Notes |
- Henry Culpepper (Culpeper / Colepeper) is an ancestor of most
American Culpeppers. He was the son of John Culpeper (born 1606), who
was the son of John Culpeper of Feckenham and Ursula Woodcock, but
this is far from being proven. While there is some evidence to suggest
that the name of Henry's father was John, it has not been possible to
prove that this John was the one just mentioned. But he seems to be a
good candidate, since he was the right age to have been Henry's
father, was known to have been abroad from England, and belonged to a
family with other connections in Virginia.
Although several of Thomas's children are known from baptismal records
in England, one cannot necessarily conclude that the list of known
children is a complete list, since neither Thomas nor his wife left a
will.
Henry was probably born in England, perhaps around 1633, and came to
Virginia as a young man, in May 1653 or prior. One cannot be certain
of the exact date of his arrival, as Henry apparently paid for his own
voyage, and then sold his claim to 50 acres of land (his headright) to
Captain Nathaniel Hurd. He might have arrived some time prior to
selling his headright, perhaps even years earlier. There is no
evidence that Henry paid for his voyage by becoming an indentured
servant to Captain Hurd. Only five years later (1658) Henry is
mentioned as a Planter, and so seems to have been someone of means.
On 7 Dec 1658, "Henry Colepepper, Planter" sold a cow in Lancaster
Co., VA ("Virginia County Court Records: Deed & Will Abstracts of
Lancaster County, Virginia, 1654-1661"] p. 94). The fact that Henry
was listed as a "Planter" indicates that he had chosen to make
Virginia his home, that he owned land, and that he was apparently
making a living raising cattle. Exactly what land he owned, where, and
how and when he acquired it, has not been determined. A check of early
Lancaster County tithable records does not reveal anyone named
Culpeper, Culpepper, or Colepeper. This does not mean that Henry did
not live in Lancaster County, just that he was not taxed for being a
property owner.
On 14 Sep 1659, a "John Colepeper" was also noted in Lancaster Co., VA
deed records witnessing a deed which set parish boundaries. ("Virginia
County Court Records: Deed & Will Abstracts of Lancaster County,
Virginia, 1661-1702"] p. 88 (recorded 9 May 1660 p. 374))
This same document is also referenced in Beverly Fleet's "Virginia
Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 1, Lancaster County, Record Book No. 2, 1654
- 1666. John Colepeper served "as a witness to a meeting of the
parishoners of Lancaster Parish and Pieankitank for the final ordering
of all differences betwixt the 2 parishes concerning the bounds of the
said parishes should be and extend according to an order of the County
Court bearing date 10th day of Sept 1657." This meeting was recorded
on 20 May 1660.
The area of discussion at the meeting is the part of Lancaster County
across the Rappahannock River in what is now Middlesex County.
Middlesex County was formed from Lancaster County in 1673. The
Pianketank River (just mentioned) divides present Middlesex County
from Mathews County. The records of Mathews County were burned during
the Civil War, but Middlesex County, on the other hand, has excellent
records, including the Christ Church Parish records. The Middlesex
records are probably too late to be of much use.
Lancaster County records have survived, for the most part, from the
beginning of the county in 1652, and should be studied further.
Lancaster County, at the tip of the Northern Neck, was a home base of
the Northern Neck Proprietary. Bill Russell has suggested that Thomas
Culpeper, son of John of Feckenham, may also have lived in the
Lancaster County area from 1649 until his death in 1652. For most of
this time the area would have been in Northumberland County, the
parent county of Lancaster County. Thomas was one-seventh proprietor
of the Northern Neck under the charter of 1649.
A Henry Culpeper and a John Culpeper were both listed as "Shippers by
the Defence," which was bound from London for New England 10 May 1664
- 30 June 1664. Also mentioned was Sir William Peake, who was perhaps
the Sir William Peake who was Lord Mayor of London a few years later,
in 1667. ["The Complete Book of Emigrants 1661-1699"], p. 64 by Peter
Wilson Coldham, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc].
It is difficult to say which John Culpeper this might have been, who
was traveling with Henry. There were as many as three Johns in
Virginia and neighboring Albemarle, NC, about this time: John (born
1606), John (born 1633, son of Thomas and Katherine), and John (born
1640's, of Albemarle). But it doesn't necessarily matter which John it
was, as all three may have been related, and this record seems to
connect Henry to this branch of the family, which is the descendants
of John Culpepper of Feckenham (born 1565) and and his wife Ursula
Woodcock.
No record has been found of Henry's marriage to Elizabeth. But
evidence suggests that her maiden name was probably Greene.
By 1667 or prior, Henry had moved to Lower Norfolk County, VA. The
following is what we have been able to glean about him from the early
Lower Norfolk deed records.
1667 -- Deed Bk E, p 25. Henry Culpepper from Thomas Fulcher
1668 -- Deed Bk E, p 24a. Henry Culpepper for payment of 355 pounds of
tobacco.
The following is only the last part of the copy of a document
pertaining to the estate of Richard Russell contained in The Lower
Norfolk County Virginia Antiquary, Peter Smith, NY, 1951, Vol. 4, pp.
112-113.
