Will, NC, Johnston, Needham Bryan, 1787 North Carolina ] Johnston County ] 25 January 1787 In the name of God, amen. I, NEEDHAM BRYAN of Johnston County, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be God, do this twenty fifth day of January in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say: First I give and bequeath unto my loving wife SARAH BRYAN the following Negroes, to wit: PETER, ROSE, ABRAM, DINER, COOPER, DICK, BETTY, WILL and PHILLIS. Eight milk cattle, three work horse creatures. ITEM I give to my son LOVERD BRYAN the plantation whereon I now live within the following limits. Beginning on the river at the mouth of the cursed branch (above the plantation where negro PENDAR lives,) running up the meanders of the miry prong of said branch to where the cart path crosses the same, thence a straight course to the mouth of Powell’s branch on Polecat [Polecat Branch] all the lands that I possess above said lines & course joining Smithfield and the river. to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give to my son CLEMENT BRYAN all the land I possess on Black Creek, Black Mingo Swamp & Mill Creek (except four hundred acres known by the name of Casey’s Place), to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give to my son BENJAMIN BRYAN all the other land I possess on the north side Neuse River, below the lands given to my son LOVERD [BRYAN], and four hundred acres known by the name Casey’s Place to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give to my daughter SARAH [BRYAN] two negro girls name TILOTT and RUTH. My large writing desk, two silver plated candle sticks and if either of the above negro girls dies before the year 1790, I desire it made up to her out of the other Negroes. To her and her heirs forever. ITEM My will and desire is that all my personal estate be kept together until the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety and the money arising from such parts of my stocks as my be marketable and from debts due me to be applied for the education of my children, and that they be kept at school until that date 1790. And at that time all the Negroes and all the stocks of all kinds (that is not give above to my wife and daughter) to be equally divided amongst my three sons and daughter. That all my household furniture, tools and plantation utensils (except the above mentioned to my daughter) be equally divided amongst my wife and all my children. That my executors sell all such part of my children’s property as may be wasting and apply the money to the benefit of the child it belonged to. Page 1 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, Needham Bryan, 1787 And do constitute and appoint my worthy friends to be my executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the year and day above written. { no signatures } Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said NEEDHAM BRYAN, the testator, as his last will & testament in the presents of us. { no signatures } Page 2 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, Needham Bryan, 1787 Johnston County February Term 1787 Then was the within writing exhibited in open court for probation which the court was admitted to be proved by the oaths of NATHAN ATKINSON, DANIEL DEES, & JAMES HINTON, & ordered to be recorded. Recorded in Book No. 1, page 174. R. SANDERS, CC Page 3 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, Needham Bryan, 1787 ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian. This document and others can be found on our website: BMGEN We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work. COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site: GNU Free Documentation License In short, use what you like. But if you use our stuff, mention us as the source. Brent R. Brian Martha M. Brian BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com Page 4 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK **