Berkeley County, West Virginia         Biography of HENRY PAYNE BRYARLY

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 399


HENRY PAYNE BRYARLY. Nothing lends more dignity to
the social life of a community than to find a record of suc-
cessive occupation from father to son extending over a pe-
riod of several generations, so that the family home and
industry become a landmark, a steady influence, a symbol
of human continuity. One of the oldest families in the his-
tory of Berkeley County is Bryarly. A home seat is close
to the Village of Darkesville, on Winchester Pike, where
Henry Payne Bryarly is keeping up the home and farm that
came down from his father and grandfather.


His grandfather was Robert Bryarly, who owned a large
tract of land in Arden District, including the present site
of Tabler Station, and also a tract on Mill Creek, where
he developed the. power and built a flour and saw mill, an
institution of great value in the early days and which he
operated in connection with his farming. He was a slave
owner, and most of the labor employed in the mill and in
the fields were slaves. He also built a commodious frame
house near the mill, and it was in that home that he spent
his last days.


His son, Richard Henry Bryarly, inherited some of this
land, including the homestead and the mills, and he in-
creased the inheritance by purchase and good management.
The homestead is pleasantly located east of and near the
Winchester Pike and adjoins the Village of Darkesville.
During his active career he enjoyed the congenial labor of
farming and mill operation, and died there at the age of
sixty-eight. He married Mary Payne, who was born in
the same locality as her husband, a daughter of Nathan
Payne. She died at the age of-seventy. The family con-
sisted of six sons and one daughter.


Henry Payne Bryarly was born at the old homestead and
was eight years old when his father died. He remained
with his mother, getting his education in the rural schools,
assisted in the labor of the farm and finally succeeded to
the ownership of the homestead and is still active in its re-
sponsibility.


At the age of twenty-four Mr. Bryarly married Mary
Evans, who has been in the Village of Middleway, Jeffer-
son County, West Virginia. Her father, Alexander Mason
Evans, was born near Hedgesville, in Berkeley County, son
of Howell and Evelyn Evans. Alexander M. Evans was a
graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and
practiced medicine at Middleway until his death at the age
of fifty-five. He married Harriet Scollay, who was born
at Middleway. Her father, Dr. Samuel Scullay, was a na-
tive of Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of an old
family whose memory is perpetuated by Scullay Square in
the heart of the City of Boston. Samuel Scullay studied
medicine, and on coming South located at Middleway,
where he engaged in practice for many years. His wife
was Sally Nelson, a sister of Dr. Marion Page Nelson, and
a daughter of Gen. Thomas Nelson, who was a distinguished
American officer in the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Bryarly
have four children, named Harriet Seullay, Mary Payne,
Harry Mason and Robert Pressley.