Before Nottoway
John Hampton Randolph was born in the year 1813 in Nottoway County,Virginia. He was the son of Judge Peter Randolph. In his teen years the family was relocated to Woodville Mississippi regaurding a position that President Andrew Jackson set up for him. while living here his family farmed cotton. when John married Emilie Jane Liddel in 1837, though he started having doubts of farming cotton.A couple years later after the couple had a few children they moved to Louisiana so that John could farm sugarcane. When the family first moved to Louisiana they lived in a little house known as Forest Home while waiting for Nottaway to be completed.
Life at Nottoway
In 1859 Nottoway plantation was completed and John, Emilie and their eleven children were ready to move in. The Randolphs had aquired overe 500 slaves during this time. twenty of them can along with $20,000 for Emilie's dowry when she married John. the slaves were treated kindly and were allowed to hold their religous services every other Sunday. There was also a care center that the older african american women ran during the week. The Randolphs were prominant members of their community.They spent most of their time working on the Plantation, and hosting parties in their lavish home.
Nottoway During the War
The families peace was short lived though because soon after the Randolphs moved into the house, the Civil war broke out. Three of the four randolph boys joined the South in their fight against the North.As the war progressed John thought it would be best to head to Texas so that he could get some farming done. He took about 21 of the slaves and went. John thought it was best to send the older girl to stay with their uncle in another part of Louisiana, while the Women and younger Children stayed at the home. John thought that it would be safer for them to stay then have them travel. Throught the war Nottoway was searched for soldiers and weapons. One day when a Union Army ship stopped at the levy one of their soldiers realized that he knew the Randolph's. He vouched for them and told hias officers that they were good people. The ship then stayed at the leavy and redirected any other Union ship from stopping by. With their help Nottoway escaped from the war only with a whole in the left column which was from a grapeshot.
Nottoway After the War
After Randolph and the slaves returned,life was pretty peaceful. John Randolph died in 1883 and so Emilie sold th house in 1889 to V.B Dugasand Desire P. Landry. Emilie moved to Baton Rouge and died in 1904. The family now resides at Blythewood Cemetery.