Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-09-08
From fhc Mem York Tr,bHas.
JOHN RANDOLPH or ROANOKE.
Washington, June IS, 1913

ho'"V'ph VI hOdHOhD pu my Ieif
on 'bslr sutbeotlctty, as the statements
are derived from genlemau OF unim-
peachabIe honor. and was familiar with .
the eccentric during his whoIs life.
John Randolph, OF Roanoke, was born .
IN the moolh Of June. l773, az Corsaus
on the bank Of Ihe sppomauox 10 the
county of Prince George and State Of
Virginia. The mansion that had The
honor Of frU giving back the q1rruous
tones Of the OralOr OF the "Od Domlu-
ion" was at that period the beaurl(ul
residence of his maternal uncle, Col.
4heodofick Bland, q gentleman OF most
ANCIENT and honorable family, a disun-
gulshed cavalry officer in The war OF the
Revolution The father of young Ran
dolPh, who died 10 l775, among olher
ther Ihings bpqucalhed TO his infant son
most peculiar legacy, which by his
will recorded in the county Court OF
Chesterfield 81 Nov, l775, lr the words
an figures following:
"JobD Randolph, OF Cumberland &c,
give and bequearh 10 my son John Ran
doph, all The tract OF land in Charlotte
county, joining ---'s Iand to him
and his heirs ioreVer, on condition that
he don't sell, swap or part with, 10 any
manner, any part or parcel thereof to
one -, now living on or near little
Roam noke (who cheated my brother Ry
land out oil G570. in bargain for 40
acres oI low grounds on the opposite side
Of llttle Roanoke or to any OF his chill
dren; any agent or attorney for him or
them, or any other person or persons,
that be has any suspicious OF inlorma-
tion. may want it for him or any Of his
family, under the penalty Of five thou.
sand pounds to be divided among my 9th
er children. My reasons for giving this
land on such a condition, that to this dav
feel and my children may feel the viii
lanv Of that -"
One would suppose if his occasional
alterations Of mind we're not ancestral,
he malicious iember of the Orator ol
Roanoke was duly inherited. At eli
events, at very early age, even before
he had assumed the Dleguments Of boy
hood, he gave striking proof Of the vic
lence OF his temper, bv cursing his moth
or emphalicaly for some supposed of.
fence! Mrs Randolph (whose quaif-
cations for lhe government, OF her emil.
dseg, fheodorick Bland, and John, were
of The very highest order) never struck
a child in passion, and never punished
him for accidental mischief but Tor obsl
nate dlsObedience, or wifui wIckeduess
she never failed nor ceased to correct
him ill his temper Welded, and he be
came submissive. She accordingly v tool
her seat and calico the youngster in pet
tcoais 10 her, and admonlshing him o
the enormitY of his wlckedness, com
manded him on his knees to Implore he
pardon, or prepare 10 receive severe
whipping He obslinaeIy refused, ant
his mother, resolved to subdue, cOmmen
i ced hagelIaion in earnest His stub
born heart resisted unll the lashes wert
u laid on his naked flesh with such severi.
, ~ as to draw blood from he child ant
" tears from the mother. lie was al length
y conquered. and falling on his knees h
= exclaimed, "God bless yeu, my mother!
My informant assures me he had goo
" reason TO believe that this scene mad
} an indeIibe impression m the mind O
Is Mr. Randolph; for he was never know
to speak OF his mother but 10 terms ap
- preaching alteration.
' As might vel be expected Mrs Ran
dolph, in consenling to second MARI
- age, selected gentleman OF educalo
;" aud high moral worth, every way woT
! thv OF her Jn ST. George Tucker, III
=" young Randolphs found a protector wit
all the tenderness Of father and IN
" vigilance and anxiety Of a friend; and
=, was personally known 10 my in'ormar
'" that Judge Tucker discharged the intel
esung duUes of his trust with fidelity an
!" affection rarely witnessed, hat the Nv
eldest of his step sons recognized hir
'' emphallcOlIy as their father to the da
" of their death, and that John RaDdop
'' associated with him, and treated hrl
. with the utmost affection up to the com
10 mencemen Of the mental malady, whic
- first made its appearance about the yea
" 1906, and afterwards became a period
" ca! insanity that increased aud continue
~ to the hour of his death.
Prior to 1892 Mr. Randolph was a
(ectionale and familiar. and on the mo-
friendly terms with his kindred an
o. ueighbors Domeslcaled 10 the mid
be of delightful society, he received an
IN returned the warm hospialties Of tn
O. times with satisfaction forever aher u
hd known to him The death Of his brOtt
10 ers. added 10 other dome site ofll riion
Fe rested heavy upon his mind, and uti
10 mately upset it. lie himself was sens
ed BILE of this; and my friend has the &C
I'd acknowledgement under his own hand
as A About the beginning Of the present cel