Sympathy Saturday: James "Skin" Octavius Culley

James Octavius Culley was the child of Lucindy Culley and William Godette.  He was born on November 16, 1920 and died July 18, 2001.  He was raised by his Grandparents James H. Culley and Lucinda Dove. 

James O Culley was a black farmer and owned his own property.  He was a sociable individual and enjoyed talking to his neighbors about the days gone by.

James’ nick name was “Skin” and that is what most people knew him by. James is my 3rd Cousin 2x Removed.

James Octavius Culley Piney Grove AME Zion Church Cemetery Craven County, NC Courtesy of John47 at findagrave

James Octavius Culley Piney Grove AME Zion Church Cemetery Craven County, NC Courtesy of  John47 at Findagrave

Connecting The Leaves to The Branches: James Octavius Culley

Who was James Octavius Culley on my Culley/Cully Family Tree?  

Connecting the Leaves to the branches.  

Sun Journal 21 July 2001 Pg A4

     

     On July 16, 2011, I posted three newspaper obituaries (Here) on my blog.  One of the individuals I posted was James Octavius Culley.  I did not know what his relationship was to me, but since he had the “Culley” surname and had been residing in Havelock, Craven County, NC, I figured he was family.  I also had a conversation with Edward Ellis, the Havelock Historian, and he shared with me that he had known James O. Culley and it somewhat re-affirmed my first thought that James had to be a relative.  Since this time, I discovered that James O. Culley is my 3rd Cousins 2x removed.

    A few days ago, I went to the Craven County Registrar of Deeds website and looked up the births, deaths, and marriages of all Cully/Culley’s of Craven County.  On the list was James O. Culley birth index which listed his parents names as Lucindy Cully and William Godette.  I believe that the couple was not married as in the 1920 Census Lucinda Jr. was residing in her parents home with James O. and William Godette was not living there.

Craven County Birth Index James O. Cully

     What I had known about James O. Culley, is that he had resided in his grandparents home in 1920.  His grandfather was James H. Culley and Lucinda Dove, making James H. Culley my 2G Grand Uncle.  Once I saw the above information I was finally able to  link James O. with his parents.  So Lucinda, Jr. had James when she was 15 years old, so that explains why James had been raised in his grandparents home.

1920 Census on Ancestry.com James O. Cully, Grandson of James H & Lucinda Cully

     Sometimes it is obvious that someone has to be related but until we know where to link them in our trees, we sometimes have an uneasy feeling as to their relationship.  It is so important to lay out all the documents and information of an individual and then see how it all comes together.  We are sometimes only one document away to proving who our loose leaves are and where they connect. 

Sympathy Saturday: James Octavius Culley and Adam Culley & Lucinda Culley

In April of 2011, I sent off for copies of obituaries with the Cully/Culley Surname from the New Bern Library, Kellenberger Room. I ordered about twenty (20).  I believe all but one would be related to my Cully line.  It was important that I receive these obits, so that I could see the names of their descendants and then link them to my other research.

Sun Journal, 4/21/1969, Pg 11, Col 2

Sun Journal 21 July 2001 Pg A4

I added this last one for my cousin Debra Newton-Carter, whom we just met as we are working on the Culley-Carter Branches of our trees and we have found our family connection.  She posted to her blog last week:
Tombstone Tuesday, Lucinda F Culley Carter

Sun Journal, 12/20/1979, Pg 2A, Col 1

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