Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-07-26
From the Richmond Compiler, July 49,

From the Richmond Compiler, July ~
We indebted Mr. spfna"bb s for '1 the Gene
Court, on the Wills of John Randolph we are happy
to be able to furnish in which the pubic generally
49, The RANDOLPH WILL CASE;
SATURDAY, ed July.
The trial Of this cause on this day before Tie Ge-
ner, Court consisting of Judges Smith, Scott, l'omax
Tbomuson Parker, Duncan Field, Baker, Brown, Saun.
ders, Fry and Christian
Far The plainlifls Wm Meade and others, (lIusces Tor
the slaves Mrsss. Tay Robertson nd Walter Jones'
for the defendant Frederick Hobson COMMITTEE tor ST.
George Randolph, person oil insane m'ho'l MI; 'ohh
r t!1oke: and for the defendants, Henry ST. George
Tucker Beverly Tucker, and John r. Bryan aud WIFE
MrssIs. Slanard and Johnson
The counsel for the plaintiffs presented for prnbal
Will Of john Randolph, bearing date May 4lh lol9-
Uhr same that communicated 10 The General Court
Irnr the trial Of The prnhat of the Will oil 1882, by Dr.
john Brockrnhrough) (Which is as follows:
"ln the name of God, Amen. |, john Randolph of
Roanoke in the county Of Charlotte, do ordan tins VIII
Ting, written with my own hand, this fourth day OF May,
one thousand eight hundred and nnrcen to be my last
will and testament, hereby rev"kng all others whatso-
-,
~ rive to nv slaves their freedom, 10 which my con-
science tells they are justly entitled IL mas long
time been matter of the deepest regret TO me- that the
circumstances under which | inherited hem and the OBJ
stacls thrown in the way ny the laws OF the land, have
prevented my cmanc pang them IN my lIle.umc, winch
is II
All the and residue OF my estate, (wIth the Px
ceptnns hereafter made) whether real or personal be-
queuh William Leigh. Esquire, OF HALIFAX, Attorney
at Law-to the Rev William Meade, of Frederick, and
to Francis Scott Key, Esq of Georgetown District ot
Columbia in trust for the following and purposes,
viz lst TO provide more tracts OF land IN any
of tie States Territories. not exceeding in the whole
four thousand acres, less than two Thousand acres
be partoned and apportion"d by them, III such ian-
ner as 10 them may best, amor the said slaves
ID To pay the expense OF their REMOVAL and OF furnish
ing them with necessary cabins, clothes and utensils
3D. To pay the expense not exceeding tour hundred DOL
lars per annu OF the education Of John Randolph Clay,
unit, he shall arrive at the age Of twenty hree-eavlng
with him my injunction TO scorn 10 eat the bread OF Idle
ness dependence.
dollars
9TH With the residue Of snd estate, to found School
or College to be called Roanoke College,
81 pive to Thendnrck Bland Dudley. all my books,
plate, household and kitchen furniture, and all my
onors-aiso my guns aud PISTOLS and the choice OF s1
of INV horses or brood mares, and my single char, win
my best riding saddle and vase. 1t is my will and de-
sire that my executors give no bond or security l tc
lrus, rrposcd in them In witness whereof" have here
mn,o sci nv hand and affixed my SEAL The day and year
ab,ve w,ilten JOHN RANDOLPH:
o. Ro0n"he
uCopJcIL 1T is my will and desire, that my old
servants Essex and lety his wife, be made quite COM
Portable is my intention, that my reversonary claims
on MIS- Budgets and Mrs. Randolph estate, should
pass By the devise OF my executors, who may sell any
uv,lion or the whole Of my said estate OF whatsoever
nature il may be, the specified deyses only excepted
J. R., Of K. [SEN]
DOctor Brorkeubroueh was then examined for the
nIan,: and stated that the will of 1919 is in the hand
writing OF John Randolph Decd, who wrote it al vii.
