Randolph Mayfield (ca. 1760 - after 1822) of Casey County KY

This Randolph Mayfield seems to have been a member of the Mayfield-Brummett Migration Group, who arrived in KY from South Carolina in about 1796.  The Mayfield portion of this group seems to have included Randolph plus two of his brothers and their families, i.e., Isaac Mayfield (1742-1822) and Micajah Mayfield (d. 1798). 

THE NAME "RANDOLPH"

If Randolph Mayfield was born sometime in the early 1760's, which seems likely, and if Randolph's parents were originally from VA, which is also very likely; then, his name may have been bestowed in honor of a prominent VA politician of the time - Peyton Randolph (1721-1775). Peyton Randolph was the Speaker of the VA House of Burgesses from 1748-1775. He was an outspoken opponent of Parliament's tax policies, particularly the Stamp Act. Randolph was the President of both the first (1774) and the second (1775) Continental Congresses. He died suddenly of a stroke in Philadelphia on 22 Oct 1775.

Another possibility is that, though he went by the name of Randolph or Randol, his full name may actually have been William Randolph Mayfield. The immigrant ancestor of the VA Randolph family was named William Randolph (1651-1711), who first arrived in VA in 1673.  Also, the county clerk for Albemarle County VA, when John Mayfield of Albemarle lived there in the 1750's, was a man named William Randolph.  Randolph Mayfield's grandson, my great-grandfather, was named William Randolph Mayfield (1834-1914) -- perhaps in honor of his grandfather.

THE FATHER OF RANDOLPH MAYFIELD

Many Mayfield researchers have conjectured that Randolph is a son of the Isaac Mayfield who died in Lincoln County KY in 1795. However, I have serious doubts about this conjecture as I have never been able to find the slightest bit of evidence which would support such a relationship. My current thinking is that Randolph is a younger brother of the Isaac Mayfield (1742-1822) who died in Lauderdale County, Alabama in 1822 [see number 3) below] and, thus, may be a son of the legendary John Mayfield and Mary Stanwix.

1) Lindsay W. Mayfield Letter

In a letter, dated 27 April 1935, to Ella Mayfield Taylor of Pulaski County KY, Lindsay W. Mayfield makes the following comment:

" ... another of this line is to be found in Attorney W. I. Mayfield, Lebanon, Mo., whose ancestor William Randolph and John Mayfield came to that section in the [18]30's. The above Randolph (of Greenville?) was I am told in some way connected to the family of Valentine ... Mayfield. ..."

The "William Randolph and John Mayfield" of Lebanon referred to above are my great-grandfather, William Randolph Mayfield ( who was born in Casey County KY in 1834 and died in Lebanon MO in 1914) and his brother, John Mayfield (1830-1872). Valentine Mayfield appears to be a son of the Abraham Mayfield who died in Granville County NC in 1778. If true, then Valentine would be a brother of the John Mayfield who married Mary Stanwix and an uncle of Randolph Mayfield.

2) Sims Family Connection

Much more research is needed before the question of Randolph's paternity can be finally resolved. In particular, his possible connection to the Sims/Simms family needs to be studied. Some Mayfield researchers have asserted (without providing any evidence) that Randolph's wife was named Elizabeth Sims. Also, one of Randolph's sons, Elijah, is supposed to have married a certain Elizabeth "Sims" in Casey County KY in 1808, when she was only 13 years old! We also know (a marriage bond exists) that a certain John Mayfield (b. 1749) of Warren County NC married a Mary "Simms" in 1773. Randolph may be closely related (perhaps a nephew) to this John Mayfield, who ultimately migrated to Franklin County GA where his Bible record has been published by the GA Historical Society.

3) Probable Brother of Isaac Mayfield (d. 1822)

In a court record published in the "NATCHEZ TRACE TRAVELER" , LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA, Vol. 12, No. 4, Nov 1992, concerning a dispute among the heirs of Isaac Mayfield, who died on 20 February 1822 in Lauderdale County AL, there is the following statement by Brice Moore Mayfield, a son of Isaac:

... his father had a horse for which this respondent gave him a mare of much Greater value that on a visit to his Brother in Lincoln County said mare got killed by accident that afterward this respondent let him have a horse to ride which horse he generally rode until his death and to which the said Isaac has no title or claim whatever but was permitted to use him as he pleased ...

