Evening Star Newspaper, January 19, 1930, Page 80

2 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. his own nearby, which he named Tuckahoe. mas and his wife, Judith, had three chil- dren, among whom was a son, Willlam, born 1712, who married Maria Judith Page, daughter of Mann Page of Rosewell, and they were the grandfather and grandmother of Mary Ran- dolph. One of the four children of this William Randolph and Maria Judith, his wife, was Thomas Mann Randolph, the father of Mary Randolph. He was born 1741, probably at fTuckahoe, and he married Anne Cary, daugh- ter of Col. Archibald Cary of Ampthiil, on the James in 1761. Mary Randolph was the first child of this marriage, and the eldest of 13 children. She was born August 9, 1762, at ‘Ampthill, the home of her maternal grand- father. MARY RANDOLPH'S direct descent from i Pocahontas is derived through her mother, Anne Cary. History records the fact that Pocahontas married John Rolfe. A son of theirs was Thomas Rolfe, and his daughter Jane married Robert Bolling. Two children of this union were John and Lucy Bolling. Lucy married Peter Randolph of Chatsworth, son of ‘William, first son of the immigrant Col. Wil- liam. John's daughter Jane married Richard Randolph of Curles, in 1714, and Mary Ran- dolph, a child of this marriage, became the wife of Col. Archibald Cary of Ampthill, in 1744, and hence was the grandmother of Mary Randolph, who sleeps on the hillside at Ar- lington. Richard and Jane Bolling Randalph of Curles had a son, also named Richard, who married Anee Meade, and their son they named Pavid Meade Randolph. He became the hus- band of Mary Randolph, as before set forth, and apparently he was a first cousin of his wife’'s mother, Amne Cary, who was Mrs. Thomas Mann Randolph of Tuckahoe. Ot Mary Randolph’s numerous brothers and gisters there is considerable to be told. Not only did she marry her own cousin of the same name, but two of her sisters did likewise. Judith married Richard Randolph of Bizarre, the elder brother of John Randolph of Roa- noke. Another sister, Jane Cary Randolph, - married Thomas Eston Randolph of Bristol, England. In colonial days marriages between cousins—within any degree of consanguinity— was not only lawful but a very common prac- tice. Her eldest sister, Elizabeth, married Robert Pleasants of Filmer. A brother, Thomas Mann Randolph, married Martha Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson. This Thomas Mann Randolph built for himself a home in Albemarle County, known as Edge Hill. He was Governor of Virginia from 1819 to 1821. Another of her brothers was Dr. John Ran- dolph, who married Judith Lewis. Her sister Harriet married Richard Hackley of New York, and her youngest sister, Virginia, married Wil- scn Jefferson Cary. Another sister, Anne Cary Randolph, mar- ried Gouverneur Morris of Morrisiana, N. Y., United Statés Minister to France. In her youth she was engaged to marry ‘Theodorick Bland Randolph, brother of John Randolph of Roanoke and Richard Randolph of Bizarre, who married Mary Randolph’s sister Judith, as before stated. However, Theodorick died in his twenty-first year, before the marriage was con- summated. Years afterward, when John Ran- dolph of Roanoke was old enough to know better, he was guilty of one of the most glaring dndiscretions of his eventful life. He saw fit to make known to Gouveneur Morris some gossip concerning his wife which had long lain dormant and almost forgotten. Apparently Gouveneur Morris paid no attention to the slanderous tale, but “Nancy” did. She turned on John Randolph of Roanoke and gave him the worst drubbing he had ever received, even from his most bitter and effective political opponent. She excoriated him; held him up to scorn of all mankind. Knowing him so well, from many years of intimate association, she knew all his weaknesses, both physical and mental, and she played upon them like expert fingers upon the strings of a harp. When she had finished with John Randolph of Roanoke he was reduced to pulp and the laughing stock of all who cared to read Nancy's famous epistle, which did not lack for dissemination through- out Virginia and elsewhere. Although he was famous for his vitriolic and withering tongue, which ruthlessly seared and annihilated his enemies, nevertheless, Nancy Randolph gave him as good as his best. She dared to cross verbal rapiers with one who had made his name a byword for scorn and invective, and $he won