Johnston County, NC - Wills - Needham Bryan - 1767 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Ken Lindsay 3 Sep 1767, Wills 1749-1897, C.R.010.801.2, Bertie County (NC) Original Records, NC State Archives, Raleigh,NC - This Exhibit #30 shows the will of Needham Bryan "farmar". This will appears to be written and signed in his own hand. Needham Bryan (being sick of body) mentions: 1. his dearly beloved wife Sarah. He leaves his wife her choice of a feather bed and associated furniture, her choice of a horse, a side saddle and bridle (which are to become a part of his estate after her death). He also leaves her and his grandson William (that lives with him) all of his "hole" estate. After her widowhood, the estate to be equally divided to his three children "all but he has [... ] his [share?] all rest to my Sons Needham and William and daughter Rachell. [He speaks of a procedure for making the division which seems to imply that Rachell is the wife of William Whitfield.] 2. his grandson William Bryan (son of his son William) he leaves his grandson his still and [ .] Smith tools. 3. his grandson Ezekiel Williams he leaves a Ca[.]lin 4. his grandson Lewis Gardner he leaves his grandson a Ca[...]lin. 5. his grandson Joseph Jernigan he leaves his grandson a Ca[...]lin. 6. his daughter’s son William her first born he leaves his grandson a Ca[...]lin 7. his daughter Susanna Harrell he leaves one horse called Aney. 8. young Jacob Jernigan he leaves three pounds out of his estate 9. his son Needham Bryan (see above). 10. his son William Bryan (see above). 11. his son-in-law William Whitfield (see above) He appoints his sons, Needham Bryan and William Bryan, his executors. The will is witnessed by William Turner Jr., James Turner and Joseph Turner. Needham Bryan Seal Court - In Bertie, on 15 May 1777, Pursuant to the "Dimentions" of an order of the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions....the second Tuesday in May [1777]... We the Subscribers met examined audited and "setled" the accounts of WILLIAM BRYAN Exec. of NEEDHAM BRYAN deceased and find a "ballance" due to the said "deceaseds" estate of four hundred and eighty and eight pounds thirteen shillings and nine pence proclamation money - which we have divided and set apart "agreably" to the last will and testament of the said deceased to the administrator of NEEDHAM BRYAN son of the said deceased for his part and "shair" of the said "deceaseds" estate one hundred and sixty two pounds seventeen shillings & eleven pence... and the same amount for their shares "To Rachel Whitfield daughter of the said deceased". This is signed by Noah Hinton, Samuel Moore, and Thomas House. We may assume the recent death of the elder Needham Bryan's widow Sarah, in 1776 or early 1777, terminating her life interest and allowing final settlement of the estate of Needham Bryan Sr. of "Snowfield". The three principal heirs of Needham Bryan, Sr., as clearly indicated in both the will and settlement, were sons WILLIAM and NEEDHAM, Jr., and daughter RACHEL WHITFIELD. Payment to "the administrator of NEEDHAM BRYAN son of the said deceased" indicates the death intestate of NEEDHAM, JR., after date of the will, 23 Sept. 1767, and before the settlement, in May 1777. This conflicts with 1784, given as year of Needham, Jr's death by Zella Armstrong [see below]. The will does not name the daughters who were mothers of "my fore Gran Sons", each of the four being cut off with a crown sterling, thus disinheriting these daughters and or their heirs and avoiding division of the estate per stirpes. Thus, the son of Needham of "Snowfield" is not "Col. Needham Bryan Sr. of Johnston County who was poisoned by Jenny in 1780. He was already dead, dying sometime between 1767 and 1777. The executor's accounting, as approved by the commissioners in 1777, includes payments of five minor monetary bequests: For four grandson, "To pay Ezekiel Wimberly [sic] shi Legacy" and, tabulated in immediate succession, "LEWIS GARDNER do do", "JOSEPH JERNAGAN do do", and "WILLIAM BRYAN son of ANN BRYAN do do", each 8 shillings, 4 pence [the equivalent then in local currency of a crown sterling]; to "JACOB JERNAGAN, Jr. do do" 3 pounds [Bertie Co., NC Inventories and sales of estates, 1775-1790, Part I, pp. 18-19, in NC Archives, Raleigh; photocopy in compiler's possession]. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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