Probate, NC, Sampson, John BRYAN 1840 In the name of God Amen. I JOHN BRYAN of the state of North Carolina and the county of Sampson, being weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind and memory blessed be God do this 6th day of February A. D. eighteen hundred and forty make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following colon that is to say: FIRST, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife ELEANOR BRYAN, the following Negroes, viz. CHARLES, SHADE, SUSIE SENIOR, SUSIE JUNIOR and DANIEL. All of my household Furniture except four beds and furniture. All my kitchen Furniture, my carriage and harness, her choice yoke of oxen and cart, her choice of two of my horses, the whole of my stock of cattle, two plows and gear, four sows and pigs, all my keys, her choice of two cotton wheels and cards, the linen wheel and the following books, viz. My large family Bible and The Testament; My large family hymn book; Benson’s sermons; Harris’s sermons; The Christian manual; Miss Thayer’s letters; Fletcher's appeal and Law’s Serious Call; to her and her heirs forever. I also give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Eleanor that part of my Plantation from the ditch at the lower end of the broom straw field running alongside ditch between the broom straw field and pigeon Island semicolon across the lower end of the Grave field and between the bear grass and revealed to the Mill Creek, thence up the creek including the dwelling house and cleared land around the house and its sufficiency of out land for firewood and rail Timber to keep up the plantation for three years, and at the end of three years she is to give up two-thirds of the share of the land of my son KEDAR BRYAN hereinafter devised to him included within said bounds and at the end of two more years she is to give up the other third of the land devised to my said son KEDAR included within said bounds and the residue of the lands included within said bounds I give and devise on to my said wife ELEANOR for and during her natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my beloved wife ELEANOR all the provision on hand for the common use and support of the family and the deficiency supplied out of the funds of my estate at her discretion. SECONDLY I give, devise and bequeath unto my son JOHN A. BRYAN and his heirs that part of my land beginning at the ditch between the Pigeon Island and the broom straw field and runs with said ditch between the Turnip Patch Island and Grave field and between the Rye and Bear Grass field to the Mill Creek, thence down the Middle Creek and the six runs and with the back line to the opposite the beginning embracing the lower part of the plantation and one third of the back land adjoining there too. THIRDLY I give, devise and bequeath unto my son KEDAR BRYAN and his heirs, that part of my land beginning and running as the share above devised to my son JOHN to the Mill Creek, thence up the creek to the Huckleberry Pond ditch, thence with said ditch along the lower part of the Barfield and to a covered drain in the grave field, and with the covered drain to the ditch between the broom straw and Pen field, thence along side ditch to the back ditch and one third of the back land to be laid off adjoining thereto. Page 1 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Sampson, John BRYAN 1840 FOURTHLY I give, devise and bequeath unto my son THOMAS K. BRYAN and his heirs the residue of my lands not herein therefore devised, including the dwelling house, after the death of his mother. I also give and bequeath unto my son THOMAS K. a bed and furniture, and a bed and Furniture to each of my daughters. FIFTHLY I give and bequeath on to my children JOHN A., KEDAR, ELEANOR, THOMAS K., SUSAN, MARY and ELIZA JANE BRYAN the rest and residue of my Negroes and their future increase to be equally divided among them as they come of age or marry and need their shares, to them and their survivors of them. The undivided shares to remain in common for subsequent division. I also give and bequeath the rest and residue of my stock of every kind except two horses to my said children to remain together for the common use of the family, to be divided together with the increase thereof, among my said children and the survivors of them as they become of age or marry and need their shares. I also give and bequeath unto them the balance of my books not heretofore willed to my wife. SIXTHLY It is my will and desire and I hereby direct that all my property, except what may be hereinafter directed to be sold, to remain together upon my plantation under the superintendence of my son JOHN to be managed by him until he goes to himself by and with the advice of his mother and my executor for the maintenance and support of the family. I further wish that SATIRAH & HANNAH be kept up on the plantation and supported. SEVENTHLY It is my will and desire that my horses Ball and Sal and the Barouche bequeathed to me by my sister-in-law MARTHA TORRENS be sold together with whatever else my executor and my wife and son JOHN may think proper, and the proceeds thereof together with the debts due me and the rest and residue of my estate after the payment of my just debts and providing for my family I give devise and bequeath unto my wife and children to be distributed and equally divided among them. LASTLY I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my worthy friend and neighbor DAVID MURPHY executor to this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. JOHN BRYAN {seal} Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in presence of R. PARISH PATRICK MURPHY B. STITH State of North Carolina ] Sampson County ] Court of pleas and quarter sessions Page 2 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Sampson, John BRYAN 1840 February term 1840 Then was the within will duly proven in open court by the oaths of PATRICK MURPHY and B. STITH, two of the subscribing witnesses, and ordered to be recorded. Thomas J. Faison, Clerk Page 3 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Sampson, John BRYAN 1840 Last will Testament of JOHN BRYAN made February 6th 1840 Recorded will docket pages 223-222-225 and 226 THOMAS J. FAISON, Clerk Page 4 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Probate, NC, Sampson, John BRYAN 1840 ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # 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 5 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK **