Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-10-30
lbOlys ESVVC.
GENERAL COURT.
WILL OF JOHN RANDOLPH, OF RoAsokr.


John C. Bryan, infant, by John Coulter, his friend
plaintiff, rs. Huliam Mead and Frederick HobsOn,
Committee o. 81 George Rdndoph person Of unsOnnd
Judge WILLIAM LEIGH, sworn.-I think it was in
the year lol5, that Mr. Randolph first spoke TO O
the subject of his will He wished me to be his Execu-
tor, and told him there might be difficulty in my
doing so, did not like ask others to be my security
for so large an Estate. He said he would remove this
difficulty. While he in Washington about the wear
1872 he wrote me that he had determined dispose of
the principal part of his property for the establishment
OF College, and asked send him the best form
for Will for that purpose. him and sent him
the form, with blank clauses for the disposition Of
part of his property otherwse-an stated to him
that did not think he could carry his object into effect
without obtaining charter of incorporation from the
Legislature, and that he had better consult other Law
yers the subject. When saw him afterwards rave
him similar advice, and he told that he would con-
suit Mr. Tazewell and L think the Chief Justice [
heard no more from him at that time in relation to his
Wills ~
In March 1899, Mr. Rando phi wrote to me from Wash
ingon that he to embark for Europe and that
Mr. Alexander would deliver me his will la the course
of the same month he from New York a codicu
his will This codic was written upon half shee,
of letter paper and TO folded in the way notes
usually folded, with of the ends open In Nav
or June, received from MIR. JONES' then living at
Halifax Courthouse several packages of papers, which
he told me Mr.. A. Ind requested him deliver me-
Among these was one sealed with wax with the impress
sion the of the letters NJ A. in large characters
and endorsed in Mr. Alexander's hand writing. do not
remember the words of the endorsement but the purpo
was, that it contained the will and codic of j. r.. di-
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 he had
been able come and deliver il TO me himself and
broke the seal. found in MIR. Alexander's envelope
another package sealed with wax with the mpre ssion of
Mr. Rando phs SEAL and endorsed in his hand -wrting
do not remember the precise words of the endorse
ment but the purport was that il contained the will of
Mr. Randolph, with request to Mr. Alexander to de-
liver II to me, the Executor named in it, Finding the
will sealed up, did not break Mr. r. seal, and i'm.
mediatey placed 1t in Mr.. Alexanders envelope, and
sealed this with wafer This will and codic are the
only Parliamentary papers of Mr. Rundophs which
had in my possession except the will of the LIST of Janu
ary, 1882. In May, 1924, MI. r. from New
York to destroy the eodicl did destroy it, but took
copy have both the letter and copy of the codicil in
court. In May, 1923, Immediately after he got home
from Washington, was at Mr. II S house I rot there
somewhere about the middle of the day. He talked a
great deal about public matters and about his own affairs
and we did not go to bed until a pretty late hour We
slept in different houses distant about 20 30 yards la
the course of the night, MIR r. my walked
me told ne he very sick with attack of cholera
morbus that ne had tried in vain his servants
by his bell, and asked me to go and get them up
Without putting any of my clothes than my
paniaoons, went to Johnny's house, and him 10
MS master. returned to my room and dressed myself
and went Immediately into Mr.. r s BY this time
johnny had lighted candle. AS went in
he told he wanted write codcil to his will and he
directed Johnny TO send for Mr. Morgan He then spoke
OF the will which he had sent by MIR. Alexander;
and understood from him, that the codic he was about
60 write to be codicil to this will MIR Morgan
arrived, and he set about writing the codci or he
might have commenced before MIR. Morgan came. did
not read the codic, did know what it contained
While he was writing one of them, he asked tie
OF which he had in his will given me the option of
taking the Ferry plantation. told him / had never
opened his WILL and Of did know its proyi-
sions lie said, the he believed was So or 10000
and that in consequence Of the fall of property this was
too high by 80 per cent / do not remember that Mr.
Morgan attesed the codcil that nght-my impression is
that he did but when he away, Mr. r. asked him
TO send early in the morning for Mr. H. Darlington and
Mr. J. Daniel and to return himself After MIR Nor
gan left the house, Mr.. n. told that the property
of his nephew, ST. George Randolph, was not enough
for his support by 200 $500 per annun and that
must that he did want told him he had better
make some provisions for him in his will He said No, he
was satisfied would take Of him He also told me
not to sell small piece Of low ground lying in Halifax
opposite the Middle quarrr, and that should be worked
as part OF the Middle quarter. In the Of the
night, he asked me TO write memoranda Of gifts To
be made by me to Of his friends, and by his drcc-
ton, wrote The paper exhibited in Court j said
nothing TO him until after had written the article to
be given to his brother Henry. I then told him that
he had not named his brother BE yerlev He told me IA
and other Books. l told him he had oivep n
copy Of Ainsworths Dictionary to his brother Henry
and as be had three copes why give 20 Beverley
He then told to add Ainsworth and the Books f6l
lowing Ainsworths Dictionary in this memorandum.
and this all ever said to him about his will except
that he had better make provision for his nephew
81 George, in his will In the morning MIR. Carnngton
Mr.. Daniel, and Mr.. Morgan came, and I understood
witnessed the codics ! was not in the when hey
witnessed them. Mr. w VI Watkins was also there the
same morning but whether before or after the codcis
were executed, do not remember. Mr. f. apueared 10
90 very langnid but he talked great deal and reme-
Der telling Mr. Cafrngon that afraid Il would do
him injury, and that company al that time vas do
advantage TO him After The gentlemen left him Mr. n
laid down his bed and continued on A. oecos,onat
doing, until len him, which was about z o'cIock
What he did with these codicls I do NOT kooo, 4 |
never heard him speak oftlcm, did ever see them,
rnIl Mr.. X. was abroad on the Russian Mission lie
len m open writing desk table in bis dining room,
~ which there paper left for my use I'm ths
aesk saw them IN biz absence, and in this desk they
Mr. r., she told me- reached home on the night If
ne Tuesday after he let Monday in November. Js3 -