ness table, in the Bank of Virginia. in very short
time and delivered it to wtness-thon SAID he had some
thing to add, and took it back. Alter making the anni
ton Mr.. r. again gave it to him. II was put mi" wit
ness drawer and there remained-ncvcr read by lie
witness at any time until he found It and sent II TO the
clerk Of this in July last. Wness had heen ui'-
der The impression that he had delivered It back 10 ME-
r. and il was by accident he discovered II 10 he still IN
lis posscssion. Did not remember whether Mr.. Kan
d"ph himself witness put in the drawer lesia"r
informed witness il his Will but the circumstance
,alde little impression on the witness. air fanH'Iph
asked witness to have the Will back: several years alter
the writing Witness said. every WE'LL and Mc. Ran
dOph shortly after left town, tie matter not having
been again mentioned. Witness being questioned as 10
the state Of MIR T. mind At the time OF writing The
Will said lie could not exactly say. lie had been good
deal excited about that period by the failure of the firm
of TompkiGs and Murray. b. whom he ONT. H. lost
considerable Of money. DID not recollect mat Mr..
r was at all excited that Spring, until witness informed
him Of the failure He at first received the information
calmly hnt day exhibited much vexaon, and abus.
cd the Banks for giving credit to individuals who DAD
not deserve it. Being questioned ny the Court witness
could say whether ronpkins IL Murray failed be-
fore or after the writing Of The Will; but 1t In the
same wear Witness remarked no other excitement than
that which from the failure OF l"mpkins *
dopIs religious impressions at that pcriod-Sad he was
enthusiastic on that subject, but he spoke and wrote
on other subjects like of sense, and witness did
not think his religious enthusiasm went to the length OF
deranrement-at any rate there were many VINO went
fully far that subject, who nat considered IN
sane. Witness thought Mr.. r. under this strong cli-
cous bias from Isis TO lS22. Thinks he did not use
any proane language during that period; that ne was
really pous and that his conduct unusually mild
and orhrarinr. Witness further examined as 10
various incidents Of Mr.. Randophs life and certain
extravaganccs Of conduct during his visits to Rich.
uond in the years 1919 and 1896, and the Intermediate
wears Questioned whether he thought MIR. R. derang
ed in lS-Witness said he differed from other persons,
who thought Mr. tandophs rxtravagancIes arose from
INSANITY Witness never saw him, wh"n, if nancy
were concerned he was not perfectly collected. II lie
had bargain to make, he could be cco as any man
IN 1896 Mr. Raniu phi behaved wildly and dressed
in sange MANNER but he occasionally conversed as
nationally ever which induced witness to attribute MS
conduct eccentcIly Questioned whether he tccol-
lecied any eyravagan conduct the part Of Mr. r. at
The lime OF Com. DECATUR deah-Sald he did not al
though he had heard Of it. Rccolrcts that Mr. R. de-
tailed 10 witness tie ceremonies at Decaturs inn'1a''
and that lie menlinned among other Incidents the tears
tricknG down The iron cheeks Of CoInnoto Rogers
but observed no extravaganza or excitement in Mr. $
conduct at the time, except that hc shed tears during Tie
relation. Questioned 10 correspondence between
Mr. Randolph and Gherneur Morris, noticed in the de-
postum Of B. w Leigh at the former trial. and whether
that correspondence vas in the Bank OF VirgIna-Sad
he did not know 1t formerly deposited there IN the
hands of Mr.. Dandridge by lady who received ttrom
Mrs Morris. and who sent il there to get rid of it.
fSin1n Randoph being examined for the defendant,
lubson stated that he went to Roanoke with Mr. Ran
doph, in the spriug Of 1919 Witness went to City
Point, where Mr.. r. vas 10 meet him. when they met
there Mr. R. went TO B. Harrisons, leaving wltnrss at
City Point pack his trunks preparatory for voyage
to Europe. When they met few days afterwards, at
Petersburg, Mr. r. informed witness that he had given
up going t" Europe. and They then went TO Roannke-
Witness stad with him week, and had frequent
versations with him. in which Mr.. R. talked nc"hccnt
IT, and spoke dsrespecully and harshly Of his relatives
said Judge Tucker was rascal, that his sons were no
better and that they would get any thing from him.