Stephen Decatur Culpepper

Male, #466, (circa 1818 - 24 Dec 1871)

Parent*Archibald Culpepper1 (2 Feb 1793 - bt 1825 - 1830)
Parent*Mary Fiske1 (s 1794 - 5 Oct 1870)
Stephen Decatur Culpepper|b. circa 1818\nd. 24 Dec 1871|p466.htm|Archibald Culpepper|b. 2 Feb 1793\nd. between 1825 and 1830|p451.htm|Mary Fiske|b. say 1794\nd. 5 Oct 1870|p465.htm|Rev. Peter Culpepper of Camden Co., NC|b. 29 Dec 1752\nd. 18 Mar 1825|p399.htm|Mary McPherson|b. circa 1756\nd. 12 Apr 1813|p11345.htm|James Fiske|b. say 1761|p39186.htm|Elizabeth McPherson|b. say 1763|p39187.htm|

Birth*circa 1818 Stephen was born at Currituck Co., North Carolina, circa 1818. 
 He was the son of Archibald Culpepper and Mary Fiske.1 
1820 Census7 Aug 1820 Stephen was probably a free white male, age under 10, in Archibald Culpepper's household, on the 1820 Census at Camden Co., North Carolina. Enumerated in the census but otherwise unaccounted for is 1 F10-16 and 1 slave..2 
Will3 Jan 1825 In Rev. Peter Culpepper of Camden Co., NC's will on 3 Jan 1825 at Camden Co., North Carolina, Rebecca, Mason, Peter, Lucinday, Dorothy, Archibald, Stephen, John, Thomas, Peter and Elizabeth was named as an heir.
(Peter's will, as transcribed by Alice Doak, follows:

Will Book C 1755-1854 pg. 54 - Camden Co., NC.
January 25, 1825 - Proved August Term 1825

In name of God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost - I, Peter Culpepper,the elder, being of sound mind & memory do constitute & appoint this my Last Will & Testament pray me now & from following that is today - First it is my will that all my lawful debts be paid.

2nd - It is my will & I do hereby lend my wife Rebecca Culpepper a certain part of my plantation on which I now live bounded on the Southwest by the main Road on the north by the land that formerly divided Joseph Overton's land from mine east by a ditch running from said land near my apple orchard to the main Road near McCoy's land together with the use of the houses Standing thereon and

Also Item - My wife the use of all my farming utensils my kitchen furniture except one washing tub called Elizabeth Hawkins washing tub. Also 20 BBO corn, two Barrels Poke (pork) one feather bed & furniture, one cow & calf, 4 sitting stools, my working mare & melase round tea stand, my horse known by the name of Jack Taylor & my hourse Cart all the above I lend my wife, Rebecca Culpepper, during her natural life time but not to abuse. I also lend to my wife the use of my 3 negroes. Lony, Henry & Toney & woman, Grace, during her natural life. Also, my riding gig to have & to hold use therein during her natural life and after the death of my wife, Rebecca Culpepper, my will is that the above property be sold by my Executor & the money coming from the sale thereof to be divided between my heirs hereinafter to be named.

3rd - As to my son, Mason Culpepper, he has already had of my money & other property more than a fair portion of my fortune. Had he conducted himself towards me so as to have merited my fatherly affection - but since his Eighteenth year of age among all my_______in life he has shown himself the most inhuman toward my personal character & property in consequence of which I do not wish him to have any part or lot in the remaining part of my property after my decease as I solemnly say I owe my son, Mason, nothing to my knowledge.

4th - I give to my son, Peter O'Kelly Culpepper, house & plantation and whole tract of land whereon I now live on including all the uplands & swamp lands that I bought of the kin of Joseph Overton, dec'd., together with my two Negro men, Clark & Miles, to have & to hold forever I also give my son, Peter O. Culpepper my mahogany_______& my square folding leaf mahogany table & him to own my (?) watche To have forever.

I give to my Daughter, Dolly Pearce, one feather bed and furniture - one large trunk(?), oak_____which holds my large family Bible to have & to hold forever.

5th - I give unto my granddaughter, Lucy Baxter Spence, the house and plantation where Andrew Powers now lives to have & to hold forever. I leave my Negro boy, Joe, to be sold after my death at Publick sale for six months _____ & the money arriving from the sale of my Negro boy Joe, I give to my daughter, Lucy Baxter Spence, to have and to hold forever.

