1. William Randolph's descendants include many prominent individuals including Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Paschal Beverly Randolph, Robert E Lee, Peyton Randolph, Edmund Randolph, John Randolph of Roanoke, George W Randolph, and Edmund Ruffin.
William Randolph was the son of Richard Randolph and wife Elizabeth Ryland of Warwickshire.
Richard Randolph was originally from Little Houghton, a small village east of Northampton, where Richard Randolph's father, William, was a "steward and servant" to Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche, having previously served in that same capacity to Sir George Goring, a landowner in Sussex.
William Randolph's family were among the Cavaliers who supported the king.
William Randolph's mother died there around 1669 and his father about two years later.
William Randolph arrived in an area replete with others whose families had supported the king during the Civil War.
William Randolph's family had long been members of the court.
In later years William Randolph became a merchant and a planter, and co-owned several ships used to transport tobacco to England and goods back to Virginia.
William Randolph established several of his sons as merchants and ship captains.
William Randolph trained as a lawyer and was a partner with Peter Perry and Edward Hill, Jr.
William Randolph represented Henrico County in every assembly of the House of Burgesses from 1684 to 1698, was Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1698, and was the Clerk of the House from 1699 to 1702.
William Randolph is mentioned in one of Byrd's diaries as "Colonel Randolph", his militia title.
William Randolph was the founder of a dynasty of individuals who shaped commerce and governmental administration for years.
William Randolph acquired property by purchase, headright, marital interest and land grant.
William Randolph began living at the Turkey Hill estate, which included the island and surrounding area, in 1670.
William Randolph's residence overlooked Turkey Island, and he is buried near the site of the house.
William Randolph made an assessment of the property for Governor Berkeley and was allowed to buy it for his estimated price, adding 1,230 acres to William Randolph's previous land holdings.
The sons of William Randolph were each distinguished by the estates left to them.
Mary and two of their sons, Thomas and William Randolph, were executors of the estate that spelled out the manner in which his numerous land holdings were distributed to his sons.