Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-10-30
HsDM ESFEC
GENERAL COURT.
WILL OF JOHN RANDOLPH, OF RoAsoKE.


John C. Bryan an infant, by John Coulter, his nezt friend,
Dlointif rs fGHliam Mead and Frederick HOtson,
Committee Of ST. George Randolph person Of uasonaa
mind, detendaHtS.
Judge WILLIAM LEIGH, sworn.-I think it was in
the wear 1918, that Mr. Randop pm first spoke TO me
the subject of his will He wished rae 10 be his Execu
tor and told him there might be difficulty in my
doing So did not like to ask others to be my security
for SO large Estate He said he would remove this
difficulty While he in Washington about the year
1872 he wrote that he had determined to dispose of
the principal part of his property for the establishment
of College, and asked me TO send him the best form
for q Will for that purpose wrote him and sent him
the form, with blank clauses for the disposition Of
part OF his property olhcrwise-and stated to him
that did not think he could carry his object into effect
without obtaining charter Of incorporation from the
Legislature, aud that he had better consult other Law
yers on the subject. When saw him afterwards gave
him similar advice, and he told me that he would
suit Mr.. Tazewell, and think the Chief Justice.
heard no more from him at that time in relation to his
Wills
In March 1922 MIR. Randolph wrote to me from Wash
ingon that he about 10 embark for Europe and that
Mr. Alexander would deliver me his will In the
of the month he sent from New York, codicl
to bis will This codicil written upon half sheet
of letter paper, and to me folded in the way notes
usually folded, with of the ends open In May
June, 1 received from MIR. Jones, then living at
Halifax Courthouse, several packages Of papers, which
he told me Mr. A. had requested him to deliver sae-
sion on the wax of the letters NJ A. in large characters
and endorsed in Mr. Ale xanders hand writing do not
remember the words of the endorsement but the purpor
was that it contained the will and codcil Of j. r., d.
rected to be delivered to VIM Leigh, his executor
When received this package, finding endorsed BY Mr.
A. supposed he had enclosed the will, because be had
not been able to and deliver it to me himself and
broke the seal | found i'll Mr. AeXandcrs envelope
another package sealed with wax with the impression Of
Mr. Randophs seal, and endorsed in his hand writing
do not remember the precise words OF the endorse.
ment, but the Purpert was, that 1t contained Tue VIII OF
Mr. Randolph, with request TO Mr.. Alexander 10 de-
liver il 20 me, the Executor named in It, Finding the
will sealed up, did not break Mr.. r. SEAL and i'm,
medatcy placed it in Mr.. A]exander's envelope, and
sealed this with wafer. This will and codici the
only tesamentay papers of Mr.. Randophs which ever
had in my possession except the will the LIST of Janu
airy, 1882. In May, 1924 MI R. wrote to me from New
York to destroy the codcil. did destroy it, but took
court In May, 1928. Immediately after he got home
from Washington, was ct Mr.. RS house got there
somewhere about the middle of the day. He talked
great deal abou: public matters and about his affairs
and we did not 90 to bed until pretty late hour We
slept in different houses, distant about 20 80 yards In
the the night Mr. Il. came to my ROOM walked
me; told he very sick with attack of cholera
inorbus that he hud tried in vain to wake his servants
by his bell, and asked me to 60 and get them up
Without putting any Of my clothes than my
panaloons, went to Johnny house, and sent him to
his master returned to my room and dressed myself
and went immediately into Mr. R. 5 BY this time
Johnny had lighted candle. AS soon as went in,
he told he wanted to write codcil to his WILL and he
directed Johnny to send for Mr. Morgan He then spoke
II,
and understood from him, that the codlc he about
to write was to he codcil to this will. Mr.. Morgan
arrived and he set about writing the codcil, he
might have commenced before Mr. Morgan came. ] did
not read the codcil nor did know what it contained.
While he writing one of them, he asked me the
sum at which he had in his will given the option of
taking the Ferry plantation. told him had never
opened his WILL and of did not know It's prov
sions He said, the he believed So or 10000
and that in consequence of the fall Of property, this
too high by 50 per cent do not remember that Mr.
Morgan aesed the codicl that nigh-my impression is
that he did, but when he went away, MIR. R. asked him
to send early in the morning for Mr. R. Darlington and
Mr.. j. Daniel, and to return himself After Mr. Nor
gan left the house, Mr. r. told me that the property
Of his nephew, ST. George Randolph, was not enough
for his support by 200 $500 per annum, and that |
must see that he did not want. told him he had better
make some provisions for him in his will lie said, No. he
was satisfied would take of him. He also told
opposite the Middle quartr and that should be worked
part Of the Middle quarter In the course Of the
night he asked me TO write some memoranda of gifts to
be made by ne to some Of his friends and by his drec
hon L wrote ne paper exhibited in Court. | said
nothing to him until after had written the article TO
be given to his brother Henry then told him that
he had not named his brother Beverley. He told Inc to
write for Beverly Barrow's Sermons his London Bible
and some other Books told him he had given a |
copy of Ainsworhs Dictionary to his brother Henry
and he had three copies why not give Beverley
lowing Ainsworth's Dictionary in this memorandum;
and this all ever said to him about his will except
that he had better make provision for his nephew
St George in his viii In the morning Mr. Darlington,
Mr. Daniel, and MIR. Morgan came, and understood,
witnessed the codcis. was not in the when they
witnessed them Mr. w. NJ. Watkins also there the
same morning but whether before after the codics
were executed, do not remember Mr. r. appeared to
be very anguid but he talked great DEAL and remem
Der telling Mr.. Darlington that afraid it would do
him an injury and that company at that time, dis
advantage to him. After the gentlemen left him. Mr. R.
laid down on his bed and continued it, occasionally
doing, until leh him. which about 3 O'clock
What ne did with these codicils, | do not know.
never heard him speak of tcm did ever see them
unth Nlr. H. was abroad on the Russian Mission. He
Jeff open writing desk table in his dining ROOM
in which there paper left for my use In this
desk saw them in his absence, and in this desk they
were found after his death.
Mr.. R.. as he told me- reached home on the night of
he Tuesday after the lst Monday in November 1881