6th - I give my tract of land called my Upton tract of land to my two grandchildren, Susannah Fanny & Peter Culpepper Lockhart Pearce, to be equal as may be - Beginning at the end of the land near the May Swamp thence running a straight course South so as to make an equal division of the tract of land leaving that part of said land adjoining the plantation where Peter Pearce now lives to Peter Culpepper Lockhart Pearce and the other part to Susannah Fanny Pearce the lands above Directed(?) you to the above Peter Culpepper & Susanniah Fanny (Pearce) to them & their heirs on the Culpepper side & Blood to have & to hold forever. I also give my Granddaughter, Susannah one Cow & calf, one feather bed & furniture to have & to hold forever -

7th - I give to my granddaughter, Elizabeth D. Hawkins, two feather beds & furniture also one cow called the______or Forhand cow, one red heifer 3 years of age, a linen wheel and a washing tub, one sow & pig, two ewes & Lambs, two sitting chairs to have & to hold forever -

8th - I give to my grandson, Stephen Decauter or Decater(?) Culpepper all my lands lying on the south side of the road called Doughty's new road, Currituck County, beginning at the sweet gum standing on the South side of the road______in William Powers line thence West with the road till we come direct a point to the great ditch thence a south most course to William Powers line thence with a line to Josiah Cherry's line & Samuel Powers, Henry Culpepper, & William Powers & my self & thence with said Powers line to the first station gum to have and to hold forever. -

9th - I give to my grandson, John Abbot Culpepper, the plantation & tract of land called the middle field tract beginning at the South end of my new ditch thence running south along the line that divides Stephen's land to the corner tree standing on William Powers line thence westalong said Powers line to a south east course_____strike the end of the ditch that divides the middle field tract from the plantation & tract of land that Thomas Culpepper last built on & thence the various courses of the ditch to the gum swamp thence a due north course to the extremity of my own Virginia plantation paton line thence along another line to ______line thence south a line of marked trees to the great ditch thence along said ditch to the first station to have and to hold forever-

10th - I give to my grandson, Thomas Culpepper, the plantation and tract of land whereon my son, Thomas Culpepper, last lived to have & to hold forever -

11th - My will is that all my property real & personal within doors and outdoors that is not above named to be sold at the most credit & the money arising from the sale thereof to be divided between Dolly Pearce & Peter O. Culpepper and the representative of my daughter, Elizabeth, deceased & of my son Thomas Culpepper & of Henry & of my son Archibold Culpepper & therefore representative of my daughter, Lucinda. The property lent to my wife to be sold at or after her death & the money coming from the sale to be equally divided among the before mentioned heirs & representatives.

And I have & do declare this to be my last will & Testament & by this presents do make void & disclaim all the other wills made by my heretofore & do hereby constitute my trusted friend Willie McPherson & Peter O'Kelly Culpepper my sole Executors of this my last will & Testament as witness my hand this the day & date above mentioned.

Peter Culpepper (Seal)

I hereby renounce my right of Executor to the above will of Peter Culpepper.
W. McPherson

State of North Carolina
Camden County August Term 1825

The annexed will of Peter Culpepper, dec'd read exhibited and proved in open Court by the oath of Geo.Ferebee, Washington Brite & Luke Lamb in due form of Law and at the same time appeared Willie McPherson the Executor to the will & refused to qualify as so. Also appeared Rebecca Culpepper who descented from the said will and on motion ordered that Mason Culpepper has a_____on said estate /with the will annexed/ who app'd, qualified and entered into Bond in the sum of $4000 with Jean(?) Bell & Charles Whitehurst Security. Let the Will be recorded.