the event without a doubt. Mary Randolph was well represented among the members of the Committee of Correspond- ence for Virginia, “the immortal eleven,” who Btood foursquare with Massachusetts and the bther colonies to defy George III before that #irst shot at Concord bridge, “heard 'round the world” Of those forever-famous Virginians Wwho dared the charge of treason for the sake of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Bland, Randolph, Richard Henry Lee and Col. Archibald Cary were all of her clan. Doubtless most, 1f not all, of those 11 colonlal Ppatriots were her near relatives by some tie ®f blood or marriage. lOMAS JEFPERSON'S grandfather, Isham 14" Randolph, born Turkey Island, 1684, third of the immigrant, Col. William, was & ther of Mary Randolph’s great-grandfather, ‘'homas Randolph of Tuckahoe, the second Bon. Isham Randolph married Jane Rogers of fondon in 1717, and their daughter Jane, born in England in 1720, married Peter Jefferson bf Shadwell. Thomas Jefferson was a son of Peter and Jane Randolph Jefferson. It would Beem, then, that Mary Randolph was a third kousin, once removed, of the author of the mtest state document in American history; which will forever remain the inspiration the beacon light for future generations; as as the English-speaking people shall en- ure upon the earth. Thomas Jefferson’s grandfather seems to have been much esteemed in Virginia in his §iay. It is natural that he should be remem- bered because of his illustrious grandson. The Inscription upon his tombstone was this: Sacred to the Memory of Col. Isham Randolph of Dungeness in Goochland County, Adjutant General of the Colony. He was the third son of Willlam Ran- dolph and Mary his- wife. The distin- guished qualities of the Gentleman he C, JANUARY 19, 1930. Tuckahoe, on the James River. The homestead of Thomas Randolph, great-grandfather of Mary Randolph, but the repro- duction undoubtedly shows a rebuilt house on the site of the original home, intended to duplicate the original. Reproduced from half-tone contained in ‘“Some Colonial Mansions,” by Thomas Allen Glenn. possessed in an eminent degree: To jus- tice, probity and honour so firmly at- tached that no view of secular interest or worldly advantage, no discouraging frowns of fortune could alter his steady purpose of heart. By an easy compli- ance and obliging deportment he knew no enemy, but gained many friends; thus in life meriting an universal es- teem. He died as universally lamented Nov., 1742, aet. 57. Gentle Reader go & do likewise. What was the relationship between Mary Randolph and Mrs. George Washington Parke Custis and Gen. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee? After the first story about her was published in The Sunday Star a lady wrote a letter say- ing that she believed Mary Randolph was god- mother to Mary Ann Randolph Custis, the only surviving child of the master and mistress of Arlington House Estate. She may have been; it is not unlikely, but it has not been estab- lished sufficiently to state it as a fact. Un- doubtedly she was dear to the Custis family. The notice of her death and “the procession of her funeral to Arlington across. Potomac Bridge,” published January 24, 1828, particu- larly stated she would be buried at a spot she had selected herself. Apparently, it had all been agreed to long in advance of the event. However, that she should thus have selected a burial place for herself seems somewhat odd, because her husband was still living. Accord- ing to the inscription upon his tomb and other records he survived his wife more than two years. Before her marriage Mrs. Custis was Mary Lee Fitzhugh. She descended from Peter Randolph of Chatsworth and Lucy Bolling, who were her grandfather and grandmother, Her great-grandparents were William Randolph, eldest son of Col. William, the immigrant and Elizabeth Beverley. Mary Randolph was 26 years the senior of Mrs. Custis, and was her third cousin. She was, therefore, a third cousing once removed of Mary Ann Randolph Custis Lee; also of her husband, Gen. Robert E. Lee, according to a genealogical chart kind- ly supplied by Mr. Cazenove G. Lee, jr. Rob- ert E. Lee was apparently related to his wife in three different ways; they were fourth cousins, third cousins and third cousins once removed. Gen. Lee descended in the Randolph line from Elizabeth, second daughter and youngest child of Col. William Randolph. Elizabeth married Richard