Will Book __, Page 291

I, Malinda Kenner of Hawkins County, State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last Will & Testament…

I direct that my body be decently buried by my Executors… that all my just debts should be paid by them out of my Estate.

I give to my son James two negro girls Sidney and Laura and their increase during his life for his support and maintenance.

And whereas my son James was born of weak mind so much so that he is not capable of taking care of himself or the property I leave to him for life for his support.

It is my desire that my son Rodham shall take James and the property I leave to him for life and take care of him and treat him with tender kindness as long as James may live, and at his death if Rodham should do so, I then give and bequeath unto my son Rodham the two negro girls Sidney & Laura and their increase with what other property I may leave to James for life

Should Rodham die before James, I then revoke the bequeath made to Rodham and request that my son-in-law George Savage take James and the property left to him during his life, and treat him with tender kindness suitable to his unhappy situation, then and in that case I give the property…unto my son-in-law George Savage to him & his heirs for their trouble of taking care of James.

But should my son-in-law George Savage die before James, then and in that case, I revoke and disannul the bequeath to my son-in-law.

But if James and myself should die before Rodham, it is then my will that Rodham shall keep the two negroes, Sidney and Laura and their increase at their value put on by my Executors, and the money be equally divided between all my children…

It is my will and desire that my old negro woman Rachael should be set free, and as far as I have the power, I do hereby emancipate and set free my negro woman Rachael and give to her one cow and calf and one year’s provision to be laid off by my Executors.

And all the rest of my Estate I leave to James for life for his support, and at his death my will is that it shall go as my will directs my two negro girls to go.

I hereby appoint my two friends Edwin Hamblen and Richard Mitchell Executors…

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 8th day of September, 1835.

Malinda [X] Kenner (seal) (her mark)

Signed, sealed published and declared by Malinda Kenner as her last Will and Testament in presence of us:

Jas. Bradley
W. B. Mitchell

This Hawkins County Will was transcribed by one of the following volunteers:  Audrae Mathis; Gary Fletcher; Betty Mize; Diana Arney; Karen Negron, Kathey Welder.