Colby Randle is one of my 7th Great Grandfathers. At this level one has 512 seventh Great Grandparents and 256 seventh Great Grandfathers. I have less due to the pedigree collapse in my Paternal Grandfathers line and my Maternal Grandmothers line. This means both had more than one path back to the same ancestorial couple. Still, it's a grand party of people, most of whom I do not know. The Randle family line is one that I can trace beyond the 7th Great Grandfather, from Colby to his father William and mother, Ann (8th), to William' father, John and his wife, Mary Johns Randle (9th), and perhaps even into the rocky, foggy rivers of time to the immigrant ancestor of Johns rumored father, William, who supposedly died during passage. That last one I've not seen proven by any documentation, just family tales passed down.
Like many of my ancestors of this period, (but not all), Colby Randle was a Patriot. I am descended from his daughter, Susannah Randle, who married Job Calloway. This is on my Maternal Grandfathers side of the family, through his mother, Penny Wayne Turner Davis.
Colby Randle was born about 1746 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He was the son of William Randle and Anne, (some say Anne Clack, others Marshall). The Randles were part of a mass migration out of Southside Virginia, that ensued for decades, whose members settled along the Yadkin/Pee Dee River in the southern Piedmont of North Carolina.
03 Jan 1744. Deed Book 2, page 518. John Wray of the County of Brunswick to William RANDLE of the same, for 23 pounds ten shillings a tract of land in St. Andrews Parish in Brunswick County on Meherrin River. Wit: John RANDLE and John Yarborough.
From land records, it appears he grew up along the Meherrin River.
During the years of the Revolution, a group, perhaps a wagon train of them, of Randles, their neighbors and kin, made their way down to the Yadkin/PeeDee River. Some made their home in Anson County. Others in the young County of Montgomery that broke off from Anson in 1779. I believe they may have been in company of the Allens, Stokes, and a few others and I descend from all of those down one road or another. It was reported that they were escaping the rage of Tories during the War years, which were at their hottest and most volatile in the early 1780's.
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| The formal dining room of the Randall House circa 1835 with the beautiful mural of the house and grounds in historic times. |
I've often heard, or seen in print, the description of "Dumb John Randall", told as to differentiate him from his nephew, John Randall the younger. It was not meant as an insult, the man was a deaf-mute, but still very astute. Image my glee when seeing the Brunswick County, Virginia deed below, that ties the Randle family from the banks of the Pee Dee River near Norwood, to those on the Meherrin River in Brunswick County, Virginia.
8 Mar 1779. Deed Book 13, page 255. John RANDLE, deaf, Josias RANDLE and Jean RANDLE wife of the said Josias RANDLE of the parish of Meherrin and County of Brunswick of the one part and Thomas Allen of the same place, that John, Josias, and Jean RANDLE for and in consideration of the sum of forty five pounds current money of Virginia sell Thomas Allen a tract of land on south side of Meherrin River in Brunswick County, on Rocky Run. Signed John RANDLE, Josias RANDLE and Jean RANDLE. Wit: Peter RANDLE, Richard RANDLE and Edmond RANDLE
And then they promptly packed and headed south to the Pee Dee River. Some of them. The Find-a-grave entry for "Dumb" John Randles' includes a quote from renowned missionary and minister, Francis Asbury.
"John Randall lived in the present Stanley County, North Carolina, a few miles north of Norwood. Jesse Lee, traveling the Salisbury Circuit, preached in his home in 1784. "The man of the house was always deaf and dumb," said Lee, but "he is esteemed as a pious man." The community became a regular preaching place and Asbury stopped there on numerous occasions (February 15, 1785; April 3, 1789; December 20, 1793; November 16, 1798; February 23, 1800; December 8, 1804.) Services were first conducted in the Randall house and then in a brush arbor. A church was erected before 1800. Randall Church is now the oldest in Stanley County. (Grissom, op. cit., 248.)"
From Francis Asbury journals online
The Randle family quickly established their own church or meeting house, to serve the citizens of the growing area.
Colby Randle was one who showed up in Montgomery County in the 1790 census.
Other Randles shown were Johnson and Benajah.
1792 Jesse McClendon, John Randle, and Colby Randle entered 50 acres of land in Montgomery County, North Carolina "on the Pee Dee beginning at Valentine Vanhoose line as supposed to be being the upper end of sd Vanhoose Island including vacant land above his line and as much of the river as will make out the complement." Dated April 3.
