In the name of God amen: Ye tenth day of October in ye year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and sixty five I John Rhoad of the County of Tyrrel and province of North
Carolina Planter 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 & 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 give and recommend my soule
into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to ye Earth to be
buried in a Christian like and decent like manner at the durection of my Executors
nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the
mighty power of God and as touching such Worlkly Estate wherewith it pleased God to
bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner
and form that is to say ---
In the first place I give and bequeath to my children a young negro wench and her
increase called Nan.
Item - I give to my wife Elizabeth Rhoads one negro wench called Bess and her increase
to be eaqually divided between my wife and children ---
Item - I give to my son Steven Rhoads my manner plantation ---
Item - If the child which my wife goes with should be a son I desire that it may have the
land called the Pine Rige if it is a daughter I Will that the said land may descend to
my son Steven ---
Item - That my negro fellow called Fourtaine be sold and the money divided between my
wife and children. I will that ye remainder of my moveable Estate be Eaqually divided
amoungst my wife and children and the perishable part belonging to my children to be sold
according to law and ye money put ye interest ---
Item - I likewise constitute make and ordain my wife Elizabeth Rhoads Executrix and
John Garrett and Benjamin Blount Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do
hereby utterly disallow revoak and disannul all and every other other former Testaments
Willes and Legacies bequeaths & Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do
hereby utterly disallow revoak and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills
and Legacies bequeaths & Executors by me in any ways before this time named Willed and
bequeather ratifieng and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
John Rhoads (Seal)
Signed sealed published pronounced and
Declared by the said John Rhoads as his
last Will and Testament in the presence of us
Jonathan Corprew
John Collins Jurt.
Pertheen Rhoad
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
