Will of John Wright Sr ~ 1813

Contributed by: Harry Schoettle

In the name of God amen. The last will and testament of John Wright senior of the county of
Camden and state of N. Carolina made the 3rd day of February 1813 as follows. Principally
and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that give it to
me and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent christian burial at the
discretion of my executor and as touching worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to
bless me in this life. I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First I leave the use of my manner plantation thereon I now live to my wife Francis Wright
during her natural life with all the priviledges to the same belonging. Also I leave the use
of all my negroes to my wife during her natural life.

I give and bequeath unto my wife Francis Wright two mares, one horse her choice. Two feather
beds and furniture her choice. Four cows and calves, five ewes and lambs, one yoke of oxen,
one ox cart and yoke, all the hogs ? ?. The west side of my plantation whereon I now live.
One beaufett and all my crockery ware. Two chest, one large oval table, seven windsor
chairs, one arm chair, two flage chairs, one large iron pot, one small ditto with hooks, two
pot trammels, two washing tubs, four pails, one churn, one large honey tub, three ploughs
and harness, two axes, one large and four small hoes, one powdering tub, four pork barrels,
one barrel with fat, one loom and harness, five linen wheels, one copper tea kittle, one
hand mill, one walnut stand, one looking glass all her choice. Thirty barrels saune corn,
three barrels salt pork, five hundred pounds bacon, fifteen bushells wheat, one side saddle.
Also three negro women Judah, Patience and Aleaph to her and her heirs forever.

I leave the use of one certain piece of land known by the name of The Pand to my grand
daughter Sally Bell Downing her natural life and to her heirs. If any lawfully begotten of
her body and if the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her
body. Then my desire is that the aforesaid land br equally divided between John Wright and
Gamiel Wright sons of Mathais Wright and John Wright son of Peter Wright dec’d to them and
their heirs forever.

Also I leave the use of two feather beds and furniture, three cows and calves, four ewes and
lambs, seven windsor chairs, one armed chair to my grand daughter Sally Bell and her heirs
lawfully begotten of her body. And if the siad Sally Bell dies without an heir lawfully
begotten of her body. Then the aforesaid things last mentioned to be equally divided between
John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John Wright son of Peter
Wright dec’d and John W. Berry son of James Berry to them and their heirs forever.

Also I leave use of two negroes to my grand daughter Sally Bell Downing her natural life to
her heirs if any lawfully begotten of her body forever. The names of the negroes Betts and
Patience and provided the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of
her body. Then the aforesaid negroes to be equally divided between John Wright and William
Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John W. Berry son of James Berry and Alexander W.
Gandon to them and their heirs forever.

Also I leave the use of one hundred and fifty acres of swamp land lying down the river
binding the river and sound to my grand daughter Sally Bell and her heirs if any lawfully
begotten of her body forever and for want of such heirs. Then for the said land to be
divided in the same manner and between the same heirs as is mentioned in the clause last
before this. To them and their heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto Cornelius Wright son of Cornelius Wright dec’d fifty acres swamp
land binding his plantation and bearing towards the sound so far as will make the same to
him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Hughes daughter of William Hughes Jr dec’d one feather
bed and thirty pounds current money to her and her heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry son of James Berry one certain piece of land known by
the name of The Ridge binding north river swamp containing fifty acres to him and his heirs
forever. Only observing that if the said John W. Berry should die without an heir lawfully
begotten of his body for the said land to be equally divided between his two brothers namely
Batson B. Berry and Jesse B. Berry to them and their heirs forever.

Also I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry one negro man named March to be delivered to him
at the death of my wife Francis Wright to him and his heirs forever.

Also I give the said John W. Berry all the cattle that I hold in my possession which is
marked posslan leaf in both ears and a whole cut in each ear.

Also I give the said John W. Berry fifty pounds current money to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto William S. Berry fifty pounds current money to be raised out of my
estates to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto Alexander W. Gandon son of Thomas Gandon one negro boy named Ishmal
to be delivered to him at the death of my wife Francis Wright.

Also I give the said Alexander W. Gandon son of Thomas one coalt by the name of Black to him
and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto John Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d one negro man named Lamb to
be delivered unto him at the death of my wife to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto William Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d one negro man named Jess
to be delivered to him at the death of my wife to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto John Wright son of Gamiel Wright dec’d and John Berry son of James
Berry one hundred acres of swamp land lying in north river swamp binding Jacob Cartwrights
line thence extending out to Merrels patent. And also ten acres of land known the Great
Island binding Tully Cartwrights line. The aforesaid land to be equally divided between the
two last names, heirs to them and their heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto John W. Berry son of James Berry one small piece of land by the name
of Paston paint near the old wharf. Also I give the said John W. Berry one young mare to him
and his heirs forever.

I leave the use of the land and plantation whereon I now live to my grand daughter Sally
Bell and to her heirs lawfully begotten of her body. Altogether after the death of my wife
Francis Wright and if the said Sally Bell should die without an heir lawfully begotten of
her body. Then I give the aforesaid land and plantation to John Wright and William Wright
sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d to equally divided between the two of them and their heirs
forever.

My will and desire is that all the remaining parts of my estate which I have not given away
or named off in legacies should be sold and after paying my just debts. That the ballance of
the money should be equally divided between my wife and John Wright and William Wright sons
of Gamiel Wright dec’d and my grand daughter Sally Bell and provided the said Sally Bell
should die without an heir lawfully begotten of her body. Then her part of this legacy to be
equally divided between John Wright and William Wright sons of Gamiel Wright dec’d to them
and their heirs forever.

And also my will and desire is that all the property that I have left the use of to grand
daughter Sally Bell. Except the land and negroes should be sold when the rest of my estate
is and to be kept in the hands of my executor at interest for her with the land and negroes
paid for them. My executor to deal out to her for her support such part of the same as they
may think neccessary at their own discretion until she marries and has lawfull heir or dies.

Lastly my will is to nominate and appoint my trusty friends Mathias Wright and Caleb Perkins
executors to this my last will and testament utterly revoking and disannulling all former
wills by me before made ratifying and confirming this to be the last will and testament
which I have made. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, date first mentioned.

John Wright Sr. (seal)

Test: James Berry and Demsey Squires

I certify the foregoing to be a copy of the paper writing purporting to be the will of John
Wright Sr. dec’d which was filed in the papers of the suit removed from Camden to? court.

Test: John Mead for

Edward Mead, clerk