James and Martha Morrison Culbert

JAMES AND MARTHA MORRISON CULBERT AND THEIR DESCENDANTS

Compiled By: James H. Culbert
Last Revised: 23 Mar 2016


James CULBERT was born c. 1797 19 in Ireland.  According to information passed down in my family, his full name was James John CULBERT, the older brother of the Moses CULBERT, who started my family line in America.  It is likely that James, like Moses, emigrated to America from County Donegal, Ireland.  I have searched for his immigration record, without success. 2  His immigration would have been before November 1826, because he married Martha MORRISON about 14 Nov 1826. 10  James and John MCCLUNG signed a marriage bond in the amount of 100 pounds on this date. 35  From this it appears that James emigrated as a single man and married Martha in Delaware.  Martha was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth MORRISON. 38  Martha was born 24 Dec 1806, 10 20 in Ireland. 10 

Family information says James was naturalized on 30 Sep 1830, however naturalization records for James have not been found. 3  It is interesting to note that I have found a naturalization record for John CULBERT, dated 30 Sep 1830.  This coincidence is striking, as is the name of the witness, Thomas MORRISON, a likely relation by marriage, leading me to believe that this is the correct record for James.  It lends support for the use of both James and John as given names for this person, as indicated in our family tradition. 3A

James is first found in the census in 1830 in Wilmington, Delaware. 1  James and Martha remained in Wilmington, and they had:

There are also census records for this family in Wilmington, Delaware for 1840. 4

On 21 Mar 1844, James CULBERT purchased the property later known as 503 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware.  It was purchased from John and Rebecca SEBO.  See Deed.

The 1850 census for Wilmington, Delaware taken 2 August shows the CULBERT household as follows: 5

    James CULBERT, age 50(sic), merchant, $12,000 real estate value, born in Ireland
    Martha CULBERT, age 42(sic), $2,000 real estate value, b. Ireland
    James CULBERT, age 20, b. Delaware
    Thomas CULBERT, age 17, b. Delaware
    Samuel CULBERT, age 12, b. Delaware
    Elizabeth EVANS, age 25, domestic, b. Delaware

The 1860 census for Wilmington, Delaware taken 21 June shows the CULBERT household as follows: 6

    James CULBERT, age 58(sic), grocer, $8,000 real estate value, $10,000 personal estate value
    Martha CULBERT, age 57(sic)
    James CULBERT, age 30, grocer, $5,000 personal estate value
    Samuel CULBERT, age 22, grocer, $5,000 personal estate value
    Anna DOUGLAS, age 18, house servant, b. Delaware

The 1870 census for Wilmington, Delaware taken 3 June shows the CULBERT household as follows: 7

    James CULBERT, age 68(sic) [Note the age consistency with the 1860 census], retired grocer, $25,000 real estate value, $3,000 personal estate value, born Ireland
    Martha CULBERT, age 60(sic), keeping house, b. Delaware [Note birthplace inconsistent with 1850 census]
    Samuel CULBERT, age 31(sic), grocer's clerk, $300 personal estate value, b. Delaware

It has been rumored in our family that James CULBERT may have once been the mayor of Wilmington, Delaware, or held some other notable office there.  I made an inquiry at the reference desk of the Wilmington Institute Library and found that James was not in J.T. Scharf's book, History of Delaware, on a list of persons who had served as mayor since 1832.  Before 1832, apparently there weren't any mayors, at least by that title.

James CULBERT died intestate on 12 10 19 or 14 19A Jan 1871 at age 73 19 of typhoid fever. 16  The family monument, photographed in 1998, can be seen here: Monument  [Note: records at the cemetery say he died 16 Jan, that he was a native of Ireland, and the informant was James AIKINS].  A will record with the Register of Wills, dated 2 Mar 1871 indicates that Letters of Administration were granted to his wife, Martha, that a list of debts and credits would be filed at the New Castle County Register's Office on or before 29 Jul 1871, and that a final account would be rendered on or before 2 Mar 1872, or when legally required.  A bond was taken with a $2,000 penalty, with Thomas M. CULBERT providing surety.  Publication was ordered for the Wilmington Commercial. 30  My inquiry with the Register of Wills and the Delaware Public Archives indicates none of these probate records are there.

The 1880 census for Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware shows Martha CULBERT, age 70(sic), keeping house, her son, Samuel CULBERT, age 40(sic), a real estate agent, and Sarah JONES, age 22, a servant. 9

In 1883, Martha was listed in the Wilmington City Directory as living at 500 Shipley, with her son Samuel, who was listed as a real estate agent at that same address. 37  For a map of the City of Wilmington in 1883 Click Here.

Martha CULBERT died 16 Oct 1895 5 10 13 20 at age 88. 13  The cause of death was listed as debility. 13  At the time of her death she lived at 503 Market St. in Wilmington. 13  Martha and James are buried in Lot 43, Section 23, Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware. 19  The family monument, photographed in 1998, can be seen here: Monument


Notes

1 1830 census, Wilmington Boro, Delaware, National Archives & Records Administration, Record Group M19, Roll 12, p. 172 (James CULBERT household).

2 The following index passenger list rolls at the National Archives and Records Administration [Washington DC location 138-02] have been searched: Record Group M360, Vessels Arriving At Philadelphia 1800-1906, Roll 28, "Cri-Cul"; Record Group M360, Roll 29, "Cum-Dak" [searched for Cuthbert and Cuthbertson]; Record Group M344, Supplemental Index Roll, Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874, Roll 36, "Cros-Cum"; Record Group M334, Roll 37, "Cun-Dah" [searched for Cuthbert and Cuthbertson].

3 Not found on Family Tree Maker CD #258, Philadelphia Naturalizations 1789-1880.  An inquiry with the City of Philadelphia archives showed no naturalization record for James.  This means he did not submit his petition for naturalization there, and his certificate for naturalization was not issued there, like was done for Moses.  Another place to check is the Common Pleas Court for Delaware County, Pennsylvanai, where Moses filed his declaration of intention.  A researcher in Delaware kindly determined for me that no record of naturalization for James CULBERT for 1830 can be found in the Delaware State Archives in Dover because their naturalization records start in 1832.

3A National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M1649, roll 1, page 30, Index to Naturalization, Petitions for the U.S. Circuit Court, 1795-1911, and District Court, 1975-1928, for the District of Delaware shows the following references:

    "D.C. [District Court], John CULBERT, C.C. [Circuit Court] 2, #84, Sept. 30, 1830, Ireland"
    "D.C., Samuel CULBERT, D.C. 2, #50, Oct. 8, 1860, Ireland"
This naturalization record for John CULBERT was obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration, Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This document shows that John CULBERT filed a Declaration of Intention, and a certificate was received from the Supreme Court of Delaware.  Thomas MORRISON [very likely the father of Martha MORRISON] was witness, stating that he had known John for seven years.  I wrote to the Delaware State Archives for a copy of the Declaration of Intention and court certificate, but no record was found.

4 1840 census, Wilmington, Delaware, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M704, Roll 33, p. 177 (James CULBERT household).

5 1850 census, Wilmington, Delaware, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M432, Roll 53, p. 54, (James CULBERT household).

6 1860 census, Wilmington, Delaware, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M653, Roll 98, p. 819 (James CULBERT household).

7 1870 census, Wilmington, Delaware, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M?, Roll 121, p. 192 (James CULBERT household).

8 1860 census, Wilmington, Delaware, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group M653, Roll 98, p. 869 (Thomas M. CULBERT household).

9 1880 U.S. Census for Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware; FHL Film 1254118; National Archives Film T9-0118; Page 185B, Census Extract viewed 2 Mar 2003 at: www.familysearch.org.  The record shows: Name; Relationship; Sex; Marital Status; Race; Age; Birthplace; Occupation; Father's Birthplace; Mother's Birthplace
Martha CULBERT; Self; W; F; W; 70; IRE; Keeping House; Fa: IRE; Mo: IRE
Samuel CULBERT; Son; S; M; W; 40; DE; Real Estate Agent; Fa: IRE; Mo: IRE
Sarah JONES; Other; S; F; B; 22; CT; Servant; Fa: DE; Mo: DE

10 From Tatnall tombstone records, as cited in a letter dated 25 Oct 1996 from the Delaware History Center, Historical Society of Delaware, 505 Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801; 302-655-7176.

12 DERICKSON Family genealogy and burial records of Trinity (Old Swedes) Church cemetery, located at Hendrickson House, 606 Church Street, Wilmington, Delaware; tel. 302-652-5629.

13 Death Register of Martha CULBERT, Record Group 1500, Reel 3, #48883, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware.

15 Death Register of Thomas M. CULBERT, Record Group 1500, Reel 3, #64653, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware, dated 30 Sep 1903.

16 Burial records at the Wilmington & Brandywine cemetery, 701 Delaware Ave., Wilmington, Delaware 19801; tel. 302-652-5770.  There is information at the cemetery that James CULBERT was buried in Sec. Z, Lot 16 owned by the AIKINS family, however there is no tombstone for him in that lot.  See 19.

19 Monument at Lot 43, Section 23, Wilmington & Brandywine cemetery with inscription: "Father James CULBERT died Jan'y 12th 1871 Aged 73 years."

19A Death Notice, 17 Jan 1871, Delaware Gazette, Wilmington, Delaware, as follows:
"DIED - CULBERT - On the 14th inst.(sic), James CULBERT.  His male friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral this afternoon, from his late residence, No. 503 Market street, without notice.  Services at 1-1/2 o'clock; to leave the house at 2 o'clock."

20 Monument at Lot 43, Section 23, Wilmington & Brandywine cemetery with inscription: "Martha CULBERT born Dec 24th 1806 died Oct 16 1895."

22 Death Register for Samuel CULBERT, Record Group 1500, Reel 3, #64503, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware, 3 Feb 1903.

30 Will Record for James CULBERT, dated 2 March 1871, found at the Register of Wills, Wilmington, Delaware.

32 From Miriam Wisdom Kroon, Dec 2001.  She reports that Thomas MORRISON died 1842, and that he and his wife, Elizabeth, had daughter Martha MORRISON, who married James CULBERT, and daughter Elizabeth MORRISON, who married James AIKEN.

35 Marriage Bond, Volume 9, Page 199, Delaware Public Archives, Hall of Records, Dover, Delaware 19901.

37 1883-84 Ferris Brothers Wilmington City Directory, p. 175.

38 Thomas Morrison Probate File, Record Group 2545.000, Roll No. 310, Register of Wills, Probate Files, New Castle County, 1680-1925, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware, U.S.A.


Links

Jim Culbert's Home Page

For further information contact:


Copyright © 2001

Printing and filing this information is encouraged,
as is bookmarking or referencing this information or linking your site to this page.
Duplicating this page at another web location is prohibited without written permission from me.

Thanks to the generous support from:

Hosted by RootsWeb