Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/97

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
621

county, in 1681, died October 19, 1741. He inherited Turkey Island and is there buried, his grave, near that of his father, marked with a stone Bearing the following inscription:

"Here lies the HONOURABLE WILLIAM RANDOLPH, Esqr., oldest son of Colonel Wil- liam Randolph of this place, and of Mary his wife, who was of the ancient and estimable family of Ishams of Northamptonshire: having been easily introduced into business, and passed through many inferior offices of Government, with great reputa- tion and eminent capacity. He was at last, by his Majesty's happy choice and the universal approba- tion of his Country, advanced to the Council. His experience in men and business, the native gravity of his person and behaviour, his attachments to the interests of his Country, knowledge of the laws in general, and of the laws and constitution of his Colony in particular, his integrity above all calumny or suspicion, the acuteness of his parts and the extensiveness of his genius together with the solidity of sense or judgment in all that he said or did, rendered him not only equal but an ornament to the high office he bore, and have made him uni- versally lamented as a most able and impartial Judge and as an upright and useful magistrate in all other respects. Neither was he less conspicuous lor a certain majestic plainness of sense and honour which carried him through all parts of private life with an equal dignity of reputation: and deservedly gained him the character of the just good man in all the several duties and relations of life. Natus November 1681 Mortuus Oct. 19th 1741 Anno Aetatis 61."

Peter Randolph, son of William (2) or Councillor Randolph, was the great-grand- father of Piishop Randolph, and was born on Turkey Island about 1708, afterward moving to Chatsworth, also in Henrico tounty. He married Lucy, daughter of Robert Boiling, and had William, Beverly, Colonel Robert, grandfather of FHshop Randolph, and Anne. Beverly Randolph succeeded Edmund Randolph, of his family, as governor of Virginia, and was in turn followed in that office by General Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry), of revolutionary fame.

Colonel Robert Randolph was commander of a cavalry regiment i:i the war for inde- pendence, and married Elizabeth Carter, a sister of Anne Carter, mother of the illus- trious Robert E. Lee.

Robert Lee Randolph, son of Colonel Robert Randolph and father of Bishop Ran- dolph, married Mary Buckner Thtirston Magill, and passed his life at his home, "Eastern \'iew,'" Fauquier county, Virginia.


Children of Robert Lee and Mary Buckner Thurston (Magill) Randolph: William Fitzhugh. married a cousin, Nanny Carter; Mary Magill, married a cousin, Edward C. Turner; Alfred Magill, of whom further; r.everly, resides uninarried at Montrose, \irginia ; Buckner Magill, a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal church, married Marv Hoxton.

Rt. Rev. Alfred Magill Randolph, son of Robert Lee and Mary Buckner Thurston (Magill) Randolph, was born at the "Mead- ows," the home of the Magills, near Win- chester, \'irginia, and received his early educational training in his home under a private tutor, subsequently attending Wil- liam and Mary College, Williamsburg, \'irginia, where he graduated in 1855. He ]irepared for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal church at the \'irginia Theologi- cal Seminary, near Alexandria, and was graduated in divinity after a three years' course, in July, 1858, being ordained a deacon in the chapel of the seminary. He first becarne assistant to Dr. Maguire at St. George's Church, Dr. Maguire suffering a fatal stroke of apoplexy two weeks after the installation of his assistant, so that Rev, Mr. Randolph took full charge of the par- ish until a choice of his successor should be made. Five months afterward he was appointed the regular rector of St. George's, being at this time l)ut twenty-two ^ears old, an exceedingly youthful age for such weighty responsibility. In 1862 he and his fainily were ordered from their home in Fredericksburg because of the movements of the armies in that vicinity and the im- minent danger of bombardment, and at this time Rev. Mr. Randolph becaine a post cha^ilain in the Confederate States army. He subsequently continued his clerical work in Halifax county, Virginia, until the fall of i86fi, in which year he became rector of Old Christ Church, at Alexandria, Virginia, in 1867 assuming charge of Tmmanuel Church. Baltimore, Maryland.

Rev. Dr. Randol])h continued in charge of this parish until his election to the high office of the church as assistant bishop of V'irginia in 1883, and his consecration as such. Richmond, Virginia, as a central |)oint in the diocese, then became his place o! residence, and there he remained until the growth of the church and the expansion of its acti\ities made advisable the erection