John Randall (Annapolis mayor)

Col. John Randall was born in 1750 in Princess Anne County, Virginia, died on 12 June 1826 at age 76, and was buried at St Anne's Cemetery in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

He was the 13th child and youngest son of Thomas Randall, a planter, Justice of the Peace, vestryman of North Farnham Parish, and Jane Davis, his wife. Per his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Blanchard Randall, he did not even know all the names of his siblings. "He knew only the names of Mrs Henriette Sandford, Mrs Catherine Short, Mrs Agnes Thomas, Mrs Mary Claytor (ancestress of the West River Claytors), Mrs Delosie, Thomas, Robert, William, Richard & Frank. The others may have died in infancy."

• He was educated in Fredericksburg, Virginia as a builder and joiner under the tutelage of Mr Buckley of Fredericksburg, an architect and builder (Elizabeth Blanchard Randall says he was named Buckland)
• He owned a flour mill in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and owned a schooner trading between Annapolis & Baltimore.
• He was Anglican (Episcopalian), and a vestryman of the parish for many years at St Anne's Church in Annapolis.
• He was elected as Mayor 1813-1814, 1815-1816, 1817-1818 in Annapolis, serving every other term from 1813-1818
• He worked as an architect in Annapolis. He designed and constructed several of the most admired specimens of colonial architecture.
• He served in the United States Army, ending as a colonel during the American Revolution. He was appointed by the Governor and Council of Maryland to be Commissary to the Maryland troops, to supply the army then in New York on 13 February 1778 (called Quartermaster in some records. In 1779 he was made State clothier to the Maryland troops. He was appointed Ensign in the 4th Maryland Regiment on 27 October 1779 - "In another Letter Colo Hall recommends Mr John Randall for a Commission in the same Regiment; we approve the Promotions and appoint Mr Randall to an Ensigncy in the fourth Maryland Regiment and request Commissions may issue accordingly." (Quoted from letter of Maryland Council to Board of War.)
• He resided in Annapolis at "the middle house on the dock", which he leased from 1787 to 1792 in Annapolis until he built the store and dwelling at the north end of the market-house which was Marx' Hotel in 1895. It had previously been the Middleton Tavern, as it would be again many years later. Middleton Tavern was a favorite gaming and drinking spot of George Washington, where he noted in his journals that he often lost rather large sums of money playing a card game called Whist.
• After the war he became Collector of the Port of Annapolis until his death in 1826. Later this was called Navy Agent. Was appointed by President George Washington after the war.

John married Deborah Knapp, daughter of William Knapp and Frances Cudmore, on 7 January 1783 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Deborah was born on 3 May 1763 in Cork, Ireland, died on 18 December 1852 in Annapolis, Maryland at age 89. She was buried in St Anne's Cemetery in Annapolis. They had 14 children: William, Elizabeth Hamilton "Eliza," Frances, John, Daniel, Thomas, Henry Knapp, James, Richard, Anne, Henrietta Sanford, Francis K, Alexander, and Burton.

References

• Randall, Alexander - Biography by 2nd wife Elizabeth Blanchard Randall - Published Nov 1990 by Peter Randall, MD, Grandson of John Wirt Randall, Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland, JD Warfiled,
• Annapolis Maryland Families, Robert Harry McIntire, (Gateway Press, Baltimore)
• Maryland Revolutionary Records Index, Harry Wright Newman - Data obtained from pension claims and Bounty applications, including Marriages of Maryland and a List of Proved Services of Soldiers and Patriots of other States (Genealogical Publishing Co)
• Revolutionary Patriots of Anne Arundel County, Henry C Peden,
• Rev War record in MD, William Hand Browne, Editor, Journal and Correspondence of the State Council March 20, 1777-March 28, 1778. Repository: Archives of Maryland