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Height 6 feet‚ 2 inches; weight 184 lbs.; color of eyes
blue. Special marks of identification: right eye slightly smaller‚
large mole on body.
John Marlo Culpeper was born in England 10 May 1633. |
No evidence has ever been found for John Culpepper’s middle
name of Marlo, and middle names, in general, were not common until
about 100 years later. According to Fairfax Harrison, The
Proprietors of the Northern Neck "He was baptised in
Hollingbourne‚ April 4‚ 1633‚ as ’John‚
sonne of Thomas Culpeper‚ esq.’" Estate records
(Albemarle Co.‚ NC 4 Apr 1797) list the name as "Jno.
Culpepper." |
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Was appointed General Surveyor of the Carolinas under Charles
II. |
John Culpeper was appointed Surveyor General by
the Lords Proprietors in 1671. |
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It was he who laid out the city of Charles Town‚ afterward
called Charleston. His work as Surveyor took him to all parts of
Carolina. |
Although he was noted in Virginia and North Carolina land records
and in New England shipping records‚ the only surveying activity
noted was in Charleston‚ SC. |
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His democratic spirit won for him the love and confidence of
the people‚ which made him the Master Spirit in the insurrection
that took away the power of the self-appointed officiary of the
Carolina Colonies and placed in authority officers elected by the
people. |
This is obviously a reference to the John Culpeper
associated
with Culpeper’s Rebellion in 1677. |
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Because of this‚ he was relieved of his official position as
General Surveyor and the establisher of bounds to the different
grants issued by the crown. |
According to Fairfax Harrison‚ John Culpeper fled from South
Carolina. Some sources suggest a food shortage and others suggest
that‚ his sister‚ Frances‚ and brother-in-law‚ Sir William
Berkeley‚ the Governor of Virginia‚ were involved in a land deal
in Albemarle‚ NC which necessitated John Culpeper’s rapid
removal. As noted above‚ Bacon’s Rebellion against Gov. Berkeley
took place in 1676 and one wonders if this was in some way connected
with John Culpeper’s hasty move north. In any event‚ by July
1677‚ John Culpeper was residing in Albemarle‚ NC‚ probably on
land owned by his brother-in-law‚ Sir William Berkeley. In
December 1677‚ John allegedly usurped the government from a
Collector of the King’s Customs named Miller who was a temporary
Deputy Governor. In fact‚ although associated with one of the
factions in the rebellion‚ John Culpepper was away from the colony
in the months preceding the revolt and arrived back only shortly
before it took place. He was directed by the group to be the Custom’s
Collector in the place of Miller‚ and for this‚ he went on trial
in England. |
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Was arrested‚ taken back to England‚ |
He went
voluntarily. He was not arrested until he tried to return
to Albemarle. For more factual detail on Culpeper's Rebellion and John's role within it,
see William Smith's Master's thesis: Culpeper's Rebellion: New Data
and Old Problems. |
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there tried for treason‚ |
Colepeper’s Case |
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but was cleared of the charge. Where upon the King reinstated
him‚ and returned him to his work. |
No account of his subsequent career has been found. |
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It was on 8 Apr 1655 that he married Ruth Jane Peck--born 23
Oct 1638‚ died 3 May 1684. |
There is no record of this marriage. According to p. 24 of A
Journal of the Grand Council of S. C.‚ John Culpeper’s wife’s
name was Judith. John Culpeper later married Sarah Mayo. |
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To this union four children were born‚ viz.‚
- Annie‚ who married S. P. Sumner and by whom six children
were born‚ there being four boys and two girls;
- Mattie‚ who never married;
- Thomas F.--see line below--;
- Charles B.‚ who never married‚ is thought to have
perished at sea.
