Rev. War Soldier - Robert FitzRandolph

Saturday was our Christmas luncheon for the Paradise Valley NSDAR Chapter I attend here in the Phoenix area. I am an Associate member, as I am still a member in the Alamo Chapter in San Antonio, Texas. I need to switch, but I just hate breaking more ties to San Antonio.

We were asked to talk about our NSDAR soldier, or another ancestor of interest. I think Robert FitzRandolph sounds like a rather interesting ancestor, so I went with him. He was my original DAR soldier. He was born December 14, 1741 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in Middlesex County. His parents were Robert and Catherine Taylor FitzRandolph. They were Quakers. Robert and Catherine were first cousins and because of this, they were disowned by the Quakers for marrying. I don't know if they ever were accepted back into the Quaker Society.

Much has been written about the beginnings of the FitzRandolphs. In a nutshell, the family descended from a Norman line who accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066. They became prominent landowners in Yorkshire, England. Eventually, the original immigrant, Edward FitzRandolph, settled in Massachusetts (Cape Cod area) about 1630. He came without his parents. His father died before 27 Oct 1647 in Kneesall, Notinghamshire, England. In his will, he left his son, Edward, 10 pounds "if he cum to demand it."  They were Baptists and were threatened with banishment and so several of his children became settlers in Piscataway, New Jersey. Another member of the family (Nathaniel) was instrumental in establishing Princeton University, in 1753 he gave "four acres and a half of land to set the college on." In 1676, the FitzRandolphs were established at what became the Village of Randolphville, NJ. My cousin Rebekah Fleury is responsible for gathering much of this information for us.

Eventually, Robert and others settled in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in Meadville. Robert died at his farm south of Meadville on July 16, 1830. He was 89 years old.

The following comes from "The History of Crawford County,"  1885. It is not quoted as I reworded some of it:
He married, Sarah Taylor, when he was quite young [abt. 1767] and in 1771 moved with his family to Northampton, (now Lehigh County, PA) and in 1773 he moved to Northumberland County, the the western frontier of the State. In 1776, the Indians swooped down upon the settlers of that locality, killing many and driving the balance from their homes. He then fled with his family to Berks County, PA. The following year he returned to his deserted home, and soon after joined Col. William Crook's regiment and fought in the battle of Germantown on October 3, 1777. He served only a brief period when he was discharged and returned to his home on the Susquehanna River. Another raid was made upon the settlement by the cruel and unrelenting savages, who murdered and pillaged along the whole frontier. Finding no prospect of peace or safety for his family, he went back to his native state where they would at least be secure from the errors of the scalping-knife. He then re-entered the army and served until the close of the war. Upon the dawn of a glorious peace, in 1783, Mr. FitzRandolph returned to Northumberland County, PA and settled on Shamokin Creek, where he resided until 1789, when he came with his family to the valley of French Creek, arriving at the site of Meadville (PA) on the 6th of July. His son, James, was one of the nine who came in 1788, and upon the land selected by James, some two miles south of the site of Meadville, in what is now Mead Township, his father settled and resided until his death.

When Robert was in his seventy-second year, the War of 1812 broke out, on the first call for volunteers he started out for Erie, with four of his sons and two grandsons to offer his services to his country. Upon arriving, he was persuaded by some friends to return home, nevertheless the prompt action demonstrates the fiery patriotism with which this old pioneer was imbued.  They also stated that he "was a man who mingled little in the controversies and cares of public life. He cultivated by precept, as well as by example peace on earth and good will toward men. The friend who visited his home was sure to receive a cordial welcome, while the stranger or unfortunate were never sent away empty-handed. Old and full of days he went down to the grave without leaving behind him a single enemy."

What flowery language and great fun to read. He sounds like quite the man. Wouldn't you love to talk to him today?  There is much, much more written about the FitzRandolphs. It is a rich history we have descended from with this family. Some of the FitzRandolphs dropped the Fitz, and just go by the Randolph name.
Anna Elizabeth FitzRandolph married Mark Beckington in 1869. Her family had moved from Meadville to the Boone County area of Illinois about 1844.

As time permits, I will write about some of our other soldiers. Joseph Hazeltine(ton) and John Noyes have already been accepted. I am now working on supplements for: John Chapman, David Rhoads, Samuel Hitchcock and Roswell Lane. Mary Ella Hazelton Childs also was accepted under all these soldiers in the early 1900s.