W.G. Rodes
Transcribed by Nichelle Marie Cleveland Hayes and contributed
by Sandi Gorin.
This is the will of W. G. RODES. The original document can be found in the
Barren County Courthouse, Book 4, page 400.
In the name of God Amen(?). I W.G. RODES of Barren County Kentucky being of
sound mind and memory and duly impressed with the uncertainty of life
and
the certainty of death do make and declare this instrument of writing my last
will & testament.
1st It is my wish that all of my perrishable property be sold except such as
may be necessary for my Bro. Clifton and servant Ann and her children to
subsist on. At the earliest moment my herein after named executor may think
best. It is my wish that my Bro. And servants above mentioned should live
where they are as long at least as my Brother lives - then the place to be
sold unless the laws of the county/country(?) be such that they can own, live
on, and in safety enjoy the proceeds of their labor - in that event they are
to live on it or not it is to be sold or not according to the judgement of my
executors as advising (?) their best interest.
2nd After the payment of my past debts and the support during life and the
funeral expenses of my Brother Clifton I give to my servant Ann and her now
living children all that I do possessed of real personal and mixed - on
account of her extraordinary care and attention to my old and helpless Bro.
Clifton and to my interest whilst living - And since the country is yet in a
revolutionary condition as respects the African race. I leave and entrust to
my executor their direction and control as to the best and most discrete use
of the means I leave them.
3rd I constitue and appoint my Christian friend Revd W. B. Edmunds (?) my
sole executor requiring of him no security having implicit confidence in his
christianity [ word underlined his emphasis] and for his trouble I give to him
the sum of five hundred dollars. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 22nd day of June 1867.
W.G. Rodes seal
Witness
Richard Bridges J.W. Gorin/Geron (?)
This is an exact transcription. All words have been spelled the way they were
shown in the document. Some words were unclear and are noted with a (?).
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