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The unnamed "orphans of Jno. Culpeper" were noted in
surviving estate records (The Colonial Records of North Carolina,
Second Series, Vol. III: North Carolina Higher Court Records,
1697-1701, Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and
History, Historical Publications Section, 1971, p. 5) but only one
daughter‚ Sarah Culpeper‚ has ever been identified because she
was listed as a step-daughter in the estate papers of Sarah (Mayo)
Culpeper’s husband‚ Patrick Henley. There is no record of a
marriage between an Annie Culpeper and S. P. Sumner. |
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John Marlo Culpeper was a first cousin to Lord Culpeper who
was Gov. of VA for awhile‚ whose rule was anything but pleasing
both to the Virginia Colony and to his King. |
John Culpeper was a second cousin to
Thomas, 2nd Lord Culpeper. |
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All, however, loved John Marlo‚ and in old age he was called
father by the people of Charleston. He lived 60 years to the very
day and almost the hour‚ dying 10 May 1693‚ in the home of his
daughter‚ Mrs. Sumner. |
Fairfax
Harrison noted "no final record of this John Culpeper has
come to light" but‚ as noted above‚ John’s wife‚ Sarah‚
married Patrick Henley and they are noted in 24 Feb 1695 executing
"the last will & testament of John Culpeper late of
Pascotank [NC]‚ Gent. dec’d" North Carolina History and
Genealogical Register, p. 259. There is no evidence that Mrs.
Sumner was John’s daughter or that John died in her home. |
Thomas Fairfax Culpeper
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Height 5 feet 8 inches; weight 170 lbs; color of eyes gray.
Special marks of identification: a large mole on body‚ a deep scar
on chin.
Thomas Fairfax Culpeper was born in Northern Carolina‚ 20
Nov 1660. |
At this date‚ the colony did not exist. The alleged father of
Thomas‚ John Culpeper‚ the "Carolina Rebel‚" became
associated with this area circa 1677‚ probably because his sister‚
Frances‚ and
brother-in-law‚ Gov. Berkeley of Virginia‚ had an interest in
the property. Or possibly he came there as a result of Bacon’s
Rebellion against Gov. Berkeley in 1676. |
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Was sent to Oxford‚ England‚ to college‚ where he
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in May 1681. |
A comprehensive list of
Oxford graduates during 1500-1866 shows no Thomas Culpeper or
Colepeper receiving a degree at this time. Sir Thomas Colepeper,
baronet, son of Richard Colepeper of Preston Hall, Kent, did
matriculate 15 Jun 1672 at age 15, but is not reported to have
received a degree.
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It was on 1 Jun 1681‚ just a few days after graduation‚
that he married Sarah Ray--born 18 Nov 1662‚ died 2 Dec 1724--with
whom he had been in love since he was a boy of 12 years‚ at which
time he had visited his maternal grandparents living near Portsmouth‚
England. It was while playing along the coast they had met and
together had gathered shells. One day Sarah found a tiny mussel
shell and dividing it‚ she gave to Thomas a half and kept the
other half herself. Thomas returned to the colony but no one there
was able either to get the shell or learn its secret. When in his
last year at college they had again met‚ each demanded to see the
other half. One half was found to be on a gold chain worn about the
neck of Sarah‚ the other half in the pocket of Thomas. The care
taken of the bits of shell told to each other more of the story of
love‚ than was possible in any other way. It was not a hard task
to get the consent of parents‚ so the alliance dreamed of in
childhood became a reality later on. If providence ever had a hand
in the affairs of love‚ surely in this case. Their life was one
sweet communion‚ and when they came to the end of life here‚
neither felt like taking the longest of pilgrimages without the
other. So they departed this life together and are united now in the
beyond‚ if the wish of either heart was fulfilled. |
No record of this marriage has been found. |
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Thomas after marriage returned to America‚ taught school‚
practiced law‚ and later became private secretary to Lord Culpeper‚
Gov. of VA‚ and his father’s first cousin and for whom he was
named. |
According to Fairfax Harrison, "Capt.
Alexander Culpeper" was secretary to Thomas, second Lord
Culpeper. Alexander was the brother of John Culpeper, the
"Carolina Rebel" and of Frances, the wife of Sir William
Berkeley, Governor of Virginia. Although Alexander was named
Surveyor General of Virginia in 1671, he apparently remained in
England and, in 1691, he willed the sixth part of the Northern Neck
of Virginia which he had inherited, to the widow of Thomas, second
Lord Culpeper.
