BRYAN (BRYAND), Anthony (by 1503-60/61), of Northampton.

Anthony Bryan was a Northampton grocer who by 1524 was already moderately prosperous. In 1534 he and Nicholas Rand obtained a joint lease of lands and sheep in Greens-Norton, Northamptonshire, from Thomas, 2nd Lord Vaux of Harrowden, who had previously had commercial dealings with Bryan: this lease was to involve the two men in litigation. By 1547 Bryan was, to judge from his tithe assessment, one of the wealthiest men in the town. He had already served his first term as mayor and although nothing of importance is recorded about him he is frequently mentioned in the day-to-day conduct of municipal affairs. His family life appears equally conventional.3E179/155/133; 156/257; E315/345/2d, 9; C1/1197/56; LP Hen. VIII, ix; Recs. Northampton, i. 427; ii. 127, 183, 252, 422, 453; Northampton ass. bk., 30, 78, 107, 147, 248, 300, 315.

Bryan died between the making of his will on 26 May 1560 and its proving on 8 Jan. 1561. He asked to be buried in Corpus Christi chapel in All Saints church. John Bryan, who was appointed executor, was to receive the shop with all its wares and implements, and his sister Anne was to have £10 and another sister Dorothy her jointure; all the remaining goods and land were to go to their mother for her life, and afterwards one house and garden were to pass to Anne and the remainder to John. John Balgye was named supervisor.4PCC 3 Loftes.