Married:     18 March 1790

Children:     James, Joseph, Mary, Rachel, Sarah, Jane (Remshart)

 Contrary to family lore, James was not the son of the famous Georgia patriot, Jonathan Bryan, as

claimed by family historian Isabelle Remshart Redding. That James died in 1797, leaving no

children. Rather, our James is the son of John Bryan (d. 1816), sometime sheriff of Screven

County, adjacent to Effingham Co. John’s origins are unknown, but there is no reason to believe

that he was descended from Jonathan Bryan. Given Isabelle Redding’s intense interest in her

ancestors, it might seem strange that she could be mistaken about her grandfather’s family.

However, the Bryan family were patriots, and James was estranged from them because he

married into a notorious family of Loyalists. Therefore, he may never have discussed his family

with his daughter, Jane Bryan Remshart, or his granddaughter Isabelle Remshart Redding.

James served in some capacity during the American Revolution, as he was awarded land in the

1827 Land Lottery. He was later Sheriff of Effingham County.

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