'Irish Andrew' Culbertson (1694-1746)

Another line intersects with the Wells line with David W Wells' mother Elizabeth Culbertson. It begins in Scotland in the 16th century. A major figure in the line is a certain Andrew ("Irish Andrew") Culbertson, who came to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century and was my generation's 8th great-grandfather.

• Thomas Cutbertsoun (c 1570?—unknown), married Bessie Hog
• Nicoll Culberstone (21 November 1590, Kelso, Roxburgh, Scotland—27 April 1650, West-mains Seatoun, Midlothia, Scotland), married Cicill Waddell (1590, Berwickshire, Scotland—c 1692, Mid-Calder, Midlothian, Scotland)
• Andrew Culbertson (Cuthbertson) (1612, Mid Calder, Midlothian—1654), married Elspeth Johnstone (1610-1661), daughter of Johnne Johnstoun (1580, Halifax, Yorkshire, England—14 October 1622, Midlothian, Scotland) and Margaret Hacketstoun (1580, Leith, Midlothianshire, Scotland—unknown, Leith)
• William Culbertson (c 1645, Scotland—after 1720), married Jean Breckenridge (1668-1742), daughter of Thomas J Breckenridge (1655, Ballyrichard, Antrim, Ireland—1700, Clogher, Tyrome, Ireland) and Jane Austin (21 March 1652, Elton, Huntingdonshire, England—2 January 1690, Antrim, Ireland)
• Andrew “Irish Andrew” Culbertson (1694, Derry, Londonderry, Ireland—1746, Shippensburg, Cumberland, Pennsylvania), married Janet Breckenridge (Caldwell) (Miller?) (1696-1742), daughter of Alexander Breckenridge (c 1665—unknown) and Elizabeth Jane Preston (