Have you ever had trouble identifying ancestors of the same given name? Well, I have and found it led to many mistakes made by earlier researchers. One good example is the name Needham Bryan one of my colonial ancestors. There were three Needham Bryans living in close proximity to one another in Bertie County at the same time. One lived on a plantation, named Snowfield who had a son by the same name and another came down from Virginia and lived beside a William Bryan on Roquist Swamp. The Roquist Swamp Needham Bryant and the son of Needham of Snowfield moved to Johnston Co., North Carolina. Shortly, thereafter, the son of Snowfield Needham died, but the one from Roquist Swamp lived on for many years. Earlier genealogists failed to catch this and it has caused a problem ever since.

Well, there is a way to properly identify people of the same name and that is to compare their signatures on original documents. Here is an example of how to identify people using their signature.

This attempt to identify the many men of the same name was started by Ken Lindsay in March 2000. Lindsay started by gathering together his collection of Bryan records. The first few records come much earlier that when the name Needham Bryan was first mentioned; however, you will soon see how these earlier records blend into the family.

Nearly seven years later, we know John Bryan was living in Virginia, as records in England, dated 15 August 1659, the following Lewis Bryan and Robert Bryan were bound to "John Brian, planter, to serve in Virginia: Lewes Brian of Bitton, Glos, yeoman, for 4 years; Robert Brian of Bitton for 5 years."

What is the family relationship between John Bryan, Lewis Bryan, and Robert Bryan, at this point remains a mystery. Were they were brothers?

Thirty years after the first patent was issued 15 Oct 1652, Patent Book 7, page 133 and dated 20 April 1682, reveals the earlier patent was renewed To John BRYANT (sic) of Nansemond Co. 470 acres on southern branch of Nansemond, 150 acres being part of a grant patented by said Bryant 8 Oct 1672, the remainder being waste land adjoining, for the transportation of 7 persons into the colony.

Patent Book 6, page 416, also dated 20 April 1682, shows "John Bryant 350A at head of Southern Branch of Nansemond River adj. Robert Johnson. Transp. of 7 persons: Stephen Rudwell, John Osbourne, Elizabeth Jackson, William Whinsley, William Oliver, Wm. Rose, Xpofer Harrison. NOTE: Marginal note has this name as BRYAN."

Lea Lewis Dowd wrote "This one patent is playing a key roll into the placement of subsequent lines as it is one of the few records left to help put these people together."

Lea further wrote, "This John BRYAN appears to be dead by 1704 as he cannot be found in the Quit Rent Rolls and is stated as dec'd in subsequent deeds dated 1713."

According to Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, page 16, dated 1 February 1688/89, "Lewis Brian of Nansemond Co. to Henry Gay of Isle of Wight Co. for 10,000 lbs tobacco, land whereon Mr. Robert Lawrence now lives, formerly belonged to Mr. Henry Gay, dec'd, on Burnt House Branch. Wit: John Brian and James Doughtie. Rec. 1 May 1689.

On page 17, also dated 1 Feb 1688/9, "Lewis Brian of Nansemond stands indebted to Henry Gay of Isle of Wight, Conditions are that Lewis Brian not molest Robert Lawrence where he now lives and formerly belonging to Henry Gay, dec., from main river up to Burnt House Branch. Henry Gay stands indebted to Lewis Brian and promises to pay in tobacco. Conditions are that Henry Gay not molest Lewis Brian in possession of land adjoining John Brian, Sr. May 1, 1689. Teste, John Brian, James Daughtie."

The above record is very important to our study as it specifies John Bryan Sr. is alive and living beside Lewis Bryan. Furthermore, the name John Bryan Sr. implies that he has a son, John Bryan Jr. by 1688.

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