North Carolina
Currituck County

July Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Session Anno Domini 1766
To Wit Present His Majesty Justices

The Last Will and testament of Henry BRIGHT was then and there exhibited open court, proved by the oaths of Daniel WEST and Ann WEST two of the serebing witnesses: the executor qualified, it was ordered to be recorded whereupon it there follows In hoc(?) verba vizt.

In the name of God Amen, I Henry BRIGHT of the county of Currituck in the province of North Carolina being sick and weak and weak in body but of sound mind and memory and understanding think proper to make this my Last Will and Testament.

Imprimis: I resign my soul to its creation in all humble hope of it further happiness as in the disposal of a being inpintely good as to my body my will is that it be decently buried at the disgatien of my executors herein after named and as to the comporal estate which the Lord hath blessed me with I give order and dispose hereof as followeth vizt-------

I give and bequeath to my Son John BRIGHT eighty five acres of land given to me by Adam BRIGHT lying near the great swamp to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever--I likewise give and bequeath unto my said Son John BRIGHT one negroe man called Joseph, only excepting the use of the said negroe called Joseph to my beloved Wife Ann BRIGHT during her Widowhood, but if my said Son John BRIGHT should die in his Nonage or without heir of body lawfully begotten it is my Will and Desire that the said negroe man called Joseph be equally divided amongst the rest of my surviving children.  I likewise give and bequeath unto my Son John BRIGHT one young horse called Eagle to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Henry BRIGHT one hundred acres of land be the same more or less that is to say the manour Plantation whereon I now live and the land belonging to it and the land and Plantation that I purchased of my Brother Silas BRIGHT to him the said Henry BRIGHT and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever. I likewise give and bequeath unto my aforesd Son Henry BRIGHT one negroe woman called Judah only excepting the first child that the aforesd. negroe woman shall bear that shall live to be ten years old, the said negroe woman called Judah with with her future increase excepting the first child she shall bear that lives to be ten years old to him the aforesd. Henry BRIGHT, but of my said Son Henry BRIGHT should die in his Nonage or without heir of his body lawfully begotten it is then my will and desire that the said negroe woman Judah and her increase excepting the first child that she shall bear and live to be ten years old to be equally divided amongst my surviving children. I likewise give and bequeath unto my said Son Henry BRIGHT one young horse called Snowball to him and his heirs.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Charles BRIGHT one hundred and eighty acres of land lying in the light swamp it being the land I purchased of John HUGHES to him the said Charles BRIGHT and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever.  I likewise give and bequeath unto my said Son Charles BRIGHT one negroe girl called Hannah with all her increase but if my said Son Charles should die in his Nonage or without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then it is my will and desire that the said negroe Hannah to be divided amongst my other surviving children. I likewise give unto my afores. Son Charles BRIGHT one young mare calles Pleasure to him and his heirs for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my two Daughters Mary BRIGHT and Ann BRIGHT one negroe woman called Sarah and all her future increase to have equal rights and proporties to the said negroe Sarah and increase but if either of my two Daughters should die in their Nonage or without lawful heir of their body it is my will that the other surviving should have the negroe and increase but if in case both my said Daughters Mary BRIGHT and Ann BRIGHT should die without heir of hers body lawfully begotten then it is my will and desire that the said negroe Sarah and increase be equally divided amongst my surviving children.  I likewise give unto my two afores. Daughters Mary BRIGHT and Ann BRIGHT each of them one feather bed and furniture a piece.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Kezia BRIGHT the first child that the negroe woman Judah which I gave to my Son Henry, shall bear that shall live to be ten years old, it being by me before excepted, I give the said negroe child as afores. to my Daughter Kezia BRIGHT; but if my Daughter Kezia should die in her Nonage or without heirs of her body lawfully begotten then my will and desire is that the said negroe be equally divided amongst my surviving children.  Item: I give and bequeath unto my afores. Daughter Kezia BRIGHT one feather bed and furniture to her and heirs for ever. I likewise give all the rest of my estate which I have not already given by my will to be equally divided amongst my surviving children.  And I do hereby constitute and appoint my loving Wife Ann BRIGHT , my whole and sole Escecutrise to this my Last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me heretofore made. In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty five.
    /s/ Henry BRIGHT         Seal

Present
    James BURNHAM
    Daniel WEST
    Ann [her x mark] WEST

Recorded and examined 19^th July Anno Domini 1766

This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. 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!

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