Talk:Fort Randolph (West Virginia)

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In 1776, the Virginia Assembly, alarmed at the defenseless state of their western border, ordered a new fort built on the site. Virginia militiamen under Captain Matthew Arbuckle built Fort Randolph in May 1776. Eight months earlier on October 23, 1775 Peyton Randolph, the first president of the Continental Congress of the United Colonies suddenly died serving as a Virginia Delegate in Philadelphia. Fellow Delegate and future President John Adams wrote the following account of Randolph's death to James Warren on October 24, 1775

"Dear Sir, I have only Time to acquaint you that Yesterday, that eminent American, and most worthy Man The Honorable Peyton Randolph Esq. our first venerable President, departed this Life in an Apoplectic Fit. He was seized at Table having but a few Moments. before set down with a good deal of Company to dinner. He died in the Evening, without ever recovering his senses after the first Stroke.

As this Gentleman Sustained very deservedly One of the first American Characters, as he was the first President of the united Colonies, and as he was universally esteemed for his great Virtues and shining Abilities, the Congress have determined to shew his Memory and Remains all possible Demonstrations of Respect.( 1) The whole Body is t o attend the Funeral, in as much Mourning as our Laws will admit. The Funeral is to be tomorrow. I am the more pleased with this Respect on Account of an Impropriety, which you know was unfelt..

This venerable Sage, I assure you, since he has stood upon the same Floor with the rest of Us has rose in the Esteem of all. He was attentive, judicious and his Knowledge, Eloquence, and classical Correctness shewed Us the able and experi­enced Statesman and Senator, whereas his former station had in a great Measure concealed these and shewed Us chiefly the upright and impartial Moderator of Debate. You would have wondered more at the Want of [Sensi] bility which you remarked if you have [been] here and seen, the Difference.

Mr Randolph was as firm, stable and consistent a Patriot as any here-the Loss must be very great to Virginia in Particular and the Continent in general. "

Fort Randolph was named in the former President's honor.

Details about Peyton Randolph's death have little to do with the fort, and should instead be added to the article about him, rather than here. The article about Mr. Randolph needs some work and I encourage you to jump right in over there and make it better. Cheers! —Kevin Myers 15:14, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

References

Two forts, two dates

1776, In June, Militia under Matthew Arbuckle constructed Fort Randolph at Point Pleasant, Mason County, a more substantial structure to replace Fort Blair, erected in 1774.

1774, November, Following the defeat of the Shawnees at the Battle of Point Pleasant in October, Captain William Russell constructed Fort Blair at Point Pleasant, Mason County.

Captain William Russell and the friendly Indians and half white fur trappers at Old Town several miles up the Ohio, still there at that time, and James Le tort's friendly Indian family & clan might give you some leads, maybe, Best Wishes Conaughy (talk) 21:53, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

Page move

Hello editors of this page and congratulations for this exciting article! This is to inform you that I have moved this page from Fort Randolph to Fort Randolph (West Virginia) today. The page Fort Randolph is needed for disambiguation with at least one other fort of the same name in Tennessee. I have disambiguated the old links from other articles to this page, but I have left out two links that I was not sure of, they will point to the disambiguation page. One expert editor for this page could check the What links here? to make sure I did not miss any important link to this article. I will start the dab page right away. Thanks for your understanding and happy editing! doxTxob \ ^talk 01:34, 19 February 2009 (UTC)