Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg, VA

Monday, July 9, 2018

by Patrick Fort

This summer, the Forts traveled northeast to Williamsburg, VA for a week. Being a history teacher, I was excited to be able to spend time in a region with so much history around every turn. I was excited to spend time in Yorktown where Cornwallis and his men fell to the Continental Army and to walk on the USS Wisconsin that fought in WWII and in other conflicts including Desert Storm. However, I enjoyed what I found in Williamsburg the most.

When my wife and I toured colonial Williamsburg, we were able to go into the Capitol, the Governor’s palace, and much more. But my favorite part was the tour of the Randolph house. Peyton Randolph was an important founding father of the United States. You’ve never heard of him? I hadn’t either. This is strange for a person that prides himself in the knowledge of important names, dates, and events. Peyton Randolph came from a long line of rich, wealthy colonists. He was the son of John Randolph and the grandson of William Randolph. Peyton had a major influence in the birth of our new country. He was the cousin of Thomas Jefferson and was the 1^st and 3^rd president of the Continental Congress. Unfortunately he died in 1775, one year before the Declaration of Independence was signed, and so he is not remembered like the others.

After the tour I was left wondering if I would be another Peyton Randolph – someone who would be influential in his own right yet forgotten over time. We think that life and the accomplishments we have in life are of utmost importance. But are they really? Randolph had it all – wealth, influence, and accomplishments. But are those really that important in life? Mark 8:36-37 says, “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? What can a man give in exchange for his life?”

I learned from Peyton Randolph that influencing a country is great but it will be forgotten in time. There were pharaohs in ancient Egypt who had everything in the world, yet they still lost their lives just like the common slaves. The most important thing in life is to set yourself and the people around you up for life after death. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it (Mark 8:34).” I am sure that over time, I will be forgotten in man’s eyes. But living again with Jesus is what I strive for. And helping others find this same relationship with the Lord is extremely important.

“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

history.org