Per the above quotation, the respondent, Brice M. Mayfield, addresses the question about a horse and mare. Brice states that a mare, belonging to his father Isaac, was killed in an accident while Isaac was visiting his brother in Lincoln County. Who was this brother? I can only make an educated guess as to the name of the brother. But if the "Lincoln County" so referenced is Lincoln County TN, the only Mayfield resident in that county of appropriate age and gender, of whom I am aware, would be Randolph Mayfield (c. 1762 - aft. 1822) -- the 1820 Federal Census for Lincoln County TN makes this fact very clear.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN VIRGINIA

Even though the use of the name "Randolph" strongly implies a VA origin for this man, I could find no mention of any Randolph Mayfield in any of the Colonial VA records.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

At the North Carolina State Archives, there are five (5) references to a Randolph Mayfield in the "Specie Certificates Paid into the Comptroller, NC Revolutionary Army Accounts." They were all in the 1782-83 time frame, and the names of the auditors involved (see below), indicates that this Randolph was a resident of either Sullivan or Washington County at the time. I have never found a reference to any Mayfields as early residents of Sullivan County, but there are many Mayfield references for Washington County. I made a pretty thorough check of all the early court records of Washington County TN (when it was part of NC) and talked to the people at the local historical society. Unfortunately, I could find no references to anyone named Randolph Mayfield except for the "Specie Certificates."

The following is a quote from an explanatory document concerning the specie certificates, which I photocopied while at the NC State Archives in May 1998:

... The North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts represent one of the most perplexing sets of records in the North Carolina State Archives. ... Specie certificates were issued to persons having claims against the State by the district boards of auditors, the county commissioners of specific taxes, and the commissioners appointed to settle the claims of the continental soldiers. Certificates were issued for both military service and supplies furnished. They stated the amount due the claimant in specie, and bore interest. The State redeemed these certificates by several methods, one of which was the opening for entry of the western lands (now Tennessee). Western lands were opened to the citizens of the State for settlement, and title to the land was obtained by entering the lands with John Armstrong, entry taker at Hillsborough, having the lands surveyed, returning the survey to the Secretary of State, and receiving a grant from the office of the secretary. An entry fee of ten pounds per hundred acres was required, and it was through this fee that the State redeemed the certificates. Fees could be paid in specie, specie certificates, currency certificates reduced by the scale of depreciation, and other certificates as rated by law. ...

The five Specie Certificate records for Randolph Mayfield are shown below. Data is presented in the following order - Certificate Number, By Whom Granted, Date, Amt in Pds, Vol #, Pg #, Folio #.

#3659, Carter & Williams, 12 Jun 1783, 9/3/8 Pds, Vol I, Pg 17, Folio 4
#3690, Carter & Williams,12 Jun 1783, 30/12/0 Pds, Vol I, Pg 21, Folio 4
#0024, Carter & Williams, 12 Jun 1783, 0/16/0 Pds, Vol I, Pg 34, Folio 2
#0526, Bledsoe & Williams, 12 Jun 1783, 5/1/2 Pds, Vol I, Pg 65, Folio 4
#0167, Bledsoe & Williams, 20 Jun 1782, 4/19/6 Pds, Vol I, pg 92, Folio 4

It should be noted that the names "Carter & Williams" and "Bledsoe & Williams" refer to the North Carolina officials making the disbursements. These men only operated in the Morgan Fiscal District for Sullivan and Washington Counties. Thus Randolph was almost certainly a resident of one of those two counties in the 1782-1783 time frame.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The next record of a person named Randolph Mayfield is the 1790 Federal Census for South Carolina. There was a Randolph Mayfield living in Greenville County SC (Ninety-Six District) as of the date of the 1790 Federal Census. Per the census, this Randolph had a household in 1790 composed as follows:

Free White Males 16 Years and Up - 1
Free White Males Under 16 - 2
Free White Females All Ages - 3
Total People - 6

A close review of the 1790 SC census indicates that there were five out of the seven households (including Randolph's) that were geographically close to each other in Greenville County, i. e., the following:

