Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA

Male, #9479, (11 Dec 1810 - 22 May 1868)

ParentNathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA (5 Mar 1779 - 21 Jul 1825)
ParentFrances Gardner (12 May 1789 - 13 Jan 1861)
Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA|b. 11 Dec 1810\nd. 22 May 1868|p9479.htm|Nathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA|b. 5 Mar 1779\nd. 21 Jul 1825|p9466.htm|Frances Gardner|b. 12 May 1789\nd. 13 Jan 1861|p9467.htm|Erasmus Culpepper of Nash Co., NC|b. circa 1742\nd. circa 1782|p9458.htm|Chloe Whitehead|b. circa 1748\nd. before May 1818|p9459.htm|Pryor Gardner|b. 19 Jan 1758\nd. May 1830|p9477.htm|Drucilla Rose|b. 19 Jan 1755\nd. 15 Oct 1826|p10266.htm|

Birth*11 Dec 1810 Gardner was born at Warren Co., Georgia, on 11 Dec 1810.1 
 He was the son of Nathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA and Frances Gardner. 
(free wh male 0-10) 1820 Census7 Aug 1820 Gardner was probably a free white male, age under 10, in Nathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA's household, on the 1820 Census at Warren Co., Georgia.2 
(Orphan) Land Lottery17 Apr 1827 Gardner, orphan(s) of the deceased, Nathan Culpepper of Warren Co., GA, had a fortunate draw in the land lottery on 17 Apr 1827 at Warren Co., Georgia.3 
(free wh male 15-20) 1830 Census1 Jun 1830 Gardner was probably a free white male, age 15 and under 20, in Frances Culpepper's household, on the 1830 Census at Warren Co., Georgia.4 
Marriage*31 Dec 1836 He married Caroline Jones at Warren Co., Georgia, on 31 Dec 1836.5,6 
Church membership*21 Jul 1839 Founders at Long Creek Baptist Church, Warren Co., Georgia, on 21 Jul 1839 included Gardner. (Received a letter of dismissal on 25 Nov 1848). 
Relocation*circa Jan 1840 He, accompanied by family member(s) Caroline Jones and Nancy F. Culpepper, relocated circa Jan 1840 at Talbot Co., Georgia.7 
1840 Census*1 Jun 1840 Gardner was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census on 1 Jun 1840 at Talbot Co., Georgia.8 
Deed*1 Mar 1845 A deed was granted to him by Sampson Rose Culpepper of Warren Co., GA witnessed by Nathan W. Culpepper on 1 Mar 1845 at Warren Co., Georgia.
(Also witnessed by William R. Thompson and James C. Gibson.).9 
Relocationcirca 1847 He, accompanied by family member(s) Caroline Culpepper, Amanda E. Culpepper, John Gardner Culpepper and William Henry Culpepper, relocated circa 1847 at Lee Co., Georgia, Historical background explaining the possible rationale for Gardner's move into and out of Lee County:
     In addition to fertile lands around Palmyra, the hammock lands northward along Kinchafooa and Muckalee Creeks were found to be rich. With increasing settlement and cultivation the pine high lands, on both sides of the territory drained by the Kinchafoona, Muckaloochee, and Muckalee Creeks, were found to be also almost equal to the hummocks in fertility. The soil of the county came to be considered as mostly fertile. Only the western part, having a reddish, thirsty, sandy soil, and a belt along the Flint River in the eastern part were found to be of inferior quality.
     Prospects of ready transportation by railroad through Macon and by steamboat from Albany to cotton markets throughout the world caused rapid transfer of the cotton-planting interests from the upper counties to Lee. Although the first steamboat reached Albany in 1837, the river was not used for much commercial navigation until after 1847 with the elimination of the worst shoal on the Flint River between Albany and Apalachicola. In 1848, the proposed railroad from Macon through Lee County to Albany had been legalized by sufficient subscriptions, including some from Lee County. The newspapers, the Southwestern Georgian (later the Albany Courier), founded in 1841, and the Albany Patriot, founded in 1845, also had some influence in publicizing the section for settlers." The June 30, 1847, issue of the Patriot had the following items:
     "We were shown on Monday last, two stalks of cotton from the plantation of Mr. Robert Thompson, of Lee County. One stalk was of the Grand Gulf Cotton... about six feet high, and had some eight or ten full grown bolls on it. We were assured that there were several bolls opened in the field from which this was taken. The other stalk was nearly six feet high, and had on it upwards of one hundred bolls and forms. It was not quite so forward on the other stalk. There is said to be two hundred acres of cotton on the same plantation as good as these specimens..."
     With such inducements large numbers of settlers came in from Liberty, Burk, Baldwin, and Putnam Counties. Rich plantations of hammock land grew up along the Kinchafoona and Muckalee Creeks. By 1849, the distribution of cultivated farming lands was shown by agricultural settlements to the north of Palmyra: Cotton Bluff (probably so named as a collection point for shipping cotton to Albany), Starkville with new settlers, Oceola and Chenuba, to the northwest, and Sumterville, to the northeast.