Test
M.L(?) Leary, Clerk). 
1830 Census1 Jun 1830 Stephen was probably a free white male, age 10 and under 15, in Mary Fiske's household, on the 1830 Census at Currituck Co., North Carolina.3 
Deed5 Jan 1836 He was an adjacent landowner in the deed granted to Arthur Culpepper witnessed by Hardy Culpepper and Jesse H. Culpepper on 5 Jan 1836.
(Book 21, p. 207, Currituck Co., NC: 5 Jan 1836. Timothy C. Chamberlain to Arthur Culpepper, Timothy as executor of the will of Hollowell Sawyer, deceased, of Camden Co., for $27.50, fifteen acres adjacent to Stephen Culpepper (#466). Witnesses: Hardy Culpepper (#407), Jesse Culpepper (#432), Jurat).4 
Marriage*circa 1840 He married Susan Dozier at North Carolina circa 1840. 
1840 Census*1 Jun 1840 Stephen was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Norfolk Co., Virginia.
(Enumerated in the census but otherwise unaccounted for is 1 slave.).5 
Deed*24 May 1843 He granted a deed to Mary Fiske witnessed by John Abbott Culpepper on 24 May 1843 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 24, p. 236, Currituck Co., NC: 24 May 1843. Stephen Culpepper to Mary Culpepper, both of Currituck Co., for $24, land near the cone land adjacent to J. Culpepper. Witnesses: John Culpepper and Moses B. Powers).4 
Deed*15 Jan 1844 He granted a deed and with Arthur Culpepper and John Abbott Culpepper as an adjacent landowner on 15 Jan 1844 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 23, p. 131, Currituck Co., NC: 15 Jan 1844. Stephen D. Culpepper to Mathias Etheridge, for $235, 50 acres in the backwoods of Moyock District adjacent to Arthur Culpepper, Stephen Culpepper, and John Culpepper. Witnesses: Willis Powers and Mary Akes.).4 
Deed*3 Sep 1845 He granted a deed to Dorothy Pearce and with Peter Lockhart Culpepper Pearce as an adjacent landowner on 3 Sep 1845 at Camden Co., North Carolina.
(Book Y, p. 92: 3 Sep 1845 — Stephen D. Culpepper of Currituck to Dorothy Pearce of Camden, for $15, 50 acres adjacent to Peter C. Pearce, etc., part of the Fanning place. Witness: Peter C. Pearce.).6 
1850 Census*1 Jun 1850 Stephen was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census on 1 Jun 1850 at Moyock, Currituck Co., North Carolina.7 
Deed29 Nov 1852 He was an adjacent landowner in the deed granted by John Abbott Culpepper to Mary Fiske and with Rev. Peter Culpepper of Camden Co., NC as a previous landowner on 29 Nov 1852 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 25, p. 339, Currituck Co., NC: 29 Nov 1852. John E. Culpepper of Currituck Co., to Mary Culpepper of the same place, for $500, land adjacent to a ditch cut by Peter Culpepper, deceased, and Stephen Culpepper, as bequeathed to John Culpepper by his grandfather Peter Culpepper.).4 
Deed8 Aug 1854 Stephen Decatur Culpepper and John Abbott Culpepper witnessed a deed grant by Mary Culpepper to Lydia C. Culpepper and Mary Culpepper on 8 Aug 1854 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 27, p. 203, Currituck Co., NC: 8 Aug 1854. Mary Culpepper of Norfolk Co., VA, but recently of Currituck Co., NC, for love and affection to my two granddaughters Polly Culpepper and Lydia Culpepper, daughters of my son Stephen Culpepper, a bequest of various items. Witnesses: Stephen D. Culpepper and John Culpepper).4 
Deed28 Aug 1855 He granted a deed on 28 Aug 1855 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 27, p. 372, Currituck Co., NC: 28 Aug 1855. Stephen D. Culpepper to William Etheridge, both of Currituck Co., for $25, 129 acres. Witnesses: Moses B. Powers and Alfred Ritter.).4 
Deed5 Apr 1858 A deed was granted to him on 5 Apr 1858 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 28, p. 115, Currituck Co., NC: 5 Apr 1858. President and Directors of the Library Fund of NC to Stephen D. Culpepper, for $73.50, 147 acres in Moyock District.).4 
DeedAug 1858 He granted a deed to Mary Fiske in Aug 1858 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 28, p. 128, Currituck Co., NC: Aug 1858. Stephen D. Culpepper to William Jones, indebted to Mary Culpepper, etc.).4 
Deed29 Dec 1858 He granted a deed to Mary Fiske on 29 Dec 1858 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 28, p. 211, Currituck Co., NC: 29 Dec 1858. Stephen D. Culpepper to William Jones, indebted to Mary Culpepper, etc.).4 
Deed1 Sep 1859 He granted a deed on 1 Sep 1859 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 28, p. 333, Currituck Co., NC: 1 Sep 1859. Stephen D. Culpepper to William Etheridge, 73.5 acres, part of 147 acres purchased in 1858, for $36).4 
1860 Census*1 Jun 1860 Stephen was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at Moyock, Currituck Co., North Carolina.8 
Deed4 May 1869 A deed was granted to him by Mary Fiske and with Henry Culpepper as an adjacent landowner on 4 May 1869 at Currituck Co., North Carolina.
(Book 30, p. 453, Currituck Co., NC: 4 May 1869. Mary Culpepper to Stephen D. Culpepper, for $150, "the land she and Stephen live on," consisting of 50 acres adjacent to Henry Culpepper and the Virginia state line, etc. Witnesses: Matthias Culpepper).4 
1870 Census* Stephen was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Pleasant Grove District, Norfolk Co., Virginia.9 
Death*24 Dec 1871 He died at Pleasant Grove District, Norfolk Co., Virginia, on 24 Dec 1871. Congested brain.10 

