We have a family tradition that we are descended from Sir Guy de Bryan, but I have yet to prove that. If anything, I have disproved that idea as that line died out with only female heirs, causing the land to be swallowed up, through marriage, by other families.  However, there could well be a link from further back.

It is interesting to note, however, that there is another family tradition, going back several hundred years, whereby the eldest boy in each generation was christened Guy.  This was followed for about six or seven generations, as will be seen below.  It can make research very difficult!
 
 
 

My 2x great grandfather, Rev Guy Bryan was an FSA and I believe that he was very interested in trying to prove our descent back to the Normans, as was often  the case in the Victorian days.  I am therefore somewhat sceptical about the information that he provided, unless I can prove its accuracy.  I think that it was he who had a pedigree drawn up that proved the descent from Sir Guy de Bryan through the Wilmot family in Derbyshire.  My father has a small glass etching of a monumental brass that shows an knight in armour. A photo of this etching is on the left.  I sent it to the monumental brass society and was informed that it is a fake as it shows medieval English, medieval French and Latin.  This, apparently, was never the case.  I looked further in different books and found photographs of three effigies that had probably been used for the design of the one in the etching.

There are several genealogies in the public domain going back to the medieval times and connecting through to more modern times.  As mentioned earlier, the lines through the various Sir Guy de Bryan died out through lack of male heirs.  Another entry that I find difficult to agree with is that of Sir Francis Bryan.  I have seen an entry in one book that goes into his life and there is no mention of any children from either of his marriages. The first marriage was after 1517 to Philippa, widow of Sir John Fortescue.  She died after 1534.   The second marriage was in 1548 to Joan, the widow of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormonde, but he died suddenly on 24th February 1549/50.  This does not prove that he had no children, but it is interesting to note that there is no mention of  any children from either of these marriages.  I know that this does not disprove that he had any children, but I believe that it is unlikely.

An earlier connection is through Sir William Bryan, son of Sir Guy Bryan.  It is strongly believed that Sir William died without having fathered any children and  I have seen various documents supporting this theory.  I have given links below to some files that tend to give credence to the belief that the line died out.

The early information is taken from a family tree that was drawn up by Robert Howard which was discovered by his daughter Mary after his death.  In addition, extra information has been provided by Wilmot Guy Bryan of Wootton Fitzpaine who very kindly sent me photocopies of information that was in an old family Bible.  These two sources of information, support each other in many respects.  I have also received information other varied sources.

   1. Guy Bryan            Said to be a "Bricklayer" or Building Contractor of  Monmouth Street, Spitalfields, London.  d.1690
            m. Rebecca and had issue:
              Guy                              d.1688
         Josiah          b. 1675  m. Mary, a Quaker
              William        b. 1677  m. Mary Hicks 1700
              Elizabeth                     d.1678
              Rebecca      b & d 1679
              Robbist       b. 1680
              Letitia          b. 1683
              Josiah          b. 1685
           Rebecca is later noted as marrying Jonathan Forte in 1696.

 2.  Josiah Bryan (elder)  b. 1675  m. Mary, said to be a Quaker, and had issue:
         Guy                              d. 1776  ?m. Mary  ?Eckley?
              Josiah
              Joel
              James
              Jesse
              William        b. 1708   d.17 May 1784  Buried Applebachsville Pennsylvania. Emigrated to America probably before 1739.
                    m. Rebekah b. 1718  d. 22 Jul 1796.  Buried Applebachsville Pennsylvania.

  3. Guy Bryan bap. Shenfield, 3 Dec 1710. Scarlet Dyer. Vine Court, Spitalfields and Brentwood, Essex.
                            d. 1776 aged 67 Bur. Bunhill. (Boyd's London Burials.)
           m.30 Dec 1739  Mary Eckley eldest dau of John Eckley, of Hereford, and had issue:
              Guy            bap. 22 Feb 1740       These baptisms have been taken from the Quaker records.
              John           bap. 20 Nov 1741      They all took place in the New Bond Street Meeting House.
              Mary          bap.   5 Aug 1743
              Guy            bap. 23 Oct 1745
              William      bap. 17 Jul 1747
              Guy            bap. 17 Jul 1749
              John           bap.   9 Nov 1750
         Guy             bap.  17 Jul 1753  I assume that the previous Guys had all died and therefore assume that our descent is from him

