Will of Lovard Bryan, 1798, Johnston Co., NC, ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sarah Sharpless ************************************************************************ 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 Loverd Bryan Will written 29 December 1787 or 1797, will proved February Court 1798 Copy received from North Carolina State Archives, Johnston County, NC, WB 1, p. 111. In the name of God Amen. Considering the [illegible] of Human nature & being very week & in a low state of health tho sound mind & memory blessed be God for the same doe make constitute & ordain this my Last will & Testament in manner and form following.........(to witt) Item. I give and bequeth [sic] unto my Brother Clement Bryan Two lots of land in the City of Averasburgh No. as follow one fifty six & the other forty two to him his Heirs and assigns for ever. Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Elizabeth [sic] Bryan nine Negros namely Charely & her two children, Will, Barney, Abram, Clarey, Olive & Penney also one half my Houshold & kitchen furniture Plantation Tools one half my stock of Sheep, on half my Breeding Cattle on half my Breeding Hoggs, five head Horses namely Poncy W Jacket Damm Mair & her two Colts to her & her Heirs and assigns for Ever. I also lend unto my Loving wife Elizabeth Bryan the Plantation where on I now Live with all the Lands belonging to me & adjoining the same during her natural Life. I also impow [sic] my Executors to sell the whole my Land, in the Western County & that the money arising from the same to be equally divided between my said wife & my son Needham Bryan. I also empower them to Purchase Negros & land for my sd son if they shall think it best for his advantage. I also give unto my Loving wife Elizabeth Bryan after my Just debts be paid, one half of the money arising from the debts due me & the sales of the Dry Stock, my will & desire is that my Executors discharge all my Just Debts out of the debts due me & sale of the stock as above, Cropt & produce that sall [sic] be collected..the Ballance to be divid [sic] to be divided [sic] after paying my Just Debts to my said wife and son as aforesaid. Item. I give & Bequeath unto my said Son Needham Bryan the whole of my Estate Both real & Personall (not already given to my Brother & wife Elizabeth) to him his Heirs & assigns for ever. I also impower my Executors hereafter to be named to make sale of the Perishable part of my said son Needham Bryan Estate to hire out the Negroes annually (seeing the [sic] are well clothed & not abused) and rent out his Land, reserving the timbor except for Plantation use for the most they will bring & that shall appear most to my said sons advantage. And the whole the money arising from sales, hire & rents after discharging my Just Debts supporting my said son & be put out to intrust [sic] on Bond with Good Security. Lastly I appoint to this my Last will and Testament my Brother(s ?) Clement Bryan, Benjamin Bryan and James Green revoaking all other wills by me made and declaring this to be my only true Last will & Testament. In witness I the said Lovard Bryan hath here unto set my hand & affixed by Seal this 29th Decemb. 17(8 ?) (9 ?) 7. Loverd Bryan {seal} In the Presents of Edith Watson Sally (her X mark) Bridgers Joseph Green [back of page] Lovard Bryans Will Proved February Court 1798 Benjamin Bryan only [illegible] as E__