Bland, and their daughter, Mary Bland, became Mrs. Henry Lee of Lee Hall. Their son was another Henry Lee of Leesylvania, He married Lucy Grymes and they were the father and mother of Gen. Henry (“Light Horse Harry”) Lee, Washing- ton’s chief of Cavalry, and author of those immortal words, “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Robert E. Lee was the youngest son of Gen. Henry Lee and his wife, Anne Carter. Al- though young Lee did not graduate from West Point until 1829, a year after Mrs. Randolph's death, nevertheless, she perhaps saw her handsome kinsman frequently at Arlington House when he came to see Mary Custis. How little did any of them dream then of the great Civil War to come, and of the fame that awaited this young cadet when history should write its solemn pages. ARY RANDOLPH was undoubiedly a wel- come visitor at the great Custis men- sion. Perhaps she was one of the notable company there when Lafayette was Mr. Cus- tis’ guest for several days in October, 1824. It is quite probable that she knew Gen. Wash- ington.and Martha Washington. Her husband had been an officer in the War of the Revolu- tion and afterward hed an important civil office under commission from our first President. In Mary Randolph’s time Arlington House was filled with the furniture, family portraits, silver, glass and china that had come from Mount Ver- non upon Martha Washington's death in 1802. The very bed upon which Washington died was there and was the proudest possession of George Washington Parke Custis. A great number of the priceless heirlooms from Mount Vernon, which today we see back in their former places in the old home farther down the Potomac, were cherished at Arlington for more than 50 years; until 1861, when the winds of civil war scattered them far and wide. Washing- ton’'s camp tent, the hall lantern that Admiral Vernon of the English Navy gave to Lawrence Washington when he was proprietor of Mount Vernon, the Cincinnati china, glass and sil- ver—all were there. “The Virginia Housewife,” a famous cook book well known throughout the South, was written by Mary Randolph. It was probably first published in Washington in 1824, but has been reprinted perhaps several times. Reprints of the original book are extant today, bearing the publishers’ date of 1831, with the same preface subscribed in printer’s ink by “M. Ran- dolph,” although she died in 1828. The Con- gressional Club of Washington recently pub- lished a cookbook, in which “The Virginia Housewife” is discussed and & page of hand- written recipes is there reproduced. Probably many Southern families today have copies of “The Virginia Housewife,” and a few of them are doubtless first editions of 1824; mayhap autographed by the author and treasured ac- cordingly. At the White House there is a copy of this old cook book, published by “Davis and Force (Franklin Head) Pennsylvania Avenue, 1824.” It was undoubtedly given by Mary Randolph to her brother's wife, Martha Jefferson, since it contains on the flyleaf the inscription, “To Mrs. Randolph, Monticello, from her affection- ate friend and sister.” Unfortunately she did not autograph that inscription. The book is known as the Jefferson Cook Book, and came to the White House as a gift to Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, in 1904. It reposes today in a locked glass cabinet among other treasured curios of past presidential administrations. Accompany- ing the book was the following letter from the donor: Honored Madam Understanding you are collecting a cabinet of Keramics—Souvenirs of the different administrations I beg leave to offer you a volume—while not “Crockery” is adjunct and pertaining thereto and may not be out of place in your collec- lection. It is probably a copy of the first “Cook Book” published in America and valuable for that reason but more val- usble from the fact of containing about forty five receipts in Mr. Thomas Jef- ferson's handwriting. It has been handed down to me through a gifted Kinsman long since deceased, to whom it was given by a grand daughter of Mr. Jef- ferson. The volume was published by his daughter Mrs. Randolph in 1824— two years before his death and was un- doubtedly his personal copy. It has been in my possession for 30 years. By accepting you will confer a great honor. Wwith unbounded regard for yourself and distinguished husband I am your obedient servant GEORGE A. SATTERLEE Soldiers Home Los Angeles Co California