The Conspiracy of John Randolph's Slaves

About the Book

When I started this story three years ago I never realized how far I would have to investigate the matter about what ever happened to the John Randolph’s slaves. The underground railroad ran straight through Ohio from Cincinnati clear up north of Tiffin, Ohio.

What started out as my writing a story about the genealogy of their families ended up entirely off from that path. Although many of the descendants have scattered there is one person that began to trace her roots not long after the popular movie called “Roots” was made. That is a personal friend of mine. I promised her that I would write this story about her relatives, but when I heard a different kind of true story about the history of her family I got sidetracked when I saw that that story in itself could make quite an exciting epic movie. I was more fascinated by what looked more and more like a conspiracy went on.

Her descendants were held in bondage for thirteen years even though they were freed by their master. That just didn’t make any sense to me if the law set them free why were things the way they were?

Many of the stories printed in newspapers and other places told about a court case held in 1914 between some very prominent people and a huge influx of the former Randolph slaves who came to Ohio to claim some land here, but they were overtaken by the White man who were the only people who seemed to have any rights back then.

John Randolph made Judge William Leigh the executor of his will. Although Mr. Leigh was related to Mr. Randolph, it was surprising to many that he didn’t leave his vast fortune to his two surviving step-brothers.

Needless to say that story peeked my interest, and I began to search for everything I could find to see what really happened. I found deceit, greed, treason, and embezzlement spread from the state of Virginia to Ohio; even on into Canada.

This book is full of copies of very old records that I delved into, many older than one hundred years old. Previously records were closed to the public, and thanks to the new Sunshine Law light is shining in this book, and maybe a little closure can be given to those who the public scoffed when they knew the truth all along. I think when you view all the evidence you too will believe there was a conspiracy of John Randolph’s slaves.

About the Author