Joel Culpepper of Cherokee Co. AL1

Male, #5766, (1782 - between 1855 and 1860)
Father*Benjamin Culpepper of Edgefield District, SC (bt 1755 - 1765 - 10 Jan 1829)
Mother*(?) (?) (c 1754 - b 1790)
DNA* Joel has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Benjamin Culpepper of Edgefield District, SC, who is a grandson of Joseph Culpepper and 2-great-grandson of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Birth*1782 Joel was born at Orangeburg District, South Carolina, in 1782. 
1790 Census2 Aug 1790 Joel was probably a free white male, under 16 years old, in Benjamin Culpepper of Edgefield District, SC's household on the 1790 Census on 2 Aug 1790 at Orangeburg District, South Carolina.2 
1800 Census4 Aug 1800 Joel was probably a free white male, age 16 and under 26, in Benjamin Culpepper of Edgefield District, SC's household on the 1800 Census at Edgefield District, South Carolina. Unaccounted for are 3 females 0-10..3 
Land Lottery*1805 Joel participated in but did not win the land lottery in 1805 at Washington Co., Georgia.4 
Land Lottery1807 He had a fortunate draw in the land lottery in 1807 at Washington Co., Georgia,
Lot 213-10 in Wilkinson Co., GA.5 
Marriage*8 Mar 1807 He married Ann Elizabeth Tyler at Abbeville District, South Carolina, on 8 Mar 1807. 
Birth of Soncirca 1807 His son Burrell Smith Culpepper of Polk Co., TN was born circa 1807 at Abbeville District, South Carolina. 
Birth of Son1810 His son John Tyler Culpepper of Cherokee Co., AL was born in 1810 at Abbeville District, South Carolina. 
1810 Census*6 Aug 1810 Joel was listed as the head of a family on the 1810 Census at Abbeville District, South Carolina. Unaccounted for are 1 male 0-10 and 1 female 26-45..6 
Birth of Soncirca 1812 His son Joel Culpepper Jr. was born circa 1812 at Abbeville District, South Carolina. 
War of 1812*between 1813 and 1814 He served in the War of 1812 between 1813 and 1814
(2nd Sergeant in the company commanded by Capt. Zachariah Merriwether in the regiment of South Carolina Militia commanded by Col. McClure. The following account of his service is found in his petition for bounty land:
     The State of Alabama __Cherokee County__ On this third day of November A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, Personally appeared Joel Culpepper before me William J. (or P.) Kennedy an acting Justice of the peace within and for said County, aged Sixty nine years, a resident of County and state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that he is the identical Joel Culpepper who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Zachariah Meriwether in the South Carolina regiment of infantry or malitia commanded Col M:Clure (first name forgotton) in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June A. D. 1812. That he volunteered in Abbeville District in the State of South Carolina on or about the month of February A. D. 1815 for the term of Six months and continued in actual service xxxxxxx in said war for the term of Six weeks and was honorably discharged at the Two Sister ferry across Savannah River (By order of the Col.) and received no written discharge. He was discharged some time about the Month of April A. D. 1815 He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States pased September 28th 1850 (signed) Joel Culpepper senr Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that I believe the said Joel Culpepper to be the identical man who served as aforesaid and that he is of the age above stated. /s/ William J.Kennedy (seal) Justice of the peace The State of Alabama I W. E. McDaniel - Judge of Probate of __Cherokee County__ Said County Do hereby Certify that William J. Kennedy whose Genuine Signature appears appears to the above and foregoing Certificate as Justice of The Peace is and was at the time of making Said Certificate duely and legally a Justice of the Peace Duely Commisioned and Qualified as Such Justice Given under my hand and official Seal this 10th Day of November A. D. 1851 /s/ W.E. McDaniel, Judge of Probate CC, Seal of Court).1 
Birth of Son14 Sep 1818 His son Jacob Joseph Culpepper of McMinn Co., TN was born on 14 Sep 1818 at South Carolina.7 
Birth of Soncirca 1820 His son George Washington Culpepper was born circa 1820 at Pendleton District, South Carolina.8 
1820 Census*7 Aug 1820 Joel was listed as the head of a family on the 1820 Census at Pendleton District, South Carolina.9 
Birth of Son11 Jul 1825 His son Benjamin Jackson Culpepper of Illinois & Iowa was born on 11 Jul 1825 at McMinn Co., Tennessee. 
1830 Census*1 Jun 1830 Joel was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 Census at McMinn Co., Tennessee.10 
Will16 Aug 1837 Joel named as heir(s) in the will of Joyce Powell Sheppard at Edgefield District, South Carolina, on 16 Aug 1837.11 
1840 Census*1 Jun 1840 Joel was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Cherokee Co., Alabama.
(Enumerated in the census but otherwise not identified is 1 F0-5.).12 
Letter/Message Text*13 May 1849 Joel & Ann Elizabeth Culpepper’s letter to their daughter, Eliza Ann & William Jackson Ash, Written May 13th, 1849

