I am trying to write an article for inclusion in the Moore County Heritage book (I just found out about the book and the deadline - I may not make it). Before I commit to posterity, my article, I thought I would run my family names by these groups (Chestnut Ridge, Lincoln County and Moore County) in hopes someone may be able to expand on my limited knowledge (or lack thereof) of these ancestors. Perhaps I will also be lucky to find a long lost relative. This is what I believe about this side of my family. I believe my earliest known ancestors to be John BRYANT (born bet. 1790/1800 - bef. 22 Mar 1839) and, his wife, Frances Hopkins LEFTWICH (16 Aug 1810 - 19 Aug 1839). I believe that this couple lived in the Charity community (then Lincoln County, now Moore County). Frances is buried, and has a marker, at the Charity Cemetery in Moore County. John Bryant is probably buried there as well in an unmarked grave. John and Frances had at least 2 children before their very early deaths: 1. Reubin G. BRYANT (abt. Dec. 1826 - ?) who married Jane LOGAN on 22 Sep 1850; and 2. William Newell BRYANT (15 Nov. 1827 - 23 Jun 1892) who married Mary Polly CONWELL on 3 Aug 1846. This line of the Bryant's appears to have been closely aligned to the LEFTWICH family, to wit: In Early Unpublished Court Records of Lincoln County (Marsh, 1993), Jack (also John) H. LEFTWICH was appointed guardian for Reubin and William N. Bryant, heirs of John Bryant, minors (22 Mar 1839). I believe that Jack LEFTWICH was their grandfather. Frances Hopkins LEFTWICH was a daughter of John (Jack) Hopkins LEFTWICH (08 May 1787 - 13 June 1847) and Jane Stevens GILL (16 June 1792 VA - 30 Jan 1881). John H. Lefwich is buried in the Charity Cemetery. Frances' sister, Finetty Boon LEFTWICH also married a BRYANT-- Jesse Lewis BRYANT, on 21 Aug 1845 in Charity. Finetty was born 01 Aug. 1830 and died 11 Oct. 1910. Jesse BRYANT was born 25 Sep 1824 and died 5 Apr 1883. It is not known how Jesse relates to Reubin or William Newell, but it is probably a close relationship, perhaps first cousins. Jesse was not named as an "heir of John Bryant", so the possibility that he was a brother to Reubin G. & William Newell has been eliminated. To further complicate and confuse matters, another Bryant father died. In Early Unpublished court Records of Lincoln County, Alvin C. Oliver was appointed guardian for Newton Perry BRYANT. Newton may be one of the younger children of Jeremiah BRYAN(T) and Roxanah ?. Jeremiah and Roxanah were born between 1770-80 and both may have died around the same time as John & Frances. Jeremiah could have been either a father, or a brother to John. While nothing else is know about Reubin G. Bryant and Jane Logan, I do know quite a bit about my g-g grandfather, William Newell Bryant. William Newell BRYANT and Mary Polly CONWELL were married 3 Aug 1836 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Mary was the daughter of Thomas Ela Conwell and Elizabeth Robertson. I believe William and Mary Polly lived their entire lives in the Charity community. William and Mary had 7 children: 1. Frances J. BRYANT (Feb. 1850 - ?). Frances married Marion MCNATT. 2. John C. BRYANT (11 Feb 1853 - 9 May 1917). John married Mary Henrietta WILLIAMSON. John is buried at Charity Cemetery. 3. Thomas Benton BRYANT (7 Oct. 1855 - 14 April 1942). Thomas married #1, Margaret A. MARTIN and #2, Mary Jane THOMAS. Thomas Benton and Mary Jane (Thomas) BRYANT are my great grandparents. 4. William E. BRYANT (1858-1937). William married Gertrude C. CASTLEMAN. 5. Peyton Lee BRYANT (7 Apr 1863-25 Dec. 1953). Peyton married #1, Virginia RUNNELS and #2, Margaret SULLIVAN. 6. James A. BRYANT (1866-?). James married Eva Arnold EARTHMAN. 7. Unknown female daughter who married a PURDOM Both my mother and my aunt remember being told that their grandparents were buried at Charity. No stones have ever been found for William Newell and Mary Polly (Conwell) BRYANT. There were many, many Bryant's in early Tennessee. It is a very confusing family, especially for the area of Charity where family members could have easily have been recorded in Bedford, Lincoln, Franklin or Moore counties. In my own family, I have two lines (we think) of Bryant's. And both, are on my maternal side. My g-g-g grandparents, Robertson BRYANT and Mary AMIS were early settlers to Maury County. They raised a large family. If anyone can help me sort out any of these families, I would most appreciate any help. Also, any advice as to whether this family belongs as a submission under Moore County, or under Lincoln County. Thanks, Lucy Bryant Dunaway Zeier, email: LooswhL@aoL.com