Who was Frances Bland Randolph?
In 1769, sixteen year old Frances Bland married John Randolph. Their six-year marriage produced three children. When he passed away in 1775, she was left a life-right to the thousand-acre Matoax Plantation on the Appomattox River in Chesterfield County. She was also responsible for the management of Bizarre, John Randolph’s plantation in Prince Edward County. Frances Bland Randolph had the huge responsibility for managing two large plantations and raising three young sons during the first years of the American Revolution. She did this while exhibiting prudence, diligence, competence, and honor. As were our chapter’s charter members, we are proud to carry her name!
Our Chapter History
Frances Bland Randolph Chapter, NSDAR, celebrates more than 120 years of service to our various communities. Mrs. Alice McKenney Finch, the chapter’s Organizing Regent, along with 16 other ladies, founded the Frances Bland Randolph Chapter on February 6, 1901, in Petersburg, Virginia. In “The American Monthly Magazine” for January – June issue for 1901 there was the following piece on the new Frances Bland Randolph Chapter, NSDAR: “I can report fifteen Chapters in the State (Virginia). The last organized this month in Petersburg, being Frances Bland Randolph Chapter, Mrs. E.W. Finch, Regent, who is most enthusiastic in her work, and has inspired a deep interest among the members of her Chapter, and I feel sure Petersburg will soon glory in a large and earnest Chapter.”
