Will of Robert Southall Bright, 1912 June

Will of Robert Southall Bright, 1912 June

Bright, Caroline De Beelen, d. 1932.

Bright, Robert Southall, 1872-1943--Estate.

Wills.

Copy of the will of Robert Southall Bright, attorney of Philadelphia originally from Williamsburg, Va. Bright names his first wife his executrix and wills the majority of the estate to her. Bright was the son of Robert Anderson Bright of Williamsburg and his wife Nannie (Munford) Bright.

Bright, Robert Southall, 1872-1943.

Helen M. Anderson Papers, 1818-1912. MS 1989.13.

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

1912-06

jpeg

eng

Text.

MS 1989.13.21

Ink on paper.

BE IT REMEMBERED that I, Robert S. Bright, lawyer, of
Philadelphia, being of sound in disposing mind, memory and
understanding, do hereby make, publish and declare this as
and for my last will and testament.

I give to my son, Douglas Southall Bright, my ring and
my watch with chain and seal. Asked line

I devise my wife to select a book or some article from my
effects for each, my sister, my brother and my brothers–in–law
and sisters-in-law, and give the same to them as a remembrance
from me. I also desire my wife to give some article from my
effects to my cousin Eleanor A. Hare as a remembrance from me.

My two policies of insurance on my life are already made
payable to my wife and she will have no trouble collecting them.
All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal
and next whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath
absolutely and in fee simple to my beloved wife, Caroline de
Beelen Lovett Bright and her heirs for ever. Having him listed
confidence in the wisdom and goodness of my wife I have thought
it best to leave her my whole estate unincumbered by any trust
or provision for my son Douglas, In doing this I do not wish my
son to feel that it was through any lack of affection for him
that I made this provision, and it is my wish that my wife if,
and when, she thinks it wise, to give my son one half of my said
estate. This is merely a wish of mine and the complying with
it is left to the judgment and wisdom of my wife.

I wish also to remind my wife that by reason of the
tremendous increase in the production of gold, the falling of
interest rates on safe investments &c, both of which will
probably continue, a principal sum which a few years ago produced
a handsome income now produces very little, while the cost of
living has increased and is increasing all the time. I therefore
hope that she will leave our son Douglas Southall Bright, all
of her estate, as it will not be too much to protect him, his
wife and his children if he has children against the ups and

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downs of life. I would suggest that she leave half of her
estate to him absolutely in the other half in trust with a
trust Company, to pay the income to him for life and the
principal to his children after his death, but she will be
guided in the provision she will make for him by the way his
character and intelligence develop as he reaches manhood.

I also suggest that my wife be in no hurry to sell my
real estate in Virginia and her real estate in Washington as
I believe both will be very valuable in time, and if she is
approached by a purchaser to seek the advice of an honest, sincere
and disinterested real estate man if she can find one.

I also urge upon my wife the wisdom of not seeking or
accepting the advice of relatives or friends in connection with
her business affairs. Although their intentions are good
their advice is generally bad. I would advise her to seek the
advice of a good, conscientious lawyer and banker in connection
with her affairs.

I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my wife Caroline
DeBeelen Lovett Bright to be the executrix of this my last will and
testament and I give her full power to sell or dispose of at
private or public sale at any time for such sums as she may
deem fit any or all of my real estate, without liability as to
the application or mis-application of the purchase money.

IN WITNESS HEREOF I have hereunto set my he and he and seal this

day of June 1912.

Signed, sealed, published
and declared by Robert S.
Bright the testator as and
for his last will and testa-
ment in our presence, who in
his presence and in the
presence of each other and at
his request have hereunto
subscribed our names as
witnesses.