I want to Thank Connie Porcher for the use of this info for our Page

Troy Daily News
Louise Vanover Vore
For further information contact :
Connie Porcher, March 1979
porcher@erinet.com or joe.boss@erinet.com
WHO WERE THE RANDOLPH SLAVES  ?????
Some Miami County residents can trace their roots to the early Randolph
slave group. The Randolph slaves acquired their name from John Randolph, a
plantation owner in Charlotte County, Virginia. At his death in 1833,
Randolph freed his slaves and provided $8,000 for the purchase of land in a
free state. Judge William Leigh was appointed to carry out the will's
provisions. Following lengthy litigation in the Virginia courts, Leigh
purchased 2,000 of land in Mercer County. Leigh immediately transported
over 300 slaves down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, then northward by canal
boat to Minster in Auglaize County. Unfortunately, a group of armed farmers
refused to allow the slaves to disembark. Turning back the boat, they were
permitted to unload at Piqua. The July 25, 1846 Piqua Register carried the
following account of the "Randolph Negroes".
"These unfortunate creatures have again been driven from lands selected for
them. As we noted last week, an effort, which it was thought would be
successful, was made to settle them in Shelby county, but like the previous
attempt in Mercer, it has failed. They were driven away by threats of
violence. About one third of them, we understand, remained at Sidney,
intending to scatter, and find homes wherever they can. The rest of them
came down here to-day (Thursday) and are now at the wharf in boats. The
present intention is to leave them wherever places can be obtained for
them. We presume, therefore, they will all remain in the State, as it is
probable they will find situations for the whole of them between this and
Cincinnati. The necessity which now separates and scatters them over the
whole country (connected as they are by ties of kindred, being as it were,
but one family,) is a hard one, but it is probably the best thing that can
be done."
A sizable group finally settle in the Knowles Addition just east of the
village of Rossville, now annexed to Piqua. The 1850 census of Springcreek
Township cites 74 blacks living in Rossville. Riley Sampson, Shadrack
White, Guy Howell, and Gabriel White, all listed as laborers, owned
property worth a combined total of $950. This figure is all the more
significant when compared to white property ownership in Rossville which
totaled only $1,100. The black population remained about equal, at 71, by
the 1860 census. However, the group was somewhat more prosperous, showing
property and cash valued at $3,530. Of the fourteen black property owners,
Shadrack and Gabriel White were the only two 1850 census property owners
still listed. Gabriel's estate had increased from $300 to $350 while
Shadrack's holdings had climbed from $200 to $350. The largest estate
belonged to Isaac Guy, a day laborer, who claimed property and cash valued
at $700.
Other groups of Randolph slaves moved throughout Miami County, especially
to the Troy and West Milton areas. In Union Township (West Milton), the
West Branch Quakers sponsored a large colony of the former slaves. The 1850
census counts 90 blacks living in the township itself with two other young
children living with white families in West Milton. While most of the men
are listed as laborers, the group did claim a combined estate valued at
$1,540. But 1860, the 93 Randolph Slaves were still living as a group
within the township. One member, Isaac Cole, age 67, is listed as a farmer
who owned land valued at $2,000 and had a cash estate of $370.
A suit, later filed in Mercer County to recover their lost lands, was
decided against the Randolph slave group.
Inventory of Slaves,
Will of John Randolph
Roanoke, Virginia
LIST OF MIAMI COUNTY'S RANDOLPH SLAVES
John Randolph was a wealthy land and slave owner in Roanoke, Virginia.
In 1819 he wrote his will which provided for the freedom of his slaves
after his death. Three years later, in a codicil to that will, he
stipulated that money be provided to transport and settle these freed
slaves in some other state. He further provided that each one of them over
the age of forty be given not less than ten acres of land.
State Of Virginia,
Charlotte County Court:
I, Winslow Robinson, Clerk of the County Court of Charlotte County in The
State of Virginia, do hereby certify that this is a true list of and
description of the negroes and mulattos emancipated by the Will of John
Randolph of Roanoke, dec'd, recorded in the General Court of Virginia made
out from the Book Of Registers of of free negroes and mulattos kept in my
office.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of
my said office this ninth day of June in the year One Thousand Eight
Hundred and Forty-Six, and in the Thea year of the Commonwealth.

