James I. J. Culpepper

M, (3 June 1806 - 15 October 1846)
FatherJohn Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
MotherNancy Gillespie (c 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)
DNA* James has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Joseph Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC, who is a son of Robert Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, the son of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Birth*3 June 1806 James was born at Lexington District, South Carolina, on 3 June 1806. 
(free wh male 0-10) 1810 Census6 August 1810 Daniel, Francis, James and George was probably a free white male, age under 10, 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..1,2 
Marriage License20 December 1828 James applied for a marriage license to wed Martha Byne Blackstone at Crawford Co., Georgia, on 20 December 1828. 
Marriage*21 December 1828 He married Martha Byne Blackstone at Crawford Co., Georgia, on 21 December 1828 at age 22.3 
1830 Census*1 June 1830 James was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 Census at Crawford Co., Georgia. Unaccounted for is 1 M0-5.4 
Land Lottery*1832 He had a fortunate draw in the land lottery in 1832 at Crawford Co., Georgia,
lot 1133/20/3 in what became Paulding Co., GA.5 
Indian Wars*1836 He served in one of the Creek and Seminole Indian Wars in 1836
(Served in Captain Dudley’s Company, Georgia Volunteers, Second Creek Indian War.)6 
Mexican War*1846 He served in the US War with Mexico in 1846.7 
Death*15 October 1846 He died at Coosa Co., Alabama, on 15 October 1846 at age 40. 
Biography*  Mrs. J. W. (Ira Gay) Deam of Gay, GA a descendant of Joel Culpepper, John Culpepper's oldest son, preserved the record of James Culpepper's birth and death from the John Culpepper Bible and Mrs. D. W. (Lavyn Wright) Sisco transcribed the record as follows: _________________________James L. Culpepper _________________________b. 3 Jun 1806 _________________________On Tuesday about Midnight _________________________d. October 16, 1846
      On the marriage certificate which was submitted by his widow in order to get a pension, the middle initial appears to be an "I." And in her 24 Aug 1897 application for a Mexican War pension, James' widow, Martha B. (Blackstone) Culpepper, wrote: I am the widow of James J. Culpepper, who served under the name James I. Culpepper....
      However in a 12 Feb 1887 application Martha specified that James had served under the name James J. Culpepper. It seems likely that Mrs. Deam read the middle initial in the Bible record as a lower case "l." instead of an uppercase "I" but four documents in different handwriting in the pension file clearly show that the middle initial was an "I." However census, deed, and service records and his widow refer to James as James J. Culpepper. Perhaps James had three names or perhaps he didn't like his middle name and used another. A great-grandnephew was named "James Inman Carlisle" in 1869. This MIGHT have been James Culpepper's middle name as well.
      James' parents were recorded in the 1800 census of Lexington District, SC and this is probably where he was born. However, James' father, John Culpepper, is next noted administering the estate of John's presumed grandfather-in-law, Daniel Peek, in Richland District in 1807 and James' parents are noted living in Richland District in the 1810 census. So, depending on when the family moved to Richland District, it is possible that this was James' place of birth. James was noted living with his parents as one of five males 0-10 years of age in the 1810 census of Richland District, SC. Unfortunately, his parents have not been found in the 1820 census of South Carolina or Georgia but the family is presumed to have been living in Edgefield District since this was where James' father, John Culpepper, sold the land "where I now live" in 1823. Shortly after this, James presumably moved with his parents to Georgia where his father, John Culpepper "of Monroe" county is known to have purchased land in 1827.
      James found his way to Crawford Co., GA, by 1830 possibly moving with his older brother, Joel, who was recorded there in the 1830 census. There James married and is noted with a wife and child in the 1830 census. As a married man with children who was a U. S. citizen and a resident of Georgia for at least three years James would have been eligible for two draws in the 1832 Gold Lottery of Georgia. He drew lot 1133 in district 20 of section 3. This would have been a 40 acre lot near the southwest corner of Paulding Co., GA where it connects with Carroll Co., GA. It is not known if he ever mined the land or if he sold it. According to the Indian War pension application (#2073, no certificate) by James' widow, James was in Alabama by 1836, possibly having moved there with his older brother, Francis G. Culpepper, and his family. Both brother's are supposed to have taken part in the Creek War. The following is the pension application of James' widow: INDIAN WAR PENSIONS. - Act of July 27, 1892. DECLARATION OF WIDOW FOR PENSION. State of Georgia, County of Muscogee, ss:
      ON THIS 29 day of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety 2 personally appeared before me J. C. Cook Clerk Supr Crt within and for the County and State aforesaid, Martha B. Culpepper aged 78 years, a resident of Columbus in the County of Muscogee in the State of Georgia who being by me first duly sworn according to law, deposes and says:
      I am the widow of Jas J Culpepper, who served under the name of Jas. J. Culpepper, as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Dudley in the _____ regiment of Ga Mil Vols., commanded by Col._________ in the war with Creed Indians in the year 1836. I think he served along the Chattahoochee river in Ga & Ala, and probably down into Florida. That my said husband enlisted at Dudleyville Ala, on or about the ___-___ day of May, A. D. 1836, for the term of months that I was married under my name of Martha B. Blackstone to my said husband by John Neal M. G. on or about the 21 day of Decbr A. D. 1828 at Crawford Co GA, in the State of Georgia, and lived with my said husband from the date of my said marriage until the day of his death, to wit: the 15th day of October, A. D. 1846, when my said husband died at Coosa Co. in the State of Alabama, and that I have not since remarried; that there was never any legal impediment to said marriage.
      No. 1. That my said husband, being duly enlisted, as aforesaid, actually served thirty days with the Army of the United States, in the war aforesaid, which service was as follows: Guarding the frontier against the approach of the Creek Indians, and his frequent skirmishing & fighting with said Indians and was honorably discharged at __________________ on the _________ day of _____________ A. D. 1836
      No. 2. That my husband was personally named in a resolution of Congress for a specific service in said war, to wit: In the resolution of the Dont Know about it day of _______________, A. D. _____, and was honorably discharged at Dont remember. on the _____ day of refer to records.
      No. 3. That I am 78 years of age, and that I was born on or about the 28th day of Sept A. D. 1814, at ____________________, in the State of ____________________
      That I have _____________ heretofore made application for pension or bounty-land, which said claim is No. 66.974 which B. L. Warrant was issued in my name about the year 1857. And that I also made an application for pension on account of death of my husband which resulted from gunshot wound rec'd in Mexico, which claim was rejected. Also she made application for pension under Act Jany 29 1887, rejected.
      That in support and proof of my right to pension, I tender herewith, under the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, the following evidence: The rolls of Capt. Dudleys Company Ga Militia Vols war with Creek Indians in year 1836, which record is in the War Dept. Washington D. C. Also the evidence now on file in the Pension office relative to marriage, death, &c of soldier to Claimant. And the affidavits of Geo. W. Gordon, Esq, Hon Flynn Hargett Sr. et al all of whom have known me a long time.
      That since the death of my said husband I have resided at the following places, to wit: Rockford Coosa Co Ala, Harris Co Ga and now Columbus, Muscogee Co, Georgia.
      That I make this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the Act of July 27th, 1892.
      And I hereby appoint, with full power of substitution and revocation, Flynn Hargett, Jr. of Hardeman Ga my true and lawful attorney, to prosecute my claim.
      My Post Office address is Columbus, Ga. /s/_R._S._Wilson________________/s/_Martha B Culpepper /s/_John W. Riddle State of Georgia, County of Muscogee, ss:
      Before me, a Clerk Supr Crt in and for the County and State aforesaid, on this 29th day of August A. D. 1892, personally appeared Martha B. Culpepper known to me as the person described in, and who executed and signed the foregoing declaration for pension, as widow of Jas. J. Culpepper, and whom I certify to be a credible person and of good repute for truth and veracity in the community in which she lives, who being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that she has read (if claimant cannot read, read to her and so state in acknowledgement) the foregoing declaration and knows the contents thereof, and that all of the facts therein stated are true. ________________________________/s/_Jno_C_Cook_Clerk ________________________________________S_C_M_C Ga.
      On the cover of the application, it was noted that James J. Culpepper enlisted "May 1836" and was discharged at the "Close of War 1836." In an affidavit supporting the application, Geo. W. Gordon and Hattie E. Gordon noted that they had known Martha for 30+ years and: have lived near her and have heard her speak very ofter about her said deceased husband, Jas J. Culpepper, and his service in the Indian War, and also of his service in the War with Mexico. Affiants say that they never knew said Jas J. Culpepper, personally, but have heard said Martha B - say that he died in the County of Coosa and state of Ala. about the year 1846; and from their acquaintance with her they fully believe what they have heard her say about his death. Affiants further say that since they have known the said Martha B. Culpepper she has been a widow and for most all the time, or quite all the time, in very dependent circumstances; that claimant is now about 79 years old and her physical condition is very precarious and that they believe her pension claim is meritorious and should be made Special, placed on the completed files and adjudicated at the earliest day possible....
      James has not been found in an 1840 U. S. census but presumably was living in Alabama since this where he enlisted to fight in the Mexican War in 1846. James' widow filed three pension applications which appear to be based on James' death in the Mexican War. The first application appears to be a generic widow's request for a pension: Widow's Declaration for Pension or Increase of Pension. This must be Executed before a Court of Record or some Officer thereof having Custody of the Seal. State of Georgia, County of Harris, ss
      ON THIS 22 day of September A. D., one thousand eight hundred and eighty 6 personally appeared before me a Notary Public of the Exofficio J. P. a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid Martha B. Culpepper aged 72 years, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the Pension provided by Acts of Congress granting pension to widows: That she is the widow of James J. Culpepper, who Volr [volunteered] under the name of Jas J Culpepper at Mobile, Ala., on the _____ day of June A. D., 18 46 in Capt. Dennis' Co. Talladega Rangers, in the war of 1846-1848 who rec'd a most severe gunshot wound in his left hip while in a battle or skirmish at or near Buena Vista; on a/c [account?] of which, together from exposure & hardships endured while on the March, &tc he died on the 15 day of [September crossed through and written over by] October Oct., A. D. 1846, who bore at the time of his death the rank of private in the service aforesaid; that she was married under the name of M. B. Blackstone to said James J. Culpepper on the 21 day of December A. D. 18 28 by Rev. Jnoathan Neal at Crawford Co Ga there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that neither she nor her husband had been previously married (if either have been previously married so state, and give date of death or divorce of former spouse.) ________________ that she has to present date remained his widow; that the following are the names and dates of birth of all his legitimate children yet surviving who were under sixteen years of age at father's death, viz: __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ __________ of soldier by __________, born _______ 18 __ That she has not abandoned the support of any one of her children, but that they are still under her care or maintenance. Only two of my children living. They are not under my care as both are married that she has not in any manner engaged in, or aided or abetted, the rebellion in the United States, that no prior application has been filed for a pension on account of soldier death; but that a bounty land warrant has been granted in her name, No. #66.974 that she hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation Flynn Hargett, Jr. of Hardeman, Ga. her attorney to prosecute the above claim; that her residence is No. __________ street __________ and her Post Office address is Mulberry Grove, Harris Co. Ga. /s/_J_H_Reese___________________/s/_Martha B. Culpepper /s/_J._H._Beers
      Also personally appeared J H Reese, residing at near Mulberry Grove Ga, and J H Beers residing at near Mulberry Grove Ga, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mrs. Martha B. Culpepper, the claimant sign her name (make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. ________________________________/s/_J._H._Reese ________________________________/s/_J._H._Beers
      Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22 day of September A. D. 188 6 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &tc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words "Sept." erased, and the words "15" Oct", added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. ________________________________/s/_G_W_Gordon ________________________________Notary_Public_Exof_J.P.
      In response to an 11 Dec 1886 request from the Department of the Interior, Pension Office for James J. Culpepper's service record, the War Department returned the following: War Department _____ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, __________Washington, Mch 4, 188 7
      Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.
James J Culpepper, a Private of Capt Sumeral Dennis's Company Col Withers Regiment Ala Mex War Volunteers, was enroled on the 2d day of June 18 46, at Mobile for 6 months. He was mustered out June 16" 1846 a Private. Period of service 15 days. Books of organization are not on file. ________________________________/s/_A_C_Drum ________________________________Adjutant General
      The next pension application followed a few months after the first using a form specifically related to the Mexican War: MEXICAN WAR. CLAIM OF WIDOW FOR PENSION.

