Bright Deeds  

Contributed by Francis R. Hodges

Land grant from Gabriel Johnson, Governor for the Crown in North Carolina, to the Surveyor-General:

"You are forthwith to admeasure and lay out. . . unto Francis Hodges a plantation containing two hundred acres, lying in Craven County, joyning a survey of Simon Bright on the north side of Briery Swamp running down the Branch below the said Survey for the Complement."

Entered in Craven County, 11 April, 1745; returned in Johnston County, and certified 1 October, 1746.

Land Grants, No. 0275, Office of Secretary of State
NC Archives

NOTE: Book 6 (April 1758- April 1765) of the Grantor-Grantee Index for Dobbs County records a transaction between Francis Hodges and John Parrott (ee). Francis may have sold this land at that time, as we know that John Parrott, who moved to Dobbs from Bertie County in the 1760's, settled very near Simon Bright.


Received fron NC Archives June 5, 1998 and contributed by Rose Parks

This indenture made the 6th day of June in year 1761 between Francis Nickles of New Bern in County of Craven and province of NC, cooper, and Elenor Bright of the one part and John Pearce of the county and province aforesaid witnesseth that the said Francis Nickles and Elenor Bright for and in consideration of sum of 20 pounds proclamation money to him in hand paid by the said John Pearce at or before the unsealing and delivery of the receipt whereof is hearby acknowledged, hath bargained sold aligned _____and confirmed and by these presents doth bargain sell align _____(same unreadable word as above) and confirm unto the said John Pearce his heirs and assigns forever that tract or parcel of land situated lying or being in Craven Co. in the province aforesaid butted and bounded as follows VIZ: being on the North side of the Neuse River beginning at a pine on the pecosin side and ___S. 39 East 180 poles to a pine thence S 37 W 150 poles to a cypress thence N 36 W 12 poles to an ash thence in a straight line to the first station containing 200 acres of land, be the same more or less and the Reversion and Reversions and Remainder rents dues and profit there of and also all the Estate Rights Titles and interest of them the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright of and to the same and all such evidences and concerning the same. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land above mentioned and hearby granted sold all and singular the premisis with their every____appurtenances unto the said John Pearce his heirs assigns to the proper use and behoof? of the said John Pearce his heirs and assigns forever and the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright their heirs executors and Admr. doth covenant and grant to and with the said John Pearce his heirs and assigns that they the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright are truly lawfully possessed of the said land and premisis aforesaid and all the other premisis hearby bargained and sold and they are truly and lawfully seized thereof in good and absoulute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple without any manner of condition trust or limitation whatever to alter change, charge incumbrance the same and free and clear freely clearly exonerated and discharged of and from all other sales mortages or incumbrances what so ever the quit rents due and ensuing to his Majesty only excepted and that the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright hath full power and authority to bargin sell convey the said land and premises unto the said John Pearce his heirs assigns according to the true interest and meaning of these presents and the said Frances Nickles and Eleanor Bright their heirs and assigns do covenant and grant to and with the said John Pearce his heirs and assigns that the said John Pearce shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter peaceably and quietly have hold occupy and enjoy the said land and premises hearby bargained and sold without any hinderances or molestation of or from the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright their heirs and assigns and of or from every other person of persons whatsoever claiming by from or under them or any of these and partly that the said Francis Nickles and Eleanor Bright their heirs and assigns the said 200 acres of land hearby bargained and sold unto the said John Pearce his heirs assigns against all persons whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever by these presents defend in witness whereof the said parties to these presents have here unto interchangably set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year written above.

Witnesses: Andrew Greay, Martin Worsley and Jane TearX?

Francis Nickles X Mary NicklesX Eleanor BrightX

New Bern 6 June 1761 received of John Pearce the sum of 20 pounds in full for the consideration of money within mentioned in full for the said 200 acres of land as witnesseth our hands the day and year above said.

April Inferior Court Craven 1762 Present his Majesties Justices then the above deed proved according to law by the oath of Martin Worsley and ordered to be registered... Peter Conway Clerk Inferior Court

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