She is mentioned in her husband's will in 1811, but has not been established that she is the mother of his children — for example, she might be his second wife.
Possible remarriage: Elizabeth A. Bryant to Menard Bell, 30 oct 1855. Unable to locate this couple on census. However, there is a Manard Bell with wife Elizabeth N. born in IN in the 1880 Census, Greenwood Co., KS, with son James b. IN 1856; this Elizabeth was b. 1840 VA, so would have to be from another of the several Bryant families in the area, if this is the same one that married in 1855.
Elizabeth's age on the 1850 census helps us to estimate the birthdate of her husband. If we have guessed right, he would be Josiah Bryant's next younger brother.
Her children indicate in the 1880 census that their mother had been born in West Virginia. William Bryant was married before 1815, apparently (based on the age of his daughter Sarah). His marriage would not have been among the missing records of Sullivan Co., IN, because the county was not formed until 1815. The fact that Sarah was born in Kentucky suggests that William must have returned to the Bryant family home in Kentucky after accompanying his brother Josiah Jr. to Indiana in the fall of 1811. The accounts left by the Turman family and the family of Josiah Bryant mention numerous journeys through the wilderness between Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. A large extended family frequently visited the Turmans' at their "fort" in Sullivan Co., IN. It is certainly possible that Elizabeth was a Turman relative who met William while he was in Indiana, or who was suggested to him by the Turman's as a wife.
The Bryant family history says that Josiah Bryant Jr. grew up near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and slept in the cave with his dogs while on hunting expeditions. From this, we would infer that the family home was within a few days' journey of the cave, whose many branches and entrances are in present-day Hart, Edmonson, and Barren counties. One genealogist believes she has found Josiah Bryant Sr. in the 1810 census of Green Co. (p. 14). That entry suggests Josiah Sr. was born 1765 or later, and that William (probably still living at home) was no more than 16 years old. However, if Elizabeth's age has been reported correctly, that would make William much too young. Nevertheless, it seems most probable that Elizabeth herself would be married around age 20 or earlier.
The transcription of the Center Chapel Cemetery in Vernon Tp., Van Buren Co., IA retains the order in which the stones were recorded. The grave of Elizabeth Bryant, "wife of William", is next to the graves of two young sons of J. and E. Baird. Although the rest of the family of John and Elizabeth Bryant Baird is buried elsewhere, this juxtaposition, and the fact that the inscription has about the right birthdate, strongly suggests we have finally found the resting place of our Elizabeth. Since it now appears that most of the family ended up in Iowa, the search for the missing Bryant children (notably William T. born about 1822) must now turn to Iowa.
The death date on the tombstone cannot be read completely now, because the stone has been broken and reset in concrete. The year of death is missing! The transcription published in the 1970's (?) says February 29, 1857, which is obviously incorrect. The surviving stone clearly says February 29, so the year was most likely 1856.
Correspondence of Betty Gross, a Bryant descendant, includes at least one mention of a surname attributed to Elizabeth, "Mayfose". Not only does this suggestion lack documentation, we have no evidence that such a surname has ever existed. Also, it is remarkably similar to "Mayfield", the maiden name suggested in the same correspondence for the second wife of Christopher Myers Bryant, and similarly, without any supporting documentation.
It seems more plausible that Elizabeth would have been the daughter of the original Christopher Myers, thus explaining the existence of Christopher Myers Bryant and his nephew Christopher Myers Baird. There was a Christopher Myers who died in 1797 is what is now Brooke Co., WV, and his will does name a daughter Elizabeth. Unfortunately, there seems to be no further mention of Elizabeth or the other daughters of this family, so we have no facts that would allow her to meet William Bryant.
[4352]
From published cemetery inscription, which, however, is evidently not correct.
[4353]
Her tombstone is now broken and set in concrete. It clearly shows the day as the 29th of February, but the year is not legible now. The published transcript says 29 feb 1857, but only 1856 seems plausible.
[4354]
Cemetery is in Vernon Tp., section 17, and was associated with a Methodist Episcopal Church.
Supposed from family records to have been Elizabeth Thomas, though no proof of her parentage has come to light. She was still alive as late as 1831 (mentioned in deeds), but evidently dead by 1835. She might have been buried in the cemetery mentioned in a deed involving the James Abernathy farm in Rush Co., IN.
She is in the 1870 census of Davidson Co., TN with her two sons James H. and John P. Baird.
[15047] 1900 census says they had been married for 32 years, though the ages recorded for this family in various censuses are frequently inconsistent.
[4472] Basking Ridge City Cemetery
If Robert, born in 1785, was her youngest son, then Euphemia could not have been born much earlier than about 1740.
Some modern sources give the surname Lindsey, we are not aware of the evidence for this conclusion.