In 1683‚ the Governor was removed from his position by the King
for leaving the colony without permission. The alleged Thomas
Fairfax Culpepper was supposed to have graduated from Oxford only
two years earlier.
John Culpeper‚ the "Carolina Rebel"‚ and alleged
father of Thomas Fairfax Culpepper‚ was a second cousin of Thomas‚
second Lord Culpeper. |
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Was the father of two children--twin boys‚
- Sam Low--see line below—and
- John Marlo‚ who changed his name to John Marlo Pepper‚
possibly due to the fact that he became engaged in the
manufactory of whiskey and desired to shield his mother‚ a
very pious woman‚ from the disgrace.
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No records have ever been found with the names of Sam Low
Culpeper, John Marlo Culpeper, or John Marlo Pepper |
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Thomas died in Charleston‚ SC‚ 2 Dec 1724. |
No will or probate record has been found in South Carolina‚ nor
has any record been found showing that he ever lived there. No other
record of Thomas Fairfax Culpeper has ever been found‚ either in
America‚ or in England. |
Sam Low Culpepper
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Height 6 feet; weight 160 lbs; color of eye dark blue. Special
marks of identification: right eye slightly smaller‚ left-handed‚
hair very red.
Sam Low was born in Virginia‚ 3 Jul 1692. Changed the
spelling of his name from two p’s to three. |
John Culpepper‚ an alleged grandson‚ signed his name
"John Culpeper" on an estate record in 1807 but he signed
"John Culpepper" on a letter in 1853. The name was spelled
several different ways in English and American records because
spelling standards had not yet been established and people spelled
words‚ including names‚ the way they sounded. |
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Became overseer and manager of that part of the Lord Thomas
Fairfax estate that came to him by his wife Catherine Culpeper‚
the only daughter of Lord Thomas Culpeper. |
Lord Fairfax? see notes below about husband and son of Catherine.
There is no evidence that a Sam Low Culpepper ever managed this
property. |
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Sam Low was married 19 Apr 1736‚ to Ruth Waters‚ a
half-breed Indian girl of great beauty. She was born 29 Aug 1719‚
and died 1 Jan 1779. |
There is no record of this marriage. |
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To this union eleven children were born‚ two only living to
be grown;
- Charles Marion—see line below.
- Alfred Norman—born 4 Jan 1742. Became a lawyer and later
moved into Maine--there married and raised a family of five boys
and three girls‚ all living to be grown and married. When
Alfred was last seen in VA‚ he told his brother Charles that
he had thirty-eight grandchildren and that twenty were boys that
would bear the family name. When he and his brother came into
the VA estate‚ he--Alfred--was too old to come back and look
after his share‚ so sold his part to W. P. Jones‚ the
son-in-law of his brother Charles. Since then‚ all trace of
him and his has been lost.
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Although shipping records link the Culpeper name to the New
England area‚ no record of the family has been found in Maine or
New Hampshire. Prior to 1820, Maine was part of New Hampshire.
Also, no record of the sale of a share of the VA estate to W. P.
Jones has ever been found. |
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Sam Low managed this estate for nearly forty years and died
Oct 21 1763‚ without knowing that his boys would come into
possession of it in their old age. |
No record of Sam Low Culpepper has ever been found in any record‚
in Virginia‚ or elsewhere. |
Charles Marion Culpepper
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Height 5 feet 7 inches; weight 120 lbs; color of eyes blue;
complexion dark; hair very black. Special marks of identification:
was left-handed; large mole on body; a double thumb on right hand.
