Randolph Jefferson

Randolph Jefferson (October 1, 1755 – August 7, 1815) was a member of the Jefferson family of Virginia, the younger brother of Thomas Jefferson. He was the only male sibling of Thomas Jefferson to survive infancy. Randolph was a planter and owner of the Snowden plantation, which he inherited from his father. His occupation primarily involved agriculture and the management of enslaved labor on his estate.

Born at Shadwell, the Jefferson family plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia, his parents were Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson. His father, Peter Jefferson, died when Randolph was two years old. Randolph had a twin sister, Anne Scott Jefferson, making him the youngest sibling of Thomas Jefferson. After the death of his father, his affairs were initially managed by John Harvie Sr., and later by Thomas Jefferson until Randolph reached maturity in 1776.

He received early education from Ben Snead at Buck Island near Monticello and the Rivanna River in Albemarle County during 1764 and 1765. In 1769, he returned to Shadwell, where he was educated by Patrick Morton. In 1770, the main house at Shadwell was destroyed by fire; a new house was built by his mother afterward. At age 16, Randolph moved to Williamsburg to study at the College of William & Mary from October 1771 to September 1772, where he attended the Grammar School and studied under Thomas Gwatkin in higher subjects such as mathematics and natural philosophy. He also took violin lessons from Frances Alberti.

Randolph Jefferson served in the local militia of Albemarle County for approximately ten years, including during the American Revolutionary War. His military service began in 1776 in Captain Wingfield's Company. He served under General Thomas Nelson with Virginia Light Dragoons, contributed provisions to troops during the campaign against Tarleton in 1781, and facilitated logistical support such as transporting military stores. He was a signatory of the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1777 and again in 1779. Following the war, Randolph achieved the rank of Lieutenant in the Buckingham County Militia and was recommended for the rank of Captain in 1794, a title he maintained for life.

In 1776, Randolph Jefferson inherited the Snowden plantation in Buckingham County, Virginia, comprising over 2,291 acres along the James River and near Scottsville. The estate included enslaved persons, horses, and cattle, reflecting his status as a planter. Despite the simplicity of life at Snowden compared to Monticello, Randolph's dependency on enslaved labor made him part of the planter class.

On July 30, 1781, Randolph Jefferson married his first cousin, Anne Lewis, daughter of Colonel Charles Lewis and Mary Randolph, connecting him to other prominent Virginian families. The couple had six children: Thomas, Robert Lewis, Peter Field, Isham Randolph, James Lilburne, and Anna Scott Jefferson.

After the death of his wife around 1799, Randolph remained widowed for approximately ten years. Around 1809, he remarried Mitchie Ballow Pryor of Buckingham County, who was significantly younger than Randolph. She did not get along with Randolph's sons and influenced him to change his will in her favor, leading to familial disputes. Mitchie conceived a son, John, before Randolph's death, and the disposition of Randolph's estate became contested among his heirs.

Randolph's health declined in 1815, and he died at Snowden on August 7, 1815. His will specified the sale of his property with proceeds to be divided among his sons, and his slaves were to remain within the family. The Snowden estate burned down shortly after his death and was subsequently sold.

Regarding the paternity of Sally Hemings's children, some theories propose that Randolph Jefferson could have been their father. These speculations are based on historical and genetic evidence, but they are disputed. The 1998 DNA study linked the Jefferson male line to Hemings's son Eston, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation regards Thomas Jefferson as thelikely father of Hemings's children. Other scholars have considered Randolph Jefferson or his nephew, Peter Carr, as possible candidates, but these hypotheses lack conclusive genealogical or genetic support.

Randolph Jefferson's life was characterized by his roles in military service, plantation management, and familial relationships within the Jefferson clan, with ongoing historical debates concerning his possible involvement in specific paternity cases related to Sally Hemings.