     Despite the transfer of a strip of this county's lands to Dooly County in 1842, population increased from 2,370 white and 2,706 black in 1840 to 3,025 white and 3,634 black, including 7 free black, in 1850. The white population was the largest the county has ever had. There were 387 farms, averaging seven whites with nine slaves to the farm, and 550 dwellings. Since the county contained 506 square miles or 323,841 acres, the landholdings in and adjacent to each farm average 837 acres. The major portion of the land was the unpeopled pine and swampy land surrounding the plantations. Real estate in the county had a tax valuation of $l,148,224, and an average sale value of $10 per acre. Personal estates, largely slaves, were valued at $2,207,702. Since there were 3,626 slaves, the average value per slave was about $600. The ordinary crop of a county planter was 100 to 2,000 bales of cotton. Average yield of the land per acre was 800 pounds of cotton, 20 bushels of corn, and 10 bushels of wheat. Little attention was paid to orchards.
     The history of farming in Lee County was probably similar to that generally of the cotton belt in southwestern Georgia. There was an influx of small farmers interested in growing cotton. Some chanced upon rich lands, others upon poor; some were near navigation, others were far; some were expert, vigorous, frugal and farsighted, others were slack, spendthrift or merely perhaps unlucky. Profits from efficiency and good fortune enabled some to buy slaves and then to buy neighboring lands and attain eventually the scale and rank of planters. For their added lands they, raid prices acceptable to those who heard the loud call of the West; but they could force no man to sell who was not so minded. There were several farmers to every planter, throughout the best cotton zone, each producing cotton in sturdy competition with his neighbor, great or small. "Divergencies were of continuous gradation from the wealthy to paupers." In the last instance only does Lee County differ. There is little record of poverty among the white people in Lee County before the War.
     Lee County's comparative wealth was due to early climatic conditions. The swampy lands interspersed in the county and the drinking water produced fevers among white people. The blacks, however, were immune to the fevers and thrived in the semi-tropical climate. The large white population of 1850 dwindled. Many sold their lands to those who had the financial resources to consolidate the lands into large plantations and to buy slaves to work them. Many of the owners lived away from their plantations, in Starkville, Palmyra, and in cities outside the county, such as Albany, Americus, and Macon. Agriculture was the county's only source of income, and slaves did this work. There were no possible opportunities to induce poor people to remain. By 1860, the white poulation was only 2,242, but the black had increased to 4,954..10 
1850 Census*1 Jun 1850 Gardner was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census on 1 Jun 1850 at Lee Co., Georgia.11 
Relocationcirca 1853 He, accompanied by family member(s) Caroline Jones, Nancy F. Culpepper, Amanda E. Culpepper, John Gardner Culpepper, William Henry Culpepper, Mary A. M. Culpepper and Sterling Gardner Culpepper, relocated circa 1853 at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia.12 
Church membership1853 Founders at Summerhill Baptist Church, Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia, in 1853 included Gardner. 
(beneficiary) Probate5 May 1856 Gardner listed to benefit in Sterling Evans's will at Thomas Co., Georgia, on 5 May 1856.13,14 
1860 Slave Census*1 Jun 1860 Gardner was listed as a slave owner on the 1860 Census at Thomas Co., Georgia.15 
1860 Census*1 Jun 1860 Gardner was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at Thomas Co., Georgia.16 
(heir) Will24 Sep 1860 In Frances Evans's will on 24 Sep 1860 at Thomas Co., Georgia, Gardner was named as an heir.
     Made her mark as Fannie (x) Evans.13 
Death*22 May 1868 He died at Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia, on 22 May 1868.1 
Burial*circa 23 May 1868 His body was interred circa 23 May 1868 at Summerhill Baptist Church Cemetery, Boston, Thomas Co., Georgia. Tombstone is a five foot tall obelisk with Culpepper on the front, Gardner's name and dates on one side and Caroline's name and dates on the other side..17,1 
Guardian*4 Jul 1870 After Gardner's death, Sterling Gardner Culpepper and Dr. James Thomas Culpepper declared as orphan(s), Caroline Culpepper appointed as guardian, on 4 Jul 1870 at Thomas Co., Georgia.18 
Biography* Gardner was both a carpenter and a planter. He was also a Democrat, a Baptist and a Master of the Free and Accepted Masons, Leesburg Lodge.
(Names referenced above: Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA). 
Descendant* See footnote for the name and contact info of a descendant of Gardner Culpepper of Thomas Co., GA who would like to communicate with other descendants.19 

