John Randolph of Roanoke - Biography

Biography

Randolph was born at Cawsons, Virginia (now in Hopewell, Virginia), the son of rich tobacco planter John Randolph (1742–1775) and Frances Bland (1744–1788). His families, the Randolph family of Virginia and the Bland family of Virginia are both counted among the prominent First Families of Virginia and close cousins to each other. He was the grandson of both Richard Randolph and Theodorick Bland of Cawsons who were, respectively, the grandson and great-grandson of William Randolph and Mary Isham of Turkey Island. He was the grand nephew of both Richard Bland and Peyton Randolph, the two pillars of the First Continental Congress, the nephew of Congressman Theodorick Bland and step-nephew of Thomas Tudor Tucker, a half brother of Henry St. George Tucker, Sr. and Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, and a cousin of Thomas Jefferson as Jefferson's mother was the daughter of Isham Randolph. His step-father, St. George Tucker, married his widowed mother in 1778. His maternal fourth great grandfather was Richard Bennett (Governor) of Virginia, elected to that office during the Cromwell Protectorate and a Puritan at the time who in 1672 was converted to the Quaker movement by George Fox.

Tuberculosis as a young man left Randolph beardless and high-voiced. First studying under private tutors, Randolph attended Walter Maury's private school, then the College of New Jersey, and Columbia College, New York City. He studied law in Philadelphia, but never practiced.

Randolph was a descendant of the only child of Pocahontas, Thomas Rolfe.

His interment was in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.