Randolph Family
T
he name “Randolph” is Norse in origin from
the Danes. Among the descendants of the Danes is
the name “Rauf,’ a modification of “Rolf.” The two
original meanings of the name are Hero and Big
Wolf. Variations of the name became Randolph,
Randoue, Randolffe, Ranulph, Rudolph and
Randall. As it was adopted by the Normans the
Norman-French prefix “Fitz” meaning “son of”
was added. As descendents moved to America, the
Fitz was dropped and our family name became
Randolph in the 1600’s.
The Fitz Randolph line traces back to Rolf the
Norseman (860-932) who married Gisela, daughter
of King Charles of France. The line continues
through the Dukes of Normandy. This royal
lineage includes Counts, Dukes and Earls
throughout Europe.
Pictured on the right, William the Conqueror, in a
surcoat over his armour and holding his sword,
seated upon a throne covered with cushions
granting the lands of Edwin, earl of Chester to his
nephew Alain Fitz Randolph, Earl of Brittany, who
kneels to receive them, also in a surcoat over his
armour, a guard of armed knights standing behind,
from an illuminated manuscript, illustration to
Drake’s “Eboracum” (1736) Engraving.
Alain later died with no children and his
lands passed to his brother Ribald. Ribald’s
grandson, Lord Robert Fitz Randolph built
Middleham Castle in Wensleydale, county
of North Yorkshire, England in 1190.
One of the later Fitz Randolphs, married
Mary (Margery) Bigod, daughter of Roger
Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, leader among the
great barons who forced the Magna Charta
from King John. The lineage of his wife,
Isabel Plantagenet can be traced all the way
back to King David and Bathsheba.
Middleham Castle, Yorkshire, England
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Edward Fitz Randolph Jr. & Elizabeth Blossom
(1607-1684) • (1620-1713)
E
dward Fitz Randolph Jr. was born in England in 1607, the first son of Sir Edward Randolph Sr.,
Lord of Sutton and Chesterfield and Frances Howes.
During Edward’s life, King James and the Church of England was the dominant force, and worship
outside of the church was illegal. A group English families, of which Edward was one, disagreed the
with Church’s practices and sought to leave the country in search of religious freedom. This group
was later known as the pilgrims. Edward came to America as part of the “Great Immigration” of 1630,
about 10 years after the landing of the Mayflower. He was one of seven hundred passengers in a group
of eleven vessels that made up the “Winthrop Fleet.” Upon arrival to America, Edward settled in
Scituate, Massachusetts where he built the 38th house. Unconfirmed records show a first wife, Mary
Holley. On May 10, 1637, seven years after arriving in Scituate, he married seventeen year old
Elizabeth Blossom.
Elizabeth was born in 1620 in Leyden (Leiden), Holland, The Netherlands and was the daughter of
English Deacon Thomas Blossom and his wife Ann Heilson. Thomas and Ann had fled England with a
Separatist group to avoid persecution. The group found some religious tolerance in Holland but life
was not easy for them. Foreigners were looked down upon and banned from all but the lowest jobs.
Mostly the group feared their families would lose their English language, heritage and religion. Soon
after her birth in 1620, Elizabeth’s parents made their first attempt to travel to America aboard the
Speedwell, the companion ship to the Mayflower. The group was made up of Separatists, farmers,
soldiers, craftsmen and indentured servants. In exchange for merchants financing the voyage, the
congregations had to provide seven years of cargoes of fish, furs and lumber back to the merchants.
Both ships set sail from Southhampton, England twice but had to return both times because the
Speedwell leaked so badly. A few of the passengers reorganized and again set out in the Mayflower, but
the Blossoms stayed behind and did not attempt the crossing until 1629 on the Mayflower II. The
population in Plymouth in 1630 was 300 people.
In 1639, Edward and Elizabeth moved from Scituate to Barnstable, Massachusetts and his name is
listed as able to bear arms in New Plymouth in 1643. The date of Edward’s death is not clear some say
1675/76 other say 1684/85. After her husband’s death, Elizabeth remarried Capt. John Pike of
Woodbridge, N.J. Upon death she was buried with her first husband in the west corner of what is now
St. James Churchyard, Piscataway, N.J. It is said that
during the Revolutionary War, as the British troops
traveled down King George’s Highway (now
Woodbridge Avenue) breastworks (temporary
fortifications often from dirt) were put up across the
churchyard plot. After the war and the ground leveled,
no trace was found of the tombstones of either Edward
or Elizabeth.
St. James Church yard, Piscataway, N.J.
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Dennis Randolph & Hannah
(1753-between 1834 &1840) • (1755-1816)
O
ur surname officially became Randolph with Dennis Randolph who’s father was David Fitz
Randolph. Dennis fought in the American Revolution several generations after Edward’s arrival in
America. In an application for the Sons of the American Revolution Membership Application it was
recorded:
(Juniata Co., Pa. Feb. 4, 1834) personally appeared in open Court, Dennis Randolph, resident of
Lackawanna Township, said County, aged 81 years; born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, February 15,
1753; resided there until 1795 when he moved to Juniata (formerly Mifflin) County; his birth recorded in old
Bible by his uncle.
