Will of Bython Bryan, 1849, Johnston Co., NC,

************************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing free information
on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic
pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.

Return to the NCGenWeb Archives Table of Contents
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm#NC
**************************************************************************

The will of Bython Bryan

(will written 19 April 1849; will proved Johnston Co., NC, May Term 1849)
Copy received from North Carolina State Archives; Johnston Co., NC, WB 1,
p. 617.

In the name of God Amen!  I Bython Bryan being afflicted by disease, but of
sound and disposing mind and memory and knowing that is appointed for all
men to die, and that it is well to be prepared for that count in the things
of his life as in our spiritual concerns for a life to come do make this my
last Will and Testament.  First recommending my Soul to Almighty God who
gave it as a faithful Creditor and as to the worldly Estate it has pleased
him to bless me withall I do hereby dispose of it in the following manner
-- That is to say --

1st.  I give unto my dear beloved wife Julia C. Bryan thirty of our Negroes
of fair proportionate value of our family of Negroes to her and to her
heirs forever.  Also our house girl Silva (?) without her children for and
during her life time, then to the children of my sister Nancy S. Smith and
their heirs.

I also give unto my dear wife one thousand dollars in money and all the
Household furniture and any Baroosh [sic] and horses and the usual years
support for her family and I also give her the enjoyment and use of one
third part of my Plantation whereon I now live for and during her life
time.

Item 2nd. [Four lines of writing which were marked out.  It appears to be
something concerning a debt to Edison (?) Boykin (?).]

Item 3rd.  I do give unto the stewards of the Methodist Espicopal [sic]
Church at Smithfield fifty dollars a year for Ten years to aid in paying
the preachers in charge thereof their allowance and other expenses.

And lastly I give and bequeath unto the Children of my Sister Nancy S.
Smith by her present Husband all my property of every discription which has
not already been disposed of above.  She, my said Sister Nancy, retaining
for her own benefit during her life time such parts or portions thereof as
may be necessary and all to be managed for the best interest of the
children.

In witness of all which I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 19th April
1849.

B. Bryan {seal}

Witness Jno MacLeod Thos Lockart

Johnston County Court May Term 1849 Whereas the Executors of this will duly
proven in open court by the oath of Bytha (?) [illegible] Lockart one of
the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Blias (?) Bagley clk.

[Back of page] Bythan Bryan Will To (?) May Term 1849 Recorded in Book N
page 513 ========================

State of North Carolina Johnston County

Be it known that Mrs. Julia C. Bryan the widow of Bythan Bryan late of
Johnston aforesaid now deceased this day personally appeared before me at
Johnston aforesaid and in proper person & in the form of law dissents from
the provision made for her & from the legacies & devises to her made in the
last will and testament of the said Bythan Bryan of the said will is of
record in Johnston County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and the said
Declaration of Dissent is hereby certified to the said last mentioned Court
and to all concerned.

And on this day also the said Julia Bryan widow as aforesaid repeat (?) her
dissent as aforesaid before me in open Court in the Superior Court of Law
of Johnston County and the same is ordered to be recorded & [illegible] her
said dissent is entered of record in the said Superior Court at her request
she being personally present in said Court & before me.

In witness whereof Wm. H. Battle one of the Judges of the Superior Courts
of Law & Equity for the State aforesaid and (now ?) [illegible] a Superior
Court aforesaid for Johnston aforesaid hath hereto set his name the 25 day
of September 1849.

Will: H. Battle J. S. C. L. & E.