      This must be Executed before a Court of Record or some officer thereof having Custody of the Seal. State of Georgia, County of Harris, ss.
      ON THIS 12th
day of February, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty 7 personally appeared before me ____________________, the same being a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid, (1) Martha B. Culpepper aged 72 years, a resident of Mulberry Grove in the State of Georgia who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of (2) James J. Culpepper deceased, who was the identical (3) Jas. J. Culpepper who served under the name of (4) Jas J. Culpepper as a (5) private in the Company commanded by Captain Dennis Ala, Regiment of Vol commanded by __________________ in the war with Mexico, that her said husband (6) Vol[untee]r[ed] at Mobile, Ala. on or about the ________ day June A. D. 1846 for the term of 6 mos and continued in actual serivce in said war for the term of (7) mos, and whose services terminated by reason of (8) honorable discharge on the ______ day of ___________ A. D. 1846. She further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at the time of his enlistment, viz: 9 height 5 feet 9 inches, complexion, dark; eyes, blue; hair, black. She further states that she was married to the said Jas J Culpepper at the city (or town) of Knoxville in the county of Crawford and in the State of Ga. on the 21 day Decber A. D. 1828 by one (10) Jno. Neal who was a (11) Minister of Gospel and that her name before her said marriage was Martha B. Blackstone and that she has not remarried since the death of said soldier; and she further states that (12) neither herself nor her said husband had been previously married and she further declares that she is [space for specifying disability, etc.] (if claimant is over sixty-two years of age, this space need not be filled.) and that her said husband (13) James J. Culpepper died at Rockford in the State of Ala. on the 15th day of Octo A. D. 1846 and she further declares that the following have been places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of his discharge from the army, viz: (14) In Coosa Co., Ala; and the claimant since her husband's death, has resided near Mulberry Grove, Harris Co. Ga. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Pension to which she may be entitled under the provisions of any act of Congress granting pensions to widows of Menican War soldiers, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation Flynn Hargett Jr. of Hardeman, Georgia her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim. And she further declares that she heretofore made an application for (15) bounty land & obtained one #66.974. The claim for pension, on account of death of her said husband from wound rec'd &c, is pending. and that her residence is No. ___________ Street, City (or Town) of ______________ County of Harris State of Georgia and that her post-office address is Mulberry Grove, Ga. /s/_S._J._Foster________________/s/_Martha B. Culpepper /s/_J_M_Huling
      Also personally appeared S. J. Foster, aged 33 years, residing at No. Mulberry Grove street, in Ga., and James M Huling aged 27 years, residing at No. Mulberry Grove street, in Georgia, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they have know the said Martha J. Culpepper for 15 years and for 12 years respectively; that they were present and saw her sign her name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they further say that they are able to identify her as the person who was the wife of the identical (16) Jas. J. Culpepper who rendered the service alleged in the above application (in the company of Captain Dennis in the regiment of Ala. Vols in the war with Mexico) by the following named facts and circumstances, viz: (17) That Mrs. Culpepper swears to the facts & we know her to be a person of veracity and eminently worthy of belief and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. /s/_S._J._Foster________________/s/_S._J._Foster ________________________________/s/_J._M._Huling
      Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of February A. D. 188 7 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words _______________ erased, and the words _______________, added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. ________________________________/s/_A._J._Truett _____________Clerk of the Superior Court Harris Co.
      Affidavits supporting this application include one from neighbors A. L. Moon and L. C. Hargett, Jr. who swore that that they had known Martha for 30+ years and: They have Known the said Martha B Culpepper for the space of time above mentioned & have lived neighbors to her; have known her to visit relatives in Ala. where she & her husband lived prior to his death; have seen an affidavit from a person in Crawford Co. Ga. stating that the records there showed that Martha B. Blackstone and J. J. Culpepper were duly & legally married; They state further that they have seen a letter which was written by Jas J. Culpepper under date of June 11th 1846 from Mobile, Ala, and addressed to Martha B. Culpepper, his wife, which letter stated that his company had just been mustered into service &c. They further state that they have known persons visiting this County from Ala. Mrs. Culpepper's former home, identify recognize her as the widow of Jas J. Culpepper. They state further that the Dept of the Interior (Pension Office) has granted to M. B. Culpepper a B. L. Warrant No. 66.974 & there is no doubt of her identity.
      Two other witnesses, S. J. Foster and J. M. Huling signed an affidavit which added information about the land Martha had received: Which warrant was for 160 acres land. Act Mar 3d 1855, No. 66.974 and issued June 9" 1857. They state further that they have learned from claimant & other reliable authority that claimant move an unknown date from Ala. to Harris Co Ga, in 185-, and that she has lived here ever since....
      It is interesting to note that Martha received land for her husband's service before the Civil War but does not appear to have been able to get a widow's pension after the Civil War. Martha made a final appeal (#455, rejected) for a pension in 1897: MEXICAN WAR PENSION.--Act of January 29, A. D. 1887. DECLARATION OF WIDOW FOR PENSION. State of Georgia, County of Muscogee, ss:
      ON THIS
24 day of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety 7, personally appeared before me, clerk of the Superior Court of Said County the same being a court of record in the State of Columbus in the County of Muscogee in the State of Georgia who, being by me first duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: I am the widow of James J. Culpepper, who served under the name of James I. Culpepper, as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Dennis in the ______ regiment of ______________, commanded by ______________ in the war with Mexico; that my said husband enlisted at Mobile Ala. on or about the _________ day of June 1846, A. D. ______, for the term of six months; that I was married under my name of Martha B. Blackstone to my said husband, by Jonothan Neal a minister on or about the 21 day of December A. D. 1828 at Crawford County Ga, in the State of Georgia, and lived with my said husband from the date of my said marriage until the day of his death, to wit: the 15 day of October A. D. 1846 when my said husband died at New[?] Wetumpka [Wetumpka is in Elmore Co., AL and James was supposed to have died in Coosa Co., AL. Could New Wetumpka have been in Coosa Co., AL and later named Rockford where Martha is known to have lived and mentioned in one application as James' place of death?] in the State of Alabama, and that I have not since remarried; that there was never any legal impediment to said marriage.
      No. 1. That my said husband being duly enlisted, as aforesaid, actually served sixty days with the Army or Navy of the United States in Mexico, or on the coast or frontier thereof, or en route thereto, in the war with that Nation, which service was as follows: as a private in company known as Taledega Rangers at and was honorably discharged at Mobile on the ____ day of __________ A. D. 1846
      No. 2. That my said husband was actually engaged in a skirmish in said war, some time in June 1846 and was brought home on or about the 8th day of Sept. 1846 and died from said wound on 15th Oct. 1846.
      No. 3. That my husband was personally named in a resolution of Congress for a specific service in said war, to wit: In the resolution of the ___________ day of ____________ A. D. _______, and was honorably discharged at __________________ on the __________ day of ______ A. D.
      No. 4. That I am 83 years of age, and that I was born on or about the 28 day of Sept A. D. 1814, at Richmond Co., in the State of Georgia
      No. 5. That I am disabled by reason of Age and the said disability was not incurred while I was in any manner voluntarily engaged in, or aiding or abetting the late rebellion against the authority of the United States.
      No. 6. That I claim pension by reason of the fact that I am dependent in whole or in part for my support upon a Grand Daughter, not legally bound for my support and that such dependence as alleged consists in this, to wit: _________________________________
      That I have ______ heretofore made application for pension or bounty land, which said claim is No. ______
      That I am a pensioner of the United States as ________________ under certificate No. ______, at the rate of _____ dollars per month.
      That in support and proof of my right to pension I tender herewith, under the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interion, the following evidence: _____________ and the affidavits of _____________
      That since the death of my said husband I have resided at the following places, to wit: in Coosa County Alabama and Harris County Georgia and in Columbus Georgia That I am not [smeared ink]ing under any political disabilities imposed by the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
      And I hereby appoint, with full power of substitution and revocation, H. J. Hayden & Co. War Claims Attorneys, of Washington, D. C. my true and lawful attorneys, to prosecute my claim.
      My Post-office address is Columbus Ga /s/_C.[?]_J._Thornton___________/s/_Martha_B_Culpepper /s/_S_E_Lawthon[?]_Notary_Public STATE OF Georgia, County of Muscogee, ss:
      Before me, Jno C Cook, a clerk of a court of record, on this 24 day of August, A. D. 1897 personally appeared Martha B Culpepper known to me as a person described in, and who executed and signed the foregoing declaration for pension, as widow of James J. Culpepper and whom I certify to be a credible person and of good report for truth and veracity in the community in which she lives, who, being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that she has read (if claimant cannot read, read to her and so state in acknowledgement) the foregoing declaration and knows the contents thereof, and that all the facts therein stated are true. ________________________________/s/_Jno_C_Cook_Clk _______________________________________S_C_M_C_[?]
      The following is from pp. 806-808 of Vol. 18 of The Encyclopedia Americana International Edition published by Grolier, Inc. of Danbury, CT: MEXICAN WAR. The annexation of Texas in 1845 laid the foundation for the war with Mexico. Although Texas had been for many years practically free, and had been recognized by the United States, Britain, France and other countries, Mexico refused to acknowledge its independence. When the United States proposed to admit Texas into the Union, Mexico gave warning that the annexation would be equivalent to a declaration of war. On March 6, 1845, Mexico protested, and soon afterward withdrew her minister and severed diplomatic relations. Her acts, however, scarcely justified her threats, as at that time at least little or no preparation was made for war. It has, therefore, been claimed that had the American government used a conciliatory policy peace might have been preserved and friendly relations reestablished. At the moment, however, the Mexican people and authorities were in a rather belligerent attitude, due in part to pride and in part to an expectation that the United States would soon be involved in a war with Britain over the Oregon boundary, in which case Mexico would have a powerful ally to aid her. Did President James Polk at this point seek to strengthen this hope in the minds of the Mexicans, intending at the proper moment to make a compromise and peace with Britain, as was done, and thus leave Mexico at the mercy of the United States? Perhaps history can never answer the question, but events at least seemed to march in harmony with the thought, For Mexico soon found itself in the dilemma that it must either sell California to the United States, receiving in return a goodly sum of money to appease its pride, or engage in a war to sustain its honor and territorial integrity. Mexico bravely, but perhaps not wisely, chose the latter alternative, not fully realizing the inequality of the contestants, nor the depth of the humiliation to which it would be subjected. Doubtless President Polk preferred to acquire California without war, but its acquisition was to be the principal measure of his administration. Hence if war was the only means to secure it, war it must be--at least enough to get possession of the desired territory. Causes of the War. The immediate occasion of the war was the dispute in regard to the western boundary of Texas. Proclaiming its independence in 1836, Texas asserted that its western boundary was the Rio Grande to its source thence due north to 42° north latitude. The following year the United States recognized its independence and, in December 1845, by a joint resolution admitted it into the Union as a state, providing that boundary disputes were to be settled by the United States. President Polk accepted the boundary claimed by Texas, and on Jan. 16, 1846, ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor to march to the eastern bank of the Rio Grande as the western boundary of the United States. Mexico insisted that the Nueces River--100 miles (160 km) east--was the true western boundary of Texas and therefore that General Taylor was now on Mexican soil. On April 25, 1846, the first blood was shed in a conflict between a band of Mexican troops that had crossed to the eastern side of the Rio Grande and a company of American soldiers. The news of this action was immediately communicated by General Taylor to President Polk, who sent his now noted message to Congress, asserting the war was begun by the act of Mexico on U. S. soil. Congress finally accepted, after a stormy debate in the Senate, the president's statement, and war was recognized as existing. Other causes were also at work and help to make a decision in regard to the justness of the war still more difficult. Mexico for many years had been in a chronic state of revolution. The natural result followed. American citizens in Mexico sustained property losses and doubtless were frequently unjustly arrested and even imprisoned. Claims arising from these causes had been in part settled under a convention of 1840 but many of them were still pending. Some were just; more, either unjust or extravagant in amount. President Polk united these unsettled claims with the boundary question and demanded that Mexico receive an envoy extraordinary with power to settle both--on its face an eminently fair proposition. On the other hand, Mexico professed to be ready to receive an ambassador to settle the boundary dispute but declined to receive John Slidell as U. S. minister when he was commissioned to settle all disputes, insisting that the two questions were distinct in kind and origin and should not be united. President Polk in his message asserted that this action of Mexico was in violation of its promise to receive a minister and hence justified his administration in its measures and forced him to take possession of the disputed territory. The need for more slave territory was perhaps another factor in causing the war. At least many from the South took an aggressive position on all questions in dispute between the two countries and thus made a peaceable settlement more difficult. Both the economic and the political reasons for more territory began to be felt by 1846--the one to have new soil over which to spread the land-exhausting system of slavery; and the other to have new territory out of which to carve new slave states so that the equilibrium between slave and free states might be maintained. Some other forces tending to arouse the war and aggressive spirit may be noted. The cry of "manifest destiny" played a part. Many, especially in the West, felt that the Pacific Ocean was the natural western boundary of the United States. They also demanded the "Golden Gate" that commerce might be opened up with the Orient. The two great parties--the Whigs and the Democrats-- divided sharply on the question. The war, in fact, became almost a party, instead of a national, issue. The Democrats, as a rule, supported the administration and its claim that the war was just. The Whigs, on the contrary, asserted that it was a most unholy and unrighteous war, and characterized it as "Polk's war." Abraham Lincoln, entering Congress in 1847, became a severe critic of the policy pursued, while Thomas Corwin of Ohio went so far as to use this language: "If I were a Mexican I would tell you, 'Have you not room in your own country to bury your dead men? If you come into mine we will greet you with bloody hands, and welcome you to hospitable graves.'" President Polk summarized his reasons for recommending that Congress recognize war as existing as follows: "The grievous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico upon our citizens throughout a long period of years remain unredressed; and solemn treaties ... have been disregarded.... Our commerce with Mexico has been almost annihilated." He then added: "As war exists, and ... exists by the act of Mexico herself we are called upon, by every consideration of duty and patriotism, to vindicate, with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country." The Campaigns. The war with Mexico was accepted as a fact by Congress on May 13, 1846. There were four principal fields of action in its prosecution, (1) Along the Rio Grande, under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor; (2) in California, where Capt. John Charles Fremont and Commodore Robert Field Stockton were in command, (3) in New Mexico, with Col. Stephen Watts Kearny leading the U. S. forces; and (4) from Veracruz to Mexico City, under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott, the commander in chief of the U. S. armies. Everywhere success attended the arms of the United States. It was one of the few wars in history in which no defeat was sustained by one party and no victory won by the other. General Taylor defeated the Mexican troops at Palo Alto on May 8, 1846, and at Resaca de la Palma the following day, and captured Matamoros on the 18th. He remained near that city for some weeks to recruit his army and prepare to advance into the interior. On September 24 he entered Monterrey, after a siege of four days and a gallant resistance by the Mexicans. Taylor's most famous victory, however, was won on Feb. 22-23, 1847, at Buena Vista. General Scott gave orders, which fell into the hands of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican general, for General Taylor to send some nine regiments to aid Scott in his proposed attack on Veracruz. Santa Anna immediately marched his whole command against Taylor expecting to crush him in this weakened condition. It was 20,000 men against about 5,000. But the skill of Taylor, the persistence of his army, and the organization and equipment of the U. S. troops won a great victory. Taylor became the hero of the hour, and Buena Vista made him an irresistible presidential candidate.... Fremont's course in California has been a subject of keen controversy. As leader of an exploring expedition he was already in northern California, and early in 1846 was recalled to the Sacramento Valley. California was the goal of the political policy of Polk's administration. The means to secure its acquisition were uncertain. It might be gained by war or by filling the territory with settlers from the United States, who in the course of time might bring it into the Union as Texas had already been annexed. Or it might be effected by securing the goodwill of the native Californians who were unhappy under Mexican rule. The latter policy seems to have been the one adopted by the administration. The U. S. consul at Monterey, Calif., Thomas Oliver Larkin, was developing this policy with a good prospect of success, it is claimed, when Fremont appeared on the scene. He seems to have developed a fourth policy--namely, the establishment of an independent government under the control of settlers from the United States in the Sacramento Valley. This movement resulted in the so-called Bear Flag Republic and in virtual civil war between the native Californians and the newer settlers. At this moment the Mexican War began, and the Bear Flag was replaced by the Stars and Stripes. It has been claimed by some California historians that Fremont's course, had not the Mexican War come at the moment it did, might have lost California to the United States. The native Californians, alienated as they were by his course, might have put themselves under a British protectorate in revenge for the treatment accorded them. Be that as it may, by the end of 1846 all California was conquered and held by U. S. troops and Fremont was regarded as the hero who had won the "Golden Gate" by his energy and decision. Santa Fe was captured by Colonel Kearny on Aug. 18, 1846, and New Mexico was secured with almost no loss of life. By the end of the year, therefore, all the territory that the administration desired was in the possession of its armies, but Mexico was still unconquered. Scott had been chafing in Washington during the summer and fall of 1846 while Taylor was winning his brilliant victories. He asked to go to the front to assume chief command, but the administration retained him at the capital under the plea of needing his advice. As it happened this Democratic war was officered by Whig generals. Scott had already been a candidate for the Whig nomination for the presidency. The charge was now made that Scott was kept from command for fear that success might make him a more formidable candidate in 1848. Finally, when he was sent to the front in January 1847, the cry was raised that the purpose was to dim the luster of Taylor's victories, or at least to divide the popular support between the two generals in such a way as to destroy the political prospects of both. General Scott besieged Veracruz in March 1847, and by the 27th had captured the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, which had been thought almost impregnable, and was ready to enter the city. On April 8 he started into the interior, and on the 18th captured Cerro Gordo, the 19th, Jalapa, and the 22d, Perote. On May 15 he entered the important city of Puebla. Remaining here for some weeks he again advanced, in August, toward the capital, and on the 10th came in sight of the city. Two important victories were won August 20--at Contreras and at Churubusco. He captured Molino del Rey on September 8, and the victory of Chapultepec on September 12-13 gave him Mexico City itself, which he entered on September 14 with an army of only 6,000 men. General Santa Anna escaped from the city and attempted, unsuccessfully, to organize further military resistance. The war was practically over, but the victory was so complete that it began to be a question whether there was any government left with sufficient power to negotiate a treaty of peace. An agitation began with friends both in and out of Congress, as well as in the cabinet, looking to the annexation of the whole of Mexico. John C. Calhoun, on the one hand, and Daniel Webster and a majority of the Whigs, on the other, joined hands to defeat this plan. President Polk was finally forced to make the ultimate decision. Nicholas Trist was sent in March 1847 to Mexico to make a treaty of peace. Failing, he was ordered in the fall to return to Washington, but disobeying instructions, he remained in Mexico. On Feb. 2, 1848, he concluded a treaty of peace in harmony with his original instructions. The administration was in a quandary. To ratify meant to condone the disobedience of Trist. To reject meant a prolongation of the war, and time to perfect the intrigue for the annexation of "All Mexico." President Polk, after some hesitation, decided to send the treaty to the Senate for its consideration. Received February 23, it was ratified, after some amendments, on March 10, by a vote of 38 to 14. On May 30, treaty ratifications were exchanged and the war ended. The Mexicans had fought bravely, even stubbornly and at times skillfully, yet in every contest, even when the odds were greatly in their favor, without a single victory. In part superior leadership and training won for the soldiers of the northern republic, and in part their cooler and more persistent character. But in the main it was not bravery, nor generalship, nor even character that won. It was science and education applied in the equipment of the armies, the guns of the soldiers, the cannon, and the powder in the arsenals that made the one so much more effective than the other that the most daring bravery was no counterpoise. The Treaty of Peace. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave to the administration of President Polk the territory that according to his diary he intended to acquire--California and New Mexico. Mexico in return for the loss of its fairest northern provinces was paid $15 million and was released from all claims of all kinds held by citizens of the United States against it, estimated at $3,250,000, which the United States assumed. Boundary lines were drawn, and provision made in regard to other questions at issue between the two countries. Results. Usually successfully waged wars redound to the credit of the party in power. In this case, however, the Democratic party, the author and supporter of the war, was defeated by the Whig party, the party of opposition and criticism, in the presidential election of 1848. The Whigs made use of the popularity of a successful general (Taylor) to defeat the party that had made his glory possible. Evidently the people were ready to accept the fruits of the war, but also were ready to punish the party they believed had acted wrongly. A large number of young officers, destined for renown in later years, proved their worth in this war. Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman, Robert E Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, and Jefferson Davis, foreshadowed, in this Mexican struggle, the greatness that was to be theirs in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The acquisition of some 522,568 square miles (1,353,450 sq km) of territory--about one sixth of the modern continental United States--was the most important immediate as well as remote result. It was important in the issues that its acquisition precipitated. Should it be slave or free territory? Who should determine its institutions? Out of this question grew the larger one who had the right to control the institutions of the territories in general? To settle the first question David Wilmot, a Democrat of Pennsylvania, proposed the celebrated Wilmot Proviso, which would exclude slavery forever from all territory acquired from Mexico. Four long years of intense and bitter debate followed. This question and a series of others were settled temporarily in the Compromise of 1850. The second question was answered by the term "nonintervention," which meant, or soon came to mean, one thing to Douglas and the Northern Democrats and another to Davis and the South. Three main theories were evolved or defended in answer to the third query: (1) the view that Congress had the right to control the institutions of the territories and could make them slave or free at its will, (2) the Dickinson-Cass-Douglas doctrine of popular or "squatter sovereignty--the doctrine that the people of a territory themselves, while yet in a territorial status, determined their own institutions, (3) the radical Southern view that slaves were property, and, as property, might be taken into any territory-- the common public domain of the states--with no constitutional power anywhere to hinder or prevent. The new territory was important secondly in its industrial and political effect on the nation. The United States now had an outlook on the Pacific Ocean comparable to that on the Atlantic. China, Japan, and the rest of the Orient were brought within the circle of its influence. Conditions favorable to further expansion were prepared. In addition to the great effect on commerce thus prefigured, that on wealth and industry was not less. The gold, silver, copper, and other mineral wealth of the Rocky Mountain region would flow into the pockets of the people of the United States. This vast addition of territory and wealth tended also to emphasize national pride and ambition, to arouse a still more intense belief in "manifest destiny," to develop a more optimistic tone, and perhaps also to produce a more materialistic spirit. HOWARD W. CALDWELL University of Nebraska. 
(2) Research note2012 He is referenced in a research note for John F. Culpepper of Muscogee Co., GA.8 

