Cornelius O'Bryan was my seventh great grandfather in Augusta County, Virginia. Cornelius was born in County Clare, Ireland His grandson Peter Bryan moved to what is now Sevier County, Tennessee in about 1790 (Sevier County was created in 1794 and Tennessee became a state in 1796). I am descended from Peter.
Will: Cornelius O'BRYAN, Sr., 30 MARCH 1751 - Augusta County, VA Source: Augusta Co., VA Will Book 1, Page 330. Contributor: Loretta Layman(found on the Augusta County website) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Be it Remembered the thirtieth day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty one I Cornelius O'Bryan of Augusta in the Colony of Virginia yeoman being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefore calling to mind the mortallity of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally And first of all I give and recommend my soul into the Hands that gave it and for My body I recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christain like and decent manner at the discretion of My Executors and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form - Imprimis it is my will and I do Order that in the first place all my juste Debts and Funeral Charges be paid and satisfied - Item I give and bequeath unto Rebecca my Dearly beloved wife one hundred Acres of Land during her natural life or she Continues My widow but after her Death or Mariage the said one hundred acres of Land to go unto my Son John Bryen his heirs And assigns forever likewise the old white horse and brown horse and a roan cow and a brown cow of the heifer that come of her and six sheep her choice of the stock together with all my household good during her Natural life And if she marries or when dys to go unto my son John likewise, -- Item I give and bequeath unto my son Cornelius O'Bryen a roan mare, -- Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas's Eldest son Benjamin a roan yearling colt which came of the mare that I gave unto Cornelius my son, -- Item the Rest of my stock Excepting the swine to be Equally Divided amongst the Remainder of my Children These I give and bequeath unto my son John O'Bryan all the remainder of my Estate Both real and personal unto him his heirs And assigns forever, Item I do constitute and ordain my well beloved wife Rebecca and my son John O'Bryen my only and sole Executors of this My Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disalow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Executors by me in any ways before this time Named willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the day and year above written Wit: Joseph Bryan James Williams Jacob Gum Proved 28 May 1751 by Joseph Bryan Further proved 27 Aug 1751 by Jacob Gum