The Earrings

Talk about interesting discoveries this week...Woohoo! Here's another one.  I have to say I have been very impressed with the updates to records on FamilySearch.org. If you have North Carolina roots people, get thee to FamilySearch because there is a ton of good information available online. Keep in mind some of these records are indexed and some are not. If you have time and patience though you may be able to uncover some really cool things.

The most recent thing I found was in the North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735--1970 collection under Carteret County Wills for 1925--1948, Vol. G.  It was the probate record and will for my 2nd great grandmother, Jonas Bryant.  Jonas Bryant was the mother of my great grandfather Frank Bryant of Morehead City, NC.  I know very little about my 2nd great grandmother. From information found in census records, I know she worked at one point as a clammer but more often she worked as a maid. Anyway, when I came across this record, I was especially excited. Any little tidbit I can learn about Jonas just makes her more real for me. 

Image courtesy of Familysearch.org:  North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970

 CarteretWills, 1925-1948, Vol. G.

The last paragraph on the page shows my 2nd great grandmother's will. I have to say I teared up upon reading it.
                                                                     Morehead City, N. C. October 6th, 1925.
          My last Will and Testament.
     I Jonas Bryant, Do Give and Bequeath To My Daughter Mamie C. Johnson, My piano, My house, My House and Lot, and all of my Furniture, and Wearing apparel. And to my son Frank L. Bryant (2) Two Feather pillows, and the vacant Lot. And to my Grand Daughter Lauris Melba Bryant my Ear Rings, This the 6th day of October, 1925,
Witness                                                                                              you divide with him bed 
Katherine Bynum                                                                              clothes and every thing
Mollie Tillery                                                                                    he want you loving mother

The will was drawn up on October 6th, 1925. Jonas Bryant died October 18, 1927, just a little more than two years later.  I wonder what she was like. Did her son Frank favor her in regards to looks. Was she kind?  Who was the father of her children? This remains a mystery to me. I hope that the spirits will be kind and one day lead me down the right trail to his identity. We'll see.

I find it so sweet that she left her earrings to my grand aunt Loris Melba Bryant. Loris was born January 2,1918.  She was 9 years old when her grandmother passed away. She would have had the opportunity to know her grandmother.  My aunt passed away in 1987, long before I had an interest in family history. I wish I could go back in time and ask aunt Loris about her grandmother Jonas and perhaps those earrings too.