Family

Martha Byne Blackstone (28 September 1814 - 23 December 1899)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited1 March 2013

Citations

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    James L. Culpepper and Martha B. Blackstone on 21 Dec 1828 in Crawford Co., GA.
  4. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 399, Crawford Co., GA
    James J. Culpepper, 1 M0-5, 1 M20-30, 1 F15-20.
  5. Rev. S. Emmett Lucas Jr., The 1832 Gold Lottery of Georgia, Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1988, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. 975.8 R2lb.
    James J. Culpepper, Morris District, Crawford Co., GA, drew lot 1133/20/3 in what became Paulding Co., GA, 1832.
  6. Indian War Pension Application dated 1892, Georgia. Indigent Widow’s Application #2073, no certificate. Remarks: Old Wars Widow Pending, Mexican Widow Rejected #455.
  7. See his biography.
  8. Warren L. Culpepper (#1942), Former publisher of Culpepper Connections, e-mail address.

Martha Byne Blackstone

F, (28 September 1814 - 23 December 1899)
FatherJohn M. Blackstone (6 Jan 1781 - 28 Jun 1859)
MotherCatherine Harvey (7 Mar 1782 - Jul 1878)
Birth*28 September 1814 Martha was born at Richmond Co., Georgia, on 28 September 1814. 
Marriage License20 December 1828 Martha applied for a marriage license to wed James I. J. Culpepper at Crawford Co., Georgia, on 20 December 1828. 
Marriage*21 December 1828 She married James I. J. Culpepper at Crawford Co., Georgia, on 21 December 1828 at age 14.1 
Married Name21 December 1828  As of 21 December 1828, her married name was Culpepper. 
(free wh female 15-20) 1830 Census1 June 1830 Martha was probably a free white female, age 15 and under 20, in James I. J. Culpepper's household, on the 1830 Census at Crawford Co., Georgia. Unaccounted for is 1 M0-5.2 
1850 Census*23 October 1850 Martha was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census on 23 October 1850 at Coosa District, Coosa Co., Alabama.3 
(household member) 1860 Census25 July 1860 Virginia, Martha and Martha listed as a household member living with John G. Culpepper in the 1860 Census at Mountain Hill, Harris Co., Georgia.4 
1870 Census*1 June 1870 Martha was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Harris Co., Georgia.5 
1880 Census*1 June 1880 Martha was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census at Harris Co., Georgia.6 
City Directory*'1898-99' She was listed in the '1898-99' city directory for Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia. From this listing and the 75+ year age differential known to exist between Martha and the three younger people in the household (James, William, and Josephine), it seems likely that Martha was their great-grandmother.7 
Death*23 December 1899 She died at Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia, on 23 December 1899 at age 85.8 
Burial*24 December 1899 Her body was interred on 24 December 1899 at Pine Grove Church Cemetery, Harris Co., Georgia.8,9 
(3) Research note2012 She is referenced in a research note for John F. Culpepper of Muscogee Co., GA.10 

Family

James I. J. Culpepper (3 June 1806 - 15 October 1846)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited12 March 2012

Citations

  1. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    James L. Culpepper and Martha B. Blackstone on 21 Dec 1828 in Crawford Co., GA.
  2. 1830 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 399, Crawford Co., GA
    James J. Culpepper, 1 M0-5, 1 M20-30, 1 F15-20.
  3. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 63, Lines 1-6, Coosa District, Coosa Co., AL
    Martha Culpepper, 35, F, GA
    John Culpepper, 16, M, Farmer, GA
    George W. Culpepper, 14, M, AL
    Nathan Culpepper, 11, M, AL
    Martha Culpepper, 8, F AL
    Vianna Culpepper, 2, F, AL.
  4. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 594, Family 626, Mountain Hill PO, Harris Co., GA
    John Culpepper, 28, M, Operator in Factory, $-/$50, GA
    Martha Culpepper, 40, F, GA
    Virginia Culpepper, 12, F, GA
    Martha Culpepper, 3, F, GA.
  5. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 127B, Family 176, Hamilton PO, Harris Co., GA
    Martha Culpepper, 56, F, Keeping House, GA
    Viana Culpepper, 21, F, Farm Laborer, GA.
  6. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 553C, Family 156, ED 61, Lower 19th, Harris Co., GA
    Martha (Blackstone) Culpepper, Self, F, Md, 65, GA/VA/SC
    Vianna L. Culpepper, Dau, F, S, 30, --- , AL/SC/GA
    Lucy E. Culpepper, GDau, F, S, Mulatto, 9, GA/GA/AL
    G. Catharine Culpepper, GDau, F, S, Mulatto, 2M, GA/GA/AL.
  7. 1898-99 R. L. Polk's city directory for Columbus, Ga., p. 172
    Residing at 1829 Third Avenue (reverse index, p. 112, shows Mrs. Martha B. Culpepper as head of this household):
    Culpepper, James D., operative for Eagle & Phenix Mills,
    Culpepper, Josephine, Miss, operative for Eagle & Phenix Mills
    Culpepper, Martha B. (widow of J. J.)
    Culpepper, William C., operative for Eagle & Phenix Mills.
  8. Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus (Muscogee Co.), GA.
    http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/
    Obituary of Martha Byne Blackstone Culpepper (#32066), published 24 Dec 1899.
  9. Find a Grave (online database)
    http://www.findagrave.com
    Memorial #86019242.
  10. Warren L. Culpepper (#1942), Former publisher of Culpepper Connections, e-mail address.

John M. Blackstone

M, (6 January 1781 - 28 June 1859)
Birth*6 January 1781 John was born at Natural Bridge, Rockbridge Co., Virginia, on 6 January 1781. 
Employment* John's occupation: State Senator. 
Marriage*11 April 1799 He married Catherine Harvey at Richmond Co., Georgia, on 11 April 1799 at age 18. 
Census*1830 He was in the in 1830 census at Crawford Co., Georgia
Census1840 He was listed as a resident in the census report at Chambers Co., Alabama, in 1840. 
Census23 October 1850 He was listed as a resident in the census report at Coosa District, Coosa Co., Alabama, on 23 October 1850. 
Death*28 June 1859 He died at Crawford Co., Georgia, on 28 June 1859 at age 78. 
Burial* His body was interred at Knoxville, Crawford Co., Georgia
Biography* According to Paula Millhollon in a 12 Feb 1991 letter, John M. Blackstone's father died before he was born. "His mother was Winfield Zachary Blackstone: she married Jonathan Paine in 1795." The following inscription is from his tombstone in the cemetery of Salem Primitive Baptist Church, three miles northeast of Knoxville, Crawford Co., GA: "Crawford Co. first Senator & held the honor nine successiveterms. Helped to organize Crawford Co. & locate the county site and named it Knoxville. Helped to organize the first Inferior Court ever held in the county. Salem's first pastor, helped to organize Mt Paron 1824, Mt Carmel 1826, Salem, Providence, Union & Mt Calvery. Acted as first moderatorof Echeconnee Association at Mt Carmel 1829."
The family Bible of a son, Commodore Anson Blackstone, gives John M. Blackstone's date of birth as 6 Jan 1781. Since John M. Blackstone listed himself as 69 years of age in the 1850 census, this would tend to support the 1781 date. Mrs. Paula Millhollon wrote that in 1815/16, John M. Blackstone was pastor of a church in Burke Co., GA. She believes that he was in Warren Co., GA in 1820. Mrs. Paula Millhollon also said that there is a card in the Atlanta Archives that states that John M. Blackstone's "father killed in the Revolution." 

Family

Catherine Harvey (7 March 1782 - July 1878)
Children
Last Edited5 July 2004

Catherine Harvey

F, (7 March 1782 - July 1878)
Birth*7 March 1782 Catherine was born at South Carolina on 7 March 1782. 
Marriage*11 April 1799 She married John M. Blackstone at Richmond Co., Georgia, on 11 April 1799 at age 17. 
Married Name11 April 1799  As of 11 April 1799, her married name was Blackstone. 
Census*1830 She was in the in 1830 census at Crawford Co., Georgia
Census23 October 1850 She was listed as a resident in the census report at Coosa District, Coosa Co., Alabama, on 23 October 1850. 
Census1860 She was listed as a resident in the census report at Crawford Co., Georgia, in 1860. 
Death*July 1878 She died at Crawford Co., Georgia, in July 1878 at age 96. 
Biography* Catherine's tombstone apparently reads "8 May 1782 -- Jul 1878." 
Research note*7 December 2004 From Tina Keene Peddie:
     "I believe my APSELIA who mar. BENJAMIN MORRIS (SC), may be a sister to this CATHERINE 'HARVEY' who mar. JOHN M. BLACKSTONE. These families are very close, and some say APSELIA was a HARVEY. They are closely related to families also of HATCHER, HANCOCK & STEMBRIDGE, that went to Hancock & Crawford Co.GA. If anyone has any info on my APSELIA (Harvey or Blackstone?), who mar. my BENJ. MORRIS, I'd sure appreciate hearing from you! Thanks! Cuz'n Tina/CA."1 

Family

John M. Blackstone (6 January 1781 - 28 June 1859)
Children
Last Edited24 January 2005

Citations

  1. E-mail written 4 Dec 2004 to Lew Griffin from Tina Keene Peddie, e-mail address.

George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA

M, (6 December 1808 - 20 December 1901)
FatherJohn Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
MotherNancy Gillespie (c 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)
DNA* George has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Joseph Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC, who is a son of Robert Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, the son of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Birth*6 December 1808 George was born at South Carolina on 6 December 1808.1 
(free wh male 0-10) 1810 Census6 August 1810 Daniel, Francis, James and George was probably a free white male, age under 10, 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 
(free wh male 15-20) 1830 Census1 June 1830 William and George was probably a free white male, age 15 and under 20, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household, on the 1830 Census at Monroe Co., Georgia.4 
Marriage*17 February 1831 He married Perlina Perdue at Forsyth, Monroe Co., Georgia, on 17 February 1831 at age 22. 
Land Lottery*1832 He had a fortunate draw in the land lottery in 1832 at Meriwether Co., Georgia,
lot 204/5/3 in what became Cass (later Bartow) Co., GA.5 
1840 Census*1 June 1840 George was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census on 1 June 1840 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.6 
1850 Census*1 June 1850 George was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census on 1 June 1850 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.7 
1860 Slave Census*1 June 1860 George was listed as a slave owner on the 1860 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia, and owned 2 slaves.8 
1860 Census*1 June 1860 George was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.9 
(Heir) ProbateJanuary 1863 During probate, George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA was identified as an heir of James Perdue in January 1863 at Monroe Co., Georgia.10 
1870 Census*1 June 1870 George was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.11 
Photographed*say 1880 He was photographed say 1880 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.12
George Washington Culpepper
1880 Census*1 June 1880 George was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.13 
Photographedcirca 1900 He was photographed circa 1900 at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia,
Five generations: George Washington Culpepper,Eunice Catherine (Albright) Speer (standing), Emma Alline (Culpepper) Albright holding Dorothy Charles Speer, and James Daniel Culpepper on the right.14,15
Five Generations
(Father) 1900 Census1 June 1900 George was listed as a father in James Daniel Culpepper's household on the 1900 Census at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia.16 
(Father) Photographed22 November 1900 He appeared as the father in a family photograph on 22 November 1900 at age 66
Assumed to be Thanksgiving Day 1900:

1st row: George W. Culpepper, Mary Elizabeth Culpepper, Warren Culpepper.

2nd row: James Daniel Culpepper, Fereba, Mattie Nall, Cattie Nall, Zora Culpepper, Emma Culpepper Allbright holding her granddaughter Dorothy Speer, Doc Allbright husband of Emma (behind Emma).

