Last will and testament of Abner Farmer:
In the name of God, Amen. I, Abner Farmer of Anderson County and state of Tennessee being weak in body but of sound mind and disposing of what God has pleased to bless me with, I hereby make this my last will and testament in form and manner to wit: 1st: I desire that after the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses is paid I give and bequeath all my personal property of every description to my beloved wife Mary Farmer to have and hold the same and to use and dispose of as long as she remains my widow. 2nd: After her death or intermarriage with any other man I desire that what remains that was not used of the personal estate be sold and the proceeds equally divided between my four children namely: Nancy King, Elizabeth Ann King, Agnes King, and the heirs of Sarah Hackney, deceased. Also my real estate meaning the farm that I bought of Thomas F Butler and also fifty acres that I bought of William King and twenty acres that I entered that after the death of my wife Mary Farmer or intermarriage with any other man is to belong to my son William Farmer and his heirs forever. 3rd: I hereby confirm and desire the land deeded to my two sons James Farmer and Henry Farmer be made valid as set forth in their deeds made to them and recorded in the clerks office of Anderson County, Tn. 4th: I desire that the remainder of the personal to wit, the farm that I bought of Alfred Cross and the farm that was deeded to me from John Jarnigan be equally divided between my four children namely-Nancy King, Elizabeth King, and Agnes King, also Aaron Farmer’s heirs at law, also my two grandchildren Abner Farmer a son of James Farmer and Abner S Hackney a son of Sarah Hackney (deceased) is to have forty dollars each out of the above named land when divided and lastly I hereby make and appoint my two sons Henry Farmer and William Farmer my sole executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I set my hand and seal this the 9th April 1853.
Abner (his mark) Farmer
Test. A Huckaby, William Braden, John Ashlock
State of Tennessee} County Court Nov. Term 1863, Anderson County I, R H Coward, Clerk, court. Court for said county and state certify that the foregoing will was proven in open court by Sam’l C. Young proving the handwriting of John Ashlock and the subscribing witnesses to the same. The witnesses all being in other states at this time and said will was proved to record in the book of wills in the clerks office.
[Courtesy of Brenda Foster]