Nancy Gillespie

Female, #31584, (circa 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)

Birth*circa 1778 Nancy was born at South Carolina circa 1778. 
Marriage*18 May 1794 She married John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL at Richland District, South Carolina, on 18 May 1794. 
Married Name18 May 1794 As of 18 May 1794, her married name was Culpepper. 
(free wh female 16-26) 1800 Census4 Aug 1800 Nancy was probably a free white female, age 16 and under 26, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household on the 1800 Census at Lexington District, South Carolina. Unaccounted for is 1 female 0-10..1 
(free wh female 26-45) 1810 Census6 Aug 1810 Nancy was probably a free white female, age 26 and under 45, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household on the 1810 Census at Richland District, South Carolina. Unaccounted for are 1 male 0-10 and 1 female 16-26..2,3 
Deed*Feb 1823 She granted a deed and with Robert Bell as an adjacent landowner in Feb 1823 at Edgefield District, South Carolina.
(John Culpepper to Josiah Langley Sr. for $800, the tract “where I live” as granted to George Shelnut, 144 acres on Cuffeetown Creek and waters of Stephens Creek and Savannah River, adjoining said Josiah Langley and the heirs of Robert Bell. Witnesses: James Harrison, Mathew Rhodes. Nancy Culpepper gives consent.).4 
(free wh female 50-60) 1830 Census1 Jun 1830 Nancy was probably a free white female, age 50 and under 60, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household, on the 1830 Census at Monroe Co., Georgia.5 
(free wh female 50-60) 1840 Census1 Jun 1840 Nancy was probably a free white female, age 50 and under 60, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household, on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.6 
Death*25 Jul 1848 She died at Meriwether Co., Georgia, on 25 Jul 1848. 
Death25 Jul 1848 She died at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 25 Jul 1848. 
Biography*  In the Bible records of the John Culpepper family which were preserved by Mrs. J. W. (Ira Gay) Deam of Gay, GA, and copied by Mrs. D. W. (Lyvyn Wright) Sisco, John Culpepper's wife was recorded as "Nancy Gillespie" born "about 1778." Joseph Richard Culpepper, in a letter to Rev. George Bright Culpepper circa 1910-1915, wrote that Nancy Gillespie's "mother was a Peek."
      Mrs. John (Dorothy Culpepper) Wingfield preserved a 25 page typed manuscript "ONE FAMILY - CULPEPPER" written by her grandfather, Rev. George Bright Culpepper, who noted: According to the same [John Culpepper Bible] record, John William Culpepper married Nancy Gillespie on May 18, 1794, the ceremony being performed by Reverend Reese, at his house on the Congaree. It was on Sunday, cloudy in the morning and fair in the evening. As best it can be figured, Nancy Gillespie was six years younger than John William, the man she married, and was born on the Peedee River, in South Carolina, near Cheraw. The record recites that to this couple were born eight sons and two daughters.
      Nancy Gillespie is presumed to have been the daughter of Francis Gillespie of South Carolina since one of her sons was named Francis Gillespie Culpepper. Francis Gillespie owned land in Cheraws District, SC and family tradition is that this was where Nancy Gillespie was born. Francis Gillespie's wife was named Elizabeth based on South Carolina deeds (Book O-3, pp. 436-450) as was Nancy's sister Elizabeth "Betsy" Gillespie who married John Slappey (John Culpepper letter 1853).
      Nancy and Betsy Gillespie's presumed mother, Elizabeth, was perhaps a daughter or sister of Daniel Peek. In 1807, John Culpepper and John Slappey were listed as administrators of Daniel Peek's Richland District estate. The bond was also signed by Joseph Culpepper and George Slappey. Buyers at the estate sale included John Culpepper and John Slappey, Elizabeth Gillespie, and others. Prior to his death, Daniel Peek may have given land to John and Nancy Gillespie Culpepper which would account for their move back to Richland District, SC. Daniel Peek's surviving estate records do not mention land but include sixteen slaves, several horses, hogs, and farm produce, indicating that he had been a planter and landowner.
      In Feburary 1823 when John Culpepper sold (Deed Book 43, pp. 322-323, Edgefield Co., SC) 144 acres "where I now live" on Cuffeetown Creek in Edgefield District, SC, this was not the land that he had been granted in 1814. Nancy Gillespy had to relinquish her dower rights to the land: John Culpepper____Deed._____South Carolina______ _____To_____________________Edgefield District____Know all Josiah Langley____men by these presents that I John Culpepper of Edgefield district in the State aforesaid for and In consideration of the Sum of Eight hundred dollars paid to me paid by Josiah Langley Senr of the State and district aforesaid have granted bargained sold and released and by these presents do grant bargain sell and release unto the Said Josiah Langley all that plantation or tract of land where I now live originally granted to George Shelnut Containing one hundred and forty four acres be the Same more or less. Lying and being in Edgefield district on Cuffeetown Creek waters of Stephen's Creek and Savannah River and adjoining Land held by the Said Josiah Langley and the heirs of Rovert Bell beginning at a White oak corner on the Creek thence South 60 E to 50 chain to Stake, thence N 30 E 27 ch 50 Links to white oak corner, thence Nor 60 W. 50 chains to white oak on Cuffeetown Creek, thence down the Said Creek following the windings and bendings of the Said Creek to the beginning corner, containing one hundred and forty acres; Together with all & Singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances the said premises belonging or in any wise ________[?] or appertaining; To Have and to hold all and Singular the premises before mentioned unto the Said Josiah Langley Senr. his heirs and assigns for Ever; and I do hereby bind myself, my heirs Exrs and admns to warrant and for Ever defend all and Singular the Said premises unto the Said Josiah Langley Senr. his heirs and assigns against myself, my heirs and assigns, and against any other person or persons whomsoever Lawfully Claiming or to claim the Same or any part thereof. Witness my hand and Seal this third day of February eighteen hundred and twenty three, and in the forty Seventh year of American Independence Test James Harrison_____________/s/ John Culpepper [Seal] Mathew (his X mark) Rodes__ South Carolina________Personally appeared before me Edgefield District____James Harrison Sn. and made oath that he was present and see John Culpepper Sign Seal and as his Act to deed, Sign Seal and deliver the within instrument of Writing to and for the uses and purposes therein mention, and did also See Mathew Roads with himself Sign his name as a Witness to the due Execution thereof - Sworn to before me this 29th March 1823. __________William Thurmond J.Q_____James Harrison The State of South Carolina____I William Thurmond Edgefield District_____________one of the Justices of the quorum for Said District do hereby Certify unto all whom it may concern that Nancy Culpepper the wife of the within named John Culpepper did this day appear before me and upon being privately and Separately Examined by me did declare that She does freely Voluntarily and without any Compulsion dread or fear of any person or persons whomsoever renounce release and forever relinquish unto the within Josiah Langley his heirs and assigns all her Interest and estate and also all her right and claim of Dower, of, in or to all and Singular the premises within mentioned and released. Given under my hand and Seal this the 29th March 1823___________________________Nancy Culpepper [Seal] William Thurmond J. Q.____Recorded 4th Oct 1828.
      There is a question about whether Mrs. John (Nancy Gillespie) Culpepper died in Meriwether Co., GA or in Randolph Co., AL. Mrs. J. (Clara Haralson) Moorcroft wrote in "THE WILLIAM CULPEPPER AND SALLY LESLIE FAMILY," that the widowed John Culpepper accompanied the William Henry Culpepper family from Meriwether Co., GA to Randolph Co., AL when Clara's mother's was six years old. This would seem to indicate that Nancy Gillespie Culpepper died in Meriwether Co., GA. However there were Elliott descendants living near the Wadley City Cemetery, Randolph Co., AL in the mid 1970's who believed that both John and Nancy Culpepper were buried on their land in Randolph Co., AL. Unfortunately, no records of the location of that land have been found. Lavyn (Wright) Sisco wrote 15 Apr 1994 that she had visited the Wadley City Cemetery with a Dean descendant in 1985 and was told that the two graves to the left of William Henry Culpepper were the graves of John and Nancy (Gillsepie) Culpepper. However Lavyn was also told in a 1973 letter from James Harris that William Henry Culpepper's first wife, Sarah Leslie, was the first person buried in the cemetery. If that is correct then Nancy died a year before Sarah and is not buried in the cemetery. It is possible that the two graves to the left of William Henry are those of Sarah O. (Culpepper) Elliott and her daughter Cynthia, both of whom are supposed to be buried in the cemetery but whose graves have not been identified. The cemetery was known as the Elliott family cemetery before it became the Wadley City Cemetery.
(Names referenced above: Nancy Gillespie Nancy Gillespie). 