Back row: Marvin & Charles Culpepper, Lucy (wife of Marvin), Cora (wife of Warren), Wilbur Culpepper, Susie (wife of Jim, who is back of her with hat), John (next to Jim), son Emmett is not in picture.12
James Daniel Culpepper family
Death*20 December 1901 He died at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia, on 20 December 1901 at age 93.1 
Burial*circa 21 December 1901 His body was interred circa 21 December 1901 at Allen-Lee Cemetery, Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia.17,1 
Biography* Mrs. D. W. (Ira Gay) Deam of Gay, GA preserved the John Culpepper Bible record of George Washington Culpepper's birth which was copied by Mrs. D. W. (Lavyn Wright) Sisco: _________________________George Washington Culpepper _________________________b. December 6 1808 _________________________On Tuesday at 2 o'clock P.M.
     This is the same date that appears on George Washington Culpepper's tombstone. However, the birth date that was recorded in George W. Culpepper's Bible (published Saratoga Springs by G. M. Davison 1830) was transcribed: "George W. Culpepper was born December 8th, 1808." A perpetual calendar shows that 6 Dec 1808 was a Tuesday which would seem to give more weight to the record in his father's Bible and the date on the tombstone. The George W. Culpepper Bible record of the marriage was transcribed: "George W Culpepper and Perlina Perdue was Married Feb the 17th 1831." Finally, the death record from the same Bible was transcribed: "G. W. Culpepper departed this life quietly and peasfully December 20th 1901 at 2 o'clock in the morning. done [recorded] by his devoted son J. D."
     Although his obituary indicates that G. W. Culpepper was born in Edgefield District, SC, he was probably born in what was then known as Richland District, SC. By 1807, his father, John Culpepper appeared in Richland District, SC estate records as an administrator of the estate of Daniel Peek, Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper's presumed grandfather. And in the 1810 census of Richland District, SC, John Culpepper was listed with his wife and six sons (including G. W. Culpepper) and one daughter. It is possible that the John Culpepper family had moved on to Edgefield District, SC by 1813 since William Henry Culpepper reported on his Civil War record that he was born there in 1813. George's father, John Culpepper, received a state grant of 138 acres on Cuffeetown Creek in Edgefield District, SC in 1814 and this is where George's youngest brother, Lewis Peek Culpepper was born. George Washington's father, John Culpepper, has not been found in the 1820 census records of South Carolina or Georgia. The family is presumed to have been living in Edgefield District, SC since in 1823, John Culpepper sold 144 acres on Cuffetown Creek "where I now live" for $800. The family tradition is that John Culpepper moved his family, including George Washington Culpepper, to Georgia when the youngest son, Lewis Peek Culpepper, was seven years old, this would have been 1823/1824. However the earliest record that has been found is an 1827 deed showing that John Culpepper purchased land in the Twelfth District of Monroe Co., GA for $800 from Warren T. Castelberry. John Culpepper was in the 1830 census of Monroe, Co., GA with his wife and 1 10-15 year old male, presumably his youngest son, Lewis Peek Culpepper. Although not yet married, George Washington Culpepper and William Henry Culpepper had apparently already moved out but neither has been found as a head of household in the 1830 census. George Washington Culpepper was apparently still in Monroe County, GA since that is where he married Perlina Perdue. However they must have moved to Meriwether Co., GA shortly thereafter since "George W. Culpepper, Arrington's, Merriwether" was recorded drawing lot 204 in the 5th district of the section 3 in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. As a married man who was a U. S. citizen and who had resided in Georgia for three years, he was elibible for two draws in the lottery. He had claimed his land before Jan 1838 when James F. Smith published a numerical list of the "fortunate drawers" from that lottery. The land was a 160 acre lot near Petits Creek and the Tennessee Road in what was Cass Co., GA and is now Bartow Co., GA. No record has been found of George Washington Culpepper selling this land but he apparently did since he remained in Meriwether Co., GA for the remainder of his life.
     The Culpepper's were listed in the 21 Apr 1905 Greenville, Meriwether Co., GA Vindicator as pioneers of the Greenville, Meriwether County area: Nearly eighty years ago a group of hardy yeomanry settled on adjacent farms a few miles northwest of Greenville near the old Ector mill (now Maffett's). They were John, George and William Culpepper, Allen, Eli and David Peavy, Freeman Blount, Daniel Keith, Joel Sears, William Sutherland, Robert Kendrick, James Martin and the Carlisles....
     In fact, the "eighty years ago" might be a reference to 1827 when Meriwether County was formed from Troup County, GA but based on land, census and marriage records, John Culpepper was in Monroe Co., GA until at least 1832. George Washington Culpepper appears to have been in Monroe County until at least 1831, although, since he has not been located in the 1830 census, it is possible that he was in Meriwether Co., GA and returned to Monroe to be married. And William Henry Culpepper is not believed to have moved his family to Meriwether Co., GA until after the 1835 birth of his son, John Malcolm Culpepper. As noted above, G. W. Culpepper and Perlina Perdue apparently moved to Meriwether Co, GA before the birth of their first child, Maryann, in 1832, since George Washington Culpepper of "Arrington's, Merriwether" drew a lot in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. According to G. W. Culpepper's obituary in The Meriwether Vindicator Friday, 3 Jan 1902, he and his family were living "at what is known as the Beecham Perdue place in the Third District, where he lived when he first moved to this county [Meriwether]" when Maryann died in 1833. G. W. Culpepper does not appear in the Meriwether Co., GA deed records until 1835 when he shows up as a grantee in the 9th District (D-281). John William Culpepper obtained a copy of a 6 Mar 1838 deed (F-233, 234) in which George W. was recorded with his brother, William Henry Culpepper purchasing lot 256 containing 202 1/2 acres in the 8th District of Meriwether Co., GA from Levi M. Adams. Their father, John Culpepper, was also recorded purchasing 50 acres in the next lot in the 8th District of Meriwether County in 1838 (F-296). In 1839, 1842, 1849, 1852 and 1853 George W. Culpepper obtained five more tracts of land in the 11th District of Meriwether County (F-538, G-452, J-126, K-164, K-167). John William Culpepper obtained a copy of F-538 in which on 18 Apr 1839 for $405, Noah Smith sold G. W. Culpepper "half lot of land No. seventy five. Containing one hundred one and a fourth acres more or less. Situate lying and being in the Eleventh district of originally Troup now Meriwether County, and Known as the North half of said lot of land."
     G. W. Culpepper was noted in 1840 and 1850 census records of Meriwether Co., GA. In the 1860 census George. W. Culpepper was recorded with his wife and younger children in the Lutherville P.O. district of Meriwether Co., GA. He owned $2,000 in real estate and had $2,000 in personal property. In January 1863, G. W. Culpepper was mentioned along with five other children, grandchildren, and sons-in-law in Monroe Co., GA deed records (D-580, D585) as relinquishing all claims to the estate of James Perdue, the father of Perlina Perdue, G. W. Culpepper's wife. In exchange, the group received the deed to the plantation where James Perdue lived which they immediately sold to Edmund Dumas for $3,100.
      George W. Culpepper's sons began appearing in the Meriwether Co., GA deed records after the Civil War. In the 1870 census of Greenville P. O. District, Meriwether Co., GA, George Culpepper was recorded with his wife and two youngest children. His real estate was valued at $700 and his personal property was valued at $500. George Culpepper was noted in the 1880 census of Meriwether Co., GA with his wife, son Joel, and Joel's young family. In the 1900 census, "Geo. W. Culpepper" was noted living with of his son, James D. Culpepper, and James's family in Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., GA.
     The following article appeared in the Greenville, GA Vindicator on April 21, 1905: George W. Culpepper came from South Carolina to Georgia in early life with his father John Culpepper with whom he resided for awhile near Greenville when he transferred his home to Baldwin county. Abiding there some years he returned to Meriwether locating in the northern part of the county near the Wilkes Gold Mine. That section was then in an embryo state of development and Mr. Culpepper was one of the leading spirits in agriculture, education and religious affairs in his community. He was a valuable citizen and neighbor and an influential factor for good in his home and in a wide circle around him. For sixty years or more he was an active, deeply pious, liberal supporting member of first Smith's Chapel and then Prospect Methodist church which absorbed the old chapel. Indeed this zealous old soldier of the Cross was one of the best known laymen of Methodism in this county and in the Georgia conference. Mr. Culpepper was a democrat and some years before the war, he served the county as tax collector [1849-1850]. He was wedded in early life to a Miss Perdue, a splendid christian helpmate and mother who, after about sixty years of conjugal life, passed away leaving her faithful consort - who a few years later died at the age of ninety two years. From this union grew a large family circle: James Culpepper, a useful man in peace and a gallant soldier in war, whose sad death by accident occurred not a great while since; Capt. John Culpepper who fell bravely in defence of southern rights while leading his company of the famous 8th Ga. Regiment in one of the battles near Richmond, Va., not long before the confederate surrender; Capt. Noah Culpepper, also a valiant confederate officer, and after the war, a well known literary teacher, now and long since a worthy citizen of Atlanta; Simeon F. Culpepper, for many years our most efficient clerk of the Superior court, and during the war a gallant member of the 8th Ga. Regiment who followed the flag of the confederacy from the 1st Manassas to the close of the war; George Culpepper, a successful planter and a clever gentleman of this county, near Lone Oak besides other worthy descendants of George W. Culpepper whose names we do not now recall.
     The following was written by W. T. Revill, Editor and Publisher of The Meriwether Vindicator which was published in Greenville, Meriwether Co., GA and it appeared Friday, 3 Jan 1902: Old Citizen Dead On the night of December 19th, 1901, George W. Culpepper died at the residence of his son, James D. Culpepper, near Lone Oak, Meriwether County, Georgia. He was born in Edgefield [probably Richland based on estate and census records] District, South Carolina, on December 8, 1808, which made him 93 years and 11 days old at the time of his death. His people seem to be blessed, if such it is, with longevity. He had a sister who died last year in Alabama at the age of 99 years. He has a brother in Lavaca County, TX, who was living when last heard from, who is over 97 years old. His youngest brother is still living and is near 80 years old. His father moved to Georgia when George W. was eight or nine [actually 15 or 16] years old and settled in Monroe County. At the age of twenty-five he married Perlina Perdue, near Forsyth, Georgia. She died July 27th, 1882. They raised nine children, seven boys and two girls, having lost their first child, a girl, while living at what is known as the Beecham Perdue place in the Third District, where he lived when he first moved to this county. He moved from there to a place three and a half miles above Greenville, now a part of the W. W. Jarrell or Eli Peavy place, and from there to the place on which he died in Lone Oak District. The last move was made about 1840. He was tax collector of Meriwether County in 1849 and 1850, having been elected by the Democratic party over Daniel Fling, the Whig candidate. He never asked for re-election at the close of the term for which he was elected. His education was limited. He went to school three months all told, taking every other week, or week about, as it is called, with his brother, yet he was an excellent reader, wrote a legible hand, and could make any calculation in the transaction of his ordinary business. He was a devoted Christian, having been thoroughly converted when about 25 years of age at a camp meeting in Monroe County and joining the Methodist Church, to which he was loyal to his death. When the whole county was a circuit for the church, or conference, he was nearly always sent to represent his church at the different quarterly conferences all over the county. His house was always the home of the "circuit riders," as they were formerly called. He was a member of the Bible class in the Sabbath school at Prospect Church as long as he was able to attend services. He was a regular attendant at all the church gatherings of "Old Prospect" until six or eight years ago when he began to get too feeble to attend, and he always spoke of his inability to attend with regret. He was present in this "old church" when Young J. Allen, our noted missionary to China, was converted, and in later years gave him his blessing when he first started from Grantville on his mission. His relatives are numerous and scattered over different sections of our country in South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and other states. Some of them are noted Methodists. He was an incessant Bible reader, although a laboring man on the farm, he never failed to improve every spare moment in studying same and could quote any verse in the Bible if you would give him a word in it, and would tell you in what book and chapter same could be found. When his memory failed in all else, which it did about five years ago, he still remembered many important passages of scripture and would quote them correctly in conversation with any one. His funeral was preached by the pastor of the Grantville circuit, J. W. England, from 2nd Samuel, 3rd chapter, 38th verse. "And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" After the sermon some of the oldest members of the church spoke of his laboring with them in church work over fifty years ago, and of his being always consistent in practicing what he professed. Some of the younger people spoke of the encouragement they had always received from him in trying to live right. It is gratifying to the community in which he lived a Christian life, to feel that he left a good example and to feel that he is now enjoying the happiness for which he spent a whole life of devotion to secure.
     The following mention of Lone Oak and Prospect Church is from "Lone Oak Notes" written by Mrs. Louise D. Herring circa 1894: Uncle George Culpepper, a veteran of fourscore, occupied his accustomed chair within the altar railing. In his case "the hoary head" is indeed "a crown of glory," and his upturned face, so full of interest as his heart drinks in "the droppings of the sanctuary," is a beautiful lesson to younger disciples.
     In a 16 Aug 1993 letter, John William Culpepper, a great-great-grandson of George Washington Culpepper, wrote that Eleanor (Culpepper) Willingham, Margaret Culpepper, and Nancy (Johnson) Gray took him to visit the remains of "the old homeplace of George and Perlina about two miles east of Lone Oak": It is on a rock road about 1/4 mile off the hard road. We found where the original home was by the foundation-chimney rocks and spring next to where the house stood. The rocks were in a clearing in the woods next to a dirt road leading to fields.... George Washington came to this place with his family in approximately 1840 and remained there until he died in 1901.
     Mrs. A. (Eleanor Culpepper) Willingham and her sister, Margaret Culpepper have been the historians for the George Washington Culpepper family and have collected scrapbooks full of information, copies of which have been made available to other family members. In addition, Mrs. Willingham published the History of Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church (formerly Old Prospect Methodist Church) Lone Oak, Georgia 1844-1985 which contains church membership records, cemetery records and other valuable information about the church and the community. 

Family

Perlina Perdue (27 June 1812 - 21 July 1882)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited10 January 2011

Citations

  1. Priscilla Turner, compiler, Meriwether Co., GA Cemeteries, Spartanburg, SC: , 1993, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. US/CAN Book: 975.8455 V39.
    Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church Cemetery, near Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., GA
    + George W. Culpepper, 6 Dec 1808 – 20 Dec 1901.
  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. 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.
  5. James F. Smith, compiler, Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery, 1832, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2000.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.asp?dbid=4242
    George W. Culpepper, Arringtons District, Meriwether Co., GA, drew lot 204/5/3 in what became Cass (later Bartow) Co., GA, 1832.
  6. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 111, Unk Twp, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 3 M0-5, 1 M5-10, 1 M20-30, 1 F20-30.
  7. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Pages 312B-313A, 59th District, Meriwether Co., GA
    G. W. Culpepper, 41, M, Farmer, $1,175, SC
    Perlina Culpepper, 38, F, GA
    J. D. Culpepper, 16, M, GA
    J. W. Culpepper, 13, M, GA
    W. J. Culpepper, 12, M, GA
    N. S. Culpepper, 10, M, GA
    N. L. Culpepper, 9, F, GA
    S. F. Culpepper, 7, M, GA
    S. E. Culpepper, 4, F, GA
    L. J. Culpepper, 3, M, GA
    P. F. Culpepper, 1, F, GA.
  8. 1860 Federal Census, United States.
    Slave Schedule, Meriwether Co., GA
    G. W. Culpepper, 2 slaves: 30F, 25M.
  9. Pages 415-416, Lutherville PO, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 50, M, Farmer, $2000/$2000, SC
    Paulina Culpepper, 48, F, GA
    James D. Culpepper, 26, M, GA
    Feraba Culpepper, 23, F, GA
    John W. Culpepper, 24, M, GA
    Simeon F. Culpepper, 17, M, GA
    Sallie E. Culpepper, 15, F, GA
    Joel Culpepper, 13, M, GA
    Permelia Culpepper, 11, F, GA
    George Culpepper, 8, M, GA.
  10. Abstracted by Lewis W. Griffin, Monroe Co., GA Deeds, 1822-1868, Books A-P, Salt Lake City, UT: Monroe County Superior Court, Published on Microfilm by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1966, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Films 164,136 - 164,143.
    Book O, Page 580 and 585.
  11. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 344B, Family 548, Greenville PO, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 62, M, Farmer, $200/$500, GA
    Lena Culpepper, 58, F, GA
    Florence Culpepper, 21, F, GA
    George Culpepper, 18, M, GA.
  12. Correspondence from Eleanor Herring Culpepper (Mrs. Albert Marvin Willingham), Grantville, GA, to Lew Griffin, 1976-2004.
  13. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 81, Page 202B (33), Family 262, Luthersville, Meriwether Co., GA
    George Culpepper, Self, M, Md, 72, SC, Farming, GA/SC/SC
    Perlina Culpepper, Wife, F, Md, 67, Keeping House, GA/France/GA
    Joel Culpepper, Son, M, Md, 30, Working On Farm, GA/SC/GA (ID: 32444)
    Lola Culpepper, Dau-in-Law, F, Md, 27, Keeping House, GA/GA/GA
    James Culpepper, GSon, M, S, 4, --- , GA/GA/GA
    Lola Culpepper, GDau, F, S, 7M, --- , GA/GA/GA
    John Chisohn, Other, M, S, 30, Store Keeper, AL/AL/GA
    Lea Bohanan, Other, F, S, B, 50, Cooking, GA/GA/GA.
  14. Correspondence from Lewis Pitts Culpepper to Lew Griffin, circa 1997.
  15. E-mail written 1977 - 2011 to Lew Griffin & Warren Culpepper from Sara Hodnett Murphy [ID:20147], e-mail address.
  16. 1900 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 51, Page 323B (16), Family 307, Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., GA
    James D. Culpepper, Head, M, Mar 1834, 66, md 40 yrs, GA/SC/GA, Farmer
    Pherabee Culpepper, Wife, F, Oct 1836, 63, md 40 yrs, ch 8/8, GA/GA/GA
    Charlie Culpepper, Son, M, Oct 1871, 28, Sng, GA/GA/GA
    John Culpepper, Son, M, Sep 1867, 32, Sng, GA/GA/GA, Brick Mason
    George W. Culpepper, Father, M, Dec 1808, 91, Wid, SC/SC/SC.
  17. Eleanor Herring Culpepper, History of Allen-Lee Memorial Methodist Church, LaGrange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 50.

