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Collection Overview

Creator:
Randolph, John, 1773-1833
Collector:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
Title:
Randolph Family of Virginia Collection
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/s7526c44s
Dates:
1771-1833
Size:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists of selected correspondence and documents of the Randolph family of Virginia--one of the great extended dynastic families of late colonial Virginia.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of selected correspondence and documents of several members of the Randolph family of Virginia. John Randolph's correspondence Includes a letter (1798) to James Brown regarding the purchase of property, one letter (1814) to Charles Fenton Mercer, one letter (1827) to his cousin John Randolph, and one letter (1828) concerning the political conditions in Virginia. There are copies of letters John sent to his cousin Anne Cary Randolph (or Nancy, and later Mrs. Gouverneur Morris), dated 31 October 1814, regarding the scandal of the affair between her and his brother Richard, and Nancy's reply, dated 16 January 1815. Also included are partial transcripts of the Randolph-Morris correspondence written in the hand of John W. Hancock, dated 1840(?), preceded by an account of the events that caused the scandal. There is one letter (1796) from Edmund Randolph to William Watts regarding a court case. William Randolph's material includes a list of accounts dated 1824, one letter (1835) from his daughter Elizabeth, and two letters (1812, 1813) from Richard Adams and his brother regarding money for an annuity. A letter from "Th. M. Randolph" to Messrs. Le Roy and Bayard, written at "Monticello" and dated 22 April 1795, regards the purchase of wine and other merchandise; a letter (1839) by T. M. Randolph to T. S. Pleasants concerns the settling of accounts between them; and a letter by Thomas M. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, dated 10 May 1771, relates a financial matter. There is a document (1791) signed by Beverly Randolph, who was governor of Virginia (1788-1791), regarding the "Tobacco Law," and a "Five Pounds" currency note dated 1773, signed by Peyton Randolph and endorsed by Treasurer Robert Carter Nicholas and by John Ewing.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged by accession number.

Collection Creator Biography:

Randolph, John, 1773-1833

In the mid-seventeenth century William Randolph founded what was to become one of the great extended dynastic families of late colonial Virginia, holders of great estates, wealth, and many slaves. He established each of his seven sons on their own estates, including William of "Turkey Island," Sir John Randolph of "Tazewell Hall," and Richard of "Curles." His sons and two daughters were allied by marriage to outstanding families of Virginia, and among their line of descendants are Thomas Jefferson, Robert Marshall, and Robert E. Lee. William Randolph was among the founders and first trustees of the College of William and Mary, later sending six sons to study there. Represented in this collection are letters and documents of descendants of William Randolph including Beverly Randolph, Edmund Jenings Randolph, John Randolph of Roanoke, Peyton Randolph, Thomas Mann Randolph, and William B. Randolph.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Autograph letter to James Brown was a gift originally in the Pyne-Henry Collection.

Letter of John Randolph dated Dec. 15, 1817, about his retirement and letter to John Fenton Mercer were gifts of Princeton professor H. C. Cameron on November 27, 1918 .

Letters and documents of William B. Randolph were purchased in June 1942 .

Two letters of John Randolph dated Washington, Jan. 29, 1827, and March 10, 1828, and letters and documents of Beverly Randolph, Edmund Jenings Randolph, Peyton Randolph, and Thomas Mann Randolph were gifts of Cyrus H. McCormick in March 1947 .

Copy of the letter to Nancy Randolph and her response were a gift of Dr. D. H. Phillips in August 1947 .

Partial transcription in the hand of John W. Hancock was a gift of Miss Roberta Downs on January 4, 1968 .

Custodial History

The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Randolph Family of Virginia Collection; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/s7526c44s
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1