  4. Guy Bryan, b. 7 Jul 1753.  Cornet of Militia. Scarlet Dyer, 21 Vine Court Spitalfields. Member of Worshipful Company of Dyers.
          m.1781, Henrietta dau. of Joseph and Mary Driffield, Rector of Chelsworth and East Bardfield co. Suffolk
                    (IGI London shows Henrietta as mother of  his children Guy and Joseph.) and had issue:
         Guy  b. 1782 (baptised 5 Mar 1782, Spitalfields, IGI.) d. 22 Apr 1870  at Woodham Walter, Essex.
                       m. Selina Eliz. Eardley Wilmot 5 Mar 1811 (IGI London) at Tottenham. She died 8th October 1868.
               Joseph Guy John  b. 1783 (baptised Sep 1783, IGI.)

  5. Rev Guy Bryan        Rector of South Normanton, Derbyshire and Woodham Walter, Essex.
        m. Selina Elizabeth Eardley Wilmot. 5 Mar 1811, Tottenham (IGI London) d. 8 Oct 1868, and had issue:
             Rev Guy   b. 27 Mar 1815, 4.30pm (Easter Monday) (Family Bible) baptised 20 Apr 1815 Derby All Saints.  (IGI Derbyshire.)
                    m. 27 Apr 1848, St. Leonard's Exeter Henriet Margaretta Hay, dau. of Sir John Theophilus Lee of Lauriston Hall, Torquay
                        Guy, b. 21Aug 1850, Swanton Novers, Norfolk. d. 9 Oct. 1918, Budleigh Salterton
                        Wilmot Lee, b. 6 Aug 1852, Swanton Novers, Norfolk m. 2nd Q 1897, 1a 283,  Kensington
                        Henry Percival, b. 1 Jun 1854, Swanton Novers, Norfolk.  Rector of Askerswell co. Dorset
                                m. Christiana Louisa Wade Shelton and had issue:
                                    Edith Madeline, b. 31 Aug 1880
                                    Alice Louise, b. 1 Jun 1882
                                    Olive Marion, b. 4 Nov 1883
                                    Wilmot Guy, b. 28 Nov 1885
                                    Cecil Eardley Wilmot, b. 16 Feb 1888
                                    Hugh Robinson Main, b. 15 May 1889
                                        m. Jun 1919, Jessie Elizabeth Peocock, dau. of Harry and Jessie Peocock of Taehapi, New Zealand and had issue:
                                                Barbara Louis, b. 26 May 1920, Taehapi, NewZealand
                                                Thomas Henry, b. 12Oct 1922, Askerswell, Dorset
                                                Fredrick George, b. 16 Oct 1924, Askerswell, Dorset
                                                Wilmot Guy, b. 1 Oct 1926, Askerswell, Dorset
                                                    m. 6 Jun 1953, Anne Mary Doble, dau. of Reginald Doble of Wootton Fitzpaine, co. Dorset and hadissue:
                                                            Julian Guy Eardley, b. 22May 1962, Wootton Fitzpaine
                                                                m. 21 Jul 1989,  Carolyn Anne dau. of John and Betty Mercer of Solihull, co. Warwick and had issue:
                                                                        Alexandra Louise, b. 31Jan 1991, Kenilworth, co. Warwick
                                                            Camilla Sarah Elizabeth, b. 2 Dec 1964, Wootton Fitzpaine
                                                                m. 3 Jun 1989, Charles Henry Maxwell Oulton son of Harry and Angela Oulton at Uplyme co. Dorset
                                                                                and had issue:
                                                                        Charlotte Mary Elizabeth, b. 22 Sep 1991, Wandsworth, London
                                                                        Oliver Guy Harry, b. 7 Oct 1993, Wandsworth, London
                                    Hilda Barbara, b. 11 Jun 1892
             Rev Percival Wilmot  b. 20 Oct 1817, Monday 2.30am (Family Bible)
                                                   baptised 21 Oct 1817 at South Normanton. (IGI Derbyshire.)
                    m. 1. Mary Brooke,  2. Auretia Best.
         Rev Reginald Guy     b.16 Mar 1819, 11.00am Tuesday (Family Bible)
                                                 baptised 8 Mar 1819 at South Normanton. (IGI Derbyshire.) d. 22 Feb 1912, bur 27 Feb 1912
                    m. 1. Henrietta Charnham Luard,  d.3 Jan 1849, bur 6 Jan 1849 aged 31, Malta. Died in childbirth. bur. Msida Bastion Cemetery
                         2. Salome Blomefield, m. 19 Sep 1850, d.30 Dec 1894, Monkton Combe School.
                         3. Caroline Letitia Gore m. .Jun 1896, Bath
            Rev Wilmot Guy, b. 2 Apr 1820, 4.00pm Easter Sunday, Woodham Walter d.1906 1st quarter Vol 2b p247 East Preston Sussex
                    m. 17.Jun 1872 Georgiana Emma Venn, b 17 Dec 1818, Camberwell and had issue:
                      Wilmot Augustine, b. 23 May 1853, bap 16 Jul 1853, Freston Suffolk d. 28 Jan 1932, Runnington
                      Henry Beaumont, b. 9 Feb 1855
                      John Eardley, b. 15 Jan 1857, d. 15 Mar 1869
                      Georgina Emily, b. 11 Apr 1860
                      Edward Venn Eustace, b. 26 Mar 1863, d. 1938 (Rector of Brasted)
                          m. 25 Apr 1889, Edith Dora Whitaker and had issue:
                            Edward Guy  b. 9 February  1890
                            Edith Gertrude  b. 14 July 1892.
                            Irene Dorothy b.  25 October 1893
                            Eustace Percy  b. 15 July 1895. d. 1899.
                            Everlyn Beatrice Beaumont  b. 24 November 1896.
                            Margaret Eileen  b. 28 March 1899.
             Henry Guy            b.31 Oct 1821, 11.45pm at Woodham Walter.  baptised 8 Dec 1821 (Family Bible)  d. 13.12.1839.
                                            Lost in Australia when on expedition with Governor George Gawler of  S. Australia.
                                            Mount Bryan, in S. Australia,  is named after him.
             Selina Emma          b. 13 Jul at 9.00am 18?? at Woodham Walter (Family Bible)
                         m. Rev H Carr, Scholar of Trinity Coll Dublin.