Perlina Perdue

F, (27 June 1812 - 21 July 1882)
FatherJames Perdue (27 Apr 1783 - 13 Dec 1862)
MotherMary Howard (c 1770 - 9 Dec 1825)
Name Variation She was also known as Lena.1 
Birth*27 June 1812 Perlina was born at Georgia on 27 June 1812.2 
Marriage*17 February 1831 She married George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA at Forsyth, Monroe Co., Georgia, on 17 February 1831 at age 18. 
Married Name17 February 1831  As of 17 February 1831, her married name was Culpepper. 
(free wh female 20-30) 1840 Census1 June 1840 Perlina was probably a free white female, age 20 and under 30, in George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA's household, on the 1840 Census on 1 June 1840 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.3 
(Household member) 1850 Census1 June 1850 Perlina, Permelia, Thomas, Sarah, Simeon, Nancy, Noah, William, John and James listed as a household member living with George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA on the 1850 Census on 1 June 1850 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.4 
(household member) 1860 Census1 June 1860 Perlina, James, John, Simeon, Sarah, Thomas, Permelia, George and Fereba listed as a household member living with George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA in the 1860 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.5 
(household member) 1870 Census1 June 1870 Perlina, Permelia and George listed as a household member living with George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA on the 1870 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.1 
Photographed*say 1880 She was photographed say 1880 at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia.6
Perlina (Perdue) Culpepper
(Wife) 1880 Census1 June 1880 Perlina was listed as George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA's wife on the 1880 Census at Meriwether Co., Georgia.7 
Death*21 July 1882 She died at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia, on 21 July 1882 at age 70.2 
Burial*circa 23 July 1882 Her body was interred circa 23 July 1882 at Allen-Lee Cemetery, Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., Georgia.8,2 
Biography* The George W. Culpepper Bible record for Perlina's birth was transcribed: "Perlina Perdue was born June 27th 1812." Her Baptism was also recorded: "Baptized by Noah Smith Perlina Culpepper and her four sons on the 27th day of September A D 1839 The above four sones are the eldest sones of G. W. Culpepper and Perlina his wife." Finally, the record of her death was preserved in the same Bible: "Perlina Culpepper departed this [life] quietly and peacefully as she had lived Friday 25th of July 1882. Recorded by her Bereaved husband." According to a perpetual calendar, in 1882, the nearest Friday would have fallen on the 21st which is the date that was recorded on Perlina's tombstone.
      A 58 year old "Lena" born in Georgia was recorded (p. 344 #548) with her husband, George W. Culpepper and their youngest children, Florence and George in the 1870 census of the Greenville P.O. District, Meriwether Co., GA. A 67 year old "Perlina" born in Georgia was recorded (ED 81-33) living with her husband "George Culpepper" and their son Joel and his young family. 

Family

George Washington Culpepper of Meriwether Co., GA (6 December 1808 - 20 December 1901)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited27 February 2008

Citations

  1. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 344B, Family 548, Greenville PO, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 62, M, Farmer, $200/$500, GA
    Lena Culpepper, 58, F, GA
    Florence Culpepper, 21, F, GA
    George Culpepper, 18, M, GA.
  2. Priscilla Turner, compiler, Meriwether Co., GA Cemeteries, Spartanburg, SC: , 1993, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. US/CAN Book: 975.8455 V39.
    Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church Cemetery, near Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., GA
    + Perlina Perdue Culpepper, 27 Jun 1812 – 21 Jul 1882.
  3. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 111, Unk Twp, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 3 M0-5, 1 M5-10, 1 M20-30, 1 F20-30.
  4. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Pages 312B-313A, 59th District, Meriwether Co., GA
    G. W. Culpepper, 41, M, Farmer, $1,175, SC
    Perlina Culpepper, 38, F, GA
    J. D. Culpepper, 16, M, GA
    J. W. Culpepper, 13, M, GA
    W. J. Culpepper, 12, M, GA
    N. S. Culpepper, 10, M, GA
    N. L. Culpepper, 9, F, GA
    S. F. Culpepper, 7, M, GA
    S. E. Culpepper, 4, F, GA
    L. J. Culpepper, 3, M, GA
    P. F. Culpepper, 1, F, GA.
  5. Pages 415-416, Lutherville PO, Meriwether Co., GA
    George W. Culpepper, 50, M, Farmer, $2000/$2000, SC
    Paulina Culpepper, 48, F, GA
    James D. Culpepper, 26, M, GA
    Feraba Culpepper, 23, F, GA
    John W. Culpepper, 24, M, GA
    Simeon F. Culpepper, 17, M, GA
    Sallie E. Culpepper, 15, F, GA
    Joel Culpepper, 13, M, GA
    Permelia Culpepper, 11, F, GA
    George Culpepper, 8, M, GA.
  6. Correspondence from Eleanor Herring Culpepper (Mrs. Albert Marvin Willingham), Grantville, GA, to Lew Griffin, 1976-2004.
  7. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 81, Page 202B (33), Family 262, Luthersville, Meriwether Co., GA
    George Culpepper, Self, M, Md, 72, SC, Farming, GA/SC/SC
    Perlina Culpepper, Wife, F, Md, 67, Keeping House, GA/France/GA
    Joel Culpepper, Son, M, Md, 30, Working On Farm, GA/SC/GA (ID: 32444)
    Lola Culpepper, Dau-in-Law, F, Md, 27, Keeping House, GA/GA/GA
    James Culpepper, GSon, M, S, 4, --- , GA/GA/GA
    Lola Culpepper, GDau, F, S, 7M, --- , GA/GA/GA
    John Chisohn, Other, M, S, 30, Store Keeper, AL/AL/GA
    Lea Bohanan, Other, F, S, B, 50, Cooking, GA/GA/GA.
  8. Eleanor Herring Culpepper, History of Allen-Lee Memorial Methodist Church, LaGrange, GA: Family Tree, 1987.
    p 50.

Mary Elizabeth Culpepper

F, (31 July 1811 - 30 May 1883)
FatherJohn Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
MotherNancy Gillespie (c 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)
Birth31 July 1807 Mary was born at South Carolina on 31 July 1807. 
Birth*31 July 1811 Mary was born at Richland District, South Carolina, on 31 July 1811. 
Married Name2 February 1827  As of 2 February 1827, her married name was Dean. 
Marriage*4 February 1827 She married John Wesley Dean at Monroe Co., Georgia, on 4 February 1827 at age 15.1 
(free wh female 20-30) 1830 Census1 June 1830 Mary was probably a free white female, age 20 and under 30, in John Wesley Dean's household, on the 1830 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama. 25 m-p. 201.2 
1840 Census*1840 She was enumerated in the US Census of 1840 in 1840 at Talbot Co., Georgia
Death*30 May 1883 She died at Clay Co., Alabama, on 30 May 1883 at age 71. 
Burial*circa 31 May 1883 Her body was interred circa 31 May 1883 at Clay Co., Alabama
Biography* Census: 1850 Randolph Co., AL (Beat 11 p. 385 #168 (Elizabeth 40 GA in hh of John W. Dean)) Census: 24 Sep 1860 Wesobulga P. O. District, Randolph Co., AL (p. 826 #1402 (Mary E. 50 SC in hh of John W. Dean)) Census: 1880 Clay Co., AL. \Coppermine Beat 2 p. 9 (Mary E. Dean 69 SC SC SC).\
      Mary Elizabeth was known as "Elizabeth" or "Betsie." Mrs. D. W. (Ira Gay) Deam of Gay, GA preserved a record of Elizabeth's birth from the John Culpepper Bible and Mrs. D. W. (Lavyn Wright) Sisco copied the record: _________________________Elizabeth Culpepper _________________________b. July 31 1811 _________________________On Wednesday 7 o'clock A. M.
      Dean family records give the date of Elizabeth's birth as 31 Jul 1807 however, the 1850 census listed her age as 40 and the 1860 census listed her age as 50 which would give more weight to the Bible record of her birth in 1811. The 1850 census mistakenly lists Elizabeth's place of birth as Georgia, but this was corrected to South Carolina in the 1860 census. This corresponds with the birth locations for the other Culpepper children. Based on the location of Elizabeth's parents in the 1810 census, she was probably born in Richland District, SC. In the 1880 census of Clay Co., AL the widow, Mary E. Dean, gave her age as as 69 years which would indicate that she believed herself to have been born in 1811. She gave the place of birth for herself and her parents as South Carolina.
      Soon after Mary Elizabeth's birth, the John Culpepper family would have moved to Edgefield District, SC and this is where she would have spent her childhood. Unfortunately the John Culpepper family has not been found in 1820 census records of South Carolina or Georgia, but they are presumed to have been living in Edgefield District, SC. In 1823 or 1824 Mary Elizabeth would probably have moved with her parents to Georgia and this is where she married John Wesley Dean in 1827 in Monroe County. The family apparently moved on to Talbot Co., GA then to Randolph Co., AL and finally Clay Co., AL. Mary Elizabeth and John Wesley Dean are known to have had twelve children.
      Mrs. Deam and Lavyn Sisco also recorded the date of Mary Elizabeth (Culpepper) Dean's death: _________________________d. January 22, 1889
      But Dean records give her date of death as 30 May 1883. This discrepancy has not yet been resolved although it is possible, as was common, that her age at death was recorded in years months and days and since the Culpepper's and the Dean's were using a different birth date to start calculations they reached different results and the differences were exacerbated through the years.
      Another possibility since the death was obviously not recorded by John Culpepper is that whoever entered the death date confused Mary Elizabeth with "Lizzie" Culpepper, Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper's daughter. "Lizzie's" death was entered in her father's Bible as "June 22nd 1889." Could this date have been read as January 22, 1889 and then entered in John Culpepper's Bible as the death date for Mary Elizabeth? 

Family

John Wesley Dean (16 February 1805 - 5 July 1879)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited9 July 2004

Citations

  1. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    Elizabeth Culpepper and Wisty (Wesley) Dean on 4 Feb 1827 in Monroe Co., GA.
  2. P. 201
    John W. Dean m 20-30 w/1 m <5 1f 15-20
    Joseph John Francis Dean 1m <5.

John Wesley Dean

M, (16 February 1805 - 5 July 1879)
FatherJohn Dean (c 1776 - 1866)
MotherNancy King (c 1783 - )
Birth*16 February 1805 John was born at Georgia on 16 February 1805. 
Marriage*4 February 1827 He married Mary Elizabeth Culpepper at Monroe Co., Georgia, on 4 February 1827 at age 21.1 
1830 Census*1 June 1830 John was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama. 25 m-p. 201.2 
Census*1840 He was listed as a resident in the census report at Talbot Co., Georgia, in 1840. 
1840 Census* John was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census at Talbot Co., Georgia.
(p. 234).3 
Census1850 He was listed as a resident in the census report at Randolph Co., Alabama, in 1850. 
Death*5 July 1879 He died at Clay Co., Alabama, on 5 July 1879 at age 74. 
Burial* His body was interred at Clay Co., Alabama
Biography* In the 1850 Census, John Wesley Dean was listed with $1,800 in real estate holdings. Census: 24 Sep 1860 Wesobulga P. O. District, Randolph Co., AL (John W. Dean 55 GA personal property valued at $1200 and real estate valued at $1402)
According to Walter Conrad Dean, John Dean was also a Mason: The records of Miltown Lodge #149 A.F.& A.M. give two initiations of J. W. Dean: E.A. March 4th F.C. April 1st M.M. April 15th 1852 E.A. February 19th F.C. April 15th M.M. June 17th 1852 Demited June 15th 1854 was a charter member of Putman Lodge #212 June 23rd 1854 in Randolph County, Alabama. This Lodge was organized and was held for a long time in one room of his home.

1880 CLAY CO MORTALITY INDEX
John W. DEAN 74 GA (b. abt 1806) Farmer. Married.
Father born in NC. Mother born in GA.
died in July of diabetes.
Lived in the county 10 years.

Mrs. Ellaree Dean Speer noted that John Wesley Dean was "buried just South of Cheaha Mountain in the North corner of Clay County in family cemetery (no name)." 

Family

Mary Elizabeth Culpepper (31 July 1811 - 30 May 1883)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited27 September 2003

Citations

  1. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    Elizabeth Culpepper and Wisty (Wesley) Dean on 4 Feb 1827 in Monroe Co., GA.
  2. P. 201
    John W. Dean m 20-30 w/1 m <5 1f 15-20
    Joseph John Francis Dean 1m <5.
  3. P 234
    John W Deam 30-40w/1m<5 1m5-10 1m10-15 1f<5 1f15-20 1f20-30 1f40-
    Joseph John Francis Dean 1m 10-15.

Rev. William Henry Culpepper

M, (17 October 1813 - 22 March 1909)
FatherJohn Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
MotherNancy Gillespie (c 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)
DNA* William has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Joseph Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC, who is a son of Robert Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, the son of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Birth*17 October 1813 William was born at Edgefield District, South Carolina, on 17 October 1813. 
(free wh male 15-20) 1830 Census1 June 1830 William and George was probably a free white male, age 15 and under 20, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household, on the 1830 Census at Monroe Co., Georgia.1 
Marriage*27 March 1831 He married Sarah Leslie at Upson Co., Georgia, on 27 March 1831.2,3 
1840 Census*1 June 1840 William was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census on 1 June 1840 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.4 
Marriage*2 January 1851 He married Catherine Alexander at Coweta Co., Georgia, on 2 January 1851 at age 37. 
Employment*1 June 1860 William's occupation: farmer at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 1 June 1860. 
Civil War*between 1864 and 1865 He served in the War Between the States between 1864 and 1865

     William Henry Culpepper joined the Home Guard. He served as a 4th corporal in Captain A. P. Hunter's Company, Mounted Infantry, Randolph County Militia, for Falkner's Battalion. On a 21 Oct 1864 muster roll William Henry Culpepper was described as having "blue eyes, grey hair, fair complexion, five feet, ten inches tall.5
Photographedsay 1870 He was photographed say 1870 at Randolph Co., Alabama.6
William Henry Culpepper
1870 Census*1870 William was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama
Photographed*say 1880 He was photographed say 1880 at Randolph Co., Alabama,
This photo was found by Leonard Hoyt Kirk (1907-1998) in the abandoned home of his grandparents, John W. Kirk and Florilla Culpepper. Capos Conley 'Chip' Culpepper III of Little Rock now has the original, in its original frame.
William Henry Culpepper
1880 Census*1880 William was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama
Marriage*25 October 1880 He married Mary F. P. Falkenburough at Clay Co., Alabama, on 25 October 1880 at age 67.7 
1900 Census*1900 William was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama
(minister) Marriage14 November 1901 He, as minister, married Lavonia A. Busbee and John Will Elliott at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama, on 14 November 1901.8 
Death*22 March 1909 He died at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama, on 22 March 1909 at age 95. 
Burial* His body was interred at Wadley City Cemetery, Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama
Biography* William Henry Culpepper was the tenth child and eighth son of John and Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper. His parents had been noted in Richland District, SC in the 1810 census but, during the Civil War on a 21 Oct 1864 muster roll for the Home Guard, Rev. Culpepper was listed as Born S.C. Age 51 Farmer, Edgefield Co. S.C. This information was apparently supplied by Rev. Culpepper and appears to indicate that he was born in what was then Edgefield District, SC. It is possible that the family had moved on to Edgefield District by 1813. There is an 1814 record of Rev. Culpepper's father, John Culpepper, receiving a state grant of 138 acres on Cuffeetown Creek in Edgefield District, SC.

Mrs. J. (Clara Haralson) Moorcroft, recalled 9 what she had heard about Rev. Culpepper's childhood:

When my grandfather, my mother's father, William Culpepper, was a boy... he used to tell how the panthers would scream in the swamps when he and his brothers were climbing trees to get and eat the scupenon 10 and other vines that bore fruit.

Unfortunately, William Henry Culpepper's father has not been found in the 1820 census of South Carolina or Georgia so it is not known if the family remained in Edgefield District, SC until moving on to Georgia. The family is presumed to have been living somewhere in the district during this time because, although no record of sale has been found for the land which was granted to William Henry's father, in Feb 1823, John Culpepper sold another 144 acres "where I now live" on Cuffeetown Creek for $800. It was after this that the nine year old William Henry Culpepper presumably accompanied his parents when they moved to Georgia.

Since William Henry Culpepper's father's name was noted on a list of people for whom mail was being held at the Milledgeville Post Office in Baldwin Co., GA on Oct. 1, 1824, the family is believed to have been staying with or near the young family of Daniel Culpepper, one of William Henry Culpepper's older brother. After Daniel's death in October of 1825, William Henry Culpepper probably moved with his parents and the extended family to Monroe Co., GA where William Henry Culpepper's father, John Culpepper, appears in land records in 1827 purchasing land in the Twelfth District for $800.

William Henry Culpepper would have been 16 years old when the 1830 census was taken. His father, John Culpepper, was listed in Monroe Co., GA, with his wife and one son, 10-15 years old, still living at home, presumably William Henry Culpepper's younger brother, Lewis Peek Culpepper. It is possible that William Henry was living in Upson Co., GA by 1830 with family of his older brother, John Jefferson Culpepper. There is a male, age 15-20, in the John Jefferson Culpepper household in the 1830 Upson Co., GA census who has not been accounted for and William Henry Culpepper was apparently living in Upson Co., GA by 1831 since this is where he married his first wife, Sarah Leslie.

