Dr. John Rhoades

18 Aug 1661 Northampton County, VA: Loving friend Mr. Thomas Berryn, you shall receive a writting obligatory of ye date with this presents wherein one John Roades of Wells in the County of Somsett, Chirurgeon, is bound in the sum of 9 pds Sterling unto me to pay & deliver unto you for my use so much sound & merchantable goods of the Country of Virginia as shall amount unto & be worth in all the said Country of Virginia, the full & just sum of 4 pds & 9 shillings of like lawfull money of England as by the said writing under this the said John Roades, his hand and seal appeareth in order whereunto I do hereby authorize & desire you to ask & receive of him for me the said goods to to the value when the said shall grow due by the said writing & when received be careful to consign them to me by the next ship from the Country of Virginia, if you return not in the first ship to Bristol . . . . . , but if he fails or deny payment, then I do hereby authorize & impower you to take a speedy & lawful course in my name to recover the same goods or money and send before hand or ship with along with you on your voyage. Signed: Francis Grunfeild, Bristol, 18 Aug 1661, Witt: Peter Wraxall & Jasper Crase. Recorded 30 Oct 1661 in N'hamp Court by Robt Hutchinson.

Court - 30 Dec 1661 Northampton County, VA: This day Judgment is acknowledged by John Roades of Wells in ye County of Somrset, Chyrurgion, unto Thomas Perin, Attorney of Francis Grinfeild of ye City of Bristoll, Apothecary, in the sum of 9 pounds lawfull mondey of England, being the penalty for payment of fowre pounds, nine shillings, Sterlin. Befoe us commissioners: Wm. Jones & Wm. Andrews.

Dr. John Rhoades of Wells, Somersetshire, England, immigrated to Northampton Co, VA, by 1662 and then to Annemessex, Somerset Co, MD, by 1663.

23 Feb 1663 Whitelaw land tract A108, north side Hunting Creek, Accomack Co, VA:
Patent to John Lewis for 1,000 acres for transporting 20 persons extending down the north side of Hunting Creek from A107 to the bay; in future transactions it was not possible to account for the full 1,000 acres, exept by including the marsh land attached, which was not the general practice in issuing patents. The 20 persons included Tho. Ryle, Jno Rhodes, Jno Creamer, Eliz. Doughty, Tho. Smith, Jno. Willis, Jno. Browne, Edw. Ward, Robt. Yallop, Gartrad Morkey, Clemt. Onely, Wm. Clavator, Susan Berry, Edw. Steward, Peter Baxton, Paul Lambert, Ann Fourd, Jno. Spillman, James Cooke & Maurice Peane.

10 Nov 1663 Accomack County, VA: Some days after the people of the Manoakin area requested safety in regards to strange stories spread by Quakers, the court of Accomack (Present: Capt. Geo. Parker, Mr. Devorx Browne, Major Jno. Tilney, Mr. Hugh Yeo, Mr. Jno. West, Mr. Jno. Wise, & Mr. Edmond Bowman) on 10 November 1663 ordered the following: The residents at Manoakin and other remote parts of the county have confirmed their obedience by subscribing to the acts of assembly. This the Quakers and other factious persons have not done, and persisting in their rebellion have spread rumors to disturb the peace, pretending they come from the Lord Leist of Maryland. To prevent the designs of the Quakers, who are declared subversive to the government, and to serve the loyal subjects who requested protection, the following is ordered: Until the government can be fully informed of the affair, Capt. Wm. Thorne, an officer under Col. Scarburgh, Mr. Randall Revell, Mr. Wm. Bosman or Mr. Jno. Rhodes will have authority to call together and command His Majesty's subjects at Manoakin and as far as the Pokomock River to come together and arm themselves for protection from invaders and those that would disturb their peace or property. The court is assured that these rumors arise more from the Quakers' desires than from the Lord Leist of Maryland:
- That the Lord Leist of Maryland will hang those who subscribed their obedience to the government of Virginia
- That the Governor of Virginia "for meddling hath a piece of green wax sent for him"
- That Jolly intends to settle at Pokomoke River on people's land and hold it by force
- That Col. Scarburgh for executing the command of Virginia's assembly deserves to be hanged, and "more stuff like this"
Scarburgh concluded his account by saying that further action rested with "your honors." He wrote to the Lord Leist of Maryland, sending a copy of the act and offering to meet with Mr. Catlet and Mr. Laurance if his Honor desired. Having received only a "capitulatory letter," he presumes that the Lord Leist to have had representation at Jamestown. He now expected orders or to have the affair left with the court of Accomack. If necessary, the Quakers, "whose interest will never permit their consciences to comply with that government which is inconsistent with their affairs," will be brought before "your Honor." Signed, Edm. Scarburgh.

