General Notes

[Martha Culpepper.ged]
Perhaps around 1741, Benjamin married Elizabeth, whose sur name is
unknown. . In 1746, his father Benjamin died, and B enjamin "Ferryman"
inherited from him, by right of primogen iture, one-half of the original
320 acre tract on Fishing C reek, originally purchased by Joseph, and
sold to his broth er Benjamin. This writer believes this was the east
half o f the property, but this cannot be proven.
In August 1755, Benjamin bought a 200 acre tract on the so uth side of
Great Peach Tree Creek from his cousin Job Wild er of Johnson County,
NC.(Edgecombe Co. Deed Bk. 2, p. 320 ) The land joined "David Cooper, the
branch and the fork o f the Creek." Witnesses were William and Nathaniel
Wilder.
In July 1760, Benjamin Culpepper was granted 312 acres i n Edgecombe
County on Moccasin Creek, joining the said cree k and (a point) below
Culpepper's Plantation. (Granville Gr ants, Vol. I, by Margaret M.
Hofmann, grant #637 in the boo k, from Patent Book 11, page 149.) The
warrant for this gra nt was dated October 1751 and the survey was in
April 1752 , SCC: Solomon Joyner and John Fountain. The mention of Cul
pepper's Plantation above, suggests that Benjamin already o wned or was
farming land adjacent to this grant, but whic h tract of land
"Culpepper's Plantation" might have been i s unclear to this writer. .
Benjamin's will was probated i n 1772 in Edgecombe Co., NC. . He left two
Negroes, five co ws and calves and a mare to his wife Elizabeth; one
Negro , and 312 acres on the north side of Moccasin Creek to hi s
daughter, Rahab Whitehead; one Negro and 200 acres on th e south side of
Peach Tree Creek to his daughter, Martha Ma nning; one Negro and 200
acres on the north side of Peach T ree Creek to his daughter, Elizabeth;
and 320 acres on th e south side of Fishing Creek to his son, Erasmus. .
The fu ll text of the will reads more or less as follows, with sli ght
editing for clarity: . In the Name of God Amen. I Benja min Culpepper of
Edgecombe County being in Perfect Health P raised be God do make
Constitute and order this my last Wil l and Testament in manner and form
following. . Item: I giv e and Bequeath to my I lend to my Loving Wife
Elizabeth Dur ing of her Widowhood two Negroes, Toney and Fibb, one Feath
er Bed and Furniture and five Cows and Calves and one mare . . I give and
bequeath to my loving Daughter Rahab Whitehe ad one Negro named Robbin,
three Hundred and twelve Acres o f Land lying on the North side of
Mochsin [Moccasin] Cree k in Edgecombe County to her and her heirs for
ever. . Item : I give and Bequeath to my Loving Daughter Martha Mannin g
one Negro named Dinah to her and her heirs forever and tw o hundred Acres
of Land lying on the South Side of Peachtre e Creek to her and her heirs
forever. . Item: I give and be queath to my loving Daughter Elizabeth
Culpepper one Negr o Boy called Jessy and Feather Bed and Furniture and
two hu ndred Acres of land lying on the North Side of Peachtree [C reek]
with a Plantation belonging there to her and her heir s forever. . Item:
I Give and bequeath to my loving Son Ara smus Culpepper Three hundred and
twenty acres of land lyin g on the South Side of Fishing Creek with two
Plantations b elonging to its [sic] to him and his heirs lawfully begotte
n of his body and one Negro named Will, Negro Called Moll , Negro Boy
called Peter, Negro girl called Doll, Negro Bo y called Tom . and also
two negros named Toney and Fibb, af ter the Old woman's [wife
Elizabeth's] death or widowhood [ willed to her above] . and as for my
cattle, hog and horses , them to be sold and the money equally divided
amongst the m [presumably meaning "the above mentioned children"]. . An d
lastly I do hereby Constitute and ordain Erasmus Culpeppe r my sole ...
executor of this my last will and testament i n witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal thi s 15 day of April