Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Charles Lewis Bankhead

Get a brief look at Charles Lewis Bankhead and hear about his tragic marriage to Jefferson's granddaughter, Ann Cary Randolph.

Charles Lewis Bankhead (1788–1833) was the son of Dr. John Bankhead of Caroline County and husband to Ann Cary Randolph, Thomas Jefferson's eldest granddaughter. Ann and Charles married on September 19, 1808, at Monticello.1 For most of their married life, they resided at an 800-acre estate called Carlton, just west of Monticello. Bankhead read law under Jefferson for several years, but became an alcoholic and turned unsuccessfully to farming. Bankhead was abusive towards his wife, as well as other family members and enslaved people. Ann gave birth to four children who reached adulthood, but had at least eight other pregnancies that ended in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the early death of the infant. She died shortly after the birth of her last child, William Stuart Bankhead, in January 1826, at the age of 35. Bankhead married again in 1829, to Mary Ann Carthrae. He died in June of 1833, of an apparent stroke after being "drunk for some days." His only child with his second wife, Charles Lewis Bankhead (Jr.), was born just three days after his death.

- Heidi Hackford, 2004; revised Anna Berkes, 8/25/25

Children of Charles Lewis Bankhead

With Ann Cary Randolph

  • Unnamed Son (July 1809-July 1809)
  • John Warner Bankhead (December 1, 1810-November 21, 1897), m. Elizabeth Poindexter Christian (1814 - 1895)
  • Thomas Mann Randolph Bankhead (December 30, 1811-July 1, 1851), m. Elizabeth Ann Pryor (1822-1865).
  • Ellen Monroe Bankhead (1812- January 6, 1838)
  • William Stuart Bankhead (1826-1898)

*Note: After the birth of her daughter Ellen and before her last child William, Ann had at least seven other pregnancies that resulted in miscarriage, stillbirth, or children who died in infancy.

With Mary Ann Carthrae

  • Charles Lewis Bankhead (June 22, 1833 - August 19, 1902) m. Mary Warner Bankhead (1831-1907)

 

Primary Source References

1811 May 7. (Eliza Trist to Catharine Bache). "Bankhead has given up the scheme of going to Bedford and has made a purchase of the Farm adjoining Monticello that formerly belonged to Nich. Lewis he gave 16 Dollars an acre which I believe is six more than Browse was to have paid for it."2

1814 August 22. (Eliza Trist to Catharine Bache). "I heard too with great concern that Bankhead has turn'd out a great sot always frolicking and carousing at the Taverns in the Neighborhood."3

1826 January 23. (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph). "... it mortifies me that he [Joseph Coolidge] should be baited by a drunken brute like Charles Bankhead ...."4

1833 June 14. (Martha Jefferson Randolph to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge). "I got a letter from Ben informing me of the death of Charles Bankhead he went one night to Ben’s room accompanied by his servant and told him he had been drunk for some days & was very ill. Ben immediately gave him what he thought the case required; & set up with him till two o clock when he said he was much better. Benjamin went to lie down in an adjoining room leaving him with his servant. at 6 o clock he had an apoplectick fit after which he lived about two hours in a state of absolute insensibility from which it was impossible to rouse him. poor Ellen will be dreadfully distressed for he was really a kind father, and little Willie has shewn a degree of feeling on the occasion that has a good deal affected me."5

- Jefferson Library staff, 2008

Further Sources

Footnotes

  1. John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr., Albemarle County Marriages, 1780-1853 (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1991), 602.
  2. Catharine Wistar Bache Papers, American Philosophical Society.
  3. C.W. Bache Papers, American Philosophical Society.
  4. Correspondence of Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 1810-1861, Accession #9090, 38-584, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. Transcription available at Jefferson Quotes and Family Letters.
  5. Correspondence of Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 1810-1861, Accession #9090, 38-584, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. Transcription available at Jefferson Quotes and Family Letters.