Isaac Mayfield
Jesse Mayfield
John Mayfield
Mickagah [sic] Mayfield
Randolph Mayfield

Two other Mayfield households were also listed for Greenville - those of Thomas and Abraham Mayfield, but they appear to be geographically somewhat distant from the other five. The implication, although a very weak one, is that the five Mayfield's found in the same geographic area were fairly closely related, e. g., brothers or father and sons. However, at least three of the four Mayfield names (Isaac, Jesse, and Mikajah) appear to be sons of John Mayfield and the legendary Mary Stanwix! The fourth name, John Mayfield, may be same person as John the son of Isaac Mayfield (1742-1822). This John Mayfield purportedly was born in 1768 and died in Pulaski County KY in 1813. If Randolph is indeed a brother of Isaac, Jesse and Micajah, he would also be a son of John and Mary Stanwix Mayfield. This legendary couple may have come to North Carolina from New York in about the year 1781 and subsequently removed to Greenville County, South Carolina by about 1786.

In SC after the Revolution, there were were twelve Mayfield land grants issued prior to the year 1800, but none for Randolph. Four of these grants that lay within the bounds of Greenville County are as follows:

Jesse Mayfield - 166 Acres, Ninety-Six District, 01 Jan 1787
Micajah Mayfield - 123 Acres, Ninety-Six District, 07 Apr 1788
Isaac Mayfield - 150 Acres, Ninety-Six District, 02 Mar 1789
Abraham Mayfield - 176 Acres, Ninety-Six District, 02 Apr 1792

Curiously, I could find no land records for a Randolph Mayfield, in Ninety-Six District or anywhere else in the time frame before 1800. Possibly he acquired his land by assignment from someone else, who had accomplished the survey but had not yet obtained the patent (title). It is also possible that he may have been a "squatter," i.e., held only "tomahawk rights" to land in Greenville County when he was resident there.

The Greenville land records indicate that at least two of the land owning Mayfields, who were resident in that county in 1790, had begun to sell their land in that county by the early 1793-1794 time frame. Micajah Mayfield sold his 123 acres in 1793 and Isaac Mayfield sold 200 acres in 1794. However, Jesse Mayfield (another probable brother of Randolph) did not sell his 166-acre grant until 1818.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN KNOX COUNTY TN

Unfortunately, although Knox County (then part of North Carolina), was formed from Green and Hawkins Counties in 1792, the only tax lists that have survived for the early years of that County are for the years 1796 and 1803-1828. The 1796 Tax List shows that both a Randolph Mayfield and a Micajah Mayfield owed the poll tax that year but had left the county. This indicates that Randolph and his brother Micajah Mayfield had left South Carolina by at least 1796 if not earlier.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN LINCOLN COUNTY KY

1) Tax Records:

The earliest record in Kentucky re a Randolph Mayfield, that I have been able to find, is a 1797 poll tax record for Lincoln County. However, he may have been in the area as early as the latter part of 1796 as his son, Isaac Mayfield, is reputed to have been born in Kentucky.

1797 - Randle Mayfield, 1 White Poll (WP), 4 Horses

1798 - No Records Are Extant

1799 - Randle Mayfield, 1 WP, 5 Horses, 180 Acres of Land

1800 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 5 Horses

1801 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 4 Horses

1802 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 4 Horses

1803 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 5 Horses, 165 Acres of Land

1804 - Extant records Are Incomplete

1805 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 3 Horses

1806 - Randolph Mayfield, 1 WP, 3 Horses

Note: Casey County was formed out of Lincoln in 1807; Randolph's farm fell within the bounds of this new county.

1807 - No Mayfields Noted

1808 - No Mayfields Noted

2) Land Records:

From the above we can conclude that Randolph was in KY by at least 1797 (one year before he obtained a Warrant for his land) and that, when he left KY to live in Lincoln County TN, he probably just abandoned the land and made no effort to obtain title and sell it to another party.