Family

John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
Marriage*18 May 1794 She married John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL at Richland District, South Carolina, on 18 May 1794. 
Children

Charts Lew Griffin's Culpepper Ancestry Chart (Great-grandmother Clarissa Eugenia Culpepper Griffin)
Last Edited 25 Feb 2007

Citations

  1. 1800 Federal Census, United States.
    Unknown Township, Lexington District, SC
    Joseph Culpepper, page 560, 2 M0-10, 1 M16-26, 1 M26-45, 1 M45+, 1 F0-10, 1 F10-16, 1 F45+
    John Culpepper, page 561, 3 M0-10, 1 M16-26, 1 F0-10, 1 F16-26.
  2. P 173 (John 1m 26-45 w/5m 0-10, 2m 10-16, 1f 0-10, 1f 16-26, 2f 26-45)
    p 173 Nancy (1 of 2 females 26-45 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 Joel (1 of 2 males age 10-16 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 John J. (1 of 2 males age 10-16 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 Daniel P. (1 of 5 males 0-10 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 Sarah O. (1 female 0-10 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 Francis G. (1 of 5 males 0-10 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 James I. J. (1 of 5 males 0-10 in hh of John Culpepper)
    p 173 George W. (1 of 5 males 0-10 in hh of John Culpepper).
  3. 1810 Federal Census, United States.
    Columbia, Richland District, SC
    John Culpepper, page 173, 5 M0-10, 2 M10-16, 1 M26-45, 1 F0-10, 1 F16-26, 2 F26-45, 16 slaves.
  4. Edgefield Co. SC Deeds abstracted by Lew Griffin , Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.737 R2.
    Edgefield Deed Bk 43, p. 322.
  5. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 194, Unk Twp, Monroe Co., GA (ID: 31566)
    John Culpepper, 1 M10-15, 2 M15-20, 1 M50-60, 1 F50-60.
  6. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 123, Unk Twp, Meriwether Co., GA
    John Culpepper, 1 M60-70, 1 F50-60.