Is the name Bryant or Bryan?

[Rick Smith]

One of the 1860 Census takers down here in Southern Maryland was Thomas Harbin, if I'm not mistaken.

Laurie,

Can't say if Thomas Harbin was a U.S. Marshall, maybe census enumerators were sworn in temporarily for the purpose, but he sure was the census taker for the Piscataway & Surratt's Districts.

Rick

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I think every author on the subject that I have read has referred to William L. Bryant, a neighbor of Mrs. Quesenberry. This includes the team of Tidwell, Hall, and Gaddy, who did not take anyone else's research for granted. I'm sticking with Bryant because census takers were/are notoriously wrong in spelling people's names.

Laurie,

Can't remember where I read it, but it may be that William L. Bryant's wife was a woman of color. I believe that I mentioned to you that I found a William L. Bryant on the 1870 Census living in an area just west{?} of Washington City where housing was provided by the federal government. This Bryant was working as a carpenter. If our Bryant was a man of color, it would also make sense having someone along {Chrismond} to establish bona fides when delivering Booth & Herold to Dr. Stuart's.

Rick