Date of Award
1945
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
History
Abstract
The history of the region of Westham is largely the history of the fortunes of William Randolph and his descendants. Virginia's gain was great when the first William Randolph, a young man of twenty-two, lett England in 1673 and settled on the banks of the James at Turkey Island. Randolph was a gentleman of an old Northampton family and he quickly gained social and political prominence. His position was heightened when he married Mary Isham, the daughter of Henry Isham who owned Bermuda Hundred. In his first year in Virginia William Randolph succeeded his uncle, Henry Randolph, as clerk of Henrico County, and he remained in public office until his death in 1711, serving as burgess, attorney-general, speaker of the House of Burgesses, and clerk of the House during his long political career.
Recommended Citation
Skinner, Anne, "The attempt to build a town at Westham" (1945). Honors Theses. 791.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/791