Colby and his brother, John, (there were lots of Johns, as there always are), first settled next to Valentine Vanhoose, who had his own island on the river. If I'm not mistaken, that island was later called Bull Island. Vanhoose was a Revolutionary War Patriot who grew in Anson County, (probably the part that became Montgomery and later Stanly). His parents were from New York and Pennsylvania who had arrived to the Pee Dee around 1755, so, very much pioneers to the Carolina Piedmont, of Dutch origin, I believe.
Origins
The Randles were early Virginia Colonists, considered to be of British origin. They settled first in the Tidewater region of Virginia. They are first found in King & Queen County, and then in King William County. Patriarch John Randle Sr. (1678-1730) is solidly verified, but less certain that of his reputed father, named William, who died about 1698 on the voyage to America, leaving his twenty-year-old son. A son of John Sr., John settled in Meherrin Parish in Brunswick and married Frances. He was Colby's grandfather. There was also a James and Jeconias from that generation. From there came:
William Randle, who enlisted in the Continental Army in 1775. He sold his 780 acres in Brunswick and moved to the Pee Dee River in Montgomery County, NC.
John Randle III married Molly Ware and also moved to the Pee Dee River in Anson/Montgomery. He would migrate again to Stewart County, Tennessee and died there in 1821.
Their brother Josiah Randle remained in Brunswick. His son, Isham, would migrate away.
Richard Randle was also a Patriot fighter in the War. He came to the PeeDee Region for a term before removing to Illinois.
Susannah Randle married Peter Jackson.
Elizabeth Randle married John Lightfoot.
Ann married Robert Tillman
Other siblings were Barnett, who married a Martha, and Amy,.I don't know what happened to Amy, if she married or what her future held.
The Randle or Randall surname traces back to medieval England and comes from given names like Randall or Randolph.
John Randle the first, was the first one to make landfall.
The will of John Randle, of Brunswick County, Virginia, was dated November 17. (Brunswick County, VA Will Book 3, pg. 116)
In the name of God Amen, I John Randall of Brunswick County being of perfect sound disposing mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of this life and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament and first of all I recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it to me hoping through the merits of my blessed Savior to have remission of all my sins and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as vouching such temporal Estate as it pleased God to Bless me with I give and dispose of in the following manner.
IMPRIMIS I give and bequeath to my loving wife, Frances Randall the use of all my personal estate during her life and widowhood as also the use of my manor plantation during her life or widowhood. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Josias Randall one shilling Sterling. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Ware one shilling Sterling. Item. It is my will and desire that all my lands be equally divided between my three sons John Randall, William Randall and Peter Randall only reserving for my son John Randall the first choice of my land.
Item. It is my will and desire that after the death or marriage of my wife that all my personal estate to be equally divided between my three sons John Randall, William Randall and Peter Randall and my daughter Frances Randall only reserving to my son John Randall the first choice and I do nominate and appoint Frances Randall my wife and my friend Arthur Harris executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this seventeenth day of November 1752.
John Randall
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us. Thomas Booth, Joseph Ships, John Booth.
At a court held for Brunswick County on the 28th day of August, 1753, This will was presented in court by Frances Randall one of the executors therein named who, made oath thereto and the same was proved by the oaths of Joseph Ships and John Booth, witness thereto and ordered to be recorded and certificate granted the said Mary for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, she having with John Maclin and William Randall all her securities of five hundred pounds with condition according to law and Liberty was reserved to Arthur Harris the other executor therein named to join the probate thereof when he should think fit.
Teste: Litt. Tazewell, Clerk
In his will, John named his wife, Frances, son Josias (or Josiah), daughter Susanna Ware, daughter Frances II, and sons John, William, Peter. In the codicil, his wife is referred to as "Mary", so she must have been a Mary Frances. I don't believe her maiden name has been proven, but I've seen 'guesses'.
I was also intrigued to see the name of Arthur Harris, who is also ancestor of mine, through the Win(g)field line. It was a small, close-knit population in Southside Virginia.
