James Culpepper of Nash Co. NC

Male, #1413, (say 1728 - before Nov 1799)

ParentRobert Culpepper Jr. of Lower Norfolk Co., VA (say 1694 - before Oct 1774)
ParentDorcas (?) (say 1700 - )
James Culpepper of Nash Co. NC|b. say 1728\nd. before Nov 1799|p1413.htm|Robert Culpepper Jr. of Lower Norfolk Co., VA|b. say 1694\nd. before Oct 1774|p678.htm|Dorcas (?)|b. say 1700|p679.htm|Robert Culpepper of Lower Norfolk Co., VA|b. say 1664\nd. circa 1742|p834.htm|(?) (?) Unknown wife of Robert CULPEPPER of Norfolk Co., VA|b. say 1666\nd. before 16 Oct 1739|p840.htm|||||||

Birth*say 1728 James was born at Norfolk Co., Virginia, say 1728. 
 He was the son of Robert Culpepper Jr. of Lower Norfolk Co., VA and Dorcas (?). 
Marriage*say 1757 He married Elizabeth (?) say 1757. 
Tax roll*1782 He registered to pay taxes at Nash Co., North Carolina, in 1782.1 
1790 Census*2 Aug 1790 James was listed as the head of a family on the 1790 Census on 2 Aug 1790 at Nash Co., North Carolina.2 
Will*20 Aug 1799 He made a will at Nash Co., North Carolina, on 20 Aug 1799.
     JAMES(x)CULPEPPER's will was made 20 Aug 1799 and proven in Nov Ct 1799. Wife ELIZABETH CULPEPPER - all my estate. After her decease, then: 4 sons - 416 acres. 3 daughter ELIZABETH, SELAH, SALLEY CULPEPPER - feather bed & furniture each. Remainder to be divided among sons CHRISTOPHER, JEREMIAH, JAMES, HENRY, & daughters ELIZABETH, SELAH, & SALLEY CULPEPPER. Ex. wife ELIZABETH CULPEPPER, CHRISTOPHER CULPEPPER Wit DANIEL TAYLOR, JAMES BRUICE, WRIGHT TAYLOR. 
Death*before Nov 1799 He died at Nash Co., North Carolina, before Nov 1799. 
Probate*Nov 1799 James's will was probated at Nash Co., North Carolina, in Nov 1799. 
Reunion*24 Apr 2004 A reuniuon is held periodically for the descendants of James Culpepper. The last reported to Culpepper Connections! was scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2004 at Redeemer Church on Whitesville Road in Columbus, GA. Plans called for celebrating the 90th birthday of Dessie Culpepper. For more information, contact M. W. Culpepper (e-mail address in footnote).3 
Biography* James Culpepper was born in Norfolk County, VA, about 1728 or so. He first appears in surviving Norfolk County tithable records in 1750. He was in Norfolk County tithable records until 1785. In any case, he was in Nash County, NC in 1782, when he bought 266 acres from Williamson Ross on the west side of Turkey Creek (Nash Co, NC Deed Bk. 1-226).
DB1-314: Jeremiah Deens of Nash Co. to William Andrews of Franklin Co. April 5, 1784. in the behalf of the Society of the Regular Baptist, for 50 pds. A parcel of 2 acres, it being part of a tract grante to William McGee in 1761. wit: Henry Deens, James Culpepper, Christopher Culpepper
     In Feb 1785, James, along with Daniel Taylor, witnessed the will of Edward Pursel in Nash County.
     In 1791 James bought another 150 acres in the same area from Simon Williams (Nash Co. Deed Bk 4-66). A 1794 deed shows that James Culpepper was living near James Bruce, perhaps a relative from Norfolk County, VA (Nash Co. Deed Bk. 6-20).
(Names referenced above: James Culpepper of Nash Co. NC James Culpepper of Nash Co. NC). 
Research note*25 Sep 2007 The ancestry of James Culpepper is unproven, but based upon DNA evidence, and on his proximity to the family of Robert Culpepper Jr. in early Norfolk County, he may have been the son of Robert Jr. These tithable records are online at:
http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/va/tidewater/tax1751-1784.htm. The DNA evidence can be viewed at:
http://gen.culpepper.com/dna/results.htm

Based on naming patterns, James, or now more likely, his wife, may be the child of a Mary J. Bruce, whose husband may have been a Henry Culpepper. From tithable records, it appears that other children of Henry and Mary may have been Henry Culpepper III and Jeremiah Culpepper of Norfolk County. Mary left an inventory in Norfolk in 1752. No record has been found of the death of her presumed husband. This Henry appears sporadically in Norfolk County records after 1708, and may have died in Norfolk in the 1730's. He may have been the son of the Henry Culpepper who died in Norfolk County in 1699, although he is not mentioned in his will.

Another possibility is that James was the son of an earlier James Culpepper, who apparently came to Virginia from abroad several times. The first mention of him in immigration records was in 1665 or some time prior (Cavaliers and Pioneers Vol. I, p. 523, Patent Book 5, p. 397, one of the 52 headrights to Mr. Robert Davis or Davies, a ship captain.).

This James is mentioned again as arriving in Virginia in 1667 or some time prior (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 23, Patent Book 6, p. 80, one of the 52 headrights of Anne Tofft or Toft. Anne was one of the more interesting characters in early Isle of Wight Co. VA history.

And he is mentioned a third time as arriving in Virginia in March 1670/1 or earlier (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 90, Patent Book 6, p. 348, one of the 85 headrights of Mr. John Prosser and Henry Creighton.

These multiple trips to Virginia suggest that James may have been a merchant, and was perhaps traveling between London, Barbados, and Virginia on business. This writer has seen no evidence as yet that he stayed in Virginia long enough to leave descendants, but it is possible. He may have been the son of John Culpeper (born 1606) in England, who was the son of John Culpeper of Feckenham and Ursula Woodcock.4 

Family

Elizabeth (?) (say 1736 - after 1800)
Marriage*say 1757 He married Elizabeth (?) say 1757. 
Children

Charts Descendants of Robert Culpepper, Jr. of Lower Norfolk Co., VA (Six generations)
Last Edited 26 Dec 2007

Citations

  1. James Culpepper, Nash Co., NC, 1782 Tax List.
  2. 1790 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 70, Image 0015 (Ancestry Image 4), Nash Co., NC
    4 separate Culpepper families:
    James Culpepper, 2M16+, 2M<16, 4F
    Christopher Culpepper, 1M16+, 1F, 1 Slave
    James Culpepper, Jr., 1M16+, 3M<16, 3F, 3 Free, 3 slaves
    Jeremiah Culpepper, 1M16+, 1M<16, 1F, 3 Slaves.
  3. E-mail from M. W. Culpepper, e-mail address, Columbus, GA to Warrren Culpepper, 2004.
  4. Lewis W. Griffin Jr., 4307 North 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018, e-mail address, Phone: (602) 955-2597.
  5. Will of James Culpepper, 20 Aug 1799.