----------
Here's part 3 of 4 of the Randolph Slaves:
 King, Samuel           Negro     Page 097b  Troy, City of
 Lee, Edward            Negro     Page 356a  Piqua, City of
 Loan, Jerome           Mulatto   Page 083a  Troy, City of
 Lora, William H.       Mulatto   Page 077b  Troy, City of
 Lyons, Sarah           Mulatto   Page 077b  Troy, City of
 Mason, Joseph          Mulatto   Page 083b  Troy, City of
 Milton, Boon           Negro     Page 336b  Washington Twp
 Minor, John            Negro     Page 100a  Troy, City of
 Moore, Peter           Negro     Page 076b  Troy, City of
 Morse, William         Mulatto   Page 114a  Concord Twp
 Morton, Jete           Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
 Morton, Moses          Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
 Mulford, Thomas        Negro     Page 375a  Piqua, City of
 Newson, William        Negro     Page 102b  Concord Twp
 Nickens, Granville     Mulatto   Page 347b  Piqua, City of
 Nutter, John           Negro     Page 096b  Troy, City of
 O'Bowls, James         Mulatto   Page 375a  Piqua, City of
 Oglesby, James         Mulatto   Page 082a  Troy, City of
 Ore, Anderson  (Orr?)  Mulatto   Page 362a  Piqua, City of
 Peal, Agnes            Negro     Page 085a  Troy, City of
 Peal, John             Negro     Page 077a  Troy, City of
 Perry, Commodore       Mulatto   Page 081a  Troy, City of
 Peterson, Peter        Negro     Page 081a  Troy, City of
 Porter, John           Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Presley, Albert        Mulatto   Page 165a  Union Twp
 Randolph, John         Negro     Page 366a  Piqua, City of
 Randolph, Krida        Negro     Page 087a  Troy, City of
 Randolph, Resvy        Negro     Page 361b  Piqua, City of
 Randolph, Roll         Negro     Page 077b  Troy, City of
 Redman, Auston         Mulatto   Page 364a  Piqua, City of
 Redman, Cely A.        Mulatto   Page 364b  Piqua, City of
 Redman, Roct           Mulatto   Page 384b  Piqua, City of
 Rial, William          Mulatto   Page 484b  Piqua, City of
 Riggen, John           Negro     Page 186a  Newton Twp
 Ryol, Sampson          Negro     Page 081a  Troy, City of
 Scott, James           Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Smart, Ceaser          Negro     Page 087a  Troy, City of
 Smith, Adkin           Negro     Page 111b  Concord Twp
 Smith, Ann J.          Negro     Page 095a  Troy, City of
 Smith, Charles         Negro     Page 091a  Troy, City of
 Smith, Elizabeth       Negro     Page 085b  Troy, City of
 Smith, John            Negro     Page 083a  Troy, City of
 Smith, John F.         Negro     Page 364b  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Joshua          Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Joshua          Negro     Page 089b  Troy, City of
 Smith, Joshua          Negro     Page 099a  Troy, City of
 Smith, Julia           Negro     Page 077b  Troy, City of
 Smith, Mack            Mulatto   Page 360a  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Mary            Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Nancy           Negro     Page 366a  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Robert          Mulatto   Page 376a  Piqua, City of
 Smith, Rosetta         Negro     Page 102b  Concord Twp
 Smith, William         Mulatto   Page 086b  Troy, City of
 Sowel, Nancy           Negro     Page 360a  Piqua, City of
 Spellman, Nathan       Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Sreward, Justin        Negro     Page 076b  Troy, City of
 Street, Jane           Mulatto   Page 083b  Troy, City of
 Street, John           Mulatto   Page 100b  Concord Twp
 Street, Martha J.      Mulatto   Page 353b  Piqua, City of
 Taylor, William        Mulatto   Page 341b  Washington Twp
 Thomas, John           Negro     Page 159a  Union Twp
 Thoms, Walson          Negro     Page 092b  Troy, City of
 Tucker, Henry          Negro     Page 163b  Union Twp
 West, Barney           Negro     Page 100a  Troy, City of
 White, Benjamin        Negro     Page 163b  Union Twp
 White, Catharine       Negro     Page 167a  Union Twp
 White, Essex           Negro     Page 363b  Piqua, City of
 White, Henry           Negro     Page 091a  Troy, City of
 White, Henry           Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 White, Isaac           Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
 White, James           Negro     Page 356a  Piqua, City of
 White, Juber           Negro     Page 356b  Piqua, City of
 White, Mary            Negro     Page 350a  Piqua, City of
 White, Meschich        Negro     Page 098a  Troy, City of
 White, Philip          Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
 White, Richard         Negro     Page 363b  Piqua, City of
 White, Willis          Negro     Page 346b  Piqua, City of
 Williams, Smith        Negro     Page 111b  Concord Twp
 Wilson, Elizabeth      Mulatto   Page 082b  Troy, City of
 Wilson, Mary           Mulatto   Page 347b  Piqua, City of
 Wilson, Sarah          Mulatto   Page 077a  Troy, City of
 Wood, Milo             Negro     Page 076b  Troy, City of
 Wright, Elizabeth      Negro     Page 081b  Troy, City of
 Wright, Mary Ann       Mulatto   Page 347b  Piqua, City of
 Young, Rhoda           Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
1850 Census Entries:
>
> The group of settlers known as the Randolph Slaves arrived in Miami
County
 during the summer of 1846, four years before the 1850 Federal Census was
 taken. The following list was abstracted from that census of Miami County
 Ohio by the Computerized Heritage Association.