"Wee the Sub-Scribrs being by ordr of Lower Norfolk County Court
ordered to Appraizer the Estate of Richard Russell decd have
accordinly to the best of Or Judgmts appraized Soe much as was Shewed
to us to ye Som of Seaventeen thousand Eight hundred & Sixty pnds of
Toba & Caske whereunto wee have Sett or hands this 7th April 1668
This is a true Inventory of my husband Richard Russells Estate to the
best of
my Knowledge
Sign
Anne Russell Wm WA Andrews
Wm Green
Jno Lownes
Henry H Culpeper
An cco of debts due to the Estate
Mr ffrancis Sayer, by bill 1638
Jno White by bill 1650
Batt. Ingobritson by bill 2600
Batts bill 4 barrell Ind Meale 5888
Juriat in Cur 16th Jany 1668 Test Jno Okeham Cl Cur
(The editor noted that the WA in the name Andrews and the H in the
name Culpeper were their marks)
Source of above: Bill Russell
Jun 1669 -- Deed Bk E, p 51. "I Henry Culpepper do ordaine & make my
loving wife Elizabeth my attorney to...."
6 May 1670 -- Deed Bk E, p 77. Henry Culpepper to Edward Brown. Wit:
Henry Brown, Bartholomew Ingolbertson. Signed: Henry Culpepper
1671 -- Deed Bk E, p 90. John White to Henry Culpepper, 225 a. North
side of Little Creek joining the land of Thomas Everidge. Land was in
the plantation of father John W.
16 Jun 1671 -- Deed Bk E, p 97. Bartholomew Ingolbertson to Henry
Culpepper, "out of love & affection I have unto my loving god son
Henry Culpepper Jr. do freely give unto him my said god son a heifer
of two years old which I purchased of Henry Culpepper Sr. & living now
with his father & of ye same marking his cattle & of to have & to hold
of said Heifer with all her female increases to ye said Henry
Culpepper Jun. his heirs & assigns forever & his father to have ye
male increases & to have ye keeping of the said Heifer with her
increases until my said god son is of age.
18 Oct 1671 -- Deed Bk E, p 103. Henry Culpepper to John Everidge.
"Henry Culpepper and Elizabeth my wife."
Signed: Henry Culpepper, Elizabeth Culpepper
1672 -- Deed Bk E, p 132. Henry Culpepper to Elizabeth Culpepper.
"Know all men... I Henry Culpepper of ye County of Lower Norfolk...
ordain & appoint my loving wife Elizabeth Culpepper my ... & lawful
attorney to ... granting unto my said attorney to make or employ one
or more attorneys & or... shall.... Wit: Bartholomew Ingolbertson,
John White. Signed: Henry Culpepper
1672 -- Deed Bk E, p 158. Henry Culpepper to Richard Philpott, 100 a.
in consideration of ye land of 1145 pounds of tobacco... to Richard
Philpott... land called Broad Neck along Church Creek.. to run into ye
run toward ye swamp... whereas said Culpepper with the consent of his
wife Elizabeth. Signed: Henry Culpepper
14 Jun 1673 -- Deed Bk E, p 145. Henry Culpepper to William Green.
"Appoint William Green my attorney acting between John Adams &
myself." Signed: Henry Culpepper
Will of WILLIAM GREENE, Lower Norfolk Co., NC
Book E, p. 178
dated 21 Mch. 1673
proved 15 Feb 1674
... wife SARAH GREENE ... one third .. extx ...
... two thirds to be equally divided amongst my three daughters ... to
be made my friend THO. HALLOWAY segr & JOHN FEREBEE ... Overseers ..
... daughter SARAH shall be of yeares to bee possessed ...
... unto RICHARD PHILPOTT one young Eue ...
witnesses: HENRY CULPEPER, JNO. WHINFELL
WILL GREENE & Seale.
[Editor's note: this William Greene was probably Henry's
brother-in-law.]
15 Apr 1675 -- Deed Bk E, p 183. Henry Culpepper to Robert Spring, 375
a. on mouth of Western Branch of Elizabeth River... One grey gelding
about four years old called by ye name of Jack... 44 head of cattle
young & old & a grey gelding. Signed: Henry Culpepper
16 Apr 1675 -- Deed Bk E, p. 185. Henry Culpepper to Henry Spratt &
Henry Holmes. Signed: Henry Culpepper
16 Aug 1675 -- Deed Bk 4, p 2. Henry Culpepper of Western Branch of
Elizabeth River in Virginia, planter, to Thomas Hollowell Jr. ... said
land being granted.. said plantation or tract of land above sd. was
assigned to me by Thomas Fulton as may largely upon record ... Apr
1667.
It is important to note that Henry signed all of the above deeds with
a distinct handwriten or script "H," suggesting that he was literate,
and probably educated abroad. There are no further deeds in Lower
Norfolk County signed with this mark after 1675. This writer has found
that each of the first three Henry Culpeppers in Lower Norfolk /
Norfolk County used a distinct mark in signing his deeds, and has used
these marks to distinguish between the three men.
There are no further records on this Henry Culpepper or his wife
Elizabeth in Lower Norfolk County after 1675, and he is assumed to
have died in the few years following that date.
In 1691, Lower Norfolk County was split into Princess Ann County, and
Norfolk County. The land where Henry and Elizabeth Culpepper had lived
fell into Norfolk County.
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