The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Harry B. Stobbs
Asa Bryan (sometimes spelled Bryant) was born to Lewis Bryan of Mill Creek, Johnston County (several Bryan and Bryant families live in various parts of Johnston County), North Carolina and probably Sarah Hinton (d. 1790) in 1750, the eldest of four daughters and three sons to be born to the Bryans. He wed eighteen-year-old Ann Lee, daughter of Edward, Senior and Mary (Allen) Lee in 1778 – their Johnston County marriage bond is dated 18 August, 1778. By that same year all three of Lewis Bryan’s sons, Asa, John, and William had been swept up into the war for American independence.
On the 22nd of April, 1845, the widowed 85-year-old Ann Bryan applied for benefits under the Pension Act of 1836. She testified that her husband had served Johnston County in the “Minuteman service” (militia) as a lieutenant under the command of Captain Hardy Bryan (no relation), and that he was frequently called into service including one three month absence in which he “marched to Wilmington.”
Ann further testified that in early in 1781, Asa had assumed command as “Captain of Infantry” of Hardy Bryan’s company (actually a so-called Light Horse or dragoon company) when the latter had been called to serve in the General Assembly, and that during a ten-month absence he fought under Major general Nathanael Green at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Ann testified that, having learned that her husband had grown desperately ill during the long trek home, she set out to search for him. Asa was close to death by the time Ann was able to get him home, and he took many weeks to recover. Subsequently, Ann stated, Bryan was called out frequently for short periods of service to “quell the Tories and to hunt after the ‘outlying men’ – men who were avoiding service and who were “lying out and concealed in the woods,“ as well as fugitives from justice and runaway slaves. Asa’s younger brother William, who had himself served in a variety of positions throughout the Revolution, also testified to Asa’s service, corroborating Ann’s testimony in nearly every respect and adding several import details.
In addition to Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781), Asa Bryan also fought engagements at New Garden Meeting House (also March 15, 1781) and Hobkirk’s Hill on April 25, 1781 (also known as the Second battle of Camden) in South Carolina.
Asa Bryan died at his estate at Mill Creek in January of 1823, having outlived his sister Elizabeth and brother. Ann passed away in January of 1846. Captain Asa Bryan’s Pension is Number W23666.
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