Following is a list of the heads-of-households in Miami County that,
 according to that census, were either Negro or Mulatto
 Abbott, Moze           Mulatto   Page 333b  Washington Twp
  Alexander, Jacob       Mulatto   Page 337a  Washington Twp
  Anderson, Julia        Mulatto   Page 097b  Troy, City of
 Anderson, Nancy        Negro     Page 101b  Concord Twp
  Anderson, Thomas       Mulatto   Page 081a  Troy, City of
 Banks, Henry           Negro     Page 098a  Troy, City of
  Basley, John           Negro     Page 111b  Concord Twp
 Basley, John           Mulatto   Page 111b  Concord Twp
  Black, Clayborn        Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
  Brax, John             Negro     Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Breall, Caroline       Negro     Page 091a  Troy, City of
  Brill, Daniel          Mulatto   Page 080a  Troy, City of
  Brown, Ephraim         Negro     Page 333a  Washington Twp
  Brown, Essex           Negro     Page 164b  Union Twp
  Brown, Gracy Ann       Negro     Page 333a  Washington Twp
  Brown, Tony            Negro     Page 164b  Union Twp
  Campbell, David        Mulatto   Page 362a  Piqua, City of
 Chub, Sarah            Mulatto   Page 076a  Troy, City of
  Churchman, Robert      Negro     Page 361b  Piqua, City of
  Clark, Ann             Negro     Page 356b  Piqua, City of
  Clay, John             Mulatto   Page 087a  Troy, City of
  Cole, Philip           Negro     Page 334b  Washington Twp
  Cole, Thomas           Negro     Page 098a  Troy, City of
  Cowles, Isaac          Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
  Cox, Dianna            Negro     Page 164b  Union Twp
  Crowder, Dudley        Negro     Page 343a  Washington Twp
  Crowder, Johnston D.   Negro     Page 334a  Washington Twp
Davis, Nancy           Mulatto   Page 363b  Piqua, City of
  Davis, Sarah           Mulatto   Page 358b  Piqua, City of
 Downs, John            Negro     Page 102b  Concord Twp
  Dunning, Charles       Negro     Page 148a  Union Twp
  Edwards, William       Mulatto   Page 114b  Concord Twp
 Elliott, Alfred        Mulatto   Page 102b  Concord Twp
  Evans, Andrew          Mulatto   Page 086b  Troy, City of
  Evans, Emblestone      Mulatto   Page 353b  Piqua, City of
  Giffon, Laura          Mulatto   Page 164b  Union Twp
  Giles, Archibald       Negro     Page 384a  Piqua, City of
  Giles, Wilson          Mulatto   Page 384b  Piqua, City of
  Gillet, Jenny          Negro     Page 186a  Newton Twp
 Gillet, Simon          Negro     Page 167b  Union Twp
  Gillett, Alexander     Negro     Page 097a  Troy, City of
  Godwin, Archy A.       Mulatto   Page 076a  Troy, City of
  Granson, Peter         Negro     Page 097a  Troy, City of
 Green, Anna            Negro     Page 163b  Union Twp
  Green, Herculas        Negro     Page 098a  Troy, City of
  Green, John B.         Negro     Page 082b  Troy, City of
  Green, Lott            Negro     Page 159a  Union Twp
  Haggard, John          Mulatto   Page 114a  Concord Twp
 Haggard, Joseph        Mulatto   Page 114a  Concord Twp
  Hamilton, Alexander    Negro     Page 101b  Concord Twp
  Hamilton, Henry        Mulatto   Page 083b  Troy, City of
  Hamilton, Sylvester    Negro     Page 101b  Concord Twp
  Hammond, Wilson        Mulatto   Page 086b  Troy, City of
  Hargrave, Mary         Negro     Page 080a  Troy, City of
  Hargrave, Susan        Negro     Page 076b  Troy, City of
  Harris, Freeman        Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
  Hill, Lott             Negro     Page 186b  Newton Twp
  Howard, Doctor         Mulatto   Page 364b  Piqua, City of
  Jackson, John          Mulatto   Page 384b  Piqua, City of
 Jackson, Sarah         Negro     Page 086b  Troy, City of
  Jefferson, Abraham     Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
 Jefferson, Doctor      Negro     Page 164b  Union Twp
  Jefferson, George      Negro     Page 159a  Union Twp
  Jefferson, Jacob       Negro     Page 383b  Piqua, City of
 Jefferson, Ohan        Negro     Page 164a  Union Twp
  Jeffries, Glenn        Negro     Page 335b  Washington Twp
  Jerome, Joseph         Mulatto   Page 077b  Troy, City of
  Johnson, Able          Negro     Page 163b  Union Twp
  Johnson, Albert        Negro     Page 098a  Troy, City of
  Johnson, Peter         Negro     Page 167a  Union Twp
  Jones, Charlotte       Negro     Page 145a  Union Twp
Jones, Clarissa        Negro     Page 095a  Troy, City of
  Jones, Cloe            Negro     Page 088a  Troy, City of
 Jones, Crawford        Negro     Page 086b  Troy, City of
  Jones, Doctor          Negro     Page 335b  Washington Twp
  Jones, Essick          Negro     Page 096a  Troy, City of
  Jones, Lucinda         Negro     Page 165a  Union Twp
  Jones, Messick         Negro     Page 096a  Troy, City of
  Jones, Mildred         Negro     Page 093a  Troy, City of
 Jones, Nathan          Negro     Page 084a  Troy, City of
  Jones, Rhoda           Negro     Page 111a  Concord Twp