I've seen said that Colby's father, William made it to North Carolina. He did not. He died in Brunswick County, Viginia. His Will was tested dated there on October 19, 1770. It can be found in Brunswick County Deed book 4 page 67. In fact, there are several who remained, and others who may have passed through on their way to Tennessee or Alabama, which began opening up in haste in the 1820's. There are names of Randles in the records of both Brunswick and Anson/Montgomery, that no one has attached to a place in a family tree. I believe they were probably younger family members, nephews or cousins, who didn't tarry long upon the Pee Dee, or died young before leaving a deep footprint.
The Will of William (Sr) is found below. The inclusion of the designation of Sr. indicating there was a younger William in the area, who was not a son.
In the name of God Amen, I William Randle, Sen. of the Brunswick County, in Virginia, being in a weak state of body but in perfect sound sense and memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of Human life, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, revoking and disannulling all other will or wills heretofore made by me. In the first place I give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it to me and my body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian like decent manner.
- Imprimis my will and desire is that all my just debts shall be paid out of my estate.
Item. I give unto my son John Randle a negro girl named Jane to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Coalby Randle then shilling current money of Virginia.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Anne Tillman one negro boy named Cambridge, to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Barnett Randle one negro boy named Isaac, to him and his assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Randle one negro girl named Violet to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Susanna Jackson ten shillings current money of Virginia.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Amey (Oney) one negro boy named Abraham to him(her?) and his heirs forever.
Item. I lend to the only proper use of my well-beloved wife, Anne Randle one negro winch named Abby during her life and at my beloved wife's decease my will and desire is that the said negro Abby may be then the property of my daughter Amey and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Randle all my lands on the north side of the branch known by the name of the Saw Scaffold Branch to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Barnett Randle the plantation whereon I now live with all the lands thereunto belonging on the south side of the Saw Scafford branch to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Randle two cows and calves to him and his heirs,
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Anne Tillman two cows and calves,
Item. I lend to the use of my well beloved wife Anne Randle all the residue of my estate not heretofore mentioned be it of what quality or kind soever, after my just debts are satisfied and at her decease my desire is that it may be equally divided between my son Barnett, My daughter Elizabeth, and my daughter Aney, and I do appoint my well beloved wife and my son John RANDLE my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of October in the year of our Lord 1770.
William RANDLE
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of Henry Munger Benjamin Wheeler & Randle Woolsey At a court held for Brunswick county the 22nd day of April 1771, this will was presented in court by John Randle, one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law the same being proved by the oaths of Henry Mounger, Benjamine Whealer, and Randle Woolsey his securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of one thousand pounds with condition as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form and liberty is reserved the Executrix therein named to sign in the probate when she shall think proper. Testetor P. Pelham, Clerk of Court, Court Test: WE Elmore.
William mentioned his wife Anne, daughters Anne Tillman (who married Robert Tillman), Susanna (Peter) Jackson, Elizabeth (John Lightfoot), and Amy Randle, and sons John, Barnett, and Colby. Amy has also been transcribed as 'Oney', which could be 'Omie', short for Naomi. I believe Robert Tillman was related to Roger Tillman, who also lived in Brunswick County.
William's widow, Anne, remarried after his father's death, to an unknown Mr. Allen. Her Will was proved on November 24, 1783, in Brunswick County, Virginia.
1800
Colby is shown in the 1800 census of Montgomery County between Jonathan McDonald and John Thompson. Further down the page, past the McSwain's and Blalock's, there is a George Randall listed next to James Duke. George was not a brother. Whose son, was he?
Above is the plat of Colby Randles 250 acres grant on the south side of the Yadkin River. It joined his own corner and is dated February 25, 1780. Colby, with Neddy Pennington, was his own chain carrier.
This addition was of 50 acres and came decades later, dated September 10th, 1804. It was on the south side of the Yadkin River on Maple Branch. Charles Jones and Joshua Carter were chain carriers.
The above was 50 acres ordered to be laid off and surveyed for Colby Randle, dated January 13, 1801, prior to the previous one, it gives a little more information, stating the tract joined Spears line and "pariots" line and included a spring on the Maple Branch.
Colby would die in 1804, just after that deed was entered.
Colby was married twice. His second wife was Letty or Littie Elmore. She is my ancestor, as mother of Susanna. I find it interesting that a W. E. Elmore was the court testator for William's Will. Colby and Lettie were married around 1772 in Brunswick County, VA. She was not old enough to be the mother of his oldest son, John, so it is known there was a previous wife. One source gives the date of the Randalls arrival to the Pee Dee River area as November 2, 1774. I don't believe this is correct, at least for Colby. He married Letty in Brunswick before then. His military service, or contribution, was also in Brunswick County, after this date.
