RANDLE FAMILY

"Dumb" John Randle

This John Randle was born about 1734 in King William Couty, VA. He is called "Dumb" John as he could not speak. He moved to Brunswick County, VA and married Mary Tabitha Lyon. Along with other early Methodist pioneers, he migrated to a site on the west bank of the Yadkin River in what is now Stanly County, NC. Early Methodist Society members met in the homes of John Randle and John Robert Snuggs prior to the first sanctuary being built about 1785. This structure was essentially just a brush arbor. John Randle was a man of great faith. He became known to, and supported, the work of Francis Asbury, one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Church which was formed in 1784. John Randle died between 1800 and 1810 and is believed to be buried in the yard of his home. The John Randle house is across the street from Randall Church and is listed on the National Registry of Historical places.

John Randle

John Randle, son of "Dumb" John Randall (Some sources say "Dumb" John died with out issue and that this John Randall was the nephew of "Dumb" John Randle and son of Peter Randle), was born in 1784 in present day Stanly County. He married Ann Marshall about 1815. He died 13 February 1824. His obituary in the Carolina Observer: 26 Feb 1824, issue 37 stated: "Near Allentown in Montgomery Co. on the 13th inst, Mr. John Randle, member of the State Legislature, died of Cancer." The inscription on his tombstone reads:

" IN THE MEMORY OF JOHN RANDLE, ESQ., WHO DIED ON THE 13TH OF FEBRUARY, 1824, IN HIS 40TH YEAR. HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT WORTH, WHO DISCHARGED IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER THE DUTIES OF HUSBAND, FATHER AND FRIEND, AND WITH ABILITY AND INTEGRITY EVERY TRUST CONFIDED TO HIM. HE WAS A POLITE GENTLEMAN, POSSESSED OF A DISPOSITION CHEERFUL, BENEVOLENT AND KIND AND OF A MIND STRONG, HIGHLY CULTIVATED, AND ADORNED BY LITERATURE. AND WITH ALL, HE WAS A PIOUS MAN; TRUSTING IN HIS REDEEMER. HIS SOUL AWAITED, THE REWARD OF HIS VIRTUES."

John Randle Home

SNUGGS FAMILY

John Robert Snuggs

The Snuggs family came to America from England via Holland and settled first in Virginia. The patriarch of the family in America was Robert Snuggs whose son Richard Snuggs was the father of John Robert Snuggs, born October 29, 1777 and died January 15, 1847. It was this John Robert Snuggs who, in July 1813, deeded church trustees three and one-half acres of land "in consideration of the good will to, and my wishes for the prosperity of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America" (see Deed To Randall United Methodist Church from John Robert Snuggs listed in the CHURCH HISTORY link). This deed included the tract on which the log church and brush arbor stood. For approximately ten years the church was called "Snuggs Meeting House" to commemorate the generous gift of John Robert Snuggs. The name change back to Randall may have come about due to the death of John Randle (1784-1824) who was a member of the state legislator and the son of "Dumb" John Randle. The John Robert Snuggs homeplace stands several hundred years northeast of the church property and has been in the Snuggs family for at least five generations. The current owner is Ed Snuggs who is the great, great grandson of John Robert Snuggs.

OTHER EARLY CHURCH FAMILIES