Bryant/Briant Adams was born during 1756 in Southampton County, VA. His parents were Jesse & Martha (Johnson) Adams. While Bryant was a young child his parents moved to the part of Bute County which became Franklin County where they remained a few years before continuing on to Johnston County in or before April 1762 when he would have been six years old. As he later stated upon his return from Alabama to spend the last few years of his life. he grew up in Johnston County
"I was born in Virginia at a place called the Three Creeks County forgotten when and in infancy my father removed to Franklin County North Carolina & from thence to Johnson County which is adjoining where I lived till I removed to Montgomery County Alabama. I was born in the year 1756 & am now 78 years..... on August 22, 1836 the veteran filed an application for a transfer of his pension benefits (which had been approved based upon his earlier 1834 application filed in Alabama) The application for transfer was filed in Johnston County North Carolina "with the veteran giving as his reason for moving from Alabama to Johnston County that he lived a great part of his early life in Johnston County and raised a family of children there, one of whom, a favorite son still lives there and that by said favorite son ... he was invited to come and spend the remnant of his days with him."
Bryant's first tour of duty during the Revolutionary War was during 1777 when Bryant, his brother Jesse and his brother Byrd entered service together while Jesse was visiting in Johnston County. He subsequently served in additional campaigns including the Battle of Briar Creek during which our forces were severely defeated and Bryant swam across the Savannah River to escape capture.
Following his military service Bryant returned to his parents home in Johnston County until he married Nancy ca.1781 (surname not known -- "He married his wife in said County about forty five years ago"per supporting affidavit) and they began a family. There may have been a son named Jacob born that year.
Family researchers identified additional children:
..James 6/9/1783-1828 m/Edney Hobby 12/21/1803 (Johnson Co)
their children- Allen, William, James, Patsy & John Q
..Jesse 6/5/1785-1852 d/Alabama m Eleanor, son William B
..Allen 2/8/1787 d1850 m/Sally Ryals, their children "Right Handy", Wright Allen, Vine, Susan & Sallie
...Josiah J 4/12/1789- m/Elizabeth son Hardy Bryant
...Hardy 2/13/1791-1823 m/Ridley Ryals, daughter Louisa
...Bryan/Bryant Jr 11/29/1792-7/23/1838 m/Redly Johnson
children= Harriet, Washington G, Ashley G, Julie Ann, Emily, Frances Elizabeth & Bryant 3rd
...Nancy 8/15/1795- (nothing more known about her)
...Kinchen 3/7/1799 - m/Jerusha King, moved to GA, children William M, Ann Mariah, Henry V, Sarah & female child died
...and perhaps one or two other children
Bryant, Nancy and some of their children moved to Montgomery, AL in 1825. He filed for his pension there in 1834. His wife died in 1836 and he returned to NC, living with his son. Last pension payment July 1839 to William B. Adams on his behalf which we can conclude was the month he died.
We cannot be certain precisely where he was buried and no legible marker has been found but we know he was residing in Johnston County within the Hannah Creek/ Four Oaks area. He is believed to have been the grandfather of Hardy Bryant Adams so it seems appropriate to memorialize him in that family graveyard.