The following comes through the courtesy of Charles Barnes, , visit his site at:
Tyrrell County, NC Genealogy
North Carolina, Tyrrell County, Book 1, page 32, Dated 11 May 1765
In the name of God amen: The
eleventh day of May in ye year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty
five I William Rhoads of the County Tyrrel and province of North Carolina
being very sick and weak in body but of perfict mind and memory thanks be given
to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing
that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last
Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my
soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to ye earth to
be buried in a Christain and decent manner at ye durection of my Executors
nothing doubting but at the General Ressurection I shall receive ye same again
by ye mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate where with it hath
pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and despose of ye same in ye
manner and form folllowing that is to say ---
Imprimis - In the first place I give and bequeath to Perthena my
beloved wife two negroes to wit one negro man called Peter and one negro
girl called Jane and horse and mare and the use of my manner plantation
ye term of ten years from ye date hereof also ye use of one still during the
same term ---
Item - I give my beloved son Charls Rhoads two negroes to wit one
negro boy called Pomp one negro girl called Patinance three gold
rings one pair of gold buttons and one gun and six silver spoons with my manner
plantation where I now live and all the land thereto belonging to have and to
hold ye above said negroes and other articles to him his Executors
Administrators and assigns forever ---
Item - I give and bequeath to my Daughter Judith Rhoads one negro girl
called Sue one negro girl called Moll three cows and calves to her
and her heirs Executors Administrators forever ---
Item - I give and bequeath to my son Arthur Rhoads two negro girls to
wit one negro girl called Jude and one called Nan one gun one smal
tract of land joiuning William Howards line and William Garretts
and three cows and calves to him and his heirs Executors Administrators and
assigns forever ---
Item - I Will that ye remmander part of my Estate may be equally divided
between my wife Perthena Roads and my two sons Charles and
Arthur and my daughter Judith and I will the perishable part
belonging to my son Arthur and my daughter may be sold according to law
and the money be put to use ---
Item - I Will that the Legacy due to my son in law Thomas Fagan may be
raised and paid by my Executors out of ye work of ye negroes labour with what
they can raise of the plantation without lessoning nay part of my other
childrens Legacies ---
Item - I do likewise constitute make and ordain my Perthena Rhoads
Executrix and John Rhoads and JosephHardison Executors of
this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disalow revoak and
disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies Bequests and
Executors by me in any ways before this time named Willed and Bequeathed
Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my had and seal day and year above written.
W. Rhoad
(Sealed)
Signed sealed and delivered by ye sd. William Rhoads
as his last Will and Testament in the presence of Benja. Blount Margrat (her -x- mark) Collins Africa Blount
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy