DAR #A096024

Joseph was born 26 Nov 1745, in Brothersvalley Twp., Bedford Co., PA. His father was Henry (Heinrich) Rhoads Sr, who was born 23 Jan 1712 in Manheim, Kurfurstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Romisches Reich, and died 12 Apr 1774, in Brothers Valley. His mother was Catherine Rheinhardt, born 1714, Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany, and died 7 Apr 1774, in Brothers Valley Twp. They are both buried in the Rhoads Cemetery, Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.¹

During the American Revolutionary War Private Joseph Rhodes (#A096024) served under Captain Paxton of the Bedford County PA Militia. He would marry Elizabeth Mitchum, abt 1775, in Somerset, PA. Elizabeth was born in 5 Jul 1755, in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD. She died 12 Dec in 1815, in Muhlenberg Co., PA. They were the parents of at least five sons and five daughters. In 1740, he lived in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, but later was known as Trappe, Montgomery Co., PA. He was in Bedford Co., PA, in 1760, but by 1786, he was in Kentucky. He died on 29 Nov 1799, in Greenville, Muhlenberg Co., KY, at the age of 54, and was buried in the Browder Cemetery, Browder, Muhlenberg Co., KY. He made his will 17 Sep 1779, which was proved 26 Nov 1799 in Muhlenberg Co, KY. Their children were Mary Catherine 1775‐1843, Jacob Samuel 1775‐1850, Henry 1777‐1844, Hannah 1786‐1854, John 1790‐1859, Daniel James 1790‐1867, Catharine 1792‐1863 and Rachel 1794‐1873.²

Joseph and his family were considered to be “Dunkards”, one of the religions that believed in being baptized when a person is an adult and could chose to be baptized by being dunked in water (similar to Jesus). Many of them were persecuted in Europe and sought freedom in the colonies. Although the family originally settled in Pennsyvania much of group had moved onto Muhlenberg Co., KY, by 1800. Early in the new century some of the Hunsakers moved into what is today Union Co., IL, and by 1814, all of the Hunsakers, save Andrew and George, were in Union Co., IL. By 1831 there was again a family exodus, most members moving from Union Co., IL to Adams Co., IL.

Joseph’s daughter, Mary Catherine Rhoads (1775‐1843), would marry Andrew Hunsaker (1772‐1843) in 1793. Their son Andrew (1806‐1855) would marry Nancy Caruthers (1811‐1899) in 1830. Their son Samuel (1834‐1892) married Elizabeth Ellen Lence (1837‐1928). Samuel was a soldier in Company A, 1st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Their daughter, Ida Bell Hunsaker (1872‐1954) married Jefferson Marion Johnson (1869‐1941).

Available resources:
1 Will Book No. 1, Page 5; Bedford Co.‐ Henry RHOADS
d: April 07, 1774 in Ursina, Bedford Co., now Somerset Co., Buried at Rhoads Cemetery, Fact 1: Also known as Henry Senior Fact 2: Henry probably lived in Maryland and then settled in an area of Cumberland Co., PA which then became Turkeyfoot Twp., Bedford Co. and is now in modern time known as Somerset County. Fact 3: Perhaps he is buried in the Rhoads Cemetery, near Brooks Tunnel of B & O Railroad, Turkeyfoot Twnshp, Bedford Co. PA, now Somerset County. Fact 4: Will recorded in Will Book 1, page 5, at the Bedford County Court House, is dated January 28, 1774. Fact 5: Henry was a faithful member of the German Baptist Brethern Church, meetings were held at his Grist Mill until 1771 when his son Henry Jr, built the meetinghouse.
In the name of God Amen. I Handry Rhoads of the County of Bedford and Province of Pennsylvania Being weack in health but sound in mind & mamry do this Twenty eight Day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred & seventy four mack and ordain these my last Will and Testament in following manner first I do ordin all my just Debts to be paid and next that ny tow sons John Rhoads and Joseph Rhoads are to deliver unto my wife Caterina in yearly and every year as shee is a withe the sum of fourteen bushels of gut and clean wheat and to sow or cause to be sowet for her use one quarter of an acker of flocks and also to plant for her use one quarter of an acker of Potatoes and I do further will in this my last will and testament that the said John and Joseph Rhoads shall keep and feet two couse for her use also as long as she liveth and provide fler wod or case the same to be done and let her life where I life now during her life time but in case she marris again then all the above articles are to be void and I do further order in my last will and testament that all my children shall have an eckwill part of my estate of the sum of Sixty Pounds before my wife Caterina shall come in for her thords and I do further order in this my last will and testament that if all my children are of one eckwill sheer of the Sixty Pounds to each of them then John Rhoads and Joseph Rhoads is to take no more in sheer with the rest of my children Because the plantation is not offreset for them and I do further will and mack over to iny son Joseph Rhoads one plow and all the geirs and one Bolt Horse or gelten and the harrow and all the tacklinse there unto Belonging which the said Joseph Roads is to have and has cot to the plantation in his bargain of Beying the same and I do mack and order in this my last will and testament that the ececutators of this my will shall Bay a piece of land for my son Daniel Roads out of the first payment of my plantation as for his eckwill sheer with the rest of my children will allow for the same and I do hereby ordin and appoint Michael Syll and Abraham both of the County of Bedford to be the ececutators of this my last will and testament and lastly I do hereby revoke and mack void all former and other wills by me heretofore made Declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said Handry Roads have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed & published & delivered by the said Handry Roads the testator as for his Last Will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence have subscribed our names& written hereunto. Abraham Cable   Johanny Fraze (Gross)   Jacob Cable

April 12, 1774 John Gross & Jacob Cable attested to the fact that the above was the last Will of Henry Roads. The same day Michael Syll & Abraham Cable were appointed Executors.‐‐‐end of will‐‐‐

2 Source: Muhlenberg County News, December 1800 (Carole Watkins, Anaheim, CA) December 1800. Elizabeth Rhoads, widow and executrix of the will of Joseph Rhoads, was summoned to court to give counter security for her executorship. Henry Rhoads, orphan of Joseph and being over 14, chose Henry Keith as his guardian. Matthew Adams was the security for Keith. George Hunsaker was appointed guardian to John and Elizabeth Rhoads, orphans of Joseph Rhoads, deceased. Samuel Fuller furnished the bond. Court approved Andrew Hunsaker as guardian to Hannah Rhoads, orphan of Joseph Rhoads, deceased. Gilbert Vaught was appointed the guardian of Daniel and Catherine Rhoads, orphans of Joseph Rhoads, deceased...A record of 1801 names daughter Rachel, also.