Based on the probable birth locations of their children, William Henry and Sarah (Leslie) Culpepper apparently remained in Upson Co., GA until after the birth of their fourth child, John Malcolm Culpepper. Civil War records for William Henry and Sarah (Leslie) Culpepper's first child, Elias Daniel, do not preserve his place of birth but family records for the second child, Mary Bathsheba, and Civil War records for the third child, Francis Marion, give Upson Co., GA as the place of birth. There are two sources of information about the place of birth of the fourth child, John Malcolm Culpepper: Masonic records and an obituary. According to Masonic records 11, presumably based on information supplied by John Malcolm Culpepper, his place of birth was Crawford Co., GA. In his obituary, John Malcolm Culpepper's place of birth was given as "Upton County, Ga." presumably Upson Co., GA. If the William Henry Culpepper family was if fact in Crawford Co., GA at the time of John Malcolm's birth, it would suggest that the family was already in the process of joining up with William Henry's parents in preparation for the extended family's move to Meriwether Co., GA. In any event, it seems likely that not long after John Malcolm's birth in 1835, William Henry and Sarah (Leslie) Culpepper and their young family along with William Henry's parents, John and Nancy, and his brother, Lewis Peek Culpepper, joined George Washington and Perlina (Perdue) Culpepper and their family in Meriwether Co., GA.

In 1838, William Henry Culpepper and his father, John Culpepper, show up in the Meriwether Co., GA deed records 12 in District 8 which is the area around Greenville. John William Culpepper, a George Washington Culpepper descendant, obtained copies of the deeds and F-233 shows that on 6 March 1838 Levi Adams sold land lot #256, in the 8th District, of Meriwether County, Georgia, containing 202 1/2 acres, to George Washington and William Henry Culpepper for $450.00. John William Culpepper wrote: 13 [Land lots 255 and 256 which were sold to John, George Washington and William Henry Culpepper in the] 8th District are located approximately 2 to 3 miles northwest of Greenville, about one mile east off of Georgia Route 100 on the Jarrell road. 255 crosses Jarrell Road.

An article in the 21 Apr 1905 Meriwether Vindicator noted that the families "settled on adjacent farms a few miles northwest of Greenville near the old Ector mill (now Maffetts's)." The article then noted that William Henry's father, John Culpepper, had settled "on what is now known as the Willis Jarrell place near town." But in 1839, George Washington Culpepper began purchasing land near what is now the community of Lone Oak, GA northwest of the farms of his father and brother and he had apparently moved his family there by the time of the 1840 census of Meriwether Co., GA, since John and Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper were noted living next door to William Henry Culpepper and his young family but the George Washington Culpepper family was noted separately.

In 1842, William Henry and his brother, George Washington Culpepper, are noted deeding land 14 in the 8th District of Meriwether Co., GA to their father, John Culpepper and George Washington Culpepper in turn purchased more land 15 near Lone Oak. But William Henry Culpepper and his young family apparently remained on the land now owned by John Culpepper near Greenville, GA.

The 21 Apr 1905 Greenville, Meriwether Co., GA Vindicator then records that "after residing here some years he [John Culpepper, William Henry's father] disposed of his farm reinvesting in a choice plantation in Randolph county, Ala." Mrs. J. (Clara Haralson) Moorcroft wrote 16 that her grandparents had moved to Alabama when her mother, Sarah Jane Culpepper "was six years old...." Sarah was born 17 Jan 1844 so she would have been six years old on 17 Jan 1850. However, based on the birth locations of their last two children noted in Bible and census records, William Henry and Sarah (Leslie) Culpepper probably moved their family to Randolph Co., AL after September of 1846 and before January of 1849. The youngest child, Florela Caroline, who was born 22 Jan 1849, was consistently recorded in census records as having been born in Alabama. Land records narrow the window even more. In January of 1848, William Henry's father, John Culpepper, sold the farms northwest of Greenville, GA to Jacob Moon. 17 William Henry Culpepper is noted in Randolph Co., AL land records in August of 1848. 18 Mrs. J. (Clara Haralson) Moorcroft also wrote 16 that when her grandparents moved to Alabama, John Culpepper was already a widower. William Henry Culpepper's mother, Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper died 25 Jul 1848. Circumstantial evidence 19 suggests that the family was already in Alabama when she died, unfortunately, there is no record of the location of Nancy's grave so there is no proof. The family was apparently in Alabama in time for William Henry and Sarah (Leslie) Culpepper's oldest son, Elias Daniel Culpepper, to join the Clegg family which moved from Alabama to Arkansas in 1848.

In any event, the extended family was apparently in Randolph Co., AL at least by August of 1848 and probably earlier. Five months later, in January of 1849, William Henry lost Sarah, his wife of 17 years, who had just given birth to their 11th child, Florela Caroline Culpepper.

The 37 year old widower, William Henry Culpepper, was recorded in the 1850 census of Randolph Co., AL with his younger children (except for his youngest son, Lewis Washington, who was living nearby with his grandfather, John Culpepper). According to census records, William Henry Culpepper owned real estate valued at $1,000. The land that William Henry Culpepper purchased in 1848 was west of what is now the town of Wadley, AL, about half way between the town and the Pleasant Hill Church. Although people had begun settling in the Wadley area in the 1830's, the town did not come into existence until 1906.20 When William Henry Culpepper moved to the area, the business center was across the Tallapoosa River in Louina which had started out as an Indian trading post and was on the old stage coach line from Wedowee to Dadeville.20 Before the Civil War, this was a prosperous area responsible for one-third of the taxes paid in the county. 21 Lebanon Land office records 22 also show that William Henry Culpepper purchased an additional 40 acres of land in the northwest part of the southwest division of Section 11 in Township 20 South, Range 10 East on September 1, 1849. This land is north of what is now Wadley, AL, and south of the Tallapoosa as it curves west after passing under the John W. Overton Bridge on Highway 48.

In January of 1851, William Henry Culpepper married Catherine Alexander. The marriage was recorded in Coweta Co., GA so William Henry must have had some contact there, possibly with Nancy (Corley) Culpepper, the widow of his oldest brother, Joel Culpepper.

In 1855, William Henry Culpepper's father, John Culpepper, died. Unfortunately, it is not known if he was living with or near William Henry at the time and his grave, like Nancy's, has not been located. William H. Culpepper and his second wife, Catherine, were recorded in the 1860 census of Almond P. O. District to the west of Louina, Randolph Co., AL. Although in the 1860 election, the men of this area generally were Democrats and supporters of Stephen A. Douglas,23 William Henry Culpepper was a Republican and probably a supporter of Abraham Lincoln.24 On the subject of slavery, Mrs. J. (Clara Haralson) Moorcroft wrote 16 about her grandfather, William Henry Culpepper:

Mama's father did not own slaves, he did not believe it was right to buy and sell human beings, but he hired them to work....

William Henry Culpepper was 47 years old when the Civil War began and he watched his sons leave for war. In June of 1864, 17 year old boys and 45 to 50 year old men were called to serve in the Confederate Army 25 and William Henry Culpepper joined the Home Guard. He served as a 4th corporal in Captain A. P. Hunter's Company, Mounted Infantry, Randolph County Militia, for Falkner's Battalion. On a 21 Oct 1864 muster roll William Henry Culpepper was described as having "blue eyes, grey hair, fair complexion, five feet, ten inches tall."

The family Bible of a grandson, L. M. Perry, has the following note in the "IMPORTANT INCIDENTS About Ancestry, Birth, Education, Early History, etc., etc." section of Bible:

William H. Culpepper has been a Local Preacher for thirty years in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Unfortunately, the entry was not dated. One wonders however if the record was made in conjunction with the marriage of L. M. Perry to Ada Flippin in January of 1896. If so, Rev. William Henry Culpepper might have taken up preaching after the Civil War. And "Rev. W. H. Culpepper" was noted as a Methodist minister in the Almond P. O. district of Randolph Co., AL in the 1887 - 1888 Alabama State Gazetteer & Business Directory.26 Almond, to the west of Louina, was described as having a post office and a population of 50 at the time.

In 1872, Rev. William Henry Culpepper also served as a County Commissioner of Randolph County, AL along with W. H. Osborn, W. D. Louvorn, and I. N. Brown. In the 1880 census, Rev. Culpepper was listed as a farmer living at Flatrock Beat #8 near Louina, Randolph Co., AL. His second wife, Catherine, and his widowed daughter, Melvina (Culpepper) Elliott, were also living with him.

Catherine, Rev. Culpepper's wife of 29 years died in June of 1880. Rev. Culpepper was 66 years old. He was married a third time, to Mary F. P. Falkenburough.

Rev. Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper, mentioned his brother, Rev. William Henry Culpepper, in a 19 March 1898 letter to Mr. B. F. Burke, the husband of Georgia (Culpepper) Burke, the youngest daughter of another brother, Francis G. Culpepper:

Brother William was Eighty-four Last Oct.... I was Eighty-one last August. So we are a Long Life People.... My Brother Williams nerves is completely shatered, can scarcely hold his saucer to drink his coffee. But I attribute that in a greate measure to smoking, he is an inveterate smoker, but that is not always the cause....
Rev. William Henry Culpepper was listed with his third wife, Mary, in the 1900 census of Flatrock District, near Louina, Randolph Co., AL. He died in 1909. He was 95 years old. His death was not recorded in the Family Bible.

Obituary for William H. Culpepper, Randolph, Alabama

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/randolph/obits/revwhculpep.txt

January 2002

RESOLUTIONS
----------------------------

In Memory of Bro William H CULPEPPER, Almond Lodge, No 523 A F & A M.

Whereas, God in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to remove Bro William H CULPEPPER from the walks of men to transplant him in the kingdom above, the Masonic Fraternity has suffered a great loss.

Bro CULPEPPER was our oldest and most loyal member until extreme age prevented.

He was born Oct 17th, 1813; died March 22nd, 1909.

He was made a Mason at Milltown Lodge in 1853.

As a Minister of the Gospel and a true christian [sic] worker, the church has lost a noble life. No better, noble life has this Lodge ever possessed.

Resolved, that while we deeply mourn our loss, we humbly bow to the will of God which was accomplished in this life and death. We will ever cherish in our hearts the memory of this good man and imitate his virtues in our lives.

That the bereaved family have our deepest sympathy in their loss, but we point them to the life he lived, and to all who follow in his footsteps there will be a grand reunion of this lodge and noble family, in that home above, where Jesus has gone to prepare for you, that “where I am there you may be also.”

(Signed)
Alfred M CAMP, W M. [Worshipful Master]
James R WILKINSON, S W. [Senior Warden]
Hiram D ABLE, Secy.

[From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 12 May 1909, p.1]

-------

In 1976, the caretaker for the Wadley, AL City Cemetery where Rev. Culpepper was buried recalled that when Rev. Culpepper died, over 2,000 people attended his funeral which had to be held in an open field since there was no building in the county large enough for the crowd. Rev. William Henry Culpepper was buried in the Wadley City Cemetery which had been a private Elliott Family Cemetery and was known as Mrs. Elliott's Cemetery for Rev. William Henry Culpepper's sister, Sarah (Culpepper) Elliott. 
Family Bible* William Henry Culpepper Family Bible
(Originally owned by Miss Emma Carlisle)
Louina, Randolph Co., AL

The following pages are from a Bible taken to the H. Grady Bradshaw Chambers County (Alabama) Library and Cobb Memorial Archives by an unidentified individual who purchased the Bible at an area yard sale. This person took the Bible and its attendant family records to the Archive in hopes of identifying relatives of those persons named in the Bible.

The Bible appears to have been owned originally by Miss Emma Carlisle, and handed down in her family.

The Bible records were photocopied by the Archivist, Mrs. Miriam Syler, who provided copies of those original copies to C.C. Culpepper who, in turn, transcribed the following pages on February 22, 2003.

Every effort was made to be true to the original spellings and punctuation found in the Bible records. Those rare cases where the transcriber could not clearly make out legible words or letters, and any commentary from the transcriber are clearly identified by use of parenthesis surrounding any information not contained in the original copies.

Transcribed pages contain the same information as the original page, and every effort has been made to capture the information as it appeared in the original document.

------------------------
Written vertically in the margin along the upper left-hand edge of an otherwise blank page – underline’s are the original author’s:

This is the 6th day of Nov. 1902.
This is the most lonesome day I ever saw
Emma and I are here all alone

-------------------------
A large flourishing calligraphic signature appears at the top of page that appears because of its background to have faced the previous page as the right-hand page of a spread:

Miss Emma Carlisle

This the 22 day of Dec. It is raining today
and oh how lonely every thing looks.
Nobody to come or rather nobody cout come.
Per. Corral Carlisle,

Louina, Ala.

Record of W. H. Culpepper
W. H. Culpepper was born Oct the 17th 1813.
Sarah his wife was born Feb 15th 1808.
Cathern his wife was born Nov 5th 1811.
Mary his wife was born June 8th 1842.

Children of W. H. Culpepper..
Elias . D. Culpepper was born Jan. 31st 1832.
Mary . B. Culpepper was born March 17th 1833.
Francis . M. Culpepper was born March 7th 1834.
John . M. Culpepper was born Nov 13th 1835.
Ann . M. Culpepper was born April 28th 1837.
William . A. Culpepper was born Oct 10th 1839.
Emily. M. Culpepper was born March 9. 1841
Louis Culpepper was born June 27. 1842
Sarah J. Culpepper was born Jan 17 1844
Martha L. Culpepper was born Sept 12 1846
Florela C. Culpepper was born Jun 22 1849
all the Children was Sarah his first wifes
theyre were no Children of the other two wifes

(written in the same hand as the Culpepper record)

Sarah . O. Elliott was born Feb 5 . 1802
and Died Nov 19 . 1900. She was a
Sister of W. H. Culpepper . who Died
March 22nd 1909.

Ella Elliott died Jan 22nd 1900.
She was a Grand Daughter inlaw of
Sarah Elliott.

(written in a different hand from the Culpepper record, but appearing to be the same hand as the passage under “Miss Emma Carlisle” from the earlier page)

Family Record
John Greene was borned Nov the 2 1787
Nancy Greene was borned Oct the 10th 1789
Mountain Greene was borned Feb the 10 1810
Hartford Greene was borned Nov the 17 1811
Gilben Greene was borned Oct the 31 1813
Rebecka Greene was borned May the 29 1816
Alletha Greene was borned Feb the 10 1818
Elias & Melinda Greene was borned Jan the 1 1820
Daniel Greene was borned Nov the 17 1821
Franklin Greene was borned Jan the 23 1824
John (marked out) Jonah Greene was borned Mar the 1 1826
Richard Greene was borned Oct the 30 1827
Martha Greene was borned Sept the 17 1829

Tabitha Greene was borned Oct the 30 1836


(written in the same hand as the Greene record)

Family Record
Mary Ann Kirk was borned Mar the 31 1822
Lucy Jane Kirk was borned June the 22 1824
Margaret Kirk was borned Oct the 3 1827
Stephan Kirk was borned Dec the 3 1829
Sarah Kirk was borned Feb the 25 1832
Parthena Kirk was borned Oct the 31 1834
Wm H Kirk was borned mar the 6 1838
Martha Frances Kirk was borned Feb the 3 1840
Susan Elizabeth Kirk was borned Jan the 22 1842
Benjaman franklin Kirk was borned Oct the 31 1844
Samuel Robert Kirk was borned Sept the 8 1850

This Transcription was made by and provided to Culpepper Connections! by Capos Conley "Chip" Culpepper.27
 

Family 1

Sarah Leslie (15 February 1808 - 22 January 1849)
Children

Family 2

Catherine Alexander (5 November 1811 - 22 June 1880)

Family 3

Mary F. P. Falkenburough (8 June 1842 - 24 July 1939)
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited23 March 2011

Citations

  1. 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.
  2. Dwight L. Carlisle enclosed a photocopy, with a 6 Feb 1996 letter, of the marriage record from the Rev. William Henry Culpepper Family Bible:

    William. H. Culpepper was marrid to Sarah Leslie 27th March 1831
    to Catherine Alexander 2 January 1851
    To Mary F. Falkenburogh Oct 25 1880

