The Connection-Beaupre, Bennett, Brien, Hill, Jacobs, Mason & Van Benschoten
The Brien's
The Brien's have been particularly difficult to trace and the reason is the name, on the homepage I have it Brien/Bryan. I have been discovering that is only two of the possible spellings and the others were not necessarily easily guessed. I will give you a timeline of how it looks like the spelling and evolution of the name took place. Please, keep in mind I have only documents to go on so the conclusions are attempt to understand how and why the name changed. It also seems evident that William and his family were partial to Brine, as most of his family used this spelling for the rest of their lives as far as I can tell.
The timeline is as follows:
1870 Orange County, New York, census record lists Henry Bryn, tinsmith.
1877 Deed-Henry Brien bought a home in Middletown.
1880 Orange County, New York, census record lists Henry Brine, tinsmith, Sarah & Harrie, son.
1900 Orange County, New York, census record lists, Henry Brien, tinsmith, Sarah, sons, Henry, Jr. & Edward.
1906 Quit Claim Deed-from Henry Brien to William Brien for property bought by their father Walter Bryan.
1917 WW1 Draft Registration Card for James Wheeler Brine (grandson of William Brien).
1918 WW1 Draft Registration Card for Edward Bryan.
1930 Orange County, New York census record lists Harry L. Bryan, Mary and daughter Margaret.