On the outside was written: “Ringgold Ala May 19th 10
               William Jackson Ash
               Illinois Addams County Quincy
Also on outside: “Received the 8th of June 1849”

State of Allabma Cherokee County
Dear son and Daughter I embrace this opportunity to
Inform you that we are all in tollerable good health at
This time by the great Mercies of God and hoping these
lines will find you enjoying the same blesing of God John
T. Culpeper and family is all well except Melvinia she
is poorly Rufus M. Baker and family is well Ambrose
K. Langford and Mary Ann was well two weeks ago they
Were here Mr. Clayton and family is well we Receiv’d
two letters from you one since you got home which was
a great satisfaction to here you was well thare has
been a cold bad spring here on the 16th of April there was
frost that killed Corn Cotton and wheat here and all through
the state which will make corn deare and high Arminda and
myself went to Tallerga [?] to Mr. Wm Jenkinis I
brought a small Negro girl with us for Arminda
and we were treated very kindly by Mr. Jenkins and his
Wife I Commec’d teaching scholl the 7th day of May
which was the first Monday in May and I expect to
try to go on with it for five months ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬summer we want
you write to us as often as you can we have not heard any
thing from Tennessee since you left here so no more
at present but remains your Loving Parents Brother
and Scistors till death
May 13th 1849
               Joel Culpeper Senr.
               Ann Elizabeth Culpeper

[He did not use a period in the entire letter. You will also notice in this letter and the other letter he wrote that he always addressed or spoke of the male first even though it was a son-in-law, and didn’t even say the daughters name.].1 
Letter/Message Text2 Jun 1850 Letter of June the 2nd 1850
On the outside of the folded letter:
               Ringgold Ala 10
               June 7th~50

               William J. Ash
               Illinois Hancock County
               Worsaw P. O. 1850
               State of Allabama Cherokee County

Dear Son and Daughter, I Take this oppor-
tunity of informing you that we are enjoying tollerable
good health at this time through the great mercies of
God and all the Connections as fair as we know and
hope thes lines may find you enjoying the same bless
-ing of God We receiv’d yours Friday last which gave
us great Satisfaction to here you was well and doing
well and that you Eliza was Satisfied with your lot
in life as for mine it has always been hard and no appear
=ance of being any better Benjamin has bought 40 Acres
of Land of Athen Cannon of the same lot that Miss Slougn(?)
lives on We have built a Cabben on it and is living in it and
has clear’d ten Acres on it and has just planted it the
land that was Clear’d we sow’d Oats we have not heard
from the Boys in Tennessee lately the last we heard
they were all well I wrote to you last February we
receiv’d a letter from you when your Mother was
lying very low with a Bowel complaint at that time
lasted eight days though She has got tollerable harty again
A.K. Langford and Mary Ann was here at that time
and Mary had a fine harty Daughter with her about one
year old now nam’d Sarah Elizabeth Collins Lang
=ford and family with several other familys started to
Texas last Winter and Benjamin Ash with them Mr.
Petigrews family is well as fair as we know you wanted
to know about your Scistor I cannot inform you nothing
only she has a fine Child Mr. Clayton and Family is
well and all with them yet Hardy Kernant is living
whare we Liv’d and Manervy has a fine Son it has been
a warm wet Winter here and a wet backward spring
that crops is late wheat is only tollerable a complent of
Rust on the Wheat Oats looks very well Cotton is very
indifferent in consiguence of wet and cold corn is worth
from 40 to fifty Cents pr Bushel Mr. Newman and Fami
=ly is well and all at home yet it is generly healthy here

