James Dyer was born in England, and in company with four of his brothers emigrated to the American colonies prior to the revolution. James settled in Massachusetts, where he married and reared his family. He was intensely patriotic, and his services as a soldier covered the entire revolutionary war period. He enlisted in the continental army, and fought in many of the battles of that war, his service covering a period of seven years. He married Mary Marcy, a relative of Governor Marcy, of New York state. When his son Bradbury was twelve years old, James Dyer removed with his family to the town of Jefferson, Schoharie county, New York, where he resided until his death. He had a family of nine girls and five boys.
(II) Bradbury, son of James and Mary (Marcy) Dyer, was born December 26, 1772, died April 27, 1860, in Massachusetts, where he resided until the age of twelve years. He accompanied his parents to New York state, where he grew to manhood in Jefferson, Schoharie county. He married and for a time worked a farm at Shingle Bush, Schoharie county, where his son Zedediah was born. Later he removed to the town of Knox, Albany county, where he bought the Van Vranken farm. He married Polly Sheppard, born in Knox, Albany county, 1789, died June 15, 1871. They had ten children.
(III) David S., son of Bradbury and Polly (Sheppard) Dyer, was born in Berne, Albany county, New York, April 23, 1813, died March 7, 1874. He was a farmer of the county all his days. He married, January 20, 1840, Louisa Bell, of Delaware county, New York, born December 14, 1818, died January 20, 1897. They had four children:
- Bradbury (2), see forward.
- Calvin S., born September 29, 1845.
- Adelaide, July 25, 1850, died March 4, 1871.
- Zeb A., born December 1, 1860; graduate State Normal College, Albany, 1882; Albany Law School, 1885. He practiced law in Albany. He was a Democrat, and supervisor of the town of Berne; attended the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. He married, in 1889, Jessie L., daughter of John R. Adams, of Delmar. Child: John Adams Dyer.
(IV) Bradbury (2), eldest son of David S. and Louisa (Bell) Dyer, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, March 2, 1842. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools and at Delaware Academy, Delhi, New York. After leaving school he located in Albany, and in 1871 engaged in the wholesale trade, continuing until 1904, when he disposed of his interests. He is now and has been for several years, engaged in the real estate business. He is a Democrat in politics. He married, October 15, 1872, Marietta Zeh, of Berne. Children:
- David S., born in Albany, July 14, 1874, died March 16, 1877.
- Bradbury (3), a farmer on the old Dyer homestead in Berne, on which he is the fourth generation to live; married Victoria Patterson, and has a son, Bradbury (4).
- David A., born October 21, 1879, now deceased; married Elva Hinman, of Delmar, and had one child, Clara M.