William Randolph

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Randolph (1650 - April 11, 1711) was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and politics of what became the U.S. state of Virginia.

He was born in Warwickshire, England, to Richard Randolph (1627-1671) and Elizabeth Ryland (1625-1670). Randolph was also the nephew of English poet Thomas Randolph. He moved to Virginia in 1674 and married Mary Isham later that year. He was the second member of the Randolph family to settle in North America, the first being Henry Randolph. Shortly after arriving, he built his home at Turkey Island, Henrico County.

He was one of the founders of the College of William and Mary. He was also the patriarch of the Randolph family of Virginia which married with members of the Lee, Washington, and Harrison families, and included notable members such as President Thomas Jefferson, United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, First Continental Congress president Peyton Randolph, and Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

His children with Mary Isham were:

Elizabeth Randolph (Bland) (1680 - 1719)

William Randolph Jr. (1681 - 1742) of Turkey Island

Thomas Randolph (1683 - 1729) of Tuckahoe, Goochland County (different from the nearby town of Tuckahoe, Virginia)

Isham Randolph (1685 - 1742) of Dungeness, Goochland County

Henry Randolph (1687 - ?) of Chatsworth

Richard Randolph (1691 - 1748) of Curles Neck Plantation

Mary Randolph (Stith) (1692 - ?)

Sir John Randolph (1693 - 1737) of Tazewell Hall

Edward Randolph (1695-?) of Breno (resided in England)

The number of children the couple had is not certain because of deaths in infancy and the naming of children after their deceased siblings. At least nine children survived into adulthood.

In 1972, North Carolina author Jonathan Worth Daniels (grandson of North Carolina governor Jonathan Worth), released a book through Doubleday on William Randolph's descendants, The Randolphs of Virginia.