There was a very heavy Storm about here some few
Weeks ago and blow’d almost all the trees down at the Methodist
Camp ground Arminda Prather has got to be the
largest of any of our Family and her Negroe girl Caroline is
a pert livly little girl about Eleven years old Landon Drake
and Hannah was Married a few weeks ago it is rather dry at this
time [handwriting changes at this point] I think Jane must put in a letter
Eliza I was glad you yet remember
me and I have taken your advice to not
take any sort Eliza ___? the girls
has got to smart to marry since
you left thear is such a out come
them all and I am doing the best I can
I want to know if you intend to
come to see us or not I am going to
see my brothers in a short time
how long I will be gone I cannot tell
I want you to write me one letter
as soon you get this write all
know and more two and how you are
sadisfide with your lot in life
I want to know what sart of work
you follow in that Country
Maria Jane Culpep [edge of paper]

[handwriting changes back to Joel’s]
N. B. We wish to see you but that we never expect to see you in
this life for we are wearing away as fast as time can move and
Agreeable to the course of nature we cannot live much longer so
let us here from you as often as you can remember us to Mr. Jones
the Elder and all enquireing friends if any so no more at pre-
-sent but we all join in love to you as Parents Brothers
and Scistors till deat.     Joel Culpeper Senr.
June the 2nd 1850     Ann Elizbeth Culpeper.1 
1850 Census*1850 Joel was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census in 1850 at Cherokee Co., Alabama.13 
Death*between 1855 and 1860 He died between 1855 and 1860. 

Family

Ann Elizabeth Tyler (17 Dec 1790 - 10 Nov 1870)
Marriage*8 Mar 1807 He married Ann Elizabeth Tyler at Abbeville District, South Carolina, on 8 Mar 1807. 
Children
ChartsHenry Culpeper of Lower Norfolk: DNA Status Chart (Male only, 8 generations)
Benjamin (son of Joseph) Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC: Descendant Chart
Last Edited29 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. E-mail written 1983-2011 to Lew Griffin from Mary Genevieve Taylor Harris (#48715), Dallas, TX, e-mail address.
  2. 1790 Federal Census, United States.
    Unknown Township, North part, Orangeburg District, SC
    Benjamin Culpeper, page 94, 1 Male 16+, 3 Males 0-16, 3 Females, 4 Slaves
    Joseph Culpeper, page 94, 3 Males 16+, 3 Females, 22 Slaves.
  3. 1800 Federal Census, United States.
    Unknown Townships, Edgefield District, SC
    Benjamin Culpepper, page 133, 2 M10-16, 1 M16-26, 1 M26-45, 4 F0-10, 1 F10-16, 1 F16-26, 1 F26-45, 8 slaves.
  4. Virginia S. and Ralph V. Wood, 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, Greenwood Press, Cambridge, 1964, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8 R2WY 1805.
  5. The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., compiler, The Second or 1807 Land Lottery of GeorgiaGeorgia Genealogical Reprints.
  6. 1810 Federal Census, United States.
    Unknown Township, Abbeville District, SC
    Joel Culpepper, page 55, 3 M0-10, 1 M26-45, 1 F16-26, 1 F26-45, 0 slaves
    Joseph Culpepper, page 55, 1 M10-16, 2 M16-26, 1 M45+, 1 F45+, 23 slaves.
  7. From tombstone.
  8. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Sheet/Pg 201, Pg 514, (16 Aug 1860), Beat 8, Rusk PO, Cherokee Co., TX (Anc.com img# 29)
    G. W. Culpepper, 39, M, SC, Mechanic
    Sarah Culpepper, 34, F, TN.
  9. 1820 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 193, Unknown Townships, Pendleton District, SC
    Joel Culpepper, 1 M0-10, 1 M10-26, 1 M26-45, 1M45+, 1 F0-10, 1 F26-45, 0 slaves.
  10. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 168, Ancestry.com image 70, Unknown Township, McMinn Co., TN
    Joel Culpepper, 1 M0-5, 2 M5-10, 1 M15-20, 2 M20-30, 1 M40-50, 3 F0-5, 1 F5-10, 1 F15-20, 1 F30-40, 0 slaves.
  11. Transcription of original will found in will book (name not recorded) at Tomkins Library, Edgefield, SC.
  12. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 113, Ancestry.com images 5-6, Unknown Township, Cherokee Co., AL
    Joel Culpepper, 1 M10-15, 1 M50-60, 1 F0-5, 1 F5-10, 2 F10-15, 1 F40-50.
  13. P. 57, family 773.
  14. E-mail written Apr 2009 -- Feb 2011 to Lew Griffin from Virginia Rottman, e-mail address.