State-Wide, NC - Brian-Chance Family Record The following bible record is found on the LAGenWeb Archives at the following http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/state/bible/lghsbible/ This record is "bible4-5.txt" in the list of records Bible Records Published by Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society. Be it Known And Remembered: Vol. II, Bible Records 1961: Pages 1 - 60 Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by LGHS, Jun. 1998 BRIAN, CHANCE RECORD Mr. Kenneth Malcolm Cain of Clinton, La. has submitted to the Society material obtained in 1961 from Mrs. W. S. (Dorothy) Chance,
, Texarkana, Texas. There are photostats of four pages of records and of the title page of a New Testament, stereotyped by B. and J. Collins, New York. Lunenburg (Mass.). Printed and sold by W. Breenough. Sold also by Lincoln and Edmands. Boston, 1820. Chambers' History of Louisiana. Vol. II, p. 67, says that the Brian family came from Ireland to New York State in early colonial days and established residence in Feliciana in 1805. There are records in "Be It Known and Remembered," Vol. III, p.78, 153, and 180 which are related. (See Also Vol. I, p. 33.) Mrs. Chance says that Solomon Morgan b. 1735 South Carolina, d. 1803 served as a private in the South Carolina militia. "At the library, in the roster of Revolutionary Soldiers, a Stephen Chance and Philamon Chance are listed. I know they were brothers of Vincent. All we ever knew about the Chance line was that Benejah's father was John." She also says there is a manuscript by Edward A. Bryan. She has sent a copy to "the Boone Foundation in Washington." It concerns Bryan, Morgan, Boone families, and is connected to Daniel Boone and Bryan's Station, Kentucky. HARDY BRIAN, senior, b. 20 May 1755, Darlington County, South Carolina, was 7 years in Revolutionary service. He died 31 July 1813, East Feliciana Parish, La. His wife was Jemima Morgan, dau. of Solomon Morgan, b. June 1762, d. 8 Oct. 1834. Seven children are in the record. 1. Elizabeth Brian b. 26 Feb. 1791, d. 12 June 1822 2. Solomon Morgan Brian b. 26 Dec. 1792, d. 30 Jan. 1864 (See below.) 3. William Brian b. 1 Jan. 1795, d. 29 Feb. 1836. Page 188 4. Hardy Brian junior b. 31 Jan. 1797, d. 17 Nov. 1823 5. Mehitabel Brian b. 12 Nov. 1799 d. 5 Oct. 1820 6. Nathaniel Brian b. 14 Dec. 1802 7. Francis Brian b. 11 Jan. 1805, d. 27 Feb. 1860. To Caldwell Parish, La. 1847. Mar. Hannah Rogillio whose tombstone in the Brian Cemetery, Jackson, La. says she was b. 1812, d. 2 Jan. 1846. He mar. 2d. Salome Causey Thompson. (See letter of Hardy Lee Brian below.) SOLOMON MORGAN BRIAN b. 1792 (above) lived for two years with a sister after her husband, Levi Harrell, had been killed in the Battle of New Orleans. Solomon Morgan with his mother's brother, Isaac Morgan, found a mill site on Beaver Dam Creek in 1817. Solomon Morgan, a 2d. Lt. in War of 1812, was a Col. in 1826 of 21st. Reg. of 3rd. Brigade of the La. Militia. He married 30 Jan. 1823, by Rev. Wm. C. Harrison, Mary Rogillio. She was b. 26 Nov. 1806 and d. 7 Nov. 1841. They had 8 children. He married 2d. 15 June 1842, by Rev. I.B. Smith, Anna Manard Case Sands, a native of Rhode Island. She died 21 Mar. 1878 in Palestine, Texas. They had three children. The last entry in the diary of Solomon Morgan Brian was dated 25 Jan. 1864. 1. William R. Brian b. 7 April 1824, d. 11 June 1851, mar. 20 Nov. 1850 by Rev. Ezra Courtney to Jane Holmes. 2. Elijah M. Brian b. 18 June 1826 d. 23 Aug. 1850. 3. Margarite M. Brian b. 15 April 1828 d. 25 May 1831 4. Milton Brian b. 19 May 1829 d. 27 Mar. 1904, mar. 15 Jan. 1856 to Mary E. Brame, by Rev. Thomas Adams 5. Martha Elvina Brian b. 13 Dec. 1830 d. 18 Dec. 1830; 5 da. 6. Andrew Fuller Brian b. 28 Jan. 1833, d. 17 Dec. 1855 7. Mary Adeline Brian b. 24 Aug. 1835, d. 22 Sept. 1852 or 3, mar. 28 Oct. 1852 James W. Haygood, by Rev. A. G. Miller 8. Rachel Thomas Brian b. 30 July 1838 d. 27 Dec. 1909, mar. 15 June 1856 Benajah Chance (See below.) By second marriage: 9. Peninah "Nina" Appaline Brian b. 27 Apr. 1843, d. June 1885, mar. 1867 Milton Chance "immersed 1857 at Liberty, while at school." 10. Erastus Francis "Bud" Brian b. 28 Mar. 1846, d. 1925, mar. T. S. Merritt. Sold Evergreen in 1890, retained 5 acres for Brian Cemetery. (Grandfather of Tallulah Arbour, Baton Rouge). 11. William Sands Morgan Brian b. 10 June 1854, mar. M. F. Ligon; went to Palestine, Texas. BENAJAH CHANCE b. 24 Aug. 1833 (son of John Chance who was the son of Vincent), mar. 15 Jan. 1856 Rachel Thomas Brian (above). Eleven children listed: 1. Morgan Brian Chance b. 3 Jan. 1857, mar. 27 Mar. 1887 Susie Bowen 2. Charlie Wood Chance b. 13 Apr. 1859, mar. 3 Nov. 1887 Carie Putocky (?) 