The Will of
Reuben Roads Sr
April 1844
Amherst County, Virginia
Will Book 11, p. 229
In the name of almighty God Amen.
I Reuben Roads, Sr. of the County of Amherst and State of Virginia do hereby, last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say
1st I direct that all my just debts be paid and funeral expenses.
2ndly After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I give to my wife Tabitha Roads the tract of land on which I now reside containing by recent survey one hundred and sixty four acres more or less and also all my household and kitchen furniture not herein after named, as also all my plantation tools, stock of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep together with all other of my stock of cattle of every name and kind whatsoever and also the following slaves: Nelson, Albert, Susan, Squire, Jim and Fanny for and during her natural life and after her death I will and desire that the property be disposed of in the following manner: that the perishable part of my estate after the death of my wife be sold and the money be equally divided amongst all my children or the natural heirs and if any should at the time of the execution of this will should be dead intestate then his her or their portion to go to the rest of my children as is above directed.
3rdly after the death of my wife I give to my son Reuben Roads Jr. the tract of land bequeathed to my wife containing one hundred and sixty four acres as above mentioned together with all and every appertenances hereto belonging to be his and his heirs forever.
4 after the death of my wife I direct that the negros in the bequest to my wife named be equally divided among all my children if they can but if they cannot I direct that they be sold and the money divided equally among my children.
4 I give and bequeath to my daughter Evelina Dempsey a negro Lucy with all her future increase and to the heirs of her body forever and also one milk cow to be hers with all future increase.
5th I give to my daughter Isabella Rutledge one negro woman Sally together with all the future increase of said negro to be the property of said daughter for life and after her death to be that of her children of her body.
6th I give to my daughter Ann Roads one negro girl Clairy together with her increase to be the property of my said daughter during her life and after her death to be the property of the heirs of her body forever, and I also give to my said daughter one cow and a bed and furniture.
7th I here confirm unto my sons John Roads, Edward Roads, Joseph Roads and Paschal Roads the title of the land and other property which I have above given them by deed.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons John Roads and Edward Roads and my frien Capt Thomas A. Eubank Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other former wills or testaments by me heretofore made if any there be.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed by seal this sixth day of April Eighteen hundred and forty four.
Reuben Rhoads (seal)
Signed sealed published and delivered by Reuben Roads as and for this his last will and testament in the presence and hearing of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses
Fred J. Tinsley
James F. Eubank
Thomas Lain
At a court held for Amherst County on the 19th day of August 1844. This paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Reuben Rhoads dec’d was produced in open court and proved by the oaths of James F. Eubank and Thomas Lain two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And at a court held for Amherst County on the 21st day of October 1844, on the motion of John Rhoads one of the executors therein named who made oath thereto according to the Law and together with Edward Rhoads, William Beck, Joseph Roads, Paskill Rhods and Reubin Rhoads his securities entered into and acknowledged a bon in the penalty Five Thousand Dollars, conditioned according to Law which is ordered to be recorded, a certificate is granted him for obtaining a probat thereof in due form of Law and Liberty is reserved to the other executors to join in the probat thereof.