Will, NC, Halifax, James Bryant 1784 In the name of God Amen. JAMES BRYAN of Halifax County in the province of North Carolina being sick and weak of body but of perfect sense and memory thanks be to God and on consideration that life and senses uncertain I do make an ordained this my last will and testament viz. I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth that has the discretion of my executors. As to my worldly estate I give devise bequeath and dispose of the same in the following manner viz. IMPRIMIS first I leave the plantation and lands belonging thereto whereon I now live to my beloved wife LUCY BRYAN during her wife or widow hood I also lend to my beloved wife LUCY BRYAN three Negroes viz, RACHEL, PHILIS, and DEMPSEY during her life and after her decease it is my will is that these three Negroes and their increase to be equally divided between my two daughters SARAH BRIAN and MARY BRYAN to them and their heirs forever. I also lend to my beloved wife LUCY BRYAN to negroes JACOB and JACK for the maintenance of my children during her widowhood or until my son JAMES comes of age. I also lend my beloved wife two horses five cows and calves all of my beds and furniture one fifth part of my household furniture until my son JAMES comes of age and my will is that half the house scratch horses cattle beds and furniture and also half of the household Furniture should be returned after my son JAMES comes of age and be equally divided between my three children viz, JAMES BRYAN, SARAH BRYAN, and MARY BRYAN to them and their heirs for ever. I also lend to my beloved wife LUCY BRYAN the tract of land I purchased JACOB POLLOCK line on Cahuca containing four hundred and thirty acres during her natural life and after her disease I give the said land to my two daughters SARAH BRIAN and MARY BRYANT to be equally divided between them share and share alike to them and their heirs forever. It is my will and desire that the land I purchased of THEOPHILUS COTTON containing one thousand acres and part of the land at leased of LEVI LANCASTER should be leased for the same terms of four years for pork to discharge my just debts and at the end of four years it is my will that the land I purchased of THEOPHILUS COTTON should be made use of with use of my family until my children come of age, and then I give the said land to my two daughters to be equally divided between them share and share alike to them their heirs forever. Page 1 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Halifax, James Bryant 1784 ITEM it is my will and desire that the remainder of my cattle should be sold to discharge my chest that's also the remainder of my household furniture that is not lent to discharge my debts. ITEM it is my will and desire that JIM, FAN and WILL should be hired out for the terms of four years, yearly, to discharge my just debts that after the term of the said for years to be returned to the use of the family. ITEM has my will and desire that the Tanner Mare and her two Colts should be sold to just discharge my just debts. ITEM it is my will and desire that the aforementioned negros not be hired out if my debts could be settled without. ITEM I give the plantation in the lands belonging there to where I now live to my son JAMES BRYAN after my wife's lent, and I also give to my son JAMES BRYAN the tract of land I bought all the ELIJAH WILLIAMS containing one hundred and fifty acres to him his heirs forever. I also give to my son James Bryan the Negroes named as follows and their increase JACOB, JIM, ISAM, FAN, and STEPHAN to him and his heirs for ever. ITEM it is my will and desire that all of the rest of my negroes not mentioned to be equally divided between my two daughters SARAH BRYAN and MARY BRYAN share and share alike to them they're yours forever. Lastly, I likewise do constitute make an appoint JAMES SMITH, NICHOLAS BRYAN, THOMAS BLUNT WHITEMILL & DREW SMITH my only and sole executor of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, and disannull all and every other former Testament will and Legacies by me anyways before this time named will and bequeath. I am confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here in to set my hand and seal this 14th day of May Anno Dominia 1784. JAMES BRYANT seal Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us. Interlined before I signed these words in the 15th line “and their increase”. THOMAS WHITAKER ANN NEWMAN SARAH COTTON Page 2 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Halifax, James Bryant 1784 I could wish you my executor is that you would sell on move the house that is on the plantation that I bought of ELIJAH WILLIAMS to the plantation lying on Kehuca and I also desire you will have a brick chimney built to the house on the plantation where an I now live, and have it underpinned, and the little room plastered, and the Barns on each Plantation repaired with the income of Negroes. JAMES BRYANT Page 3 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Halifax, James Bryant 1784 Halifax County County Court then this will was exhibited in open court and duly approved by the author of THOMAS WHITAKER and SARAH COTTON two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded. Whereupon NICHOLAS BRYAN qualified as executor there too. WILLIAM WOOTEN, Clerk of Court Page 4 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK **