Benjamin Culpepper, Sr. (I)

https://www.culpepperconnections.com/ss/g0/p108.htm#i3211

This Benjamin Culpepper is a rather elusive figure in our Culpepper family history. There are few records which can be attributed to him with certainty, other than one surviving fragment from his 1746 estate record, which has otherwise been lost. The following account of Benjamin is largely speculative in nature.

    Benjamin Culpepper was born in Norfolk Co., VA, perhaps around 1698. He was a legatee in his father, Robert Culpepper's, will there, which was probated in 1743. 

Benjamin probably married his apparent wife Martha around 1719 in Norfolk County, VA. Perhaps around 1721 or so, his eldest son, Benjamin Jr., was born. Benjamin and Martha probably had other sons and daughters as well, perhaps Robert Culpepper, and possibly, William Culpepper. This writer currently believes that William was more likely a son of Benjamin's brother, Robert Culpepper, Jr., and has listed him there. Likewise, Robert Culpepper of Anson is currently listed as a probable son of Robert Jr. of Norfolk, as well.
Since Benjamin does not appear in Norfolk Co., VA tithable records during the years 1730-1736, he must have left Norfolk Co., VA, prior to 1730 to join his brother, Joseph, on the North Carolina frontier. At that time, Joseph was living in what is now Northampton County, NC. But prior to 1741 the area was part of Bertie County.
By the mid 1730's the two brothers had apparently moved about 30 miles west, and settled on land on the south side of Fishing Creek, in what was then Edgecombe Precinct , NC (beginning in 1732) and which became Edgecombe Co., NC in 1741.
This may be the Benjamin who witnessed the deed of John Rogers, Jr. "John Rogers, Jr., of Edgecombe Pct., to Edward Powers, 18 Jan 1735/6, for 14 pounds Virginia money, 170 acres more or less, on the north side of Fishing Creek, joining Goss and the creek, part of the land granted to William Goss on 10 April 1730. Witnesses John Williams ("E" his mark), Jacob Rodgers, Benjamin Culpepper ("B" his mark), and Robert Inman. (Edgecombe Pct, NC DB 1-143)
In May 1741, Benjamin bought 160 acres on Fishing Creek from his brother Joseph Culpepper, for eight pounds, which was just what Joseph had paid for it. (DB 1, p. 379). Witnesses were Joseph's nephew Hopkins Wilder, and George Yate. It is impossible to tell from the poor desccription in the deed, whether this was the east or the west half of the original property. This writer believes, however, that it was probably the west half.
On 22 May 1746, Martha Culpepper, thought to have been Benjamin's wife, was mentioned in Edgecombe County Court Records as the administrator of the estate of Benjamin Culpepper, deceased. Upon her request, the court ordered the sale of enough of the perishable estate of Benjamin Culpepper, deceased, to pay his debts. Perishable estate normally refers to crops, etc.
Edgecombe estate records from this time period are not complete, for reasons unknown. So no further records from Benjamin's estate have as yet been found. But it would appear that the 160 acres he may have purchased from his brother Joseph, descended, by right of primogeniture, to his eldest son, Benjamin Jr.