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Agnes Boyd was a Bryson? That branch is so confusing with all those Bryson/Bryson marriages.  There certainly were other families. My John W went to Belfast for Margaret Wilson and to County Down for Mary McCune.

Yup.  And from your earlier message…

1909 James Bryson married Agnes Boyd (widow). This information is directly from his descendents who currently live on the Ballyvoy property.

I think the line for the Ballyvoy/Duncansland property goes like:

James Bryson (c1746-1832) m. Elizabeth (c1745-1831)
---- James Bryson (c1785-1850) m. Elizabeth (c1798-1883)
-------- James Bryson (c1826-1909) m. Agnes Boyd née Bryson (c1823-1898)

The only problem is I don’t know where James Bryson of Cove Lodge (the middle one above) was buried.  I’m assuming his son the 3rd James was grandson of the 1st James because he is buried in the same plot, and he owned the same land.  Another possibility is that Agnes’s father Robert Bryson was a son of the 1st James, but he was of Ballybracken so I think belongs to another branch.

This family would potentially look like:

John W. Bryson (c1764-1836)
---- James Bryson (c1800-c1835)
-------- Robert Bryson (c1830-1897) m. Sarah Caldwell
-------- Mary Bryson (c1838-1903) m. William S. Bell

The obvious problem there being Mary apparently born a few years after the death of her father.  Her age in the 1901 census was 64, and it was also given as 64 when she died in 1903, hence I’ve gone for born c1838.  It is possible she was a bit older.

Here’s a transcript of the headstone in Kilbride Graveyard:

In memory of JAMES BRYSON, Holestone, who died 27th March 1878 aged 75 years.  His wife MARTHA ANN who died 9th [Aug] 1870 aged 59 years.  Also their children,  LIZZIE died 28th March, 1858 aged 10 years.  THOMAS died 27th Aug 1860 aged 19 years.  JAMES died [in] Australia 23rd May 1861 aged 27 years.  JOHN died 5th March 1864 aged 26 years.  ROBERT died 13th May 1872 aged 21 years.

There’s nothing there to indicate that James Bryson (c1834-1861) was not the son of James Bryson (c1803-1878) of Holestone. 

Here’s the marriage record from Donegore 1st Presbyterian:

July 5 1831.  James Brison, Holestone, to Martha Anne McConnell Ballywee.  Witnesses Jas Gawn Donegore & Thos McConnell Ballywee.

Unless there’s another marriage record of Martha Ann Bryson/McConnell to another James Bryson between 1831 and 1838, then I can see no reason to believe that James Bryson (c1803-1878) of Holestone is not the same James Bryson of Holestone who married her in 1831.

You mention that James Bryson travelled alone to Australia.  It is not impossible that he left a wife behind.  But his employer specifically described him as a “single man” during the inquest over his death.  So I don’t see any reason to think that he is the James Bryson who married Agnes Boyd née Bryson in 1855.

I know I’m probably beginning to sound obstinate, but I don’t mean to be!  I’m just trying to wrap my head around these connections.  As you say, there are too many James Brysons – I’m up to 33 on my tree now!

I was also just looking at another James Bryson family trying to work out if there’s a connection…

1829 - PRONI D509/2479
Lease of 24 acres 3r. 4 per. I.P.M. for three lives renewable forever (See D509/690) - Consideration: £150 - Rent: £7.7s.9d. p.a. plus fees of Most Hon. George Augustus, Marquess of Donegall to James Gawn, Donegore, Co.Antrim and James Bryson, Jr., Holestone, Co. Antrim (Trustees for Arthur and Samuel Armar) relating to Ballyclaverty, Co. Antrim.

He’s probably the same James Bryson who was father of:

-   Robert Bryson (c1830-1897) m. (1860) Sarah Caldwell.
-   Mary Bryson (c1838-1903) m. (1858) William Samuel Bell.

Both of them were of Ballyclaverty when they married, and both mentioned Andrew Gawn (of Halftown) in their wills.

Edit: Mind you, James Bryson and James Gawn were only acting as trustees in 1829, so perhaps that James Bryson of Holestone never moved to Ballyclaverty.

Agnes Bird = Agnes Boyd

I originally read it as Bird too, but I went back to check it when I couldn’t find an earlier Bryson-Bird marriage.  It’s a bit more obvious if you look at the Thompson-Boyd marriage at the top of the page.

I believe Agnes’s first marriage was to James Boyd of Drummaul on 4th Jan 1842 (Donegore 1st Presbyterian).

And then he’s probably the James Boyd who died in 1852…

Belfast Newsletter, 15th Mar 1852:
March 6, of fever, aged 51 years, Mr. James Boyd, Drumaul, Randalstown.