Forwarded to: internet[PERKINS-L@rootsweb.com] cc: Comments by: Ernest E. Fricks@53choc@SWEC Comments: This may of interest to those PERKINS members with a tie to Campbell Co, TN. -------------------------- [Original Message] ------------------------- Since many of us of the Joseph BAIRD-Hannah LAY line also share ancestry from Rev. Peter PERKINS, I tho't a mention of a 'new find' might be of interest. Jane Ayers of LaFollette TN has come up with the will of Peter, dated 25 Sep 1846. Interestingly, it is not witnessed until 4 Jan 1847 when it was offered for probate. Of most significance, perhaps, is that it was signed with an X. Rev. Peter was apparently illiterate. This I would not have expected of a reputed Methodist cleric. So, perhaps we have to reevaluate that bit of the family lore. It may also explain why I have been unsuccessful in finding any indication of Peter's ordination in the Methodist records at Drew and Southern Methodist Universities. Perhaps someone with more insight into the details of Methodist organization can inform me if a counterpart to the church deacon exists, who would have preached without necessarily being ordained. He does not name his children but has an unusual way of dividing his property for distribution. He instructs that the heirs select two disinterted individuals to divide the possessions into equally valued parts and then have the heirs cast lots to select their portion. Gene 8}) ------------------------------