Henry Bright
May 23, 1749 - July Court 1749

In the Name of God Amen the 23^d day of May I Henry BRIGHT being Sick in body of But of Good and perfect Memory thanks be to Almighty God and Calling to Remombrance the Uncertain Estate of this transitory Life and That all flesh Must die When it shall please God to Call do make Constitute Ordain and appoint this My Last will and testament in Mannor and form following first Commiting My [soul] into the hands of Almighty God and My body to the Earth where My Executors Shall please to Lay it.

Item I give Unto My daughter Bridget one Cow and Calf and three Year old heifer with all their Increase and 1 puter dish to her and her heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My daughter Maryann one three Year old heifer with all her Increase and 1 puter dish to her and her heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My daughter Lucy one Cow and Calf and three Year old heifer with all their Increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My Son Caleb one two Year old Mare Called pleasure with all her Increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My Son Silas a five Year old Mare and one old Mare Bonney and Cow and Calf with all their Increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My Son Henry the Young horse Called frolick to him and his heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My daughter Cortney one Cow and Calf with all their Increase and 1 puter dish and 1 Iron pot Call the Middlepot to her and her heirs forever.

Item I Give Unto My Son Caleb twenty five shilling Virginia Curroncy.  I do also Give Unto My Son Caleb all the rest of My Estate after the Charges is paid to him and his heirs forever.  I do Likewise Make Constitute ordain and appoint My Son Henry BRIGHT My Whole and Sole Executor to this My Last will and testament.  Witness my hand this 23^d day of May 1749.
    /s/ Henry [his HB mark] BRIGHT

    James BURNHAM
    Samuel BRIGHT
    Ann [her _^ mark] BRIGHT

North Carolina    July County Court Anno Dom 1749
    Present His Majesties Justices

These may Certifie that Samuel BRIGHT & Ann BRIGHT his wife Two of the Subscribed Evidence to the within Will appeared in open Court & made oath on the Holy Evangel that they were present & Saw Henry BRIGHT Sign Seal Publish & Declare the within to be and Contain his Last will & Testament & that the Said Henry BRIGHT was then & at that time of Sound & Disposeing Memory and that they also saw James BURNHAM the other subscribing Evidence Sign his Name thereunto at the same Time.  Then also appeared Henry BRIGHT (son of the Deceased) Executor Named in the said Will in open Court and took the Executors oath in Due form of Law.  Ordered that the Hon^ble Nath^l RICE Esq^r Secretary of this Province have Notice thereof that Letters Testamentory Issue thereon as the Law Directs.
    Test: Rich^d McClure Clk

[On the back of this will is written:
Letters is^d 29 Sep^t 1749
    /s/ Jas. CRAVEN, Dep^t Sec^y]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.271 (folder)]

This will was contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!

© 2006 Kay Midgett Sheppard