had charge of settling many estates and handling the legal affairs of numerous minors.
Following a practice common in those days, John and Ann bound out two of the Bryant boys to good friends. Thomas went to Mr. Eddy and Stephen went to John Shaw. This practice offered the boys financial opportunities and connections independent of and supplementary to those which their own parents could offer them as they grew up.
John Shaw had preceded the Doanes and Bryant boys from Kent County, England, arriving at Plymouth Colony at least by 1627. On 22 May 1627, he is listed in the colony records as one of 12 men drawing lots for the division of the responsibility for caring for the colony's common heard of cows and goats.
In "Plymouth Plantation" written by Governor William Bradford the following has to do with colony affairs in 1638:"....nominated and appointed Thomas Prence, Gent.; Govenor William Brandford and Edward Winslow, Gent.; and assistants of the government: Stephen Bryant or Doane; John Doane; Thomas Willette, Gent.; and John Dunham to have power and authority for these next four years to put forth and dispose of said stock of cows to the inhabitants of the poor of the said town of Plymouth as shall be thought fit to partake therein." Governor Bradford added the name Doane to Stephen Bryant for the purpose of identifying him as the step-son of John Doane.
Jonathan Shaw and Stephen Bryant were working together A deed dated 5 May 1643, records a sale of 40 acres of upland "at high cliffe" from Edward Dotey to Stephen Bryant and Jonathan Shaw for the price of 12 pounds ten shillings to be paid in corn or cattle. Two years later, in 1645, Stephen Bryant married the Shaw's daughter, Abigail.
In 1651, Stephen bought 8 acres of marsh meadow from Jonathan Shaw; 4 months later he sold of those acres to William Ford, and 8 years later he sold 3 acres of the same to Edward Cook. Also in1651, Stephen bought more property at "the high cliffe" from Benjamin Eaton and sold it to Edward Gray. Among other transfers of land where Stephen Bryant's name occurs are sales to Samuel Wood, Samuel Sturtevant, Johnthan Shaw, Edward Gray and Jacob Cook and purchases from Samuel Eddy, Benjamin Eaton and Jonathan Shaw.
What was Stephen doing with all of these parcels of Land? William Bradford wrote in his book that the first impression he had of the site of Plymouth Colony was "so goodly a land and wooded to the brink of the sea". Back from the coastline, the colony was a vast area of swampland extending for miles in many directions. These swamps, bogs and marshes were overgrown with cedar trees. One of the first manufacturing enterprises in New England sprang up here as the land was stripped of the cedar trees, which were made into barrels, used for shipping to England the tar and pitch into which the costal pines were being converted. Additional cedar staves and heads were shipped to England for use as beer barrels and wine casks. Unlike other woods, cedar did not damage the flavor of the beverages. By the year 1649 the cooparage industry had developed so rapidly that Sunday work, a grave crime in the eyes of the Plymouth Church, had become prevalent. On 6 June of that year, Stephen Bryant was presented in court for carrying a barrel to the tar pits on the Lord's Day. He was cleared "with admonition", but his brother-in-law, Jonathan Shaw, was sentenced on the same day to sit in the stocks for working those tar pits. The swamp region was filled with numerous streams and ponds alive with pickerel, red perch, trout and herring. Wild ducks, turkeys, geese and pigeons in enormous flocks helped fill the larder, as well as the pillows and feather ticks. Moose, deer, bear and rabbit provided food and clothing. Beaver, mink, muskrat and skunk pelts were bartered for necessities.
In 1646 he is on a list of inhabitants of Plymouth. In 1647 he is not on the list at Plymouth, but in Duxbury, married to Abigail Shaw, where she gave birth to their first child, Abigail. In 1654 he is appointed constable of Duxbury, and in 1658, he is back at Plymouth, being appointed surveyor of highways. Thus, sometime between 1654 and 1658 he returned to Plymouth.
On 16 January 1650, John Cary of Duxbury sold two acres of meadow grount "lying upon the north side of Pine Point" to Stephen, John Shaw signed as a witness. Five generations later, Stephen's descendant, William Cullen Bryant, found much poetical expression in this natural beauty.
The Plymouth town records show that Stephen was called upon to fill certain public offices. He was appointed constable for 1663, road surveyor for 1658,1659,1670, 1674, 1676. He also served on juries in 1653,1659-62, 1670-72, 1674-76, 1678-79 and 1681.
The Plymouth Church records, dated 27 July 1684, read as follows: "The Church was desired to stay after public worship they if any, had any just exception of admission of Old Goodman Bryant with the church they might express it. The issue of the agitation was that nothing appeared to his calling forth to declare himself on the next Lord's Day." A later entry reads: "Stephen Bryant, Senior, admitted to the church."