Richard Bright
Feb. 20, 1733/4 - July Court 1740

In the name of God Amen I Rich^d BRIGHT of the presink of Currituk in ye County of Albemerle and province of North Carlina being Sick of Body but of Sound and perfect minde and memory thanks be to almighty God for it I doe make and ordaine and Constitute this my Last will and Testament in maner and form following: I give and bequeath my Sole into y^e hands of Almighty God that gave it me and my Body I commit unto y^e Earth to be deascently buryed at the Deserestion of my Ex^r hereafter named.

Item I Give and bequeath unto to my Son Richard BRIGHT one Shilling Starling money.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Hanson BRIGHT nine acres of Land more or less lying and Joyning to y^e Land which Daniell MACCOY now lives on.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Sollomon BRIGHT y^e maner plantation where I now live and all of land belonging to it and y^e negro woman Called Dina and one feather bead and furniture.

Item I Give and bequeath all y^e Rest and Residue of my Personable Estate to be Equeallyed Devied among y^e rest of my Children here after named William BRIGHT and James BRIGHT Sam^l BRIGHT and Ann COX and Elener ETHERIDGE and Edee BRIGHT and lastly my will and Desire is that my Soninlaw John ETHERIDGE be full and whole Executrier of this my last will and testament Revoking and Disanulling all other wills here to fore made by me Ratifying and Declearing this to be my last will and testament In witness where of I have here unto Sett my hand and affixed my Seale this 20^th Day of feabuary in y^e yeare of our Lord God 1733/4
    /s/ Rich^d [his RB mark] BRIGHT

    Rich ETHERIDGE
    Henery [his I mark] FANSHAW
    Sam^ll [his mark] LEE [a sideways S & L was his mark]

Currituck County At A Court held for ye Said County y^e First Day of July 1740
    Present His Majesties Justices

These may Certifie that Henry FANSHAW and Sam^l LEE two of the Subscribing Evidences to the Within Will app^d in open Court and made oath on the Holy Evanglest that they weare present and Saw Richard BRIGHT Sign Seal and Declare the within to be and Contain his Last will and Testament and that the Said Richard BRIGHT was then and at that time of Sound and perfect Memmory and that they also Saw the other Subscribing Evidence Sign his Name thereto at the Same Time.  Then also app^d John ETHERIDGE Ext^r in open Court and took the Executors oath in Due form of Law.

Ordered that y^e Sec^ry have Notice hereof that Letters Testary Issue thereon as y^e Law Directs.
    By Order: Wm. SHERGOLD Clk Court

[On the back of this will is written:
Lters made out Aug^t C^t 1740
    /s/ R.F.]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.274 (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