  6.  Rev Reginald Guy Bryan  Vice Principal at Protestant College Malta. Vicar at Fosbury Wilts. Principal Monkton Combe School, Bath.
            First wife died in childbirth. Children all born to second wife Salome Blomefield m. 19 Sep 1850.

           Selina H. Selina             b.c. 1852, Malta, (1871 Census of Fosbury, Wilts confirms.) Known as Aunt Lomie. (Birth not found.)
           (Guy)                      Not found in census or other records. Name handwritten by Alice M. Bone on Eardley Wilmot Family Tree.
                                            It is assumed that he did exist.  Said to have died in Canada, but so far untraced.
           Reginald Blomefield     b. and bap 25 Oct 1854, Malta   d. Demerara 1888
                                            (1881 Census, Capt in Somerset Militia, Living at Monkton Combe, age 26)
           Agnita Jane                   b. 1856, baptised Fosbury 19 Oct 1856  m.  William G Peel, d. 1916,  first Bishop of Mombasa and had issue:
                            Wilmot Reginald Blomefield Peel, 1897-1959 (Monkton Combe School Register)
                            Eustace William Howard Peel, 1904-1930  (Monkton Combe School Register)
           Emma Frederica             b. 1857, baptised Fosbury 31 May 1857. unm.
           Philippa Elizabeth Wilmot b. 1858, baptised Fosbury  2 May 1858. unm.
           Helen Gertrude              b. 1860, baptised Fosbury  4 Apr 1860
               m. Rev Charles Howard and had issue:
                           Lucy Gertrude Howard
                           John Reginald Howard
                           Richard Thomas Howard
                           Rachel Marow Howard
                           Robert Wilmot Howard
                           David Howard
           Thomas William Guy  b. 1862, baptised Fosbury 20 Mar 1862  d. 1947
                m.1 Emily Maude Lawe 2 Dec 1896, Fosbury Witnessed by Wilmot Eardley Bryan (below).
                            Emily Vivian        bap. 2 Apr 1899 (Easter Day) Fosbury, Wilts.
                            Thomas Lawe Guy      1900 - 1926. Killed in flying accident in Mediterranean. 1st death off aircraft carrier.
                                Lt Royal Marines, landing a Fairey D3 on HMS Hermes, skidded and went overboard, 30 Mar 1926, Age 25.
                            Bobbie ? dau.
                m.2 Cicely ( ? )
                            Eleanor
                            Philippa
         Wilmot Eardley             b. 7 Oct 1863, baptised Fosbury  7 Oct 1863, d. 9 Apr 1935
         Edith Mary Marow       b. 1866, baptised Fosbury 4 Feb 1866.
                m. Alfred Howard (brother of Charles) and had issue
                           Salome Lucy Blomefield Howard b.1892
                           Edith Maria May Howard b. 1893 m. Reginald Herbert Hardy and had issue:
                           Margaret Howard b. 1894
                           Alfred Nelson Bryan Howard (twin) b. 1902
                           Evelyn Gertrude Wilmot Howard (twin) b. 1902
                           Stanley Reginald Kekewich Howard b. 1910 d. 19 Apr 2007
                                    m. Judith Evelyn Harland b. 1921 d. 1999 and had issue:
                                              David Wilson Howard b. 1944
                                        m.Sep.1974 Rosemary Seymour and had issue:
                                                          Joanna Howard b. 1977
                                                                m. 2007 David Kamalbami
                                                          Chris Howard b. 1980
                                                          Timothy Bryan Howard b. 1984
                                              William Alfred Howard b. 1947
                                        m. Margaret Dinnick and had issue:
                                                            Sarah Howard b. 1980
                                                            Rebecca Howard b. 1982
                                                            Jenny Howard b. 1986
                                              Richard Owen Howard b. 1949
                                                    m. Claudette Slater and had issue:
                                                             Jessica Howard b.1980
                                              Philip Howard. b. 1982
                                                                   m. 2007 Hannah Rock
                                                             Bridget Howard b. 1986
                                               Edward Stanley Rhodri Howard b. 1953
                                        m. Cynthia Tshangela and had issue:
                                                              Matthew Howard b. 2007