10 Jan 1665 Somerset County, MD: John Roads registered his cattle mark at Somerset Co Court.
11 Dec 1665 Somerset County, MD: John Roads was plaintiff against Henry Boston.
25 Sep 1666 Somerset County, MD: John Rhodes petitioned the court that there was tobacco due to him from Mary Barnebe, relict of James Barnebe.
3 Apr 1667 land tract Salisbury, Upper Fairmount, Annemessex River (north side), Somerset Co, MD: His home was "Salisbury," 200 acres on the north side of the Annemessex River, southwest of the village of Upper Fairmount, which he patented on 3 Apr 1667. He moved to Sussex Co, DE, before his death in 1674. He was also on a list of Church of England Families.
On Jan 17 1672 Dr. John Rhoades and wife Elizabeth sold the tract Salisbury, 200 acres, to Thomas Tull and Richard Tull (SoLR-SC:071) and then moved to near Lewes in modern Sussex Co, DE.

He was named in a deposition on 16 May 1683 at Sussex Co, DE. In the Moneth of December in the year 1673 the Lord Baltimore sent a Company of horsemen in number about fortye under the Command of Capt Thomas Howell whoe came into the Whoore Kill Towne with swords drawn; And threatened & Terrified the In habitents whoe being frighted thereby submitted to them. After that they kild many of the Inhabitents Cattle; and when they had bene here about forteene days Capt Howell went to the Lord Baltimore as he pretended to Aquaint him that the Inhabitents of this place was poor and not able to maintaine soe many souldgers; And when he came back again he Caused all the Inhabitents of the County or proven?s [province] to be warned to Come to the Whoore Kill Towne to Muster with order to bring all their Arms and Amuni son; And when the Inhabitents ware Come together the said Capt Howell Told them that he must tell them with Greife that his orders from the Lord Baltimore was that he must burne all their houses and that he must not Leave one stick standing; and that he Could not be Excused from soe doeing; And that he was to give but one quarter of an hour warning before he did it. Soe Immediatly the houses ware by them sett on fire and Burnt downe to the Ground; but before the houses ware all sett on fir[e] sume women very big with Child and others made their Addrasse to Capt Howell and Intreated him to spare one hous for their Releife in distrasse; the said Capt Howell Answered that he must obsarve his orders and that he could spare non; But said that if God would save them one they should have it and not Else. And the good providence of God was that day sene in that peticoler; for A Thatch Barne standing in the Middle or be tweene A Boorded Barne of Alexander Moulston that had about Two hundred Bushell of wheate unthrashed in it. A dwelling house and severall other out houses standing betwene the said Thatch Barne ware sett on fir[e]; And the said Capt Howell said that if the Thatch Barne would not Burne it should be saft; the flame of the other barne and houses flying over the Thatch Barne sett it on fir[e] three times and it went out Again. Upon that Cap1 Howell said that God had saft the Thatch Barne; And that he did not dare to meddle anymore with it. After this the Lord Baltimores party went away Left the place and Carried away with them all the boats that ware in the Creeke and also the Arms belonging to the Inhabitents; soe that they ware left without Arms to defend themselves from the Indians being about sixty miles from any Inhabitents to goe to for Releife. Sume of the disstrassed Inhabitents Traviling sume Toward New York and sume to Another place. Two ware Muthered namly John Roades Senr and Thomas Tilley by the Indians that did not know them as was subposed. Sence that time the Lord Baltimore never by himselfe or others by his order or Authority never did settle any Government here or had any possession of this place; but it did Continoue in the possession of the Dutch untill it was surrendered by the Dutch to the King of England upon Articles of peace and after that it hath bene Governed by his Royall Highness James Duke of York and Allbany Governor, untill the Arrivall of Governor Penn sence which it hath bene upon the pet[it]ion of the Ancent and pres ent Inhabitents of this River and Bay by An Act of Generall Assem bly Annexed unto the provience of Pensilvania. Whilst the houseDr. John Rhoades (I) (Chyrurgion) ware Burning sume of the Inhabitents ware by the Lord Baltimore party kept prissoner not being Admitted to goe to presarve any part of there goods; and Many were Barbours Cruelityes the Lord Baltimore party used to the Inhabitents of these parts; in soe much as the Indians that Lived here about wept when they saw the spile [spoil] that the Inhabitents had suffered by there owne native Country men. And this was the Manner of the Lord Baltimore['s] taking the Whoor Kill now Called the County of Sussex. But now the Government and proprietary of this place is through the Greate marcy and good providence of God And the great goodness of his Royall Highness James Duke of York Invested in soe Honnorable A person wee doubt not but that wee shall not onely Live peaceably and Hapily under your honnors Government, But wee also Humbly pray that your Honnor being thus made senseable of our Greate This Loses and damidges that wee have suffered and sustayned by [t]he Lord Baltimore [t]hat he may make us satisfacon for the same And wee shall all wayes pray for your Honnors prospriety. The substance of what is above Exprassed was sworn unto by the said Halmanas Wiltbanck, John Kiphaven, Alexander Moulston, Harmon Cornelison, Anthony Inlose & Attested by Elizabeth Roades (the widdow of John Roades Senr that was Murthered) to be the truth; Before us William Clark and John Roades, Two of the Kings Justices of the peace for the County of Sussex formerly Called the Whoore Kill the sixteenth day of May 1683. Wm: Clark & John Roades [Endorsed] Affidavit how ye Ld Baltimore took ye Whorekills.

