Bright Family Wills

CRAVEN COUNTY, NC - WILLS - William BRIGHT , 12 Jan 1754
SECRETARY OF STATE ORIGINAL WILLS, 1663-1789
SS 841 1754
RECORDED IN SECRETARY'S OFFICE, BOOK A- PAGE 119

Contributor's Notes: He made his will 12 January 1754 and recorded 6 November 1754. In his will he mentions son Stockwell and daughters Susanna, Eleanor, Mary, Sarah, and Ann Nelson. Also mentioned was grandson Harman Gaskins. His will is recorded in Secretary of State Office (NC) proved in open
court by oath of James ARTHUR who saw William sign and also saw Sarah ARTHUR and Wm. CARRATHERS, Jr. ,at the same time Stockwell Bright and Ann Bright qualified as Executors.
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWebArchives by: *Rose Parks 201ramp@dishmail.net

In the name of God, Amen, I William Bright of Craven Co. in Province of NC, weak and low in body but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
Impresis:I recomend my soul unto the hand of God who gave it through the merits of my blessed lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive a free pardon of all my sins and my body to the earth to receive a decent burial in a Christian like manner as my Executors herein after named shall think fit and as for what worldy estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I bequeath in manner and form following.
Item: I bequeath to my son Stockwell Bright all my land down the River, that is to say one plantation on Orchard Creek and one on Loer (Lower?) Broad Creek, both being in one patent, likewise sixty barrels of tar that lies in the hands of James Nash, also one young horse and gun, 2 iron wedges and 1 great iron pot.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susannah Bright five pounds in money.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann NELSON the plantation I now dwell upon, that is to say after my lawful wife's decease.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elenor Bright 100 acres of land on the North side branch?
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Bright 100 acres of land on the North side of Neuse forever, that is to say the upper part of a patent granted to Joseph Mason.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandaughter Sarah Bright 50 acres joining the east side of my plantation land. It being the land I bought of Francis NASH.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson Harmon GASKINS one 2 year old Heifer.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandaughter Mary Bright one 2 year old heifer
item: I give and bequeath unto my dear beloved wife five ____and four dishes with one small pot to make such use of as she think proper to be hurn now and forever, and to my wife I also leave all my personal estate both in doors and out during her life time and after her decease to be equally divided between 4 of my daughters, that is to say Hannah, Elenor, Mary and Sarah, grandtr., and it is my desire that my daughter Ann NELSON should take my grandaughter Sarah Bright into her care till she shall arrive the age of 16 and I do hearby constituite and appoint my dearly beloved wife Ann Bright and Stockwell Bright Executrix and Executor of my last will and testament, utterly revolking and disannulling and making void all former or other wills, testaments and bequest, ratifying and confirmaing this and no other to be my last will and testament. Witness whereof I have here signed sealed and published to be.

William BRIGHT
In Presence of James X Arthur, Sarah X Arthur, Wm. Carruthers, Jr.
* Rose Parks July 1999 Jan 2000
Will of Elizabeth Handcock (1743/4)
Elizabeth Handcock was the mother of Simon Bright Sr. by her first husband, John Bright (d. 1720). Her second husband was William Handcock. (transcribed from a photo copy by Francis R. Hodges )
In the name of God Amen
The twenty Day of January anno Dominny 1743/4

I Elisebeth Handcock of Craven County in the Province of North Carolinas Widdow Being Sick & weak in Body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed unto all Mortal flesh once to dy doo make and ordain this my Last will & Testament That is to say Principally and first of all I give and recomend my Soul into the hands of God that Gavet me and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Maner at the duscretion of my Executors not ever think doubting but that I shall receive the Same again at the General Resurrection by the mighty Power of God and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me with in this Life I give Devise & dispose of in maner and form following Imprimis I give & beaqueath unto my Dearly beloved Son Simon Bright one young negro Peter
Item I give and beueath unto my Dearly beloved Daughter Mary Slocomb two Cows and Calves and two gounds one crape gound one Cuntry Cloth gound & fore Cots
Item I give & bequeath unto my Dearly beloved Daughter Ledeay Handcock three Gounds and fore Cots
Item I give and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved Son William Bright all the other parts of my Estate, Goods, and 'Chattels And I Constitute make and ordain my Dearly beloved Sons Simon Bright &William Bright to be my hole and Soul Executors of this my Last will and Testament & I hereby Disalow & revoke all former wills & Testaments by me maid in any wise before made Ratifying Confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament & tht Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us

Elisebeth Handock (Her Mark)

Walter Jones
Francis Hodges
Howel (?) Jones (His Mark)


The Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth Handcock
As proved in Open Court
The 6th day of June Anno Dom 1744
Francis Hodges test
Recorded in the Register's Office this
First day of July Anno dom 1744