    Married in Upson Co. GA by Charles Hardy, E. M. E. C.
  3. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    William H. Culpepper and Sarah Lester on 27 Mar 1831 in Upson Co., GA.
  4. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 123, Unk Twp, Meriwether Co., GA
    William H. Culpepper, 2 M0-5, 2 M5-10, 1 M20-30, 1 F0-5, 1 F5-10, 1 F30-40.
  5. From his biography.
  6. E-mail written numerous messages over 30+ years to Lew Griffin from Tommie Sue Reeves Smith (#23162), 942 Clarice, Grand Prairie, TX 75051, e-mail address.
  7. No. 429 William H. Culpepper To Mary Falkenborough on October 25, 1880 by John B. Miller, Minister, at the residence of W.W. Falkenborough. Bond:William H. Culpepper and L.G.Dean.
    Marriages of Clay County Alabama transcribed by Pat Scott
    .
    Also, Dwight L. Carlisle enclosed a photocopy, with a 6 Feb 1996 letter, of the marriage record from the Rev. William Henry Culpepper Family Bible:
    .
    William. H. Culpepper was marrid to Sarah Leslie 27th March 1831
    to Catherine Alexander 2 January 1851
    To Mary F. Falkenburogh Oct 25 1880.
  8. Dianne S. Herren, Randolph County Alabama Recorded Marriages Book 1: 1896-1900, Woodland, AL: Southern Roots, 1990.
    p. 23, No. 236 by Rev. W. H. Culpepper, witness B. O. Harris.
  9. "The William Culpepper and Sally Leslie Family," typed page
  10. scuppernong - a cultivated muscadine (a grape of the southern U.S. with musky fruits in small clusters) with yellowish green plum-flavored fruits
  11. Saltillo [TX] Lodge #631
  12. F-233, F-396
  13. letter 21 Apr 1995
  14. DB G-458: LL 256 A-100 WD
  15. DB G 452
  16. "The William Culpepper and Sally Leslie Family," typed sheet
  17. Deed Book I 392 11 Jan 1848
  18. Certificate or Warrant 10628 for 39 acres and 64 rods in the southwest part of the northeast division of Section 10 in Township 22 South, Range 10 East to "William H. Culpepper" A photocopy of a page from a register of land sold by township and section records the date of sale as August 10, 1848. Computerized land office records list the "SIGN_DATE" as "1850/03/01"
  19. see the John and Nancy (Gillespie) chapter
  20. Eugenia Elizabeth Smith, A History of Randolph County p. 15
  21. Eugenia Elizabeth Smith, A History of Randolph County p. 11
  22. Access No. AL3170 .069, Image Name 17134, Vol ID 66: Document No. 10121
  23. Eugenia Elizabeth Smith, A History of Randolph County p. 44
  24. Marilyn Davis Barefield, Historical Records of Randolph County, Alabama 1832-1900 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1985) pp. 63-64 from Alabama Historical Quarterly Vol. IV, Fall 1942 p. 368 from article #32 of a history of Randolph Co., AL by J. M. K. Guinn from a series which ran in the Wedowee Randolph Toiler from 6 Dec 1894 to 13 Mar 1896
  25. James Trager, The People's Chronology: A Year-by-Year Record of Human Events from Prehistory to the Present (New York: Henry Hold and Company, 1992) p. 495
  26. Marilyn Davis Barefield, Historical Records of Randolph County, Alabama 1832-1900 p. 143
  27. E-mail written 1998-2011 to Culpepper Connections from Capos Conley 'Chip' Culpepper II (#23339), Little Rock, AR, e-mail address.

Sarah Leslie

F, (15 February 1808 - 22 January 1849)
FatherJoseph? Leslie (c 1778 - )
MotherMary? Calhoun ? (c 1781 - )
Birth*15 February 1808 Sarah was born at North Carolina on 15 February 1808. 
Marriage*27 March 1831 She married Rev. William Henry Culpepper at Upson Co., Georgia, on 27 March 1831 at age 23.1,2 
Married Name27 March 1831  As of 27 March 1831, her married name was Culpepper. 
(free wh female 30-40) 1840 Census1 June 1840 Sarah was probably a free white female, age 30 and under 40, in Rev. William Henry Culpepper's household, on the 1840 Census on 1 June 1840 at Meriwether Co., Georgia.3 
Death*22 January 1849 She died at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 22 January 1849 at age 40. 
Burial* Her body was interred at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama
Biography* A Leslie family researcher, Coral Betty Lindamood of Harlingen, TX, wrote 4 that she believed but could not prove that Joseph Leslie and Mary Calhoun were the parents of Sarah Leslie and that Sarah was born in North Carolina. Betty thought that the Leslie family moved from North Carolina to Georgia sometime between 1822 and 1828. Another Leslie family researcher, Margaret Bee, believed that the family had moved from North Carolina to Georgia and that Hugh Malcolm Leslie, John A. Leslie, and Daniel Leslie had moved on to Panola Co., TX around 1850.5

Sarah died shortly after the birth of her 11th child and not long after the family had moved to Alabama. 

Family

Rev. William Henry Culpepper (17 October 1813 - 22 March 1909)
Children
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited27 February 2008

Citations

  1. Dwight L. Carlisle enclosed a photocopy, with a 6 Feb 1996 letter, of the marriage record from the Rev. William Henry Culpepper Family Bible:

    William. H. Culpepper was marrid to Sarah Leslie 27th March 1831
    to Catherine Alexander 2 January 1851
    To Mary F. Falkenburogh Oct 25 1880

    Married in Upson Co. GA by Charles Hardy, E. M. E. C.
  2. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    William H. Culpepper and Sarah Lester on 27 Mar 1831 in Upson Co., GA.
  3. 1840 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 123, Unk Twp, Meriwether Co., GA
    William H. Culpepper, 2 M0-5, 2 M5-10, 1 M20-30, 1 F0-5, 1 F5-10, 1 F30-40.
  4. 1972 family summary
  5. Margaret Bee (TBYF88A) Prodigy message 5 Sep 1994 subject: "Leslie, NC, GA, TX"

Catherine Alexander

F, (5 November 1811 - 22 June 1880)
Birth*5 November 1811 Catherine was born at Georgia on 5 November 1811. 
Employment* Catherine's occupation: housekeeper at Randolph Co., Alabama
Marriage*2 January 1851 She married Rev. William Henry Culpepper at Coweta Co., Georgia, on 2 January 1851 at age 39. 
Married Name2 January 1851  As of 2 January 1851, her married name was Culpepper. 
(household member) 1870 Census1870 Catherine listed as a household member living with Rev. William Henry Culpepper on the 1870 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama. 57 m-p. 572 hh 19. 
(Wife) 1880 Census1880 Catherine was listed as Rev. William Henry Culpepper's wife on the 1880 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama. 66 m-Beat 8. 
Death*22 June 1880 She died at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 22 June 1880 at age 68. 
Burial*circa 23 June 1880 Her body was interred circa 23 June 1880 at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama.1 

Family

Rev. William Henry Culpepper (17 October 1813 - 22 March 1909)
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited27 February 2008

Citations

  1. Catherine is presumed to be buried in one of the graves covered with a slab near the grave of Rev. William Henry Culpepper.

Mary F. P. Falkenburough

F, (8 June 1842 - 24 July 1939)
Birth*8 June 1842 Mary was born at Georgia on 8 June 1842. 
Marriage*25 October 1880 She married Rev. William Henry Culpepper at Clay Co., Alabama, on 25 October 1880 at age 38.1 
Married Name25 October 1880  As of 25 October 1880, her married name was Culpepper. 
(Wife) 1900 Census1900 Mary was listed as Rev. William Henry Culpepper's wife on the 1900 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama. Pct 8. 
1920 Census*1920 Mary was listed as the head of a family on the 1920 Census at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama.2 
Photographed*circa 1939 She was photographed circa 1939 at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama.3
Mary (Falkenburough) Culpepper
Death*24 July 1939 She died at Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama, on 24 July 1939 at age 97. 
Burial* Her body was interred at Wadley City Cemetery, Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama.4 

Family

Rev. William Henry Culpepper (17 October 1813 - 22 March 1909)
ChartsJohn Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited27 February 2008

Citations

  1. No. 429 William H. Culpepper To Mary Falkenborough on October 25, 1880 by John B. Miller, Minister, at the residence of W.W. Falkenborough. Bond:William H. Culpepper and L.G.Dean.
    Marriages of Clay County Alabama transcribed by Pat Scott
    .
    Also, Dwight L. Carlisle enclosed a photocopy, with a 6 Feb 1996 letter, of the marriage record from the Rev. William Henry Culpepper Family Bible:
    .
    William. H. Culpepper was marrid to Sarah Leslie 27th March 1831
    to Catherine Alexander 2 January 1851
    To Mary F. Falkenburogh Oct 25 1880.
  2. 1920 Federal Census, United States.
    Mary F. P. Culpepper 77 GA
    Brosher Elliott grandson 22 AL.
  3. Norma Kirk Willis records, Norma Kirk Willis to Lew Griffin.
    From back of photo: "My daddy Daniel Patterson Kirk's maternal grandmother Culpepper. Picture made on her 100th birthday. (sic) Date made unknown - Birthdate unknown -- Death unknown. My great grandmother -- Norma Kirk Willis."
  4. Although Mrs. W. H. (Mary F. Falkenborrough) Culpepper is supposed to have been buried in the Wadley City Cemetery, no record has been found.

Rev. Lewis Peek Culpepper

M, (25 August 1816 - 4 June 1915)
FatherJohn Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL (1 Oct 1772 - 13 May 1855)
MotherNancy Gillespie (c 1778 - 25 Jul 1848)
DNA* Lewis has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Joseph Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC, who is a son of Robert Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, the son of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Birth*25 August 1816 Lewis was born at Edgefield District, South Carolina, on 25 August 1816.1 
(free wh male 10-15) 1830 Census1 June 1830 Lewis was probably a free white male, age 10 and under 15, in John Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL's household, on the 1830 Census at Monroe Co., Georgia.2 
Marriage License7 December 1839 Lewis applied for a marriage license to wed Sarah Ann Culpepper at Pike Co., Georgia, on 7 December 1839. 
Marriage*12 December 1839 He married Sarah Ann Culpepper at Pike Co., Georgia, on 12 December 1839 at age 23.3,4 
1850 Census*1 June 1850 Lewis was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census on 1 June 1850 at Pike Co., Georgia.5 
Marriage*2 December 1858 He married Margarette R. Joyce Bateman at Georgia on 2 December 1858 at age 42.3 
1870 Census*1 June 1870 Lewis was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Opelika, Lee Co., Alabama.6 
Photographedsay 1885 He was photographed say 1885
From Dana Johnson:

This was in Aunt Maggie Trimble's house foryears and when she passed, my dad, JT, brought it to me.

