Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19
John Randolph of Roanoke.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In your issue Of December 18th, in re-
ply to an Inquiry from Boston Mass,
What Is meant by "of Roanoke" after
the name OF John Randolph you say,
He lived on river called stanton in
Charlotte county, but Roanoke above and
below. He named his residence 'Roa-
noke,' after this river and afterwards af-
fixed the name Of his residence to his
name, following an old Colonial custom"
There is q large creek, with head
waters near the Prince Edward line. flow
ing from north to south, through the
county Of Charlotte. called Roanoke"
On this stream, near its mouth, where 1t
empties in the Staunton, Mr.. Randolph
owned a large body of land on both sides
of IL. His residence, not far from the
creek. he called Roanoke All OF the
old landed proprietors in Virginia have
distinctive names for their residences.
They are called by these names to this
day In this section. Post-oflices were
then few and far-between." Mr.. Ran
dolph owned no land south OF the Staun-
ton, but he controlled the adjacent lands
TO Roanoke creek for long distance. l
have always understood from old people
who knew Randolph that the aftiX "ot
Roanoke" was taken from tho name OF
dian name, and he prided himself on his
Indian blood, being descended in the
seventh generation from Pocahontas.
The first mention ] can find OF Roanoke
was in 1855, when Sir Richard GresnYii
left los men on the Island of Roanoke.
About twenty-five miles below Mr.. Ran
dolph's landed estate the stanton ana
Dan rivers unite and form the Roanoke
at Clarksville. From this point mp as far
as Bedford tho Roanoke has been called
the Staunton from time iENmemorial.
Colonel Byrd mentions the stanton IN
1913 as called the Stauntcn. He took
UP lands on It on his journey TO the Land
Of Eden in that year.
Colonel Byrd. when naming the dividing
line between Virginia and North Caro-
lima, in 172S-'29. named the Dan from us
| resemblance to the Dan mentioned in the
Bible.
Staunton IS an English name, and doubt
less came from John, Richard, or Thomas
Staunton, all Enslishmen. and promi-
nently mentioned in the History and
Biography Of the Indians OF North Amer
/ lea. by Drake. These men had many en-
| counters and dealings with the Indians
about 1850, and were warriors and In
| terpreters.
Until q few years ago Randolph Station
! on the Richmond and Danville railroad
| was called Roanoke. es II Is situated
about 100 yards from the creek and three
fourths of a mile from Staunton river.
Bouldin, in his "reminiscences or Kan
| dolph, always speaks Of his residence as
roanoke" and Randolph's letters, wher
| at home, were headed Roanoke ABOVE
! the date.
| Bouldin says: ut appears th9t when
| he was at college Mr.. Randolph signed
/ his name John Randolph; Few years
! afterwards Il was John Randolph 81 hoa
roke. In the sharpest correspondence
| ever read. which is between Mr.. Randolph
! and his cousin, Nancy. who married Cow
erneur Morris, that brilliant lady severely
rasps her distinguished relative for taklns
| upon himself the title of John Randolph
/ of Roanoke"
Howe. in his History Of Virginia, pup
ished in 1876, says: 1.-THE name AoahoK'
| &c derived from small creek running
through the plantation OF Randolph
Having read everything l could get VIII
| references to this remarkable man, con
/ versed with old people time and agar
| who knew MIN, repeatedly visited his OLE
| place and grave, compared oinereht ac
! counts. and found out their errors, ah'
being familiar with this section ana sur
roundjngs for over fifty years, think tn
above. II not absolutely correct Is apou
as near II as investigation al thls ca!
can make 1t authentic.
THOMAS D. JEFFREss.
Chase CITY, Va, December IL, iSs'