Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering Valentine Rhodes
By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters
of the American Revolution, 250 Project
Note: This year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society, is presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.
Valentine Roads/Rhoades/Rhodes obtained land circa 1816 in Paint Twp., Highland Co. Valentine Rhodes was a soldier in the 1st Continental Troops under Capt. Charles Craig and Col. Edward Hand serving in Pennsylvania. Records show he paid a Supply tax in 1779.
Valentine was the son of German/Swiss immigrants Valentine and Maria Roades. He was born in Northampton Co., Pa. in 1752. His young family lived in Earl Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa. and later in Shenandoah Co., VA as they began their journey west.
The will of Valentine, probated in Highland County 21 Nov. 1835, gives us a good view of the success and love for family this man enjoyed after settling in Highland County. He writes, “I will and direct that the farm on which I now live situated in the township of Paint in said county of Highland containing about 200 acres shall be appraised and valued as soon after my decease as possible . . . that said appraisers set off out of said real estate one third of the same to my beloved wife, Catherine Roads, . . . I direct the one third of my personal property divided as above to be sold shall be paid to my wife, Catherine . . .” The will continues to tell his executor that each of his children is to receive a share of land and personal property.
The children named in the will are John, Elizabeth Fauver, Valentine, Abraham, George, Catherine Brock, Phillip, Barbara, and Mary. Many descendants from these ten children still live in the Highland County area.
Valentine Roads was buried in the Roads Cemetery, Rainsboro, Nov. 1835. No stone has been found.
It can be tricky when researching the Roads/Rhoades/Rhodes families because they used the same names in succeeding generations. Our recent program on German immigration gave us some helpful hints for the naming process. SOGS researchers are here to help you straighten out branches on your family tree, if you like. – Patricia Young, Waw-wil-a-way Chapter NSDAR
Rhodes and his wife Catherine arrived in Highland County about 1815. Valentine would have been about age 63. No doubt, this is again, a couple following their grown children as they migrated west.
The family settled in Paint Township.
Valentine would have been age 24 at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Records show that he served in the 1st Regiment of the Continental Troops under Capt. Charles Craig and Col Edward Hand. He and his family resided in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Records also show that he paid a Supply Tax in 1779. Source: NARA, M881, Comp Mil Serv Recs, Roll #789: PA ARCH, 3rd Series, Vol 17, p 498. Highland County residents have remembered his service by becoming members in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Sometime after the Revolutionary War the family moved to Shenandoah County, VA, It is recorded in the Will Bk w, pg 112, 29 Sep 1815, that Valentine & Catharine Roads sold 242 acres to Henry Layman. Valentine signed in German and Catharine made her mark. The 1800 to 1815 census shows many adult Roads males living in Shenandoah Co. Their grown children did not all come to Highland County right away.
Valentine and Catherine had 10 children: John, Elizabeth, Valentine, Abraham, George, Catherine, Phillip, Barbara, Henry, and Mary. They are named in his will probated in Highland County in 1835.
The spelling for the Roads' surname follows several forms – Rhoads, Roads, Rhodes. Research connects this surname to its German root spelling Roodt.
The Highland County Roads families were strong pioneer farmers with many descendants still living.