Will of
JOHN WRIGHT
1772
In the name of God amen. The 32 June 1772 I John Wright being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory that is be given unto the Almighty God for it and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally. First of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned and touching my worldly estate wherewith it has been pleasing God to bless me with in this life I give and bequeath in the manner and form following.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son John Wright one hundred and fifty acres of land that I bought of John Forbes and Barbasa Blo___ to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my said son one negro boy, six cows and calves and nine sheep and one young horse for his part of my estate in as much as I have given him considerable before.
Item: I give unto my two sons Cornelius Wright and Barnaba Wright my plantation and land hereunto belonging whereon I now live to be equally divided I give to them and their heirs forever but in case either of them should die without an heir lawfully begotten of their body his part I give to my son Wm. Wright to him and his heirs forever and in case both sons die in like manner I give the other part to my son Peter Wright to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my sd two sone Cornelius and Barnaba Wright each of them a young negro and to each of them two feather beds.
Item: I give and bequeath my son William Wright fifty acres of land know by the name Great Island to him and his heirs forever and two likely young negroes and two feather beds.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my three sons Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright one negro woman named Venus and her increase and a negro woman Rachael and her increase. Excepting Eastys and Judah is left out. I also so give to each of afsd three sons two good feather beds to each of them and the afsd negroes and their increase as aforesaid to be equally divided to my afsd three sons (camed over first time, brought over first time) Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright, when the youngest comes to age or marriage.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia Gilford seventy shillings proclamation money for her part in so much as I have given her considerable before.
Item: I reserve the use of my negro woman named Nevda and her increase to my daughter Pussa Lindsay which said negro I have had lent to my said daughter and do reserve the one of the aforesaid negro and her increase to my daughter Pussa during her natural life. At her decease I give the afsd negro woman and her increase to be divided equally amongst all the children of my said daughter and for want of such children I give the afsd negroes to be equally divided amongst my six
children to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Matthew Wright.
Item: I reserve the use of my negro girl named Till and her increase to my daughter Nancy Morgan which said negro I have had lent to my said daughter and do now reserve the use of the said negro girl and her increase to my said daughter during her natural life and her decease I give the afsd negro to be equally divided amongst all my said daughters children and for want of such children then I give the afsd negroes to be equally divided between my six children to wit: Cornelius Wright,
Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias
Wright.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Jean Wright one third part of my plantation and land I live on and one third of my movable estate during her natural life and at her decease my will and desire is to be equally divided amongst my six sons to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnabas Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my six sons the rest of my estate to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright to be equally divided between them my said six sons (camed over second time, brought over second time)
I nominate and appoint my four sons Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright and Peter Wright executors to this my last will and testament and I do utterly revoke and disannul every other will and testament retifying and confirming this and no other to contain my last will and testament.
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and delivered by the said John Wright as his last will and testament in presence of us the day and date first written.
William Wright (jurat) John Wright (seal)
Mary (mark) Wright
John Squires
North Carolina
Pasquotank county
Sept court of Pleas and Quarters Session 1772
Presents his majesties justices
The last will and testament of John Wright was exhibited by Barnaba Wright one of the executors thereto proved in due form of law by the oath of Wm. Wright at the same time the said executor qualified by taking the oath by law appointed. Ordered to be registered, ordered that the secty have notice.
test Frederick Blount
Contributed by Harry Schoettle