Page 105 - The Ancestry of Francis Bryan (1770-1863)

CHAPTER TWO: THE ENSLAVED BRYANS
Francis is listed in the 1800 and 1810 Census as having one male "slave", no age listed. In 1820 he has two "slaves", one male under 14 and one female age 14 to 25. In 1830 he had one adult female and two children listed as "slaves". On the 1840 Census he does not list himself as owning any enslaved people.
I do not know the first name of the enslaved male person who Francis claimed on the Censuses from 1800 to 1820, nor the female listed in 1830. I believe that I do know the names of the two children listed in 1830; Lem (Lenon) Bryan (born circa 1823) and John Bryan (born circa 1827). Their names appear on the 1870 Census (see page 121), the first census that listed Blacks. Both men are listed as owning property adjacent to Francis and Phoebe's sons, Abraham and Francis, Jr.
Abraham Bryan ran an elementary school from the family home on Cherry Lane. Lem Bryan's grandson, Leonard Bryan (1888-1985), recalls attending school there; "when he was a small boy he walked many miles to school at Frank Bryant's old house." This quote can be found on page 96 of the 1983 Alleghany County Heritage Book. The book contains the history of many of the Bryan families, both Black and White. Those who descended from Francis Bryan and those who descended from Lem and John Bryan.
Below is a picture of Leonard Bryan with his four brothers.
Seated, left to right: Booker and Leonard. Standing, left to right: Willie, Letcher and Paul.
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