Family

Caroline Jones (28 Apr 1815 - 18 Nov 1885)
Marriage*31 Dec 1836 He married Caroline Jones at Warren Co., Georgia, on 31 Dec 1836.5,6 
Children

Charts Descendants of Benjamin Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC (Six generations)
Warren Culpepper's Ancestry Chart
Last Edited 8 Nov 2007

Citations

  1. Joe E. Craigmiles III, The Cemeteries of Thomas County, Georgia, Thomasville, GA: Craigmiles Historical Publications, 1990, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. US/CAN Book 975.8984 V3c.
    Summerhill Baptist Church, Boston, Thomas Co., GA
    + Gardner Culpepper, 11 Dec 1811 – 22 May 1868
    + Caroline Culpepper, 23 Apr 1815 – 18 Nov 1885.

  2. 1820 Federal Census, United States.
    p 279, Unk Twp, Warren Co., GA
    Nathan Culpepper, 3 M0-10, 1 M10-16, 1 M26-45, 3 F0-10, 1 F10-16, 1 F26-45.
  3. State of Georgia Recorder Office, compiler, Georgia Land Lottery, 1827, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2072
    Culpepper's Orphans of Stewarts District, Warren Co., GA, drew lot 186-9 in Lee Co., GA, 17 Apr 1827.
  4. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 196, Unk Twp, Warren Co., GA
    Frances Culpepper, 2 M5-10, 1 M15-29, 1 M20-30, 1 F5-10, 2 F10-15, 1 F15-20, 1 F20-30, 1 F40-50.
  5. Daniel Nathan Crumpton, compiler, Cemeteries and Genealogy: Waren County, Georgia and immediate vicinity, 1792-1987, Volume II, Roswell, Georgia: WH Wolfe Associates, 1987, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8625 V3c v. 1.
    Page 212 from cited work, which credits p. 53 of the original registry of Warren Co. Marriages 1833-1848.
  6. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    Gardner Culpepper and Caroline Jones on 31 Dec 1836 in Warren Co., GA.
  7. Estimated date of reloaction is based on the facts that Gardner and Caroline were founding members of Long Creek Baptist Church in Warren Co in July 1839 but then appeared in the census in Lee County in Jun 1840.
  8. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 219, Unk Twp, Talbot Co., GA
    Gardner Culpepper, 1 M15-20, 1 M20-30, 2 F0-5, 1 F20-30.
  9. Daniel Nathan Crumpton, compiler, Cemeteries and Genealogy: Waren County, Georgia and immediate vicinity, 1792-1987, Volume II, Roswell, Georgia: WH Wolfe Associates, 1987, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8625 V3c v. 1.
    Deed Book X, Pages 463-464 (Page 294 in ref. book).
  10. Gardner appeared in the 1840 census inTalbot County and in the 1850 census in Lee County. He is presumed to have relocated coincident with the Lee County boom.
  11. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 282, Family 175, District 50, Lee Co., GA
    Gardner Culpepper, 38, M, Manager, RE=$200, GA
    Caroline Culpepper, 34, F, GA
    Nancy F. Culpepper, 12, F, GA
    Amanda Culpepper, 9, F, GA
    John G. Culpepper, 7, M, GA
    Wm H Culpepper, 5, M, GA
    Mary A. M. Culpepper, 2, F, GA.
  12. 1853 relocation is based on the fact that in that year, Gardner and Caroline had only moved to Lee County in 1848, were still there at the time of the 1850 census, and then in 1853 they became founding members of a church in Thomas Co.
  13. Correspondence from Ruth Allison Waldron Hill, (Collection of Letters between Hill and Hopkins), to Elizabeth Hopkins, 1950-1952, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 164,482.
  14. Thomas Co., GA Inventories & Appraisements, Book H, pages 111-115.
  15. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    1860 Slave Schedule, Thomas Co., GA
    Gardner Culpepper, 11 slaves: 38M, 33F, 26M, 23M, 20M, 18FO, 18F, 8MO, 6F, 4F, 3F.
  16. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 24, Boston, Thomas Co., GA
    Gardner Culpepper, 49, M, GA, Farmer, $4,000/$11,000
    Caroline Culpepper, 45, F, GA
    J. G. Culpepper, 17, M, GA
    W. H. Culpepper, 15, M, GA
    M. N. Culpepper, 13, F, GA
    S. G. Culpepper, 9, M, GA
    J. S. Culpepper, 4, M, GA.
    S. Brinkley, 12, M, GA.
  17. Cemetery marker inspected and photographed by Warren Culpepper in November 2003.
  18. Thomas Co., GA Letters of Guardianship, Book I-24.
  19. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.