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN CASEY COUNTY KY

RANDOLPH MAYFIELD IN Lincoln County TN

Based on the above review of the Casey County KY tax lists, Randolph probably removed to Lincoln County TN either late in the year 1812 or early in the year 1813. The earliest official record that I can find for him in Lincoln County TN is for 11 May 1815, when he was summoned to serve as a juror. I have found no record indicating that he ever owned any land in TN. However, on 5 December 1815, Randolph made a deed of gift to his grandchildren (children of his daughter Jenny who married Charles Hamilton) , i. e., Nancy, Sally, James, Randolph and Jean Hamilton, of apparently all of his more valuable personal property (cattle, feather bed, quilt, pewter dishes, etc.). Randolph is shown in the 1820 Federal Census for Lincoln County TN. The last record I can find for Randolph in TN is dated 17 April 1822, when Randolph appeared in Lincoln County Court as a plaintiff in a lawsuit. I have found no probate records or evidence of appointment of administrators for his estate. However, he presumably died, intestate, in TN within a few years of his last court appearance in 1822. Randolph's estate, at the time of his death, was probably of such a limited extent that appointment of an administrator was unnecessary.

CHILDREN OF RANDOLPH MAYFIELD

I have no hard evidence regarding most of the children of Randolph Mayfield. The 1810 Federal Census for Casey County KY shows Randolph Mayfield with the following people in his household:

2 Males under age 10
2 Males age 10-16
3 Males age 16-26
1 Male age 45 & up (presumably this is Randolph himself)
2 Females under age 10
1 Female age 26-45 (presumably this is Randolph's wife)

One daughter, Jenny Mayfield, was already married (in 1805) by this time and would not be shown as resident in Randolph's household. Accordingly, based on the above, we should expect Randolph to have a total of 7 sons and 3 daughters - 10 children in all. Unfortunately, I have been able to find documentation in KY and TN for only five sons (John, James, Elijah, Isaac and Randolph, Jr.) and one daughter (Jenny). Also, I have personally researched in depth only one of Randolph's children, James Mayfield (1791-1849), who died in LaClede County MO in August 1849.

Data concerning four of the children (Thomas, Robert, Sally and Elizabeth) have been taken from information provided by James Ragon of Jackson, Tennessee. James collected the data from LDS File AFN:3MXG-NN. This file was submitted c. 1960-1970 by Bertha M. Harris, deceased as of Feb. 1983, formerly of 65 E. 100 N, Hyrum, UT, 84319. Bertha is probably a descendent of Elijah Mayfield as the information pertaining to his family is the most complete. She is the same lady who claims that Elijah Mayfield married Elizabeth Sims when she was only 13 years of age!

Based on the above, Randolph Mayfield had a total of 10 children as follows:

1.  Jenny Mayfield, born Abt. 1787 probably in Greenville County SC. She married Charles Hamilton 02 July 1805 in Lincoln County KY.  Her marriage bond is dated 2 July 1805, Lincoln County KY; Richard Mason is surety; consent of Randal Mayfield for the bride; witnessed by Richard Mason.

2.  John Mayfield, born Abt. 1789 in Greenville County SC.  This John Mayfield first appears in the Casey County KY Poll Tax List for the year 1810 - thus indicating that he was 21 at that time. This would indicate that John was born in about the year 1789.

3.  James Mayfield, born 1791 probably in Greenville County SC; died August 1849 in LaClede County MO.

4.  Elijah Mayfield, born 30 March 1793 probably in Greenville County SC; died 20 February 1855 in Orange County, Indiana.

5.  Isaac Mayfield, born Abt. 1796 probably in Lincoln County KY. He married Althea _____.  This Isaac Mayfield first appears in the Casey County KY Poll Tax List for the year 1817 - thus indicating that he was 21 at that time. This would indicate that Isaac was born in about the year 1796.

6.  Thomas Mayfield, born Abt. 1799 in Lincoln County KY.

7.  Sally Mayfield, born 1801 in Lincoln County KY; died October 1866 in Hardeman County TN. She married John Spurlin Aft. 1828 in Hardeman County TN.

8.  Elizabeth Mayfield, born Abt. 1803 in Lincoln County KY.

9.  Robert Mayfield, born Abt. 1805 in Lincoln County KY.

10. Randolph Mayfield, born Abt. 1809 in Casey County KY; died Abt. 1867 in Hardeman County TN.  The following information concerning Randolph is from "HARDEMAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE," edited by the Hardeman County Historical Commission, Bolivar, TN (published 1979):