The Will of Needham Bryan ************************************************************************ 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 Needham Bryan (Copy received from North Carolina State Archives, Johnston Co., NC, Will Book 1, page 3) In the name of God Amen. I Needham Bryan of Johnston County being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be God, do this Twenty-fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say, First, I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Sarah Bryan the following Negroes to wit Peter, Rose, Abram, Dinar, Cooper, Dick, Billy, Will and Phillis, eight milk cattle, three work horse creatures. Item. I give to my Son Loverd Bryan the plantation whereon I now live within the following lines Beginning on the river at the mouth of the cursed branch (above the plantation where Negro Pendar lives), running up the maenders [sic] of the miry prong of said branch to where the cart path [page torn along fold] a straight course to the mouth of Powells branch on polecat all the lands that I possess above said lines & courses joining Smithfield and the river, to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my son Clement Bryan all the Lands I possess in Black Creek, Black minge & Mill creek (except four hundred acres known by the name of Caseys place) to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my son Benjamin Bryan all the other land I possess on the mouth side neuse river below the lands given to my son Loverd and four hundred acres known by the name of Caseys place to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my daughter Sarah two Negro girls named Tilott and Ruth, my large writing desk, two silver plated candle sticks and if either the above Negro girls dies before the year 1790 I desire it made up to her out of the other Negroes. To her and her heirs forever. Item. My Will and desire is that all my personal estate be kept together Together [sic] until the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety and the money arising from such parts of my stocks as may be marketable and from debts due me to be applyed for the education of my children, and that they be kept at school until that date 1790. And at that time all the Negroes and all the stocks of all kinds (that is not given above to my wife and daughter) to be equally divided amongst my three sons and my daughter. That all my houshold [sic] furniture tools and plantation utensils (except the above mentioned to my daughter) be equally divided amongst my wife and all my children. That my Executors sell all such part of my childrens property as may be wasting and apply the money to the benefit of the child it belonged to. And do constitute and appoint my worthy friends [blank lines] to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the year and day above written. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Needham Bryan the Testator as his last will & Testament in the presence of us. [No witnesses] [No signature nor mark] Johnston County, February Term 1787 Then was the within (waiting ?) exhibited in open court for probate whereby the court was admitted to be proved by the oaths of Nathan (Hinson ?), Daniel Dees & James Hinton & ordered to be [illegible]. Recorded in Book No. 1, page 74 [illegible] CCC (?) [Back of page] Will Nm Bryan [illegible] 1786