 7.   Wilmot Eardley Bryan          Scholar in mathematics, Trinity Coll Cambridge. Principal Monkton Combe School  with his father.
               m.1 2nd Quarter 1897, 2b 1002, Portsea,  Fanny Charlotte Miller (divorced)
               m.2  23 July 1906,  Margaret Ellin Bone (née Lewis) widow of Capt Frank Bone RN.   Bedford.
                 Reginald Guy Thomas        b. 15 Mar 1907.  m. Daphne Sweeting
                                Peter
                            m. Niki and had issue:
                                   Saxton
                                            Teale
                                            Gregory
                                            Julie     
                                Jane
                                 m. Brian Henesy and had issue:
                                            Lea
                                            Claire
                                David 
                            m. Helen Lister
                                Mark
                                           James

                 Eardley Wilmot                    b. 15 Mar 1907.  d. 1914  (Twin brother of  Reginald Guy Thomas.)
                Thomas Blomefield Lewis b. 18 Aug 1908 Hunstanton, Norfolk. d. 11 Jun 2000, Highcliffe, Dorset  m. Faith Walkey. b 26 Dec 1913
                 Nesta Joan                            b. 18 Oct 1910. Cherry Hinton, Cambs.   d. 19 Jan 2000, Holsworthy, Devon

 8.  Thomas Blomefield Lewis, MD b. 18 Aug 1908, Hunstanton, Norfolk, d. 11 Jun 2000 (Pentecost) Highcliffe, Dorset,
                bur.  Christchurch Cemetery, Dorset, 16 Jun 2000. Service contucted by Rt Rev John Bone, his nephew
                m. 12 Jun 1935,   Faith Walkey, b. 26 Dec 1913  Bromley, Kent and had issue;
                      Thomas James Brendon     b. 29 Jan 1937, London. (Emigrated to Canada Sep 1973) d. 1 Dec 2000 Peterborough, Ontario
                             m. 16 Sep 1962, Ishbel Eirylis John,  All Souls Langham Place, London.
                                              Joanna Margaret                  b. 11 Dec 1963   St Mary's Hopsital,  Paddington, London
                                                   m.  8 Aug 1987.  Stewart Hamilton,  Peterborough Ontario Canada.
                                                          Emily Louise                      b. 30 Sep 1990   Hamilton, Ontario.
                                                          Victoria Faith          b. 1 Jan 1995  First baby of the year in Peterborough, Ontario
                                                          Sophie Margaret               b. 20 Feb 1998, Peterborough, Ontario
                                              Jonathan Guy Thomas         b.  9 Sep 1965   Redhill. Surrey.
                                                   m. 09 Oct 1999, Katherine Anne Baster, b. 6 Apr 1968, Kitchener, Ontario; Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
                                                        Hannah Ishbel                    b. 10 Jun 2002, Peterborough, Ontario
                                              Kathryn Helen                       b. 19 Jun 1969   Tidworth Military Hospital, Hants.
                                                   m. 11 Jul 1992,   Ralph Richard Dykstra, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
                                         Erin Kathryn                         b. 24 Aug 1994, Peterborough, Ontario
                                         John Richard Bryan (Jack) b. 08 Aug 1997, Peterborough, Ontario
                                                       Peter Timothy Bryan           b. 23 Aug 2002, Peterborough, Ontario
                                              David Murray James             b. 22 Apr 1973   Odstock Hospital, Salisbury.
                                      m.  16 May 1998,  Shirley Noelle Vogel
                                              Rachel Janet                           b. 22 Sep 1976   Canada.