3. Benajah Beauregard Chance b. 20 May 1861, d. 25 Sept. 1871 4. Walter Stewart Chance b. 13 Dec. 1863 5. Willie Erastus Chance b. 9 Aug. 1866 6. Mary Enola Chance, b. 10 May 1869, d. 28 Oct. 1870 7. Milton Haygood Chance b. 10 Mar. 1873 8. Adline Zilphy Chance b. 17 Mar. 1875 9. Erma Chance b. 4 June 1877, d. 23 Oct. 1877 10. Clara Howel Chance b. 27 Nov. 1878 11. Tullia Smith Chance b. 4 July 1882. From the diary of Solomon Morgan Brian, commencing June 1861, Evergreen Plantation, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana: My grandfather, William Brian, emigrated from Ireland to America early in the 18th century and settled in South Carolina on. the Great Pedee River and he there married a widow Crocker, whose maiden name was Williamson, originally from North Carolina, and they had four children born unto them - Hardy, William, Francis, and Sara, and they all married and raised families. Hardy Brian, my father, was born May 20th, 1755 and remained in South Carolina, Darlington Co. until 1778. He then married Jemima Morgan, my mother. She was a daughter of Solomon Morgan who married a Miss Ludlow. Solomon Morgan's ancestors were from Wales, and I am not informed at what time they emigrated to America. When the Revolutionary War of 1776 broke out, my father volunteered immediately in the defense of his country's liberty, and lie was in the army by turns for seven years, he fought under Generals Green, Sumpter, and Marion, and sometimes would join a small company to hunt out and check the Tories in their operations. At the close of the war he settled a place on Highhill Creed near Darlington Court House where I was born in 1792. His four oldest children died in infancy; he raised seven children, and I was next to the oldest that was raised. In 1796 my father sold out everything that he could not move preparatory to moving to or near Natchez, Mississippi, and he was prevented from moving by an embargo being laid on all American vessels, on account of war that was expected every day with France, and at the same time the Cherokee Indians prevented emigrants from coming down the River at that time. He then bought and settled again on the Lake Swamp in 1798, opened a field, planted an orchard and in 1800 he sold his land and bought a place on horse branch near the long bluff on the Great Pedee, and he remained on the place until 1806. He then sold out and moved to East Feliciana, La. It was then under the Spanish Government and remained so until 1810, when the inhabitants rose and took it from the Spaniards, that part of La. on the east of the Miss. River, known as West Florida and subsequently the United States took it from the Floridans and La. was constituted in 1812, and in July 1813 my father died at the age of 58 years. He enlisted under the banner of King Jesus when he was quite young, before his marriage which took place in his 23rd year, and he made a faithful Soldier of the Cross, until the day of his death. He was raised an Episcopalian but when he came to years and was converted, he joined the Baptist Church and remained in it until the day of his death. He died full in the faith, he triumphed over death for it had lost its sting. He was a good man full of the truth and good works, and wherever he lived he was looked up to for counsel and advice, especially in Church matters. He was six feet in height, straight built, and weight, one hundred eighty pounds. I have heard him say that he never was intoxicated, or struck his fellowmen in anger in his life. He would often give good advice to his children, he taught them the way of salvation and gently led them on to Christ, and in worldly matters he would say never stand security for any man and if you want to whip the Devil just let him alone. Earn your bread before you eat it. He was poor in this world's goods but lived plentifully, laboured with his hands through life; he made his bread and meat at home, tanned his leather and made his shoes for himself and family, and my mother clothed them with her wheel, and cards, and loom. He held family worship night and morning through his life and if business called him off my mother would fill his place at the family alter and at the table, and I have great reason to thank God for such parents. (S) S. M. Brian The following letter was written by Wm. Sands Brian, son of S. M. Brian: Palestine, Texas April 16, 1878 This diary was opened by my father, S. M. Brian and is now left for his son. Both