The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-29
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
How the Virginia Statesman selected
the Amx TO Wis Name
Correspondence Of Tho Richmond Cva)
Times

Correspondence OF Tho Richmond CVa)
Times
Living within a few hours ride OF the
former nome Of the celebrated John Ran
dolph q Roanoke. have often passed ana
viewed the place where tradition says his
sopulchre Is. with his head 10 The east. the
reverse OF the custom then and now pre-
waiting Among the obi PEOPLE Il Char
lotte County who knew him the question
has often been asked why Mr Randolph
With his dwelling on an eminence over
looking the staunton River. with It's broad
stretch Of magnificent loWlanIs. saoul1
have named his residence Roanoke" ana
affixed it after his signature.
There Is a large creek. with headwaters
near the Prince Edward County line. Tow
INK from uorlh go south through the ooun-
~ OF Charlotte. called Roanoke on ho 10
sides Of this stream. near lts mouth
where u omptics into the Staun.o on. AT
Randolph owned large body Of land. His
home place not far distant from the
creek. he called Roanoke. following a
colonial custom OF the Old landed pro
prietors OF Virginia In having distinctive
names for their mansions on the Jam =
York. ana other rivers Of Eastern VIZ
GINA the custom prevails 70 this day. Air
Randolph owned ao !aaA south Of the
Stanton River. but he was master 81 the
adjacent lands on bota sides OF Roanoke
Creek for a long distance.
Ola people who knew Mr Randolph have
told me that the aflx "of Roanoke was
taken from The name of the creek. he
said il ives an Indian name. and he prldcd
himself on his indian blood. being de-
scended Ia the seventh generation from
PocahOntas.
The hfst mention I can lind OF Rca-
noke was In ibSss when Sir Richard Green
vii eft 20 men on the leland OF Roanoke
But In the history and biography Of tn
Indians OF North America by Drake no
mention Is made OF any tribe OF Indians
named Roanoke. although "a difcrent
Tribes and nations OF Indians are named in
the publication OF DR.. Drake. Roanoke
Island Is in the extreme eastern part Is
North Carolina. near Aihemarle and PIN
leo Sounds and attached O. Dare Coun-
IS About twenty-five miles below Ran
dolphs landed estate. IN Charlotte. the
Dan and stanton Rivers unite and form
Roanoke River In Mecklenburg, and II
then flows into Albemarle Sound. Until
fcw years ago Ranolph station. on the
Richmond and Danvtle Railroad was
called Roanoke, as u IS situated about 100
tho Randolph residence.
Howe. in hf History 81 virginia. 80 pub
Nshed Ia 1854 says: THE name Of Roa-
noke Is derived from a small creek running
through the plantation Of Randolph
some say Roanoke means red water"
but / can fud no authority for any signih-
cation OF the name but u IL no doubt Of
Indian origin Their names Of streams
were always descriptive and eupnonious.
ola Ma
about Randolph. and especially with
chooses who knew him personally ! have
been often Impressed with the various and
contradictory views entertained about
him Some looked upon him with fear.
many with admiration. and others with
derision But an agreed thar he was
wonderful man" and OF unsurpassed
mental briuiancy Every one would say
that when Randolph ira seled 70 was IN
"a coach drawn by four horses ana nc-
compauied by positions
My father was High Sheriff % Charlotte
County FOR number Or years Oh1t
officer then collected thh state and county
revenues and during Randolph life had
btgh regard for him and always support
ID him. except when Randolph opposed
President Jackson. We said Mr Ran
doiph was a courteous and hospitahle man
az his house. and when he visited him
10 collect MS 'aNe" "iNasE 10 -.
change. having been previously notified
OF The amount lie asked Mr.. Randolph
on one occasion 60 go over the calcula-
,tope and see n they were correct. Mr..
Randolph repll od. An official like YOU.
who attends - his duties and lets other
peopio's business alone. IS not likely TO
make mlstafcs."
Another fnvorflc recollection often re-
heated was when Mr. Randolph called 70
see a nelrhbor he found biz wife busiiy
engaged. 80 she said. Ia making clothes
for the poor Greeks (at the time 20 much
sympathy was expressed In this country
e,r Trrssisb vokel. when he ciosel the
front dfor and iefi he saw several ragged
nearo.ss In the yard. H returned and
called the lady ana pointed 20 the negroes
and said. Madam the Creeks are al your
door and then mounted his horse.
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