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Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1397

Scope and Content

The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present.

Dates

  • Creation: 1732 - 1860

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.

Historical Note

The Randolph familiy of Virginia began with William Randolph, who emigrated from Warwickshire, England between 1669 and 1673. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.

Martha Jefferson Randolph (eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson) married her third cousin, Thomas Mann Randolph in 1790. Together they had eleven children, whom Martha educated at home. Martha was known for her keen intellect and would often assist her father with his affairs....
Thomas became a botanist and served as a Virginia delegate, senator, governor, and congressman.

Edgehill was Martha and Thomas' Virginia plantation, and later the chief residence of their eldest son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Martha and Thomas inherited the land from Thomas' father and built their first home there in 1799. A second, larger house was built in 1828. The family also operated a girls' school on the plantation, called "Edgehill School" from 1836 to 1896.

Source: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. monticello.org. Accessed 13 January 2023.

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Extent

5.4 Cubic Feet (11 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box)

Language of Materials

English

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