CHAPTER XVI JOHN RANDOLPH, THE IMPERSONATION OF SARCASM. ONE of the most remarkable men that ever lived was John Randolph, of Roanoke. He was born on 2d of June, 1773, at Matoax, the seat of his father, three miles above Petersburg, Virginia. In his veins were blended the aristocratic blood of England and the blood royal of primitive America. His lordly bearing, aboriginal descent, eccentric career and extraordinary eloquence, early fastened the attention of his countrymen upon him, and through many years engrossed popular regard to a wonderful degree. The progenitor of the Virginia Randolphs was Wil liam of Yorkshire, England, who settled at Turkey Island, on the James River. William married Mary Isham, of Bermuda Hundred. Several of their sons were distinguished men: William was a member of the House of Burgesses, from Goochland, 1740, and Adjutant-General of the Colony. Richard was a member of the House of Burgesses, 1740, for Henrico, and succeeded his brother as treasurer. Sir John was Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Attorney-General. Peter.. son of the 2d William Randolph, was Clerk of the House of Burgesses and Attorney-General. Peyton, brother of John, was Speaker of the House of Burgesses and President of the first Congress held at Philadelphia. Thomas Mann Randolph, great grandson of William, of Turkey Island, was a member of the Virginia Convention, 1775, from Goochland. Beverly Randolph was Member of Assembly, from Cumberland, during the Revolution, and member of the Convention that formed the Federal Constitution, and of the Virginia Convention that ratified it, Governor of the State of Virginia and Secretary of State of the United States. Robert Randolph, son of Peter; Richard Randolph, grandson of Peter; and David Meade Randolph, son of the 2d Richard, were cavalry officers in the War of the Revolution. John Randolph, of Roanoke, was grandson of the 1st Richard. Many distinguished families in Virginia, including Thomas Marshall, father of the Chief Justice, were descended from Randolph of Turkey Island. Jane Bolling, great-grand-daughter of Pocahontas, married Richard Randolph, of Curles. John Randolph, Jr., of Roanoke, seventh child of that marriage, mar ried Frances Bland, and our hero, John Randolph, of Roanoke, was one of the children of this union. The Randolphs were proud of their patrician blood, and named their respective seats with sounding titles of distinction; such as Thomas, of Tuckahoe; Isham, of Dungeness; Richard, of Curles; and John, of Roanoke. Other branches of this famous family had their splendid mansions at Turkey Island, Bremo, Varina, Wilton, and |