A Bizarre Situation at Bizarre
Following the 1793 acquittal of murdering their out-of-wedlock newborn infant, Nancy Randolph and her lover and brother-in-law Richard Randolph, her sister's husband, returned to Bizarre, the Randolphs' plantation in Virginia. There, Richard Randolph, his wife Judith, Nancy's sister, and Nancy Randolph all resumed their lives together under one roof along with the two women's brother Possum John Randolph.
From that time on, Nancy Randolph was reduced to living as a servant in the Randolph home. Her only privilege seems to have been being allowed to take her meals at the family table. As degrading as Nancy's life had now been reduced to, in a few years it would become considerably worse.
Judith Randolph Deteriorates in Mind and Body
Shortly following the murder trial and their return to Bizarre Plantation, Judith Randolph wrote a letter to Mary Harrison. Judith related that her health was "very bad, indeed so much have I suffered lately," in both mind and body. She feared that a "few months will put an end to my troubles in this world." It is unclear as to whether Judith meant that she expected to die in a few months or that the cause of her misery "in this world" would die.
Whichever her meaning, Judith continued to closely watch her sister and Richard. Continually, according to Nancy, Judith lamented that her sister must "be taught to expiate her sin" and that she must "earn her living and keep her place."
A Horrendous Situation Worsens
In 1796, Richard Randolph died. Judith now began to accuse Nancy of poisoning her husband. Then the Southern Grapevine again began to buzz Murder once again. But it was not a buzz that whispered Nancy Randolph's name, but that of her sister's. The gossip put Judith tricking Nancy into actually, but unknowingly, administering the concoction that killed Richard.
The Death of Richard Randolph: Was it Murder by Wife or Lover? continues with What Killed Richard Randolph?: A Recipe For Death, Perhaps
Previous: Nancy Randolph Acquitted: Forced into Servitude by Relatives.
Recommended Reading:
Maude Adams: The Girl Who Grew up to become Peter Pan.
