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 any part of my other childrens Legacies ---
Item - I do likewise constitute make and ordain my Perthena Rhoads Executrix and
John Rhoads and Joseph Hardison 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