The frame is filigree - in the silver portion the holes go all the way through. I don't know if this was the original frame but I would imagine it is. This is what I remembered from when it hung in Aunt Maggie Trimble's home.7
Lewis Peek Culpepper
Photographed*say 1895 He was photographed say 1895
This photo was provided by Essie May Bryant (Mrs. Enoch Melvin Moore), of Jonesboro, GA, in June 1979. Mrs. Moore died in 1986. Her son, Enoch Michael Moore, currently unlocated, probably has the original.
Lewis Peek Culpepper
Photographedcirca 1895 He was photographed circa 1895.8
Joseph Richard & Lewis Peek Culpepper
Photographedcirca 1905 He was photographed circa 1905
Left to right: Charles Augustus Culpepper Jr., Charles Augustus Culpepper, Joseph Richard Culpepper, and Lewis Peek Culpepper.
Four Generations in the Lewis P. Culpepper family
Photographedsay 1910 He was photographed say 1910 at Randolph Co., Alabama.
Lewis Peek Culpepper
Death*4 June 1915 He died at Chambers Co., Alabama, on 4 June 1915 at age 98.9 
Burial*5 June 1915 His body was interred on 5 June 1915 at State Line Cemetery, Chambers Co., Alabama.10
Tombstone
Biography* Census 19 Sep 1860: Wesobulga P. O., Randolph Co., AL. \p. 811 (Lewis P. Culpepper 44 SC clergyman congregational methodist $2600 real estate $1500 personal property).\ Alabama State Census: 1866 in Tallapoosa Co., AL. \(L. P. Culpepper 1m-20+ w/3m<10 4f-20+ 1f<10)\. Census: 1880 Clay Co., AL. \Beat 10 p. 15 (Lewis P. Culpepper 63 AL [SC] -- --).\ Census: 1900 in Chambers Co., AL. \Vol. 8 ED 1 Sheet 7 Line 50 (Lewis P. Culpepper Aug 1816 SC in hh of son-in-law R. R. Rutland).\ Census: 1910 Hickory Flat, Chambers Co., AL. \ED 14 Sheet 6 Pct 1 #117 (Lewis P. Culpepper 94 SC SC SC in hh or son-in-law Ricks R. Rutland).\
      Mrs. J. W. (Ira Gay) Deam of Gay, GA preserved a copy of Lewis P. Culpepper's birth record from the John Culpepper Bible and it was transcribed by Mrs. D. W. (Lavyn Wright) Sisco: _________________________Lewis Peek Culpepper _________________________b. August 25, 1816 _________________________On Sunday 2 o'clock P.M.
      The information must have been copied before 1915 since Lewis was recorded as "Living in Chambers Co." In the early 1900's, Joseph R. Culpepper wrote to a cousin that his father, Lewis P. Culpepper, "was born in Edgefield, South Carolina and lived there until he was 7 years old." Unfortunately the family has not been found in the 1820 census although Lewis is presumed to have been living with his parents in Edgefield District, SC. Lewis' father is known to have been granted land in Edgefield District, SC before Lewis P. Culpepper was born and he is known to have sold land there in Feb 1823 when Lewis would have been six and one-half years old. Sometime after this Lewis' father, John Culpepper, moved his family to Georgia where his older sons branched out into several counties but John seems to have settled for a time in Monroe Co., GA where he first shows up in land records in 1827. Lewis Peek Culpepper, the youngest of the eleven children, would have been seven by the time his family reached Georgia and would have been living with his parents. Monroe Co., GA was a frontier county which had been opened to white settlement in 1821. As a result, Lewis had very little chance to attend school and his education was limited. However at the age of thirteen, he joined the Methodist church. Lewis was the last child to leave home and he was noted as a male 10-15 years of age living with his parents in the 1830 census of Monroe Co., GA.
      By 1832, John Culpepper had apparently moved his family to Crawford Co., GA where his sons Joel and James were living and a sixteen year old Lewis was presumably still living with his parents. In the mid-1830's John and Nancy apparently moved out with son, William Henry, to Meriwether Co., GA and it is presumed that Lewis Peek Culpepper went with them. However there must have been some contact between John Culpepper and his family and Joseph Richard Culpepper, who was living in Pike Co., GA with his family since in 1839, Lewis married his cousin, Sarah Ann Culpepper, Joseph Richard Culpepper's daughter. The couple has not been found in the 1840 census but they are presumed to have been living in Pike Co., GA near Sarah's parents. 12 Jan 1844 William C. Beckham recorded a gift of 2 acres (Pike Co. Grantees, G 135, lot 72, dist 9) for a Methodist Church at Powder Springs for whom Lewis P. Culpepper was the agent. Lewis and Sarah Ann Culpepper had five children between 1840 and 1848. In the 1850 census of Pike Co., GA, Lewis P. Culpepper was listed as a millwright with land valued at $400. On p. 44 of Sesquicentennial 1822-1972 Pike County Georgia it was noted: Meansville Congregational Church was first organized as New Hope Congregational Methodist Church, in the home of a Mr. [Alfred G.?] Pace [brother-in-law], by Rev. W. H. Graham and Rev. Lewis Culpepper. The first building was erected in 1852 under the direction of Rev. Culpepper and Mr. Pace, and seats were built by Mr. John Daugherty.
      In 1857, Sarah Ann Culpepper died, probably of appendicitis. That same year, according to an article written in 1915 by his daughter Maggie (Mrs. George R. Trimble): [Lewis Peek Culpepper] felt called to preach, and in 1857 he united with the Congregational Church and began preaching. He didn't preach for a salary as the ministers of today, he preached for salvation regardless of pay. He went wherever he was called to go. If he spent all the money in his purse going to a church and they didn't pay him any, he walked back home or worked for money to pay his expenses [he was a carpenter, millwright, and gin repairer by trade]. His church paid him if they wanted to and what they wanted to. He never asked for anything.
      In 1858, he married Margaret Joyce Bateman, Mrs. Trimble continued: [Lewis Peek Culpepper] moved from Georgia to [near Louina (Wesobulga P.O.), now called Wadley, Randolph Co.] Alabama about 1859 [after the birth of Francis Daniel in Oct of 1859 but before the 1860 census in Sep 1860]. The trip was made in an open wagon and required several days. He resided in several counties but the greater part was spent in Clay and Chambers counties. During the Civil War he did not go to battle but bore his part at home. He was a true friend to the widows and orphans and those made poor by the war. Of course, his sympathies were with the South, but if a Yankee soldier came to his door he was never turned away hungry. He helped wherever he could.
      A great-granddaughter, Mrs. J. W. (Lena Whatley) DeVaughn wrote in a 2 Jan 1979 letter of a visit with "Mr. [Alsie] Rutland" in La Grange, GA: This Mr. Rutland told us [Lena and her sister Mrs. C. H. (Margaret Whatley) Lee] Grandpa [Lewis Peek] Culpepper sure was high temperatured - when he got mad, whatever he had in his hand he threw as far as he could.... [Mr. Rutland] said he [L. P. Culpepper] sure was a good preacher. Never carried his Bible with him. He knew it so well he could quote his scripture he wanted to preach from....
      One relative recalled that Lewis had once gotten angry and thrown his shoe across the room. I mentioned this to a granddaughter, Mrs. Joseph H. (Margaret Phillips) Dodd, and she replied (12 Apr 1979): I can't remember Grandfather showing any sign of having a temper, however, when he was at our house he was so pampered he had no cause to arouse his temper. Mother [Mrs. Julia Culpepper Phillips] told this story of his anger. A group of Yankees came through on horses and when they saw Grandfather's pretty fat horses in the lot they turned their poor and weary horses in the lot and took Grandfather's horses. They also went in the house and took all the staple groceries they wanted. Grandfather said he called them every name a preacher was allowed to say. They only laughed at him and when one of the Yankees noticed his gold watch and chain, a very precious one, he just went over and took it from Grandfather. There was nothing he could do except get more angry and call them more bad names.
      Sometime before 1870, Lewis Peek moved his family to Lee Co, AL where a 53 year old "L. P. Culpepper" born in South Carolina was noted (p. 250) with his second wife and their children in the 22 Jun 1870 census of the Opelika P. O. district of Lee Co., AL. His occupation was listed as millwright. Another granddaughter, Mrs. Earnest L. (Dennie Rutland) Bryant, of LaGrange, GA, shared her recollections in July, 1979: Grandpa Lewis Culpepper was a minister. I was told that he always walked on his church circuit, leaving mules at home to be used on the farm. He preached in several churches - I remember Ashland, Lineville, and Fredonia, Ala.... Grandpa was paid mostly with farm products. I remember once a widow gave him 25 cents and told him to buy himself some coffee. He bought the coffee and took it to the widow woman.... As a small girl, I remember him sitting in the hall of our home, reading his Bible. He did this most of his time. Ministers came to visit him and they enjoyed discussing the Bible.
      In the 1880 census, a 63 year old "Louis Culpepper" born in South Carolina was recorded (Beat 10 ED 38-15) with his family in Clay Co., AL. His daughter, Mrs. G. R. Trimble wrote in 1915: In 1888, he was the pastor of two churches. All the members of both churches unanimously voted out the Methodist rules and united with the Congregationalist. He remained an active minister until a few years before his death.
      Mrs. J. H. (Margaret Phillips) Dodd wrote in a 12 Apr 1979 letter: I remember this story which is on the humorous side. For several years at one of his churches he would hold a revival in the summer. Sister Brown was a "shouter" and when she got happy she would go to her husband or one of the children and beat and pull their hair and keep shouting. The family got wise to all this and when she would start shouting Grandfather said the children would get down on their knees and make for the door. He said it was so funny that he just stood in the pulpit and laughed. Grandmother said, "Darling, you should be ashamed of yourself." He said, "Well, I couldn't help but laugh and the congregation thought I was doing the holy laugh."
      In 1896, Lewis P. Culpepper's second wife, Margaret Bateman, died. According to Mrs. Trimble, Lewis P. Culpepper "spent the rest of his life traveling, working, preaching, and visiting his children, and spent the greater part of his last years with his daughter Mira (Mrs. Richard R. Rutland) near Standing Rock in Chambers Co. AL." In the 1900 census (Vol. 8, ED. 1, Sheet 7, Line 50) "Lewis P. Culpepper" was living with his daughter, Elmira, and her husband, R. R. Rutland, in Chambers Co., AL. He was listed as having been born Aug 1816 in South Carolina. A 94 year old Lewis P. Culpepper born in South Carolina was noted (ED 14, Sheet 6, Pct 1, #117) in the 1910 census records at Hickory Flat, Chambers Co., AL with his daughter Elmira in the "Ricks R. Rutland" household. Lewis P. Culpepper listed both his parents as having been born in South Carolina.
      Mrs. J. H. (Margaret Phillips) Dodd wrote in a 26 Jul 1978 letter about Lewis P. Culpepper's visit to the Phillips farm at Bacon Level, Randolph Co., AL: Grandfather used to visit us on the farm. He would stay a month or six weeks. All of us kids enjoyed him so much because he was so jolly and gave us so much attention. We had a large shady yard and on Sunday afternoons most of the kids in the neighborhood would come there to play games. Grandfather always sat on the sideline watching and laughing with us. When we got into an argument he would call us over and give us a good moral talk on sportsmanship and we would all go happily back into the game. He had a great sense of humor. Once when he was with us my mother put him in Laura's room to sleep so he would be next to her room and she could hear him if he called her during the night. He didn't have much hair so he always slept with a nightcap on. The next A.M. Mother told J.T. to go wake Laura to help her with breakfast. J.T. was a prankster, so he took a pillow and shook the feathers down in a ball. He forgot Grandfather was in Laura's room so he bopped Grandfather on the head with all his strength, thinking it was Laura. When Grandfather's nightcap flew out in the floor he realized what he had done so he ran. When Grandfather got his breath he yelled, "Julie, Julie, come here." He always called Mother Julie. Mother ran in and Grandfather told her something hit him on the head and knocked his nightcap off. By that time Mother had figured it out and J.T. admitted doing it thinking it was Laura. Mother then explained it to Grandfather and he got a big laugh out of it.
      Joseph Wyeth Griffin, a great-grandson, of Leeds, AL, recalled that in old age Lewis liked to sit in a rocking chair in the general store and share his opinions with friends.
      Lena Amsler wrote in 29 Jun 1978 letter that her Aunt Mira (Mrs. R. R. (Elmira Culpepper) Rutland) had mentioned that once, while Lewis P. Culpepper was staying with her family, she had noticed that he was missing. When he returned, she discovered that he had walked several miles down the road to visit his even more aged brother, William.
      Mrs. Earnest L. (Dennie E. Rutland) Bryant noted in July, 1979: Grandpa was active until he suffered a stroke about a week before his death. He rarely used his glasses. He walked over the back farm, which was about forty acres, on the day before he became ill. He came into the house after his walk, ate a big supper, and went to bed. He suffered the stroke before morning. He lived about a week.
      Mrs. Margaret Culpepper Trimble wrote in 1915 that Lewis Peek Culpepper died during the morning of 4 June 1915 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. R. Rutland, on Stateline Road, near Standing Rock. He was buried June 5 at Stateline Church. Mrs. G. W. (Elaine DeVaughn) Mendenhall wrote in a 4 Dec 1978 letter that her mother, Mrs. J. W. (Lena Whatley) DeVaughn had visited the grave site and added "the cemetery is located near the Georgia line, traveling directly east from Roanoke, AL." Mrs. J. W. (Lena Whatley) DeVaughn wrote of the visit in a 2 Jan 1979 letter: I sure did enjoy our trip to County Line Church. Wasn't any trouble to find Grandpa Culpepper's grave. The Home Coming Day at this church is the second Sunday in August. If it is the Lord's Will I plan to go and carry some flowers for his grave. Some more have said they hope to go. His grave needs some work done on it....
      On 19 March 1898, from Chambers County, AL, Lewis Peek Culpepper wrote the following letter to Mr. B. F. Burke, the husband of Georgia Culpepper, the youngest daughter of Francis G. Culpepper: Mr B. F. Burke Sweet Home, Tex _________________________Dear Nephew, I have been thinking of writing to you for the Last twelve months after receiving one from you in reply to one I wrote to Brother. But shortly after receiving that Letter I went to Georgia to visit my Children and relatives and stade Some time [Lewis P. Culpepper must have been writing of a visit to his oldest son, Joseph R. Culpepper, who was living in Macon, GA]. and when I Came back I was sick sometime and one thing and another and the most prominent thing of all carlesness for which I offer an apoligy now - a few days ago I received a Letter from my daughter at McGregor [Martha Jane Culpepper, the wife of Samuel Amsler, of McGregor, Texas] together with a lengthey news Paper account of Brother [an article about Francis G. Culpepper appeared in the Shiner Gazette , Feb, 1898] and his family, also a Photograph of a complete Likeness of my Brother with a tolerable correct historical account with one Exception the paper Says he was born 1806, the record says 1804, but that don't amount to any thing [According to a transcription of a record from the John Culpepper Family Bible made by Mrs. Ira Deam, Francis G. Culpepper was born 31 Jan 1804, on "Friday at 3 o'clock p.m." A perpetual calendar shows that January 31, 1804 would have been a Tuesday. Unfortunately, Mrs. Deams's daughter does not have the Bible and does not know where it is so there is no way of knowing where the error was introduced. It is possible that the Friday was an error in transcription since the birth record preceding that of Francis Gillespie was for Sarah O. Culpepper who was born February 5, 1802, On Friday 1 o'clock p.m.]. My sister two years older than he is Living [Sarah O. (Culpepper) Elliott was born in 1802 and in 1898 was living Louina, Randolph Co., AL]. She was ninetysix In Feb. I was at her house Last august she was then very pert but her hearing and Sight was very deficient. I saw Brother Washington Last November was a year [George Washington Culpepper (born 6 Dec 1808) lived at Lone Oak, Meriwether Co., GA where he had moved in the 1840's], he was then all right Physically but had entirely Lost his mind, he was Eighty-nine Last December. Brother William was Eighty-four Last Oct [William Henry Culpepper lived near Louina, Randolph Co. AL.], I was Eighty-one last August. So we are a Long Life People, and I have been a steday Labourer all my Life and have never had but very Little rest all that time. And I am remarkably stout for a man of my age, my nerves are steddy as they Ever were in my Life, my Brother Williams nerves is completely shatered, can scarcely hold his saucer to drink his coffee. But I attribute that in a greate measure to smoking, he is an inveterate smoker, but that is not always the cause. My oldest son Joe is fifty eight years old never used tobacco any way, and his nerves is completely ruined. but his helth was harmed in the War, he Lookes nearley as old as I do. I ought to be thankful and proude of my Family. I have raised twelve children all to be grone, two dead now [William Washington died in Texas after graduating from medical school and Sarah Elizabeth died in Lineville, AL], but all were high toned gentlmen and Ladyes without a stain or a charge of any thing dishonerable. Well I tride to raise them Right. Well I have always believed that holsom Precepts and good Example has a wonderful influence on Posterity, and we all make ourselves just what we are, well I want to come to See you all and IIl never die satisfid unless I do come if I can get Some good responsible Person to accompany me I will come next fall or winter, if I were twenty years younger I would Live there. Well I must close this uninteresting Letter hoping to hear from you soon, let my dear grand niece to write to me I think I got one Letter from her, she writs well yours Lovingly and truly L. P. Culpepper
      In a 28 Sep 1987 letter, Mrs. A. M. (Eleanor Culpepper) Willingham wrote of visiting Lewis Peek Culpepper's grave: This is in State Line cemetery near Ga-Ala line.... This cemetery is in a church yard - State Line Church." Mrs. Charles (Margaret Whatley) Lee visited Rev. L. P. Culpepper's grave and the nearby church and wrote in a 26 Nov 1978 letter that "Lewis Peek preached at that State Line Church a long time." She added that she had visited Alsie Rutland in LaGrange, GA and he told her that "Lewis Peek was very hard of hearing."
      Margaret Lee added in a 3 Jan 1979 letter: The State Line Church and Cemetery is 7 miles from Standing Rock.... The State Line Church is across the street from the West Point lake.... I guess State Line Church would be in "Five Points" because that is Mrs. [Harvey] Boone's mailing address and she only lives a few steps from the church & cemetery.11,12 

Family 1

Sarah Ann Culpepper (21 November 1817 - 29 March 1858)
Children

Family 2

Margarette R. Joyce Bateman (24 June 1833 - 29 December 1896)
Children
ChartsJoseph Culpepper of SC Descendants
John Culpepper of Randolph AL Female Descendants
Last Edited22 May 2014

Citations

  1. J. W. Culpepper Bible Record, POB from Joseph R. Culpepper.
  2. 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.
  3. , Lewis Peek Culpepper Bible.
  4. Ancestry.com, compiler, Georgia Marriages to 1850, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1997.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/2085a.htm
    Lewis P. Culpepper and Sarah Ann Culpepper on 12 Dec 1839 in Pike Co., GA.
  5. 1850 Federal Census, United States.
    Page 125, District 68, Pike Co., GA
    Lewis P. Culpepper, 33, M, Mill Wright, $400, SC
    Sarah A. Culpepper, 32, F, SC
    Joseph R. Culpepper, 9, M, GA
    Silviah A. Culpepper, 8, F, GA
    Sarah E. Culpepper, 6, F, GA
    Martha J. Culpepper, 4, F, GA
    Clarissy E. Culpepper, 2, F, GA
    Robert A. Vaughn, 6, M, GA
    Nancy Nabors, 76, F, SC.
  6. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Opelika, Lee Co., Alabama; Lines 37-40 & 1-4, Pages 250A-B (22 Jun 1870)
    L P Culpepper, 53, M, Wh, Mill Wright, SC
    M Culpepper, 36, F, Wh, Keeping house, GA
    M J Culpepper, 33, F, Wh, Keeping house, GA
    F D Culpepper, 11, M, Wh, GA
    T J Culpepper, 9, M, Wh, AL
    W W Culpepper, 6, M, Wh, AL
    M E Culpepper, 6, F, Wh, AL
    A Culpepper, 4, F, Wh, AL.
  7. E-mail written Jul 2009 to Lew Griffin from Dana Marie (Phillips) Johnson, e-mail address.
  8. Lewis W. Griffin Jr. (#47), e-mail address.
    photo original given to Lew Griffin by Joseph Albertus Griffin.
  9. Tombstone.
  10. Margaret Parker Milford, A Survey of Cemeteries in Chambers County, Alabama, Valley, AL: Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society, 1983.
    p 153; date Mrs. Margaret Culpepper Trimble article 1915.
  11. Lewis W. Griffin Jr. (#47), e-mail address.
  12. Warren L. Culpepper (#1942), Former publisher of Culpepper Connections, e-mail address.
    From: Warren Culpepper
    Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014

    Hi Lew,

    Thanks for calling that quote about your GG-grandfather to my attention. Interestingly, there was a direct connection between my current church and the two churches that Lewis Peek Culpepper led. I mentioned in my previous message that one of my church projects is the update the church’s book of history, published in 1982. Here is an excerpt from the original relevant to your gg-grandfather’s churches:
    “…In 1887 Simeon McDaniel, Steven Bassett, and one or two others had come to Zachary Eddy's home (WLC Note: Eddy was then the minister of Church of the Redeemer, later renamed Central Congregational Church, which is my current church) representing a group called ‘Congregational Methodists,’ which had a number of churches in middle Georgia (McDaniel was from Barnesville and Bassett from Fort Valley). In 1854, having broken with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, they met at Forsyth and constituted themselves as a church. Now they were looking for another congregationally organized communion to join. Eddy was ecstatic, but his pastorate ended before any merger could be accomplished.

    “During George Turk's brief ministry, a ‘United Congregational Conference of Georgia’ was formed, bringing together the Atlanta Congregational Union (Central and its missions) and the Congregational Methodists, but not including the black churches of the Georgia Association. At the organizational meeting, held in February 1888 at Central, Turk was elected president.

    “A.F. Sherrill was to be the broker for the enrollment of about sixty of these Congregational Methodist churches as Congregational churches at the National Council meeting in Worcester in 1889. By then, Sherrill was listed as Home Missionary Superintendent of the Congregational Churches of Georgia. Sixty or so ‘new church starts’ in Georgia was too much to turn down. Despite bitter debate in Worcester over the issue of church segregation, the Georgia delegates were seated. Writing from Detroit the following month, Zachary Eddy captured the sentiment of the denomination on the matter: ‘The Congregational Churches of the North stand, with few exceptions, just where the Church of the Redeemer stands—in Christian fellowship with colored Christians and churches, but not advocating mixed membership in the local churches…’”
    So, not only is Central connected with my Pilgrim roots, it is also connected to your roots.