Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 In the name of God Amen I, JAMES BRYAN of the county of Lincoln and state of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of human life do this 15th day of November 1878 make this my last will and testament in Manner and form as follows, Viz: I will that in the first place all my just and lawful debts be paid and that my body be buried in a decent and respectable manner. Secondly I will and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH BRYAN all of that tract of land on which I now live joining lands of NATHANIEL HAGAR and Mrs. LILLEY WILSON and others including or containing about eighty three acres more or less. Also I will and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH fifty acres of the tract of land bought of STEPHAN MORRIS to be laid out on the north end of the track so as to give her both woodland and bottom. Also I will and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH BRYAN a small tract of land which I purchased from CAPPS HAGER and MARY HAGER joining my land of and me and XXX and JOHN HAGER deceased yet being 30 Acres more or less. Thirdly I will and bequeath that the of the MORRIS tract of land after taking off the 50 acres for Elizabeth be divided between my son PHILIP's two children, MARGARET and JAMES BRIAN, and my daughter DENNIE LITTLE, so as to give PHILIP's two children one quarter each and DENNIE LITTLE one half, the remainder. Fourthly I will and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH all of the balance of my property of every description whatever including house, Hogs and poultry, all farming utensils including wagon, all household and kitchen Furniture including bedding and bedsteads, ware and lacy thing of that sort. Also all monies that may be on hand at the time of my death and all money do me in notes which may be collected at and after my death. I have thus made ample Provisions for my daughter ELIZABETH for the love and affection I have for her because she has always lived with me and helped me to make and to take care of all that I have all the lands and money notes and furnitures of all description named and willed to my daughter ELIZABETH BRYAN during her lifetime at her Page 1 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 death are to go to my great-grandson JAMES ALEXANDER BEAL SIFFORD and my grand-daughter ISABELLA SIFFORD shall have a home with JAMES SIFFORD during her lifetime or widowhood to go to him and to his heirs forever. Lastly I will and desire that my friend J. W. A. PAINE act as my executor in carrying out the provisions of this my last will and testament and I hereby revoke all former Wills the day and and date above written. In witness whereof I hear on to set my hand my name and affix my seal. JAMES BRYAN {his X mark} Test B. M. JETTON S. C. JETTON Page 2 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 Probate of will State of North Carolina Lincoln County A paper purporting to be the last will and testament of JAMES BRYAN, deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned judge of probate, for said County, buy J. W. A. PAINE the executor there and mentioned and the new execution is duly proven by the said JAMES BRYAN by the oath and examination of B. M. JETTON & S. C. JETTON the subscribing witnesses thereto who being duly sworn doth depose and say and each for himself deposeth and say that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing shown him now reporting to be the last will and testament of JAMES BRYAN deceased that the said JAMES BRYAN in the presence of this deponent subscribe his name at the end of said paper writing which is now shown as aforesaid and which bears the date of the 15th day of November 1878. And the deponent further says that the said JAMES BRYAN the testator aforesaid did at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the said paper writing so subscribed by him and exhibited to be his last will and testament and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said well as an attesting witness there too and at the request and in the presence of the said testator. And this deponent further said that have to set time when the said testator subscribe his name to the said last will as aforesaid the said JAMES BRYAN was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge information or belief of this deponent and further these deponents say not. B. M. JETTON S. C. JETTON Severally sworn and subscribed this 6th day of June 1887 before me. W. M. REINHARDT Page 3 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 JAMES BRYAN will Page 4 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 North Carolina Lincoln County JOHN T. DELANE being duly sworn according to law says that he is the editor and publisher of the Lincoln progress a newspaper published in The firm of Lincolnton and said County of Lincoln issued weekly that he published and said newspaper for 4 successive issues beginning with the issue of said paper dated the 18th day of June 1881 and ending with the issue dated the 30th day of July 1881 the following notice, viz: NOTICE The undersigned having been duly qualified as executor of JAMES BRYAN deceased, hereby gives General notice to all persons having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of June 1882 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will make immediate settlement with the undersigned. J. W. A. PAINE executor of James Bryant decedent JOHN T. DELANE Sworn to and subscribed this 3rd December 1887 W. M. REINHARDT J. S. C. Lincoln, NC Page 5 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 Estate of JAMES BRYAN deceased Affidavit of Publication of Notice to creditors Page 6 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 Oath of executor I J. W. A. PAINE do solemnly swear that I believe this writing to be and contain the last will and testament of JAMES BRYAN deceased and that I will well and truly execute the Same by first paying his debts and then his legacies as far as the said estate shall extend or the law will charge and that I will well and Faithfully execute the office of executor agreeably to the trust and confidence reposed in me and according to the law so help me God. J. W. A. PAINE, Executor Sworn and subscribed before me this 6th day of June 1881 W. M. REINHARDT Judge of probate for Lincoln County Page 7 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 Application for letters testamentary Lincoln County in the Probate Court And the matter of the will of JAMES BRYAN deceased Before W. M. REINHARDT judge of probate J. W. A. PAINE being sworn that say that JAMES BRYAN, late of said county, is dead having first made and published his last will and testament and that he, affiant, J. W. A. PAINE is the executor named therein. Further that the personal property of the said JAMES BRYAN, deceased, consisting of money & solvent credits, household and kitchen Furniture & etc. is worth about $1,000, so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application, and that JAMES SIFFORD, as affiant is xxx & believs is the person entitled to said personal property that said decedent owned land worth about $3,000 and that said JAMES SIFFORD, JAMES and MAGGIE BRYAN, and DENNEY LITTLE are the parties entitled, under the said will, to the said real property. J. W. A. PAINE Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of June 1887 W. M. REINHARDT Probate Judge Page 8 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 North Carolina Lincoln County Death Certificate 8425 / 479 ISABEL SIFFORD, female, white, widow of WILLIAM SIFFORD Born: October 8, 1833 Died: April, 12, 1919 Father: JOHN LITTLE Mother: DENNIE BRYANT Page 9 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Lincoln, James Bryan 1878 ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # 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 10 of 10 ** PAGE BREAK **