University of Virginia Library

RANDOLPH.

William Randolph, of Tuckahoe, was the first of the name
to enter land within the present limits of Albemarle. In
1735 he was granted twenty-four hundred acres "on the north
side of the Rivanna near the mountains, a little below Mountain
Falls." On the organization of the county, he was
appointed its Clerk. At his death his land passed to his
son, Thomas Mann Randolph, of Tuckahoe. Neither William
nor Thomas ever resided in the county, but soon after the
marriage of Thomas Mann's son, bearing the same name,
with Martha Jefferson, and his own second marriage with

Gabriella, daughter of John Harvie, the land was transferred
by the father to the son. The latter then made Edgehill his
home. He engaged with much activity in public affairs.
He was appointed a magistrate in 1794, elected to Congress
in 1801, and chosen Governor of Virginia in 1819. He displayed
a lively zeal in promoting the interests of agriculture
in the county. He died in 1828. His children were Ann,
the wife of Charles L. Bankhead, Thomas J., Ellen, the wife
of Joseph Coolidge, of Boston, Cornelia, Virginia, the wife
of Nicholas P. Trist, Dr. Benjamin F., and George Wythe.

The home of Charles L. Bankhead was Carlton. He was
twice married. His children by his first wife were John W.,
who recently died in Missouri, Ellen Monroe, the wife of
John Coles Carter, and Thomas Mann, who settled in Arkansas.
His second wife was Mary Carthrae, a granddaughter
of General Samuel H. Lewis, of Rockingham. He died
about 1833, leaving one son, Charles L., by the last marriage.
The stalwart and venerable figure of Colonel Thomas J. is
familiar to many still living. For many years he took a
leading part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the
county. He was a magistrate, a member of the Legislature,
a devoted member of the County Agricultural Society, and
President of the Farmers' Bank. He married Jane, daughter
of Governor W. C. Nicholas. Benjamin F. was a physician,
and lived at the south end of Carter's Mountain. He married
Sarah, daughter of Robert H. Carter. In addition to
his professional labors, he was appointed a magistrate in
1846, and for several terms was a member of the State Senate.
George W. was admitted to the Albemarle bar in 1840, and
a few years after removed, to Richmond. In the days of the
Confederacy, he was its last Secretary of War.

Colonel Richard Randolph, of Henrico, owned land in
Albemarle. In 1760 he obtained a grant of two hundred and
forty acres on Moore's Creek. At some time he purchased
twelve hundred acres adjoining the tract just mentioned from
some one, perhaps from William Taylor, who seems to have
entered it in 1737. To Dr. Thomas Walker, as trustee of
the county, he sold a thousand acres of this land, on which

in 1762, Charlottesville, the new courthouse, was established.
He also entered nearly fifteen hundred acres in the
southern part of the county on Green Creek. He probably
never resided on this land, but managed it through the
agency of overseers.

Governor Edmund Randolph was also a landholder in
Albemarle. In 1786 he purchased from John Fry twenty-five
hundred acres on Green Mountain, including the Viewmont
estate. For some years he sought relaxation from his
professional and official cares in looking after this property.
In 1793 he petitioned for the right to erect a mill on Hardware,
where Colonel Fry had had one before. He sold this
land to William C. Carter in 1798.

In 1805 Dr. Thomas Eston Randolph bought from Johnson
Rowe the land opposite Milton, on which is situated the
estate of Glenmore. His wife was Jane Cary, sister of
Governor Thomas Mann Randolph. He was appointed a
magistrate of the county in 1807. In 1813 he sold Glenmore
to Louis H. Girardin, the continuator of Burk's History of
Virginia, and purchased a plantation further down the river
on Carroll's Creek, called Ashton. This place he sold in
1826 to Joel W. Brown, and removed to Campbell County.
His daughter, Elizabeth, became the wife of Francis Eppes
Jr., the grandson of Mr. Jefferson.

In the decade of 1840, John T. Randolph came to the
county from the Valley, and married Ann, daughter of William
P. Farish. In 1862 he entered the Baptist ministry.