Notes |
- Robert emerges in Norfolk County records in 1692 when he bought 50
acres from Thomas and Elizabeth Green, for 2,000 pounds of tobacco.
Records on the Culpepper family in Norfolk County in the early 1700's
are scarce.
12 Feb 1710 -- THOMAS GREEN of the Western Branch of the Elizabeth
River Parish and heir at law to THOMAS GREEN late of the same parish
to RICHARD BUNTING, weaver, of the same place for 2,250 pounds of
tobacco, and also in consideration of the vast expense and charge that
hath bin in a suite of law between the said RICHARD BUNTING and JOHN
WILLIS, guardian to the said Green, about a certain tract and dividend
of land, wherefore the said Green being come to age to avoid further
charge about the land doth give and confer to the said Bunting this
indenture of lease and release -- 200 acres on the south side of the
West Brand of the Elizabeth River known by the name of Fishey Neck,
being that land which PETER SMITH late of this county, deceased,
patented and after sold and conferred to the said Bunting which said
land was and is within the bounds of the said Green and his patent,
bounded ... etc.
Witnesses: ROBERT CULPEPPER, James Sabord(?), John Portlock
In 1713, Robert Culpepper and Eleazer Tart witnessed the will of
Robert's uncle, Richard Bunting (Norfolk Co DB 9, p. 269). There were
two Eleazer Tarts, father and son. This Eleazer Tart was probably the
son of Eleazer Tart, Sr. Eleazer Tart, Jr, married Robert Culpepper's
daughter, Mary.
In 1716, Robert Culpepper and Edward Lewelling witnessed the will of
William Dale. (Richard Dale later witnessed Robert Culpepper's will.)
In 1727, Robert Culpepper bought 50 acres on the West Branch of the
Elizabeth River from his cousin Jonas Winfield, for £10. (See will of
Jeane Green, Robert's grandmother).
Robert Culpepper died in 1743. He must have been about 80 years old,
which was well above average for his day and age.
Robert's will, written in 1739 and proven in 1743, is important, as he
and his brother Henry are the ancestors of most of the American
Culpeppers. It is necessary to look at a copy of the actual document
and not the abstract, to note that Robert had a son, Robert, Jr., to
whom he gave his great Bible, his "lancets, horse flemes, and other
instruments of iron for the use of horses." A fleam was a surgical
knife, as was a lancet.
Robert gave five Shillings each to his sons Joseph and Benjamin
Culpepper, who by this time were in Edgecombe County, NC.
He gave half a Crown each to his daughters Rachel Wilder and Ann
Wilder. These small gifts of money indicate that Rachel and Ann had
moved away from Norfolk County, and had probably already had some help
along the way from Robert.
He gave his daughter Elizabeth Ward, wife of John Ward, an ewe and a
lamb, suggesting that she still lived nearby in 1743.
And daughter Mury Green must have been nearby in 1743, as she received
an ewe as well. Mury's husband may have been Henry Green (see below).
At the moment, descendants of Mury Green are unidentified. However,
there were folks named Green in early Edgecombe County, NC records.
Robert Culpepper made a point of mentioning his grandson, William
Culpepper, in his will. William got a cow and calf, and an ewe and
lamb. Robert must have been particularly fond of William, since
William got more live stock than Robert's daughters, Elizabeth Ward,
and Mury Green. This was probably his grandson William, son of Robert
Culpepper, Jr.
Robert gave all his land in Norfolk County to "his loving daughter
Mary Tart," and appointed her husband, Eleazer Tart, as his sole
executor. Henry Green, John Joyce, and Richard Dale witnessed the
will.
One could suspect that Robert's daughter Mary was the one who was
looking after him in his old age, and so she was the one who was
rewarded with Robert's land.
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