RANDALL. RANDALL. 499 committees on mercantile affairs and en- grossed bills, acting the latter year as chairman of the committee on mercantile a! fairs. Although he has engaged in no active business since his return from Europe, he is a director and stockholder in various manufacturing companies. Mr. Randall was elected to the national House of Representatives (51st Congress) in 1S88. He was married in New Bedford, No- vember 10, 1 85 1, to Sarah Spooner, daugh- ter of Jireh and Nancy (Nye) Perry. Of this union were two children : Harriet CHARLES S. RANDALL. (Mrs. Walter Clifford, New Bedford) and Sarah (Mrs. John W. Griswold, Troy, N.Y.) Mr. Randall is a lineal descendant on his father's side from Tristram Coffin, who landed in Nantucket in 1640. His grand- mother was Jerusha Coffin, a descendant of Tristram. On his mother's side his descent is direct from Samuel Sturtevant, a surveyor, who was in Plymouth as early as 1637, and Richard Bourne, one of the incorporators of Sandwich in 1637. Mr. Randall now owns the farm in Plym- outh county (Rochester) settled in 1699 by Charles Sturtevant, who married the grand- daughter of Rev. Samuel Arnold, the first minister settled over the town of Roches- ter. Charles Sturtevant, the grandfather of Mr. Randall, was in the battle of Lex- ington, corporal of a company of militia from Rochester. RANDALL, WILLIAM PRITCHARD, son of George and Martha (Sturtevant) Ran- dall, was born in New Bedford, Bristol county, November 30, 1832. He was educated at the Friends' Acad- emy in New Bedford, at Andover, and later was four years in the College du Havre, at Havre, France. After graduat- ing he chose the sea as his profession, and was an experienced navigator and ship- master at the opening of the war in 1861, and was about to sail in command of a merchant ship at that time. He gave up his command, offered his services to the United States, and on the 24th of July, 1861, was appointed an acting master in the United States navy. As an endorsement for his standing and ability, he had pre- viously presented to the government a cer- tificate signed by the president of every insurance company in New Bedford, to the effect that their offices would insure any vessel under his command at the lowest rates of insurance. He was first ordered to the " Cumber- land," and served on that vessel at the capture of Forts Clarke and Hatteras, and in the contest with the " Merrimac " at Newport News, March 8, 1S62. He was in command of the after pivot-gun, which was the last gun fired on the ship in that mem- orable contest. On the 28th of May, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of volunteer lieutenant, and served on the gun-boat " Port Royal " through that summer. From January 26, 1863, he commanded the Unit- ed States bark "Pursuit " until August 12, 1864, and from that date he commanded the United States bark " Restless " until Feb- ruary 23, 1S65, when he took command of the United States steamer " Hendrick Hudson," and remained in that command until March 9, 1865. On the 17th of March, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of volunteer lieutenant-commander. On the 19th of December, 1865, he was honor- ably discharged from the United States navy, with the rank of lieutenant-com- mander. On the 26th of November, 1866, he was appointed as acting master in the regular navy. March 12, 1868, he received a commission as ensign, and was promoted to lieutenant, March 21, 1870. Since that time Mr. Randall has served in that rank, and has rendered very valu- able service to the government. His rec- ord is without spot or stain. He was de-
