Genealogy Forum UK

Hi

One of my grandfathers has the surname Bryant. I understand this may well indicate some Irish Catholic roots, "Bryant" being a frequent Anglicisation of names like "O'Brian" or "O'Brien". (My Ancestry DNA test suggested I am 21% Irish, but my proven Irish ancestry only accounts for under half of this).

I traced his line back to my 3rd great-grandfather, Daniel Bryant (790-1831). Interestingly, several members of the Bryant clan, including Daniel, were buried in a Protestant Dissenters' Cemetery near Braintree, Essex. For evidence, see:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AmxJyApgEAcYho57LyN ... g?e=mp3LxQ

Daniel's wife, Elizabeth Spurgeon, is buried in the same cemetery. They were, however, married in a c of E Church. Some of the children appear to have also been "Dissenters", some not; the Baptism of their son Walter, for example, is recorded in the "England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers":

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AmxJyApgEAcYho58Kkw ... Q?e=zGCFsR

I have some questions re this:

1. The term "Dissenter" sounds rather archaic to my ear, but it seems to be synonymous with "Protestant non-Conformist" - am I correct in this?
2. How would I find the actual religious denomination of Dissenter ancestors?
3. Is there any way of tracing religious conversions? Most of the Dissenters' ancestors seemed to become C of E at some point in their lives, or were at least buried in a Cof E church

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

wiki has a page on the English Dissenters and there is a lot more info around on t'internet.

SRD wrote:wiki has a page on the English Dissenters and there is a lot more info around on t'internet.

Thanks for the link. Very interesting.
"Muggletonians" & "Grindletonians" sound like something out of Monty python.

Interesting that Methodists, Presbyterians & Baptists aren't included in this list of "Dissenters", cf.

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sed/religionandl ... t-dissent/

They were, however, married in a c of E Church

Between 1753 and 1836 they would have had no option but to marry in a C of E church (unless Jewish or Quaker) https://www.parliament.uk/about/living- ... marriage-/

When it came to baptisms there was more choice. Depending on the convictions of the parents, I think it was sometimes a case of which minister went round and talked them into it - or offered tea and cake if they did, maybe. I have some families who hopped from one chapel to another.