with Will of John Akin appended
“To the honorable the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, now in session. We your humble petitions, heirs and legal representatives of John Akin, Dec’d, beg leave to represent to your honorable body, that the said John Akin, de’d, in his will ordered, willed and appointed Lott, a negro man servant of the said Akins, to be set free after three years service after his death and Esanah, a negro Girl to be set at liberty and made free immediately after his death. We therefore being the heirs and being willing that the said intentions of the said will of said Akins, dec’d should be compled with, pray your honorable body to pass such a law as may be thought most effectual for the final liberation and setting free said negroes, Lott having served the time required in s’d will of the said Akins, etc. and your petitioners in duty bound, will and pray.
//s//
W. V. Akin
William Grimes
Jacob Biffel
Moses Smith
Samuel W. Akin
John Akin
Robert H. Akin
Will of John Akin
In the name of God, Amen. I, John Akin, of the County of Wayne and State of Tennessee, being weak of boddy but of sound mind; calling to mind my mortality, I do feel it my duty to distribute my property amongst my children. I do make and order this my last weill and testament.
First: I bequeath to my eldest sone Robert Akin one yong bay borse & fourth of the crop and third of the Waggons and farming utentials.
I bequeath to my beloved son William B. Akin one third of an hundred acres of land where I now dwell lying on the waters of Tennessee in Wayne County and the fourth part of the hoggs and the fourth of the crop.
I bequeath to my beloved son Samuel Akins the third of the land, fourth of the crop and third of the waggons and third of the farming utentials.
I bequeath to my beloved son John Akin the third of the land, fourth of the crop and third of the waggons and third of the farming utentials.
I bequeath to my beloved daughter Martha L. Grimes one brown made and towo cows, Luck and Pink, and calf one bed and furniture and half the casting and loom and fourth of the hoggs —
I bequeath to my beloved daughter Pemelia Smith, one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one three year old steer and yong sorrel mare and fourth of the hoggs.
I bequeath to my beloved daughter Ellenor Biffel, the remainder of the cattle and clock and half of the casting and dresser furniture, a yong gray horse, apails[?] and chairs and fourth of the hoggs. The books to be distributed amongst all the heirs.
I have through the prudence of God, two Black people cast on my care, the eldest named Esanah, the other Lot. I hereby ordain and decree that Esanah shall be free at my decease, free from bondage and from all persons. Lot, a black boy, I do ordain and decree that he shall serve my son John Akin three years after my deseace, then he shall be free from bondage and all persons.
I hereby appoint my beloved sons, Robert and Samuel Akin to be my faithful executors of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of July 1821. //s// John AKin {Seal}
Witnesses:
Jacob Biffel
Joseph Scott
The execution of the last will and testament of John Akins was proved by the oaths of Jacob BBiffel and Joseph Scott.
The execution of the last will and testament of John Akins was proved by the oaths of Jacob Biffel and Joseph Scott and done in open Court in December Term 1821. Attest By //s// William Barnett, Clerk
State of Tennessee, Wayne County I, William Barnett, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Wayne County do hereby certify that this is a true coppy of the last will and testament of John Akins, Deceased, recorded in my office which I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the county to be affixed there too. Witness, Wm. Barnett, Clerk at office this 6th day of Oct 1825. //s// William Barnett, Clerk, by deputy, Wm. R. D. Barnett.
