Mary Elizabeth (Graves) Bright (abt. 1715 - 1746)

Born about 1715 in New Bern, Craven, North Carolina

Ancestors

Wife of Simon Bright Sr — married 1730 in Craven, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1746 at about age 31 in New Bern, Craven, North Carolina

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Biography

Mary was born in 1715. She passed away in 1746.

Mary Elizabeth Graves Bright was the child of Thomas Graves and Sara Turner born about 1715.

She married Simon Bright, Junior (1707-1776) after 9 June 1767. This is the date of her father's death, when she is known to be a minor and single.

In Simon's will of 23 November 1775, he names the following children, only some of whom are likely Mary's:

Simon Bright III (about 1751–1799 (his first born son)

Mary

Graves

James

Nancy C

Sarah "Sally"

Elizabeth

Simon is known to have died in late December 1776. His will was proven in January. Mary is known to have not remarried. She was definitely alive in 1813, and is in the 1830 census. She died June 1832.

She is memorialized in Saint Johns Cemetery, Grifton Pitt County, North Carolina.

Sources

• Quotations from Court records
• HODGES, Francis R.Recent Revisions of the Simon Bright Line Simon Bright Jr. and Mary Graves were not married until at least 1766.This is proved by a statement in the 1766 will of Mary's father, Thomas Graves, which refers to a marriage which was shortly to take place between Mary Graves and Simon Bright. 1813 Craven County deed, in which she is mentioned along with several of her Graves sisters, and in which she is still referred to as "Mary Bright of Lenoir County." She was likely the Mary Bright who was listed in the Lenoir County federal census of 1830, at which time she was over eighty years of age.
• The Simon Bright Family Extensive discussion with citations or newer information.
• Craven County Deed Book 19:308 - proof of existence marriage
• [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paday/dobbers/bennett.htm Disputed Bright Genealogy)
• http://rylandsfamily.com/g5/p4870.htm
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970

View imageView record Record details Name Mary Elizabeth Graves SAR Membership 93084 Role Ancestor Application Date 21 Sep 1965 Spouse Simon Bright Children Simon Bright

View imageView record Record details Name Mary Graves SAR Membership 70515 Role Ancestor Application Date 15 Dec 1948 Spouse Simpon Bright

View imageView record Record details Name Mary Elizabeth Graves SAR Membership 76856 Role Ancestor Application Date 2 Dec 1953 Spouse Simon Bright Children Simon Bright

Marriage Abt. 1730 • Craven Co., NC Craven County Deeds, Book 19. "Marriage settlement of Simon Bright to Mary Graves, daughter of Thomas Graves, following slaves reserved for use of aforesaid Mary viz. Selene, Cuffy and Fan" This entry is not dated

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89349555/mary-elizabeth-bright: accessed 15 September 2023), memorial page for Mary Elizabeth Graves Bright (1715–1746), Find a Grave Memorial ID 89349555, citing Saint John's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Grifton, Pitt County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by JerryandRoger (contributor 47745731).