Family 1

Susan Dozier (1825 - 17 Feb 1888)
Children

Family 2
Child

Charts Descendants of Henry Culpepper, III, of Norfolk Co., VA (Six generations)
Last Edited 17 Oct 2007

Citations

  1. That Stephen Decatur Culpepper was the son of Archibald and Mary 'Polly' Culpepper is proven from Stephen's death record in Norfolk County.
  2. 1820 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 34, Genealogy.com Image 16, Unknown Township, Camden Co., NC
    Archi Culpepper, 1 M0-10, 1 M26-45, 1 F10-16, 1 F26-45, 1 Slave
    Henry Culpepper, 1 M26-45, 3 F0-10, 1 F16-26, 1 F26-45, 0 Slaves
    Peter Culpepper, 1 M16-18, 1 M16-26, 1 M45+, 2 F10-16, 1 F16-26, 1 F45+, 11 Slaves.
  3. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 250, Ancestry.com images 61-62, Unknown Township, Currituck Co., NC
    Polly Culpepper, 1 M5-10, 1 M10-15, 1 F30-40, 0 slaves.
  4. Lew Griffin, compiler, Currituck Co., NC Deed Abstracts, 1784-1869, Currituck County NC: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 2000, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Microfilm Vols 3-30.
  5. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 168, Ancestry.com Images 8-9, Unk Twp, Norfolk Co., VA
    George Culpepper, 1 M5-10, 1 M10-15, 1 M40-50, 2 F0-5, 1 F15-20, 1 F30-40, 0 slaves
    Stephen Culpepper, 1 M20-30, 1 F15-20, 1 slave
    William Culpepper, 1 M 5-10; 2 M10-15, 1 M30-40, 2 F0-5, 1 F30-40, 0 slaves.
  6. NC Clerk Camden Co., Camden Co., NC Deeds, Books D-AA, 1788-1856, transcribed by Lewis W. Griffin: Microfilm at LDS Library in Salt Lake City.
  7. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 167A, Lines 22-25, Moyock District, Currituck Co., NC (7 Aug 1850)
    Stephen Culpeper, 31, M, Wh, Boatman, NC
    Susan Culpeper, 25, F, Wh, NC
    Mary Culpeper, 5, F, Wh, NC
    Lydia Culpeper, 2, F, Wh, NC.
  8. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 287A, Lines 5-6, Moyock Dist., Shingle Landing PO, Currituck Co., NC (23 Jun 1860)
    Stephen D. Culpepper, 42, M, Wh, Farmer, RE=$50, PE=$200, NC
    Caleb Culpepper, 8, M, Wh, NC.
  9. P. 317.
  10. Norfolk Co. VA Death records.
  11. Lew Griffin, compiler, Currituck Co., NC Deed Abstracts, 1784-1869, Currituck County NC: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 2000, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Microfilm Vols 3-30.
    Book 27, p. 203, Currituck Co., NC: 8 Aug 1854. Mary Culpepper of Norfolk Co., VA, but recently of Currituck Co., NC, for love and affection to my two granddaughters Polly Culpepper and Lydia Culpepper, daughters of my son Stephen Culpepper, a bequest of various items. Witnesses: Stephen D. Culpepper and John Culpepper.