Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-07-31

my patient short time before informed the in private
that according TO the laws of Virginia. a will might
ma numt slaves yet in order for their subsequent sup
port II was necessary that declaration should made
In the presence of one more white Witnesses who
alter receiving Il from the party should remain and
never lose sight of him until he was dead then an
pcaled to the dying man to know whether had stated
Il correctly he replied. Yes-and gracefully waving
MS hand as token Of our di'nssion, he said the young
gentlemen Will remain with me- took leave with an
assurance that would speedily as possible and
remain with him A(er absence of perhaps an hour
or more and about ty iasnutes before his decrasc re-
turned to his sick but see ne was changed:
ms Keen penetrating eye had lost its expression his
poweiiul n'nu ma given way and he appeared totally
nc"paoie OF giving any correct directions relative 10
his worldly To record what now took place
may not be required, further than say that almost to
the last moment some OF his ccccnirices could be seen
lingering about him He had cnte red within the dark
valley OF the shadow Of DEATH what was now pass
ing IN his chamber like the distant voice Of words
Which fell with confusion on the ear The f,r,hcr tbs
master spirit rccedcd from human view the sounds he
came less distinct, until they finally lost in the
deep recesses of the Valley and all that was mortal of
randolph OF Roanoke, hushcd in death, In con
cason perhaps u may be proper for clearly dis
IN my presence relative his will he was capable Of
discriminating correctly between thing and thno and
he also possessed enaciy ofmcmory Hence, give il as
my decided belief, that nc of sound dsposng mind
and memory. Early the afternoon of the ,v n which
John Randolph died ii concluded by the four wit
nesscs TO commit to writing the declarations which he
had made according to their UNDERSTANDING of them
Tins did, in room contiguous The ono wherein he
died. and where his corpse was then lying the ORR
ginai paper is now in my possession The paper hereto
annexed marked (D) and subscribed with my name is
a true copy of the same. JOS PARRISH
The certificate of Dr. Joseph Parrish is a. c.,ws.
'op'es c0yeates relating to Me 'cW Of the iate JOhn
Randolph
No l. ! certify that was called to visit John Ran
doph, of Roanoke, at the City Hotel kept by Heskell
philadelphia " w NY VI
My first visit was on the evening Of Tho txven.,h do
of the fifth month, (calcd Mayo 1888 continued to
visit the said john Randolph as his phy stefan until this
day. and was present at the time of his DEATH which oc
ed nf hDna nttfn hac.r
my visit TO him this morning. between the hours of eig
and nine clock, IN avery Impressive and distinct man
ner he declared TO me in substance follows and be-
evcneary IN these words g" confirm every disposition
; made in WILL especially that respecting INV slaves
whom have manumitied, and for whom have
made provision On my informing him that my
engagements among my patients, would require me
to leave him for short time, he most urgently re.
quested me net to leave hm-he stated woult he good
witness for John, and must stay-he informed me that
white witness necessary, in regard TO his prov
sion. requested him to have Edmund Badger ono ~
the lnnkcepers, called to whom hc could the decla
ratonhc stated that he had already made the decara
ton to him then proposed that two young medical
men should be sent for who could stay with him con-
stany and to whom the declaration could be made to
inns he consented and accordingly Dr. Francis West and
Or Isaac Parrish, my son, at his bedside
When he ascertaned this, he directed Edmund Badger
to be called; he then directed stand each one with
in his view, which accordingly did, viz: Joseph Par
rsn, Edmund Badger, Francis West r. and Isaac Par
rsh AT this moment he appeared concentrate all his
remaining energies and he renewed us who were as
sembed witnesses, substantially the same d.clara
ton which he had previously made to me alone II was
done in most impressive and emphatic and in
concluson when speaking of provision for his slaves
he raised his right arm and then striking it down unou
the shoulder OF his servant John he said scspccia
~ tor tins man. (signed) JOS. PARRISH
Mark Alexander sworn-Bcng sewn the will of
lo2i and asked whether lac the hand. writino
OF that paper, says he cannot say he did When Il
was handed to him it was envooped in another paper
Never the will made by MIR Randolph in IS:,o
until yesterday. The witness being asked to explain
the endorsement the back of the instrument saws.
that MT Randolph being just the of setting
his tic. 2
witness Mt Washington with the request that lie would
deliver it to Mr. Leigh, stating that it contained his
tand0lph 81 will Some short time after witness reach
ed home, he went up to Halifax Court house under
the supposition that Mr.. Leigh lived there--but WINS
informed that he resided some miles distance from the
courthouse. lie there met an acquaintance, {Mr.
Jones) and he thought it best to send the will 10 MIR
Leigh by that individual In order TO be very care.
ful IN ITS transnisson witness placed envcl
opc, and put upon it an the endorse
mcnt--suys it is the same-shewn the paper on which
the VIII OF 1882 is written, he thinks ii is the same
paper which formed the sealed envelope of the will
which was handed him by Mr.. Randoiph that the en-
dorscment addressed to the witness is in The bnnd
ting OF MIR Randolph, and is the original endorsement
when the paper handed to him. Shcwn the codicil
OF Dist January 1896 says this is his in
the presence oil Mr.. Nathaniel Macon The codicil is
throughout in the hand writing of MIR. Randolph Pre-
snmes this is the paper, it is the only of the kind
which he ever signed. Mr. Macon also attested it, and
inns Mr. Macon hand writing 1t was done in Wash
ington.
BY MIR Johnson-I observe that the endorsement of
Mr. Randolph on this will is in these words al r. of
Roanokcs will Mr. Alexander Will please hand this TO
VIM Leigh Esq, the within named executor and oblioe
his most respectful friend and colleague j. r. of Roam
oke. On the envelope in which you enclosed the will
10 Dir Leigh, you WRITE I" tile lcU and c0d,cH of J.
randolph. VIII your memory enable you say how
you were informed that the paper contained codicil
also?
Ans | do not know | do not recoilcct that Mr.
Randolph informed il comprised a codicil have no
recollection why wrote the endorsement in this manner
or now received the impression that codiciI was con-
tanned IN the paper The impression on my mind is
that the envelope and its contents the only
IN my possession. In looking at it do not see why
should make the endorsement, mentioning a codici un.
less IT was III order to obey the instructions of Mr. Ran
doph or from desire to be particularly cautious think
this was the only paper delivered to me-
u. Did you receive it from the hands of Mr. Ran
dolPh, or did hc send it TO you ?
Ans. received il from his hands, and received
no other paper from him, either by mail otherwise
lie informed that the paper contained his will can
not say at this time, that the codicil was included
ny MIR. Stauard Since the death of Mr. Randolph,
have you been under the impression that the instrument
winch you signed, was the same that you delivered to
Dir. Leighl
Ans was under that impression; but upon further
reflection, am satisfied it different instrument
ana that conounded the will of 1c2I with the codcil
of 1896
Wnsow Robinson, Clerk Of Charlotte county demos.
ca that the will of 30 deposited in his hands by
Judge Leigh who at the time asked him TO assist
III the examination Of Mr. Randolph PAPERS which Ind
been brought from Philadelphia and were at Mr. Card.
wells During that examinations witness saws the old
cancelled viii found in portable writing desk or
portfolio. The codich Of 1896 deposited in the
hands OF witness by Mr. Cardwcll who said he received
II from Judge Beverly Tucker The codcil Of Ic25 was
left with witness by Judge Beverly Tucker on the I4t
Tl,a t.ot..