Will of
JOHN WRIGHT, SR.
1813
In the name of God amen. The last will and testament of John Wright senior of the county of Camden and state of N. Carolina made the 3rd day of February 1773 as follows. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that give it to me and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent christian burial at the discretion of my executor and as touching worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life. I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First I leave the use of my manner plantation thereon I now live to my wife Francis Wright during her natural life with all the priviledges to the same belonging. Also I leave the use of all my negroes to my wife during her natural life.
I give and bequeath unto my wife Francis Wright two mares, one horse her choice. Two feather beds and furniture her choice. Four cows and calves, five ewes and lambs, one yoke of oxen, one ox cart and yoke, all the hogs ? ?. The west side of my plantation whereon I now live. One beaufett and all my crockery ware. Two chest, one large oval table, seven windsor chairs, one arm chair, two flage chairs, one large iron pot, one small ditto with hooks, two pot trammels, two washing tubs, four pails, one churn, one large honey tub, three ploughs and harness, two axes, one large and four small hoes, one powdering tub, four pork barrels, one barrel with fat, one loom and harness, five linen wheels, one copper tea kittle, one hand mill, one walnut stand, one looking glass all her choice. Thirty barrels saune corn, three barrels salt pork, five hundred pounds bacon, fifteen bushells wheat, one side saddle. Also three negro women Judah, Patience and Aleaph to her and her heirs forever.
I leave the use of one certain piece of land known by the name of The Pand to my grand daughter Sally Bell Downing her natural life and to her heirs. If any lawfully begotten of her body and if the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then my desire is that the aforesaid land br equally divided between John Wright and Gamiel Wright sons of Mathais Wright and John Wright son of Peter Wright dec’d to them and their heirs forever. Also I leave the use of two feather beds and furniture, three cows and calves, four ewes and lambs, seven windsor chairs, one armed chair to my grand daughter Sally Bell and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body. And if the siad Sally Bell dies without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then the aforesaid things last mentioned to be equally divided between John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John Wright son of Peter Wright dec’d and John W. Berry son of James Berry to them and their heirs forever.
Also I leave use of two negroes to my grand daughter Sally Bell Downing her natural life to her heirs if any lawfully begotten of her body forever. The names of the negroes Betts and Patience and provided the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then the aforesaid negroes to be equally divided between John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John W. Berry son of James Berry and Alexander W. Gandon to them and their heirs forever.
Also I leave the use of one hundred and fifty acres of swamp land lying down the river binding the river and sound to my grand daughter Sally Bell and her heirs if any lawfully begotten of her body forever and for want of such heirs. Then for the said land to be divided in the same manner and between the same heirs as is mentioned in the clause last before this. To them and their heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto Cornelius Wright son of Cornelius Wright dec’d fifty acres swamp land binding his plantation and bearing towards the sound so far as will make the same to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Hughes daughter of William Hughes Jr dec’d one feather bed and thirty pounds current money to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry son of James Berry one certain piece of land known by the name of The Ridge binding north river swamp containing fifty acres to him and his heirs forever. Only observing that if the said John W. Berry should die without an heir lawfully begotten of his body for the said land to be equally divided between his two brothers namely Batson B. Berry and Jesse B. Berry to them and their heirs forever.
Also I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry one negro man named March to be delivered to him at the death of my wife Francis Wright to him and his heirs forever.
Also I give the said John W. Berry all the cattle that I hold in my possession which is marked posslan leaf in both ears and a whole cut in each ear.
Also I give the said John W. Berry fifty pounds current money to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto William S. Berry fifty pounds current money to be raised out of my estates to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto Alexander W. Gandon son of Thomas Gandon one negro boy named Ishmal to be delivered to him at the death of my wife Francis Wright.
Also I give the said Alexander W. Gandon son of Thomas one coalt by the name of Black to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto John Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d one negro man named Lamb to be delivered unto him at the death of my wife to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto William Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d one negro man named Jess to be delivered to him at the death of my wife to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto John Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John Berry son of James Berry one hundred acres of swamp land lying in north river swamp binding Jacob Cartwrights line thence extending out to Merrels patent. And also ten acres of land known the Great Island binding Tully Cartwrights line. The aforesaid land to be equally divided between the two last names, heirs to them and their heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry son of James Berry one small piece of land by the name of Paston paint near the old wharf. Also I give the said John W. Berry one young mare to him and his heirs forever.
I leave the use of the land and plantation whereon I now live to my grand daughter Sally Bell and to her heirs lawfully begotten of her body. Altogether after the death of my wife Francis Wright and if the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then I give the aforesaid land and plantation to John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d to equally divided between the two of them and their heirs forever.
My will and desire is that all the remaining parts of my estate which I have not given away or named off in legacies should be sold and after paying my just debts. That the ballance of the money should be equally divided between my wife and John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d and my grand daughter Sally Bell and provided the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then her part of this legacy to be equally divided between John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d to them and their heirs forever.
And also my will and desire is that all the property that I have left the use of to grand daughter Sally Bell. Except the land and negroes should be sold when the rest of my estate is and to be kept in the hands of my executor at interest for her with the land and negroes paid for them. My executor to deal out to her for her support such part of the same as they may think neccessary at their own discretion until she marries and has lawfull heir or dies.
Lastly my will is to nominate and appoint my trusty friends Mathias Wright and Caleb Perkins executors to this my last will and testament utterly revoking and disannulling all former wills by me before made ratifying and confirming this to be the last will and testament which I have made. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, date first mentioned.
John Wright Sr. (seal)
Test: James Berry and Demsey Squires
I certify the foregoing to be a copy of the paper writing purporting to
be the will of John Wright Sr. dec’d which was filed in the papers of
the suit removed from Camden to? court.
Test: John Mead for
Edward Mead, clerk
Contributed and transcribed by Harry Schoettle