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Kristina L. Blackburn
Professor Lynn Raymond
Family Tree
10 October, 2015
The Bryant Family
My family heritage has always been an interest of mine and others in my family. My
Great Uncle and I have always shared information with each other about our family. My Great
Uncle has always had stories to share with the family and I have always loved to sit and listen to
his stories about our family history.
A Great Aunt of mine was able to trace the Bryant family tree back to the year of 1742
when the Bryant family married into the Chattin family. The Bryant family is my mothers side
of the family tree. I cannot say that I am related to any famous person, but I am still proud of my
family history. The Chattin family tree traces back to Thomas Chattin and Unknown Adams back
to the early sixteen hundreds. My family began in 1611 with the marriage of Thomas Chattin and
Unknown Adams. The Chattin family can be traced back to Shropshire, England. Shropshire is a
rural town in England(Shropshire Tourism). Today it is known for its medieval township,
quaintness, and history. My family is also Scottish. The Scottish and British both obtain dual
citizenship for both nations. So in order to become a Scottish resident I would need to also
become a UK citizen. I must be over eighteen, complete a move to the UK and comply with their
immigration laws, abide by their laws, pay taxes, live in the UK for over five years to apply for
citizenship or marry a British Civilian after living in the UK for three years. I would then have to
fill out form AN and fluently speak English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic then I would have to take

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and pass a citizenship exam testing my knowledge on the UK. Finally, I would attend the
citizenship ceremony, take an oath, and pledge my allegiance (How to Become a UK Citizen).
However, none of my family had to go through this process because my family did not
permanently reside in Europe. Somehow, they came to America, but I am not sure how and when
they got to America. My family came from these countries and resided in Lancaster, Virginia for
over twenty years until they finally settled in Pittsylvania County, Virginia where the next ten
generations lived out their years.
Thomas Chattin and Unknown Adams were both born in Shropshire, England. Together
they had a son by the name of Thomas Chattin Jr. who was also born somewhere in England.
However, somehow Thomas Chattin Jr. migrated over to Lancaster County, Virginia. While in
Lancaster County, Virginia he married Elizabeth Wilkinson who was born and resided in
Lancaster County, Virginia at the time. They proceeded to have eight children who spent most of
their lives in Lancaster County, Virginia. After this generation my family tree split into two trees,
one that stayed in Lancaster County, Virginia and one who married into the Briscoe family who
migrated to the state of Maryland. The Chattin family remained in Lancaster County, Virginia for
two more generations until 1757. John William Chattin married Frances Allen in Pittsylvania
County, Virginia in 1814. The majority of my family remained in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
for over eight generations up until my Great Great Grandfathers generation. My Great Great
Grandfather, Letcher Ambrose Bryant married Sudie Boaz in Pittsylvania County, Virginia on the
4th of February, 1909. My Great Great Grandparents had Landon Ambrose Bryant who married
Louise Neal. Landon Ambrose Bryant and Louise Neal had three children, Thomas Douglas
Bryant, Wallace Dean Bryant, and Landon Ambrose Bryant. Wallace Dean Bryant and Thomas

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Douglas Bryant both currently reside in Blairs, Virginia. Thomas Douglas Bryant and Judy
Snead Bryant married and raised their two daughters in Blairs, Virginia.
I was able to trace eight of my relatives and ancestors that were enlisted or drafted for the
war. My Grandfather and his two older brothers all joined to serve our country in their early
years. Thomas Bryant, my Grandfather was an Army Specialist E4. Wallace Bryant, my Great
Uncle was in the Air Force during the Cold war. Wallace Bryant was stationed in Little Rock,
Arkansas as an Assistant General and was an airman second class. Landon Bryant, my other
Great Uncle was stationed in Greenland as a ranked SP4. Their Grandfather, Letcher Ambrose
Bryant was drafted for World War One on the twelfth of September of the year 1918 at the age of
thirty-three, with the previous occupation of a merchant and farmer. James Robert Bryant, joined
the Home Guard during the Civil War. His job during his service was to guard bridges in
Danville, Virginia. During his service he was given the title of the road commissioner of his
district. On September twenty third of the year 1863 James Bryant enlisted in the thirty-eighth
Virginia Regiment, Company E. James Bryant fell sick later that December with Rheumatitis. He
was out on leave through 1864. On May sixteenth of the year 1864 James Bryant was wounded
at Drewrys Bluff suffering from general service wounds to the hand. He returned back to service
on July 5th, year 1864. Charles Dammond Bryant was also drafted for World War One on the
12th of September, year 1918 at the age of forty-two, with the previous occupation of a merchant
and farmer. William Matthew Bryant also had a registration card for the World War One draft for
the 12th of September, year 1918 at the age of forty-three, with the previous occupation of a
merchant. Finally, Eugene Franklin Bryant was drafted for World War One on September 12th,
year 1918, at the age of twenty-nine, with the previous occupation of a farmer. He also had a

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World War Two Draft card. After my mothers generation there have been no more Bryant
relatives to join the U.S. Military.
While most of my family was in the military I had other interesting events occur in my
family. During my Great Uncles service in Little Rock, President Kennedy came to Little Rock,
Arkansas on his way to Dallas where he was killed. My Great Uncle, Wallace Bryant shook
President Kennedys hand the day before he was shot and killed in Dallas, which you could say
was an award and honor for serving for his country. My Great Grandmother Louise Neal Bryant
ran for the House of Delegates for the state of Virginia in the year of 1983. She lost due to the
close 31 vote lead of her opponent. Had she won she would have resided in Richmond, Virginia
instead of Blairse, Virginia where she raised her family. Mary T. Jackson, who married James
Robert Bryant, was the daughter of Ambrose Jackson who was a descendant of the Jackson
family. The same Jackson family that includes the famous General Stonewall Jackson. General
Stonewall Jackson fought alongside of the famous General Robert E. Lee in the American Civil
War. Finally, the last interesting thing that I discovered was a family tale of the Bryant family
descendants that ties the Bryant family to Scotland. Thomas Chattin who married Elizabeth
Wilkinson was said to have worked for a carpenter by the name of Abraham Weeks. Possibly
because he was orphaned. Another story is he worked for Abraham Weeks because he provided
a passage for Thomas Chattin over to Scotland where he could have resided for part of his life.
I am very proud of my heritage and am proud of the descendants of my family, the Bryant
family. From my English and Scottish heritage, to those who fought for our country and the great
stories in which we live to share the Bryant Family is a unique family. I hope that one day I can
sit and share these stories and new discoveries with my children and generations after just as my

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Great Uncle has done with me.

Works Cited
Ancestors of Wallace Dean Bryant
"Bryant Family History." Bryant Name Meaning & at Ancestry.com. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
"How to Become a UK Citizen." WikiHow. Web. 2 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-UK-Citizen>.
"Shropshire Tourism - Tourist Board Information and Accommodation." Shropshire Tourism Tourist Board Information and Accommodation. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.