parents have already passed into eternity and their children left to mourn their loss and profit from their example. Both Ma and Pa feared and loved the Lord and had faith in their intercessor Jesus Christ. On Thursday February 21, 1878, Ma left Port Hickey with Morgan Chance for my home at Palestine, where they arrived safely on Monday night. Page 191 She remained with us until Sunday March 17, in usual health, then she was taken ill and died on Thursday evening March 21st. at 7:10 P.M. Ma. was allowed to be with us only three weeks and three days, when out Savior called and she had to obey. Dr's Hughes and Colley said her illness was acute inflamatory rheumatism, but she also had three congestive chills, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. This is indeed a very sad termination of her visit, which was so full of promise to us of happiness and joy. On Friday 22nd, 8:00 P.M. I started via Shreveport for Evergreen Plantation, with her remains. We arrived there Tuesday evening Mar. 26th. On Wednesday 27th at 10:00 A.M. her remains were put in their final resting place by the side of Pa. Now both have passed away and no doubt are in that home of Eternal Bliss, where we all hope to be. /s/ Wm Sands Brian Francis Brian (b. 1805) was a younger brother of S.M. Brian born of the same godly parents in East Feliciana, where he married Hannah Rogilio whose father was a Castilian Spaniard and mother the daughter of a Dutch farmer. From this union there were eight children, Hardy, Benjamin Franklin, and James, and Mary, Matilda, Martha, Lydia, and Elizabeth, all of these raising families. His wife, Hannah, died 1/2/1846, and he married the widow Thompson whose maiden name was Salome Causey, by whom was raised Iley Marion, Solomon Morgan, Theodosia Adaline, and Francis Nathaniel who also all raised families. Francis Brian and family moved from East Feliciana to Caldwell Parish in Feb'y 1847, where he died on 27th of Feb'y, 1860 of paralysis. He was a devout leader of the Baptist Church and deacon in same. He was also noted for his fatherly advice and leadership in the communities where he lived. His son Benjamin Franklin, was my father, and was born in East Feliciana Parish 29th day of Nov., 1833. He moved to Caldwell Parish with his father in 1847 and in 1852, Nov. 18, he married Rosanna Roe of Winn Parish, his marriage licenses being first issued at Winnfield after organization of parish. My mother, Rosanna Roe was born on Big Creek in Grant (now) then Rapides Parish in Sept. 26, 1836 and her father was Samuel Roe and mother Rosanna Stevens also born in La. My father's children were Louisiane, Hannah Matilda, Laura Alie, Isabelle, Lydia, Hester (died infant), Hardy Lee, Harvey Iley, Francis Nathaniel, Mary Rogilio, and Zenobia Emiline. He was a blacksmith, running two forges when war broke out in 1861. He was rejected a volunteer in the infantry but joined the cavalry and served the Confederacy four years and twenty days, as Page 192 cavalryman, courier and scout, coming home after Lee's surrender to find his $4000 in slaves freed, his trade all gone and six children and wife to support. He recommenced his blacksmithing on Fish Creek in Grant Parish (then Rapides) where the writer was born on 7/11/1865, and continued it till the railroads came with modern machinery. He joined the Baptist Church in his early married life and was ordained a regular Minister which he followed until his death. He died in Oct. 1896 of kidney troubles, on Big Creek where he had lived for twenty-eight years. He died in the full triumph of a living faith, regretting only that pecuniary circumstances had compelled him to almost abandon the ministry in the last few years of his life. He was beloved by all his neighbors and for miles around they came to see him in his last illness. For many years in eastern Grant he has been a kind of patriarch to the people - their doctor, their lawyer, their blacksmith, and their preacher - a father to the widow and orphan, and a patient arbiter of all their differences, and no amount of politics or new ideas on religion could or ever did wean them away from him. A modest marble shaft, in the Friendship Church graveyard marks his dust but his life is still bright in the minds and hearts of his neighbors and descendants, and his score or more of grandsons now reaching manhood can find no greater compliment to each other than "You show the blood of your old grandfather." /s/ Hardy Lee Brian ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society ______________________________________________________________________