Colby had four known children:
John, born about 1780.
Susannah, born about 1790, who married Job Callaway, son of Isaac.
Temperance, born about 1792, who married James Hodges.
Alfred, born in June of 1800, who married Frances Forrest.
As for Colby's personality, in a letter from James Randle, written in 1867, it was said of Colby, that he was, "said to be quit a dissipated man". He may have been known to wander, a ladies' man, so to speak. There may have been other descendants, genetically.
It is also a fact that Colby was in Anson/Montgomery Counties, NC before the death of his mother in 1783, so he would have had to gone back to Virginia to make claim on Harry and sit for his mother's Will.
A quick timeline of Colby lies below
1772 Will of William Randle testate in Brunswick, VA.
1780 Montgomery Co, NC tax list along with Isham, John and Josiah Randle; Peter Jackson and Richard Tillman, brother-in-law's, also listed.
1781 Death of Barnett Randle, his brother. It is said Barnett wished to join them in NC but was too ill. Will names wife, Mary and two children, Griffin and Nancy.
26 November 1789, Land grant issued in Montgomery County, NC
1790 Montgomery Co, NC census:
1800 Montgomery Co, NC census:
1804 Died Montgomery Co, NC
1822 Will of Colby Randle settled. Job Callaway was an executor of the estate and Isaac Callaway, father of Job, was an appraiser appointed by the court
According to his estate files, Colby died in 1804. He was 58 years old.
State of N. Carolina
The Will is not found in Montgomery County records, but it existed.
If my negro wench Jane should have any more children, I desire that Tempy Randle and Alfred Randle shall have own a piece of them and if there be any more children to be equally divided between my other four children. This suggests that Colby had a fifth child.
One Job Callowa was duly appointed and qualified as administrator of the Estate of the said Colby Randle with ..Parham Jones and Tempy..
Subpoena to the said Parham Kirk and James and Tempy to...Bill of complaint.
One child which is named Abel (a slave) = that several years ago ...Tempy Randle intermarried with James Hodges and ..after which (to wit) in and about August 1820 the said James Hodges sold he said negro Abel or his interest in him Parham Kirk who the took possession him the said Abel and has...
| Name | Colby Randle |
|---|---|
| Home in 1800 (City, County, State) | Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 | 1 Alfred |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 | 1 John |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over | 1 Colby |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 | 2 Susannah and sister ? |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 | 1 Temperance |
| Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 | 1 Lettie |
| Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over | 1 |
| Number of Slaves | 5 |
| Number of Household Members Under 16 | 4 |
| Number of Household Members Over 25 | 3 |
| Number of Household Members | 13 |
Nearly one hundred years after the death of Colby Randle, the division of his property, although unaccessible outright, came up again in an historic transction and involved the many hydroelectric projects that transformed the Yadkin/ Pee Dee River area. It involved Dr. Dillon Brown and his wife, Fannie McCall Brown of New York City and the sale to George J. Whitney. So how did such a large block of Stanly County property end up in the hands of New Yorkers so far removed from the banks of the Yadkin in Stanly County, North Carolina?
George J Whitney was an investor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had the foresight to recognise the auspicitiousness of harnassing the power of the Yadkin River. Dr. Dillon Brown was also an investor and the deed was recorded on July 5, 1901, and since the river bordered both Stanly and Montgomery, one was simultaneously recorded in both counties,
A few years prior, Dillon Brown had made purchases of large tracts of land along the Yadkin, most especially in the area of the Narrows, seen as "Narrowsville" on old maps around the 1820's.
A portion of one of these deeds is shown above. Dated January 30, 1899, this involved a purchase of land between Mary C. Kirk and Dillon Brown.
This transaction included "Lot No 1 inthe division of the lands of Colby Randle". One hundred years later.
The above portion of the Stanly County Topo Map shows he location of where the historic site of Whitney was located. The Colby Randle lands were somewhere near this landscape on the southwest of the river.
Finally, in January of 1935, a Randle descendant sought the Revolutionary War records of our brave Patriot ancestors. A packet of information followed. By this time descendants of Colby Randle and his cousins and nephew, Isham, had spread across the country. Many had migrated to the Indiana and Illinois area. Thank you for your service brave Randles.
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