William Green Akins, 1806-1866, Berrien County

William Green Akins was born on 10 Sep 1806 in South Carolina, the son of Francis and Martha (Green) Akins. As an infant, he moved with his parents to Bulloch County, Georgia, where he was raised. Around 1827, the family relocated to Lowndes County. In 1830, he married Winifred Ann (or Winnie Ann) Moore, daughter of John and Martha Moore of Lowndes County. She was born in Bulloch County on 12 Jan 1812 and passed away on 28 Feb 1878. They are both buried at the Empire Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lakeland, Georgia.

Children by Winifred Moore:

1. John J. Akins, born 5 Jul 1832, married Wealthy Ann Mullis, daughter of Blackstone Mullis. Died in Confederate Army at Rock Island, Illinois on 22 Jan 1864.
2. Elizabeth Akins, born 14 Jan 1837, married Stephen Willis Avera. Died 7 Nov 1917 in Moultrie, Georgia.
3. Winnie Ann Akins, born 24 May 1839, married Jeremiah May. Died 17 Dec 1923 in Nashville, Georgia.
4. Pollie Akins, born 1841, married Daniel Griner. Died 9 Feb 1885 in Nashville, Georgia.
5. Sarah Ann Akins born 14 Aug 1844, never married. Died 11 Dec 1919.
6. Francis Marion Akins, born 27 Jun 1847, married Harriet Jones. Died 2 Dec 1908.
7. Barbara Lucretia Akins, born 21 May 1850, married King H. Trippe of Dodge County. Died 16 May 1933 in Lakeland, Florida.
8. Sarah Ann Malissie Akins, born 1854, in Elijah Lindsey.

Following their marriage, W. G. Akins and his wife established their home on the east side of the Alapaha River in what was then Lowndes County. In 1850, their land was incorporated into the newly formed Clinch County. From 1853 to 1857, he served as Justice of the Peace for the 586th district. In 1857, he moved his family to the newly created Berrien County, where he lived until his death on 16 Feb 1866. There, he continued his public service as Justice of the Peace for the 1148th district from 1861 to 1865.

Mr. Akins experienced a religious conversion and joined the Union Primitive Baptist Church at its “arm,” Tomlinson’s Meeting House (now Bethany Church in Clinch County). He was baptized on 11 Jun 1842. On 10 Apr 1847, he and several others were dismissed by letter to help establish Bethany Church. In 1852, he became a founding member of Pine Grove Church near his home and remained there until he moved to Berrien County, where he joined Empire Church by letter.

During the Indian War of 1838, he served as a private in Captain David R. Bryan’s Company of Lowndes County Militia from 1 Jul to 15 Oct 1838.

After W. G. Akins’ passing, his widow, Winifred Akins, remarried on 15 Dec 1870 to Jonathan Studstill of Berrien County. This marriage produced no children.

Sources

• Huxford, Folks, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, vol. 1, p. 1-2, Jacksonville, Florida : Cooper Press, 1951.
• 1830 Census, Lowndes County, Georgia: “United States, Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGB-ZF4 : Tue Jan 21 05:13:16 UTC 2025), Entry for Wiliam G Akins, 1830. His father is listed below him.
• 1840 Census, Lowndes County, Georgia: “United States, Census, 1840”, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBN-D89 : Mon Apr 29 18:07:08 UTC 2024), Entry for W G Akins, 1840.
• 1850 Census, Clinch County, Georgia : “Clinch, Georgia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6FSV-QY : Feb 25, 2025), image 11 of 15; United States. National Archives and Records Administration.
• 1860 Census, Banks County, Georgia: “Banks, Georgia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBF-9V98 : Feb 25, 2025), image 398 of 663; United States. National Archives and Records Administration.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44466519/william_green-akins: accessed February 25, 2025), memorial page for William Green Akins (10 Sep 1806–16 Feb 1866), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44466519, citing Empire Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Lakeland, Lanier County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Ann (contributor 46833496).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44466551/winifred_ann-akins: accessed February 25, 2025), memorial page for Winifred Ann “Winnie” Moore Akins (12 Jan 1812–28 Feb 1878), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44466551, citing Empire Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Lakeland, Lanier County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Ann (contributor 46833496).