Rebecca Olenchak I read with interest your post on August 1, as there was a Harris/O�Brien connection in my family in the early 1800s and connected again in the late 1800s. It would be interesting to know if your Bryant was French or Irish. The Bryants (James) were French Huguenots and left Powhatan to Buckingham Co and from there to Kentucky, Missouri and Alabama leaving many descendants in Buckingham. At the same time, my 5th g-grandfather Patrick O�Brien/Briant/Bryant/O�Bryant (from Ireland) was living in Buckingham County. (at that time it was Albemarle Co). Their names were misspelled many times on the census and even today; there are Bryants who actually descend from my family - O�Brien. With that said, I found a possibility for your John Bryant and perhaps if I just list what I have you may find there is a connection. Let�s start with my O�Brien side��My ggg-grandfather Francis Kirkpatrick O�Brien had a brother named John A. O�Brien who was born in 1803 in Buckingham. I do not know anything else about him except that I felt he could be your John. The names of his siblings are William, Polly, Rebecca, Frank/Francis and Harrison. Do you have any idea if your John returned to Buckingham or the date of death of his wife Nancy Massey as I show this John living in Buckingham with his two sisters Polly and Rebecca in 1850? Polly�s Will, which mentions this John, is witnessed by a William T. Bryant in 1873. On my Harris side�..my 4th g-grandfather was William Harris, born 8-25-1755 in Cumberland Co, VA. I have been unable to prove who his parents were or any of his siblings. I do know that he was a soldier of the American Revolution and it is stated in his pension records that he left Buckingham Co and was living in Patrick Co, Virginia. He then moved to Barren Co, Kentucky where he was residing in 1833. I noticed in my records that a Harris descendant born in 1868 was named Henry Massey/Massie Harris. The connection in my records: Morris/Maurice O�Bryant b: 1800 Buckingham (son of Mark O�Brien, grandson of Patrick) married Elmina Harris b: 1815 on 11/20/1839 (daughter of William C. Harris, granddaughter of William Harris, born 8-25-1755). I know that Elmina died in Missouri in 1877. Elmina and Maurice had a daughter named Amanda Frances O�Brien born in 1840. The 2nd O�Brien/Harris connection is through my grandfather Russell Lee Harris, who was born and raised in Charlotte Co, VA, and was the gg-grandson of William Harris born in 1755. He moved back to Buckingham after marrying my grandmother, Frances, whose Mother was Lula O�Brien who was the daughter of the above Amanda who had married her 2nd cousin John Harrison O�Brien in 1865. I know you must be confused as I have reread this about 4 times as it is very confusing. I think the key is whether your Bryant is French or Irish. Do you have any other family names for your John Bryant? I look forward to hearing your comments. Fran Harris Hill, Richmond, VA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com