Edward Randolph
Encyclopedia
Edward Randolph sometimes referred to as Edward Randolph of Bremo, was a ship captain
, a London tobacco
merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph
and Mary Isham.
when his father's will was probate
d at the Henrico County court in Varina, Virginia
. Although known as "Edward Randolph of Bremo", the Virginia Historical Society
reported that the Bremo Plantation
located along the James River
near Malvern Hill
and Turkey Island was actually owned by the Cocke
family of Virginia during the 18th century. Randolph "chose a seafaring life" and operated merchant vessel
s between England
and the Colony of Virginia. Residing in England, he met an heiress named "Elizabeth" (whose last name has been noted as "Graves", "Groves", and "Grosvenor") from Bristol, England at a launch
at Gravesend, Kent
. The couple married around 1715 and had four children:
Two sons of Bartholomew Yates, William and Robert, were members of the Church of England
and married the two daughters of Randolph, Elizabeth and Mary, while visiting England to obtain their clerical orders
.
Although he came from a large, wealthy, and powerful family, Edward Randolph's children were born into a branch that was not very prosperous. Randolph was bankrupt by 1732 and misfortune had later brought him near poverty. Benjamin Harrison IV
was among his many creditors and brought suit against him in 1737.
Is is not known where or when Randolph died, but was placed in Virginia as late as 1756 by the Dinwiddie Papers
.
In addition to the familial connections noted previously, Randolph was a great-great-great grandfather of Harrison Randolph
, the President and Professor of Mathematics at the College of Charleston
. He was also a great-uncle of United States President
Thomas Jefferson
.
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
, a London tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
merchant, and the seventh and youngest son of William Randolph
William Randolph
William Randolph was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He moved to Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham a few years later...
and Mary Isham.
Biography
In 1713, Randolph inherited 625 acres of land near the Chickahominy RiverChickahominy River
The Chickahominy is an river in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Virginia. The river rises about northwest of Richmond and flows southeast and south to the James River...
when his father's will was probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
d at the Henrico County court in Varina, Virginia
Varina, Virginia
Varina is a former unincorporated town and current magisterial district in the easternmost portion of Henrico County, Virginia, United States....
. Although known as "Edward Randolph of Bremo", the Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society , founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history...
reported that the Bremo Plantation
Bremo Historic District
Bremo, also known as Bremo Plantation or Bremo Historic District, is a plantation estate covering on the west side of Bremo Bluff in Fluvanna County, Virginia. The large mansion at Upper Bremo is believed to be based on the architectural work of Thomas Jefferson...
located along the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
near Malvern Hill
Malvern Hill
Malvern Hill stands on the north bank of the James River in Henrico County, Virginia, USA, about eighteen miles southeast of Richmond. On 1 July 1862, it was the scene of the Battle of Malvern Hill, one of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War....
and Turkey Island was actually owned by the Cocke
Cocke
Cocke is a surname and may refer to:*Charles Lewis Cocke Professor of Physics at Kansas State University, winner of 2006 Davisson-Germer Prize*James Cocke, mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia in the eighteenth century...
family of Virginia during the 18th century. Randolph "chose a seafaring life" and operated merchant vessel
Merchant vessel
A merchant vessel is a ship that transports cargo or passengers. The closely related term commercial vessel is defined by the United States Coast Guard as any vessel engaged in commercial trade or that carries passengers for hire...
s between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the Colony of Virginia. Residing in England, he met an heiress named "Elizabeth" (whose last name has been noted as "Graves", "Groves", and "Grosvenor") from Bristol, England at a launch
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
at Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
. The couple married around 1715 and had four children:
- Joseph Randolph did not marry.
- Edward Randolph (? – April 1757) married Lucy Harrison of Berkeley (the daughter of Benjamin Harrison IVBenjamin Harrison IVBenjamin Harrison IV was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the son of Benjamin Harrison III, and the father of Benjamin Harrison V, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the fifth Governor of Virginia...
, the sister of Benjamin Harrison VBenjamin Harrison VBenjamin Harrison V was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He earned his higher education at the College of William and Mary, and he was perhaps the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention...
, the sister-in-law of Peyton RandolphPeyton RandolphPeyton Randolph was a planter and public official from the Colony of Virginia. He served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, chairman of the Virginia Conventions, and the first President of the Continental Congress.-Early life:Randolph was born in Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg, Virginia...
and William Randolph III, and the grand-daughter of Robert "King" Carter) in the late 1740s and had two children. Harrison's sisters were married to Peyton RandolphPeyton RandolphPeyton Randolph was a planter and public official from the Colony of Virginia. He served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses, chairman of the Virginia Conventions, and the first President of the Continental Congress.-Early life:Randolph was born in Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg, Virginia...
and William Randolph III, Edward Randolph Jr's cousins. - Elizabeth Randolph first married Reverend William YatesWilliam Yates (college president)William Yates, was a clergyman in the Church of England, educator, fifth president of William and Mary College and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus-Biography:...
, the fifth president of The College of William & Mary, and had three children. She then married Theodorick Bland of CawsonsTheodorick Bland of CawsonsTheodorick Bland , also known as Theodorick Bland, Sr. or Theodorick Bland of Cawsons, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, a clerk of the court of Prince George County, Virginia, and the father of Congressman Theodorick Bland.-Biography:Bland was the son of Richard Bland and Elizabeth...
. - Mary Randolph married Robert YatesRobert YatesRobert Yates is the name of:* Robert Yates , NASCAR team owner** Robert Yates Racing, the team he owns* Robert Yates , Anti-Federalist American politician* Robert Yates , New Zealand cricketer...
, the brother of William Yates, and had three children.
Two sons of Bartholomew Yates, William and Robert, were members of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and married the two daughters of Randolph, Elizabeth and Mary, while visiting England to obtain their clerical orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
.
Although he came from a large, wealthy, and powerful family, Edward Randolph's children were born into a branch that was not very prosperous. Randolph was bankrupt by 1732 and misfortune had later brought him near poverty. Benjamin Harrison IV
Benjamin Harrison IV
Benjamin Harrison IV was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the son of Benjamin Harrison III, and the father of Benjamin Harrison V, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the fifth Governor of Virginia...
was among his many creditors and brought suit against him in 1737.
Is is not known where or when Randolph died, but was placed in Virginia as late as 1756 by the Dinwiddie Papers
Robert Dinwiddie
Robert Dinwiddie was a British colonial administrator who served as lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758, first under Governor Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and then, from July 1756 to January 1758, as deputy for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun...
.
Ancestry and descendants
In addition to the familial connections noted previously, Randolph was a great-great-great grandfather of Harrison Randolph
Harrison Randolph
Harrison Randolph was the 13th President and professor of mathematics at the College of Charleston from 1897 to 1945.Randolph was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to John Feild Randolph and Virginia Dashiell Randolph, née Bayard...
, the President and Professor of Mathematics at the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
. He was also a great-uncle of United States President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.