The following is a letter from an investigator seeking in Ohio information concerning the Randolph slaves:
November 18, '08.Dr. Park:—
The following is what I found in answer to your questions concerning the Randolph slaves in Ohio:
In Virginia, they lived in Charlotte and Prince Edward Counties on the Roanoke River.
They traveled overland, in wagons and carts from there to Cincinnati and from Cincinnati, to Mercer Co., in Ohio by flat boats. The land which is said to have been bought for them was in Mercer Co.
The settlers of the Community were mainly Germans who would not allow the landing of the Negroes where they arrived there.
The Colony then moved down the Miami River, settled in camp in Miami County not far from the towns of Piqua and Troy.
They never got possession of any of the land supposed to have been purchased for them.
The citizens of Piqua held a mass meeting to discuss the condition of the Negroes in Camp, to decide upon some course of action in regard to them.
The decision was to find employment for them wherever they could and distribute them accordingly. Some were sent to Shelby County-Sidney, about 12 miles N. E. of Piqua—being the county seat. Several descendants live in this community yet.
Many remained in & about Piqua & Troy where there are still few of the old ones & many descendents. Some were sent into Indiana and other parts of Ohio. There were 385 of them.
The most noted of them is Mr. Goodrich Giles. His father was a member of the Colony. His mother belonged to another planter in Virginia & did not get to go.
Mr. Giles is without any question a Negro. He farms & has succeeded at it. He owns 425 acres of land just out from Piqua not an acre of which is said to be worth less than one hundred dollars. He lives in a good roomy brick house, has good farm buildings, is supplied with farming implements and though old is still active leading in his work.
His crop this year consists of about,
- 4500 bus. Corn