Charles Marion Culpepper was born in Culpeper County‚ VA‚
8 Dec 1739. |
Culpeper Co., VA was created in 1749 from Orange Co., VA‚ and
no Culpeper/Culpepper appears in marriage‚ land‚ or probate
records from either county. |
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Lived with his parents until their death. Was converted‚
called to preach‚ and became a Methodist Circuit rider in Virginia
and Maryland. Though of limited educational attainments‚ was a
speaker and preacher of unusual ability‚ being an orator of the
old school. |
Methodist records do not mention his ordination |
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It was on 3 Jun 1773 that he married Laura Lee‚ the aunt of
Harry Lee known in history as "Light-horse-Harry‚" she
was a sweet singer and therefore of great help to her preacher
husband. |
Charles Marion Culpepper is not mentioned in Lee family
genealogies and no record of this marriage has been found. |
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To this union four children were born:
- John William
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This is supposed to be John Culpepper, husband of Nancy Gillespie‚
and the subject of considerable research by Lew Griffin. A grandson‚
Joseph Richard Culpepper‚ after reading this history wrote to his
father‚ Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper‚ a son of John Culpepper‚
and then to his cousin‚ Rev. George Bright Culpepper‚ who also
had a copy of the history:
I wrote to Father asking him to give me all the information
he could relative to his father‚ grandfather‚ etc. He knows
nothing farther back than his grandfather who was John instead of
Charles Marion….
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- Edgar Allen—born 10 May 1777. Married 1 Jan 1800 to Grace
Taylor. That Spring moved to Eastern Tennessee where a large
family was raised consisting of seven boys and four girls. There
is no further record‚ except of his death‚ which took place
Jun 3 1852‚ so far as is known‚ save that founded in
tradition. Those however claiming Edgar as their primogenitor
are found in TN‚ MS‚ AR‚ and MO.
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There is no record of this marriage. Nor does this family appear
in the 1800 census of Tennessee‚ or in any subsequent census
records. |
- Sarah Jane—born 29 Aug 1779. Married on 29 Jun 1803 to
Dr. Lovik Pierce‚ the father of Bishop Pierce. There were six
children‚ three boys and three girls. All lived and married
and raised large families.
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According to the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical
Register, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct. 1900), Rev. Lovick Pierce, D.D.,
of Georgia was the son of Philip Pierce and Lydia Culpepper and he
was the father of Bishop George F. Pierce of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. According to The Pierces and Their Posterity
compiled by Clara Waldron Pierce, James Pierce McClurkin and Graham
L. Pierce (printed and bound by the Parthenon Press, n.d.) p. 76,
there was a Lovick Pierce, Jr. and Sr. and Lovick Pierce, Sr. was
the son of Phillip and Martha (Andrews) Pierce and Lovick Pierce,
Sr. was the husband of Lydia Culpepper. |
- Sally Ann—born 20 Nov 1780‚ married Walter P. Jones‚
a rich planter of true American stock. There were eight children‚
six boys and two girls.
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Sally is a nickname for Sarah‚ so the two girls had the same
first name. No record of this marriage has ever been found. |
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When the Fairfax estate in Virginia‚ which came to him by
his wife Catherine, was confiscated in the year 1780‚ Charles
Marion and his brother Alfred laid claim to that portion of the
estate which their father Sam Low had been manager of‚ and where
all his children were born and raised. |
The "him" appears to refer to Thomas,
fifth Lord Fairfax. Catherine
Culpeper‚ was the daughter of Thomas‚
the second Lord Culpeper. Thomas‚ fifth Lord Fairfax died in
1710 and his wife‚ Catherine‚ died in 1719. The land passed to
their son‚ Thomas‚ sixth Lord
Fairfax and, on his death in 1781‚ the land passed to his
brother‚ Robert‚ seventh
Lord Fairfax with a sixth interest to his nephew‚ Denney
Martin. They owned the land in 1786 when the Virginia Assembly
abolished the proprietorship.
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They were deeded by the Virginia Council ten thousand acres of
land‚ the greater part lying in Culpeper Co., VA. |
As noted above‚ no Culpeper/Culpepper appears in marriage‚
land‚ or probate records of Culpeper Co.‚ VA. |
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It was on 11 Feb 1794 that he died‚ leaving his children not
only riches in land‚ but the goodly heritage of a Godly life. |
No mention of Charles Marion Culpeper has ever been found in any
record‚ in Virginia‚ or elsewhere. |