1 Sep 1683 Sussex Co, DE: John Roads Junr. Aged 30 years or their abouts an English man deposeth upon his Corporall oath that the night before Capt. Thomas Howell & the party und(e)r his Command fired the Whorekill Town & precincts by the Command of ye Lord Baltimore; one of Capt. Howell('s) Souldgers gave private notice of their intention of Fiering the Houses to him but Caused this deponant to Swear that he would not make it known for fear that he should be hanged for discovering their dissigne, the said John Roads liveing at that time about Eight Miles from ye Town called the Whorekills. The next morning a party of the souldgers came to the said John Roads house & within one quarter of an Houer after they fired his Tobaco house which was seaventy Foot long & Twenty Foote wide full of Tobaco & consumed it all; & then they sett the dwelling house on fire; & whilst this de ponent was beating down the Gaball (gable) end of the dwelling house to throw out his Corn, the Souldgers cutt the Meat with their swords as it was roasting to the great Terror of the family; & that they might destroy the house ye sooner they took Wheat sheaves & carryed (them) up (to) the Chambers & sett them on Fier & by that quickly burnt the dwelling house, as aliso one Milk house of fifteen foot long & another out house of the said John Roads, this deponant by the Lord Baltimores party did loose to the Vallue of two Hundred Pounds Sterling besides the Death of his Father that was aliso a very great sufferer and afterwards Murthered. John Roades The above was Sworn unto by the said John Roades before us William Clark & Luke Wattson Two of the Kings Justices of the peace for the County of Sussex formerly called the Whoorekill this first day of September 1683: Wm: Clark Luke Wattson (Endorsed) Jon Roades his aphydavit about burning the Whorekills 1 Sept. 83 W P. (initialed by Penn)

John married Katherine (?) about 1650. (Katherine (?) was born about 1630 and died about 1661 in Somerset Co., MD.)