| William Randolph II | |
| Office: | Treasurer of Virginia |
| Term: | 1737 |
| Birth Date: | November 1, 1681 |
| Birth Place: | Turkey Island Plantation, Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Resting Place: | Turkey Island, Virginia |
| Spouse: | Elizabeth Beverley |
| Children: | 7 |
| Father: | William Randolph |
| Relatives: | Richard Randolph (brother) John Randolph (brother) Beverley Randolph (grandson) Thomas Jefferson (great-nephew) |
William Randolph II (November 1, 1681October 19, 1741), also known as William Randolph Jr. or Councillor Randolph, was an American planter and politician. He was the Treasurer of Virginia and the oldest child of William Randolph and Mary Isham.[1] [2] [3]
Randolph was born in November 1681[1] to William Randolph and Mary Isham on the Turkey Island Plantation along the James River in Henrico County, Virginia, and resided there his entire life.[2] He married Elizabeth Beverley (the daughter of Peter Beverley, a Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Treasurer of Virginia) around 1705 and the couple had seven children, five of which reached adulthood:[1] [2] [4]
Randolph was a great-uncle of United States President Thomas Jefferson.
His brother, Richard Randolph married Major John Bolling's daughter, Jane Bolling, also a lineal descendant of Pocahontas. They had six children.
His brother, John Randolph married Susanna Beverley (daughter of Peter Beverley, Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Treasurer of Colony of Virginia) on July 20, 1738.
Randolph served as Clerk of House from 1703 to 1712. He served as Treasurer of the Colony of Virginia in 1737.[6]
The town of Westham, Virginia was established on land that had been owned by Randolph.[7] When Randolph died, his son Beverley inherited Westham Plantation and planned to create the town of Westham on part of it to facilitate trade in the Piedmont region of Virginia.[7] After Beverley's sudden death, Peter Randolph inherited his brother's land and completed work on the project – renaming the town "Beverley" in honor of his older brother – with help from William Cabell and Peter Jefferson.[7] Jefferson was one of a number of important Virginians, including Carter Braxton, Joshua Fry, John Hunter, Robert Rose, and William Stith. who purchased lots in the new town.[7] Peter Randolph eventually sold Westham Plantation to his younger brother, William, who in turn sold the property to William Byrd III.[7]