Randall Black

Although there may have been multiple enslaved people named Randall or Randolph at Sherwood, we believe Randall Black was the blacksmith for the Tylers and was also a skilled deer hunter. Julia Gardiner Tyler mentioned Randall and his skill as a marksman in three letters, each about a year apart.

In December 1846, Julia Gardiner Tyler wrote, “We have feasted upon venison this autumn and now again have more on hand which Randall, our blacksmith, has supplied us with by his gun’s good aim.” [1] In November 1847, Julia wrote, “Randall is charmed with his gun - as I have been with all my things that arrived by the Marietta B…” [2] And lastly, Julia described an occasion on which Randall and John Tyler hunted deer together: “Randall sent up word this morning that he should start a deer for 'Massa David' and accordingly he and the P- have gone on the chase. Two deer crossed the lower field just previous to their starting and as I have heard a gun fired a moment since I think they may have encountered them. Perhaps D- will after all carry home a harvest of venison.” [3] Julia refers to her brother, David Lion Gardiner, in this letter. In many letters, Julia refers to John Tyler as “the P-” short for “the President.”

Darlene Black Giles, a descendant of the Black family, writes the following in response to Julia’s letters: “Julia Tyler's comments about Randall Black's hunting ability begs for a more comprehensive perspective. While Randall provided Tyler's harvest of venison, his own family would have been left wanting…The provisions were meager and yet the service was always supposed to be impeccable. Necessity oftentimes breeds creativity which led to such culinary delights as chitlins and is reflected in the whole genre of soul food.” [4]

During the Civil War, Randall Black likely stayed at Sherwood and was left in charge by General Wild. James A. Semple, a neighbor, reported in 1864 that “Little Burwell and his wife, Claiborne and his wife and Randall and his wife have returned to Sherwood and in connection with some free negroes have a tolerable crop of corn.” [5]

Tyler biographer Robert Seager wrote in 1863 that General Wild’s correspondence indicated that “‘three colored men (two old and one middle-aged) with their families, said to be claimed by Mrs. Tyler as her servants, who now live as they have done for many years upon the estate of the late Mr. Tyler… have cultivated some portion of the estate and I suppose desire to reap where they have sown.’” [6] General Wild’s letter provides more evidence that three men, who were likely Randall Black, Claiborne, and the younger Burwell, remained at Sherwood Forest after Julia sailed to New York in 1863.

The 1870 U.S. Census lists a “Randal Black,” born about 1805, whose age in 1870 would have been about 65, with an inferred spouse named Lacy/Lucy Black, and whose occupation was “laborer.” [7]

Randolph Black died in April 1875: “Death Register: colored male died at ‘Sherwood Forest’ of old age, age 86 years - son of Douglas BLACK - death reported by D.G. Tyler, friend (He was one of the founders of Parrish Hill Baptist Church and was likely buried there [in an unmarked grave].)” [8]

In 1859, Randall may have been involved in a lawsuit. Randall likely sold cornmeal to a free man named James Brown:

“2nd Count and the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do further present that the said James Brown, to wit in the month and year aforesaid, in the County aforesaid, three other bushels of Indian cornmeal, of the value of three dollars, of the goods and chattels of the said John Tyler, by one negro man slave named Randal, the property of the said John Tyler, and acting as his miller, then lately before feloniously stolen, taken and carried away, of him the said Randal, then and there feloniously did buy and receive, he the said James Brown, then and there, well knowing the said mentioned good and chattels to have been feloniously stolen, taken and carried away, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Virginia.” [9]

[1] Julia Gardiner Tyler to Alexander Gardiner, 24 Dec. 1846, Tyler Family Papers, Group A. Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William & Mary, copy.

[2] Julia Gardiner Tyler to Alexander Gardiner, 18 Nov. 1847, Tyler Family Papers, Group A. Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William & Mary, copy.

[3] Julia Gardiner Tyler to Alexander Gardiner, 15 Dec. 1848, Transcripts of Tyler Family Papers, Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation, Charles City, Virginia.

[4] Darlene Black Giles, email to Frances Tyler, 11 Sep. 2020.

[5] James A. Semple to Julia Gardiner Tyler, 1864, Transcripts of Tyler Family Papers, Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation, Charles City County, Virginia.

[6] Seager, Robert. And Tyler Too, 1963, p. 491.

[7] 1870 U.S. Census, Charles City County, Virginia, retrieved from FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFLL-SPD.

[8] 80% Heaven Bound: Deaths and Burials in Charles City County, compiled by Sherry Brown Tyler for the Charles City County Historical Society, 2000, p. 323.

[9] Commonwealth v. Brown Grand Jury Presentment, Nov. 1859, printed in Charles City County Historical Society Newsletter.