He was drafted for two months as private in 1776; marched from Alexander Township, Hunterdon Col, N. J. to
Elizabethtown, under Capt. Klifford, Col. Beavers, Gen. Maxwell; drafted again for two months in 1777, about
harvest time in the militia; was in no Battles; enlisted again for two months. For the fourth time he was drafted
by a general call, in fall 1778, in militia under Captain Hulick’s company.
Pension was allowed - Penna. agency, $20.00 per annum. Act of June 7, 1832.
William Randolph & Mary Dukeman
(1780-after 1850) • (1783-1855)
W
illiam Randolph was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1780. He married Mary
Dukemam who was born in 1783 in Pennsylvania. Both are listed in the 1850 census in Jackson
Township of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Mary died in 1855. (This information was provided by May
Noble and two other family trees on Ancestry.com and except for 1850 census, I have not confirmed
data). They had six children, the first being Carrell.
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Carrell Randolph & Ruth Parsons
(1804-1890?) • (1807-1880/81)
C
arrell Randolph was born in Pennsylvania around 1804. He married Ruth Parsons (1807 1880/81) and they had four sons: William Carrell (1832), Thomas James (1834), George Washington
(1837/38), and Joseph (1845). During their married life they lived in Huntingdon Co, PA and Jefferson
Co, PA.
Carrell was instrumental in the organization of the First United Methodist Church of Houtzdale, PA.
Excerpts from 1971 Centennial Services program for the church read:
“In January 1876 Carrell Randolph, Ad D. Trayer, O.L. Johnson, C.E. Zimmerman, I. Harris and Joseph
Fitzgerald applied to the Court of Clearfield County for a charter for the Methodist Church of Houtzdale. On
January 10, 1876, the charter was granted and duly recorded on January 13, 1876. The first Trustees under
the charter were John Argyle, Bartlett Bennett, James S. D. Sprout, William Moore and James Randolph.
Carrell died in Clearfield Co, PA around 1890, Ruth in 1880/81. Both are buried in Bisbin Cemetery
in Clearfield County, PA.
Thomas James Randolph & Rebecca Malinda Spencer
(1804-1890?) • (1807-1880/81)
T
homas James Randolph was born in
Huntingdon County, PA on May 19, 1835, and
went by the name of James. As an adult he stood
5'9", had a light complexion, blue eyes and light
hair. He worked as a lumber man.
James (left) and unknown man.
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James married Rebecca Malinda Spencer in October of 1854 in Jefferson Co., PA. Pension records
for James include an affidavit from his brother George which describes the marriage between James
and Rebecca:
“I was present at the marriage of the said James Randolph and Rebecca M. Spencer which took place at the house
of James Gillam in Jefferson County, PA, though I do not recollect the date. It was a common law marriage,
there being no ceremony performed except their promises to live together as husband and wife, in the presence of
myself, my father, and the family of James Gillam. I know they always lived together as husband and wife from
that time until the death of the said James Randolph, who was my brother, and whom I knew all my life. I knew
Rebecca M. Spencer since she was about 12 years of age, and I know that neither she nor my brother James were
ever married prior to their marriage to each other. My father who was a witness to the said marriage, is dead,
and I do not know where any of the Gillam family are.” — George W. Randolph
Rebecca was half Delaware (Lenape) Indian. Her mother was a full-blooded Indian of the Algonquian
Nation, the largest nation in the Eastern U.S. Rebecca could not read or write English.
In August of 1861, James joined Company F of the 105 Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers
Infantry. He enrolled as a private for the term of three years under the command of Captain Kirks. He
served about a year and a half and was discharged January 29th, 1863 at the age of 26 with the rank of
Corporal. The surgeon’s certificate states the reason for his disability was heart disease and piles, and
he was unable to do manual labor.
In the 1900 census, they lived in Ona, in Cabell
County, West Virginia. Living with them was a
grandson, John Randolph, age 21; Ezra Sutton, age
14; and two boarders Ora Erskine, female age 26; and
Harry Hawkins age 4.
James in Confederate uniform
and wife Rebecca Malinda
(Spencer) Randolph
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Fredrick Mohr & Jennie Randolph
(1868-1924) • (1866-1933)
J
ennie Randolph was daughter of Thomas James and Rebecca
Malinda. Family stories say Jennie was raped while at a logging
camp with her father, James. It is said there was a shotgun wedding and
in 1885 she bore a son named Ezra E. Sutton. I have found no record of
this wedding or a divorce, but have documented Ezra who was raised by
his grandparents.
Jennie later married Frederick Mohr in 1888 when she was 22 years old.
More information on this union can be found in the Mohr family history.
Jennie Randolph Mohr
Ezra Sutton
Home of James and
Rebecca Randolph
where Ezra was raised.
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Carrell Willmore Randolph & Mable Jennie Mohr
(1868-1924) • (1866-1933)
C
arrell was Jennie’s nephew, the son of her
brother, Daniel Cover Randolph, who lived in
Pennsylvania. When Carrell was about 27, he
traveled to West Virginia to visit with ,his aunt
and uncle, Jennie and Fred Mohr. He visited with
them for a time, and when he had to leave, he
asked if their 18 year-old daughter, Mabel, his
first cousin, could ride back with him and stay to
visit with his family for awhile. They agreed. On
the return trip the couple stopped in Portsmith,
Ohio, and were married without the consent of
either family. They continued on to Houtzdale
and informed his family when they arrived. A
letter was sent to West Virginia to tell her family.
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