                       Faith Zinnia                             b.  8 Oct 1939   Gahini, Ruanda Urundi (Now Rwanda) Central Africa.
                              m. 3 Apr 1974, Capt George Timothy Carr Symonds RA, Northwood Middx.
                                              Caroline Joy                            b. 13 Jul 1978   Aldershot Hants.
                                              Susanna Mary                        b. 11 Aug 1979   Hong Kong (Adopted).

                       Eardley Wilmot Hugh            b.  4 Dec 1941   Plumstead, Cape Town, South Africa.
                              m. 1 Apr 1967,  Susan Irene Osborne, b. 2 Sep 1943,   at Heytesbury, Wilts. Divorced 1996.
                                              Oliver Eardley                          b. 28 Jul 1974   Odstock Hospital Salisbury, Wilts.
                                              Amy Louise                             b. 23 Jan 1976  Odstock Hospital Salisbury, Wilts.
                                                    m.28 May 2005, Stephen Paul Bodman Toxteth Tabernacle, Liverpool

                       Cherry                                         b.  4 Jul 1943. Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa,
                             m.1. 27 Jul 1966,   Michael J. Scott at Church of the Holy Rood, Wool, Dorset. Divorced.
                                              Emma Ruth                              b. 23 May 1969   Margate, Kent.
                                                   m. Gary Franklin, May 2000 Seychelles
                                                        Jude Michael Robert            b. 28 Jan 2002  Portsmouth, Hants
                                                        Isaac Tomas                           b. 7 Oct 2003 Guildford, Surrey
                                              Christopher Bryan                 b. 13 Aug 1971   Poole. 
                                        m. 28 Aug 2004, Elizabeth Mary Thresher St. Peter's Church Lodsworth
                                            Sam  

                             m.2. 22 Aug 1981,  Christopher Blackmore, b. 16 Nov 1941. In Devon
                                              Lydia Jane                               b. 27 Jan 1985

                        Rosemary Hope                        b. 11 Aug 1947, Wool, Dorset.
                              m. 28 Jan 1984, Anthony B Du Puy, 6 Jun 1943, Lansdowne Baptist Church, Bournemouth
                                              Charles Thomas Acworth       b. 12 Oct 1986, Southampton.
                                              Jeremy Anthony Acworth      b. 17 Mar 1988, Southampton.
 

Interesting articles:
Old Bryan Wills. Will of Sir Thomas Bryan
Baron Bryan
"Baronia Anglica  Concentrata"
Sir Guy Lord Bryan, K.G.  from a book named "Knights Of The Order"
Bryans in "Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries."
Early Bryan Knights from Knights of Edward I, Vol 1
"History of Dorset" Woodsford
A De Bryan pedigree, from my father's cousin
Extracts from "Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls" (Wrottesley)
Various Bryan entries from Poole, Dorset, Library
More Bryan entries from various books in Poole Library
Baron Bryan from "Burke’s Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages", 1883
Letter sent by Col Gawler to his brother-in-law concerning Henry Bryan's death (Mount Bryan, S. Australia)
Diary of Col Gawler's daughter, Julia, describing the expedition when Henry Bryan died
Family Photo after Funeral of Dr Thomas B L Bryan MD, June 2000
Reoprt concerning Henry Bryan's death

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My e-mail address is    ewh.bryan@ukonline.co.uk