Tag Archives: Jesse Fitz Randolph

Jesse Fitz Randolph

Jesse Fitz Randolph, born May 21, 1768 in Piscataway, NJ and died June 30, 1863 in New Salem, West Virginia.  He married Delilah LaForge soon after coming to Salem with the church in 1792.  After Delilah died, he married Elizabeth Gillis on March 23, 1826.  Elizabeth was born March 11, 1792 in Belfast Ireland to protestant parents and died March 23, 1866.

Jesse was a teenager when his family moved to Salem, West Virginia.  Salem was on the stage coach line to the Ohio River, and Jesse kept a tavern that was a popular stage coach stop.  He was a lifelong member of the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church, and is buried in the churchyard.

Children of Jesse Fitz Randolph and Delilah LaForge Fitz Randolph, all born in Salem, WV:

1.          Samuel Fitz Randolph, born 1799, married Zipporah Davis in 1818

2.          John LaForge Fitz Randolph, born October 23, 1802, married 1) Experience Brown

3.          Margaret Fitz Randolph, married George Williams in 1823

4.          Sarah Fitz Randolph

5.          David Fitz Randolph, born 1895, twin, died young

6.          Jonathan Fitz Randolph, born 1805, twin, married Jane Maxson in 1827 (Jonathan’s son Jesse b 1/29/1841 was the first President of the Salem College Board of Directors, serving in that capacity from 1888-1892 and again from 1894 – 1906.  He served on the board from 1888 – 1918.  He died in 1928 and is buried in the Salem Seventh Day Baptist churchyard.)

Child #2, John LaForge Fitz Randolph, is my ancestor.

Children of Jesse Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Gillis Fitz Randolph, all born in Salem, WV:

7.          Elizabeth Fitz Randolph, born 1827, married Rev. Samuel D. Davis in 1862

8.          Mary Fitz Randolph, married Amaziah Flint

9.          Alexander Fitz Randolph, died young

10.      Nancy Fitz Randolph, born August 12, 1830, married Randolph Davis

11.      Lloyd Fitz Randolph, born April 14, 1833, married Elizabeth Davis in 1858

Samuel Fitz Randolph

Samuel Fitz Randolph was born October 1738 in Piscataway, NJ and died February 25, 1825 in New Salem, Virginia (now West Virginia) On March 25, 1761 the Reverend Jonathan Dunham, pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Piscataway, NJ, married Samuel and his cousin Margaret Fitz Randolph.

We know these facts about Samuel:

  • He was an officer in the War of the Revolution, mustering in on May 16, 1777 as an Ensign in the Company of Militia, Second Regiment, Sussex County, New Jersey. His descendents are entitled to membership in DAR/SAR.
  • He purchased 300 acres of land in Yellow Creek, Armstrong Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania April 16, 1785
  • He moved to Fayette County, PA between Nov 21, 1785 and Nov 26, 1790
  • He purchased over 800 acres of land Nov 21, 1795 from Robert Martin
  • He purchased 256 acres of land in Harrison County, WV (where the present town of Salem was laid out) on Nov 26, 1790 from Catherine Swearingen for the sum of 132 pounds, 10 shillings, 5 pence Virginia money
  • He moved to Salem after May 10, 1792

Children of Samuel and Margaret, all born in Piscataway, NJ:

1.          Mary Fitz Randolph, born October 16, 1761, married James Hill in 1795

2.          Sarah Fitz Randolph, born November 8, 1763, married 1) Daniel Sharpneck, 2)John Rice, 3) George Murdock

3.          Elizabeth Fitz Randolph, born May 13, 1766, married William Brand

4.          Jesse Fitz Randolph, born May 21, 1768, married 1) Delilah LaForge, 2) Elizabeth Gillis

5.          David Fitz Randolph, born June 23, 1770, married 1) Mary Richardson

6.          Rhulanah Fitz Randolph, born March 13, 1773, married John Bonnell

7.          Jonathan Fitz Randolph, born May 20, 1775, married Mary Davis in 1798

8.          Margaret Fitz Randolph, born February 4, 1777, married William Clayton in 1798

9.          Nancy Fitz Randolph, born February 19, 1781, married Stephen C. Davis

Their fourth child, Jesse, is my ancestor.