Born in Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire, Randolph moved to the colony of Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham (ca.

[citation needed] Due to his and Mary's many progeny and marital alliances, they have been referred to as "the Adam and Eve of Virginia".

[6] Richard Randolph was originally from Little Houghton (also called Houghton Parva), a small village east of Northampton, where Richard Randolph's father, William, was a "steward and servant" to Edward la Zouche, 11th Baron Zouche (1556–1625), having previously served in that same capacity to Sir George Goring, a landowner in Sussex.

They were known as 'Cavaliers,’ and they gave Virginia a social atmosphere it never subsequently lost.The Chesapeake economy was centered around tobacco, grown within the English mercantile system for export to markets in Britain and Europe.

[6] In later years Randolph became a merchant and a planter, and co-owned several ships used to transport tobacco to England and goods back to Virginia.

[18] At the local level, he became clerk of Henrico County Court in 1673 and held the position until he was asked to serve as a justice of the peace in 1683.

Between Randolph and his heirs, they acquired tens of thousands of acres, including or establishing eleven large neighboring plantations that were worked by hundreds of slaves.

His early acquisitions were in the neighborhood of Turkey Island, located in the James River about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of present-day Richmond.

[24][c][d] Randolph began living at the Turkey Hill estate, which included the island and surrounding area,[1] in 1670.

[6] Her mother, Katherine Banks (first married to Captain Joseph Royall), was one of the wealthiest women in the colonies for their time.

[47] Early generations of Randolphs married into several other gentry families, including Beverley, Bland, Bolling, Dilliard, Fleming, Byrd, Fitzhugh, Carter, Cary, Harrison and Page.

Profits from the Pigeon Swamp plantation were to pay off his debt of £3259 to Micajah Perry III's law firm before title was to be transferred in accordance with the will.

Randolphs and close relatives formed the predominant political faction in the colonial government during the 18th century, with many members of the elected House of Burgesses and the appointed, and more exclusive, Council.

[citation needed] Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and 18-year-old John Marshall was at Valley Forge for the trying winter of 1777–1778.