North Carolina }The noncupative will of John Bryan, deceased
Craven County }Whereas John Bryan of Beard Creek late of the _^ county & province
being taken for Death the day & yeare hereafter mention
-ed & having no body Convenient to Write his last Will & testament
and he the sd John Bryan being in his proper & right sences and of
sound & perfect mind & memory did seriously Desir Request & Desire
that this following noncupative will should be his last Will & Testament
leaving no other wills or testaments by him made or being by him
therefore he Left & Bequeathed his affairs moveables & Estate as follows—

Imprimis, that all his just debts should be paid.

Secondly, he did give & bequeath to his son Lewis Bryan the Plantation
whereon he the Deceased did live Lying on beards Creek, to him
the sd Lewis & his heirs for Ever

Thirdly, he the said deceased, viz. John Bryan as abovesd did Give & bequeath
to his Daughter Sarah Bryan three negroes, viz. two fellows & one
wench the fellows named Robin & Ludgrow the wenches name Bess
with all the _^ stock of horses mares cattle sheep hogs & of Every part & parcel
of all his personall estate with all his moveables whatsoEver which
he the said John Bryan was possessed of in his Lifetime
he did give & bequeath the abovesd negroes & sd Personal estate to his
sd Daughter Sarah Bryan to her her heirs & assigns for Ever

Fourthly He the sd John Bryan notwithstanding did ordain & appoint that as
he the said John did in the third article of his will as abovesd
give & bequeath to his abovesd Daughter Sarah three negroes and all
his personal estate as abovesd that she the said Sarah Should Educate
& bring up his small children, being three in number till such times
as they arrive to the age of maturity ___________

Novemr the first 1741 the above will was proved before me, one of His Majes
ties Justices for the Peace of the sd County upon the Holy Evangelist of
almighty God by the solemn affadavit of John Jacob Hover & William
Bedscot who both heard the sd Decased Earnestly desire & Express that
the above will now committed to writing should stand valid & be his
will & testament Therefore as above the sd will was before me proved_^ w x i x t x h x i x n x
tx hx ex  x tx ex rx mx as the law directs such wills should be proved & within
the term of time prescribed by law of his the sd Deceaseds Death — —
Danl Shine J.P.

Testes
N:B the Evidences likewise declare
upon oath that the sd Deceased departed
this life the 31d day of October 1741
& did appoint his daughter Sarah
Bryan his whole & sole Executrix of
this his last will & Testament —