S.R. Durand: "Alexander Bryan was born at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England in 1602, and baptized there on September 9 of that year. He came to America in 1638, and settled in New Haven, Connecticut. Alexander Bryan married first in England before 1632 Ann Baldwin, who was born at North Church, Hertfordshire, England in 1604 and baptized in March of that year. They had three children born in England: our ancestor Richard, Susanna, and Joanna. On February 12, 1639, along with Edmund Tapp, William Fowler, Benjamin Fenn, and Zachariah Whitman, he journeyed to Wepawang and purchased land from Ansontawae, a sachem of the Paugusset Indians, who had a village on the banks of the river. The price was six coats, ten blankets, one kettle, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, and a dozen small mirrors. Soon after this purchase the town of Milford was established, with the Rev. Peter Prudden as pastor of the church. Alexander Bryan was on the first List of Freemen on November 29, 1639. Milford quickly developed a thriving trade, and Alexander Bryan and his son Richard were the town's first merchants. Initially they engaged in fur trading with the Indians, and as early as 1640 Alexander Bryan owned a ship, which he sent to Boston with a cargo of beaver, otter, and other furs. Alexander Bryan's reputation and credit standing in the next few years was so strong that his notes passed as currency in Boston. He is said to have had the largest business on the American coast of any merchant outside of Boston. "Anne Briant" was admitted to the Milford Church on August 23, 1646. In May of 1650, the town of Milford Granted Alexander Bryan a plot of land for a warehouse at the head of what is now Factory Lane. He erected a building sixty feet long by twenty feet wide on the west side of the lane, at the corner of Broad Street. At the same time, he built a wharf at the foot of Dock Lane where his ships took on and discharged their cargoes. In October of 1653, he offered to relinquish all right and title to the wharf provided that the town kept it in repair. The town accepted the offer, and for many years used it as the public wharf. Over the years that Alexander Bryan was in business, he sent ships to the Azores, England, Virginia, Nova Scotia, and the West Indies. Their cargoes were brought back to Milford, and from there taken to New Haven for sale. He owned a large and stately home in Milford, properties in Meriden, Fairfield, and Watertown in Connecticut, 1,500 acres on Eaton's Neck on Long Island, as well as a large estate in England. He purchased in 1654 a home in Fairfield from the Honorable Nathan Gold, which originally had been the house and lot of a Mr. Newton. After the union of the New Haven Colony with the Connecticut Colony in 1665, Alexander Bryan was nominated tot he General Court of Connecticut as an Assistant; that is, a member of the Upper House or Senate. Apparently he had been educated in England as a lawyer, for he was counsel for Lieutenant Governor Ludlow, defending him in an action of slander for having accused Goody Staples of Fairfield of being a witch. In 1666, he was a commissioner of the Court; in 1667 a deputy; and from 1668 to 1673 an assistant again. Alexander Bryan married second Susannah Fitch, widow of Samuel Fitch of Hartford, and previously widow of William Whitney. She died July 8, 1673, and Alexander Bryan died in 1679. His will was proved May27, 1679."

Facts about this person:

Baptism September 09, 1602 Aylesbury, Co. Bucks, England

Probate May 27, 1679