April 8th 1904. As originally published, the many blank pages in order that wife might add her own pet reci sired. In the White House copy these pages are filled with handwritten recipes, obviously by different persons, some of them presumably meniders of the Jefferson family. Mr. Sat- terlee is probably incorrect in saying that there are “forty-five receipts in Mr. Thomas Jef- ferson’s handwriting,” but if our third Presi- dent, in a moment of gastronomic enthusiasm, did write a few of these pages, it should not be difficult to determine the fact by comparison with specimens of his handwriting in the Library of Congress. Of course, Mr. Satterlee is mistaken in saying the book was published by Martha Jefferson Randolph. This venerable volume certainly looks its age. Evidently it has been much used in years past. The front cover is broken away from the back binding and altogether the relic is in a bad state of dilapidation, which necessitates handling it with great care. However, the printed pages are still clearly legible and con- tain a number and variety of quaint recipes to guide the young housewife in the art of fine cookery. The inside title page bears the motto, “Method is the Soul of Man- agement.” Mary Randolph must have been an intelligent, energetic and ambitious woman, one well versed in the management of a large household. In the “Preface” of her book she admonishes her readers that; The government of a family bears a Lilliputian resemblance to the govern- ment of a nation. The contents of the Treasury must be known, and great ecare taken to keep the expenditures from be- ing equal to the receipts. A regular system must be introduced into each department, which may be modified until matured, and should then pess into an inviolable law. HE “Introduction” of her famous cook book gives us more than a mere insight to her character, and serves to disclose many things which she regarded as essential to be scrupulously observed in every well regulated home. Agreeing with many famous persons before and since her time, she advocated an early breakfast: She must begin the day with an early breakfast, requiring each person to be in readiness to take their seats when the muffins, buckwheat cakes, &c., are placed on the table. This looks social and com- fortable. When the family breakfast by detachments, the table remains a tedi- ous time; the servants are kept from their morning’s meal, and a complete derangement takes place in the whole business of the day. No work can be done till breakfast is finished. The Vir- ginia ladies, who are proverbially good managers, employ themselves, while their servants are eating, in washing the cups, glasses, &c; arranging the cruets, the mustard, salt-sellers, pickle vases, and all the apparatus for the dinner table. - - - - - When the kitchen breakfast is over, and the cook has put all things in their proper places, the mistress should go in * to give her orders. Let all the articles intended for dinner, pass in review be- fore her; have the butter, sugar, flour, meal, lard, given out in proper quanti- ties; the catsup, spice, wine, whatever may be wanted for each dish, measured to the cook. The mistress must tax her own memory with all this: we have no right to expect slaves or hired servants to be more attentive to our interests than we ourselves are. - - - - - The' prosperity and happiness of a family depend greatly on the order and regularity established in it. The hus- band, who can ask a friend to partake of his dinner in full confidence of find- ing his wife unruffied by the petty vexa- tions attendant on the neglect of house- hold duties—who can usher his guest into the dining-room assured of seeing that methodical nicety which is the es- sence of true elegance—will feel pride and exultation in the possession of a companion, who gives to his home charms that gratify every wish of his soul, and render the haunts of dissipa- tion hateful to him, , Some of the titles in the index to recipes in the book are quaint indeed, and many of them very likely unheard of in this day and gen- eration: “To Barbecue Shote,” “Soused Feet in Ragout,” “To Pickle Oysters,” “To Make Curry of Catfish,” “To Dress a Cod’s Head and Shoulders,” “To Pitchcock Eels,” “Fish Sauce to Keep a Year,” “Doughnuts—A Yane kee Cake,” “Observations on Ice Creams,”™ “QOyster Ice Cream,” “To Make a Hen's Nest,” “To Make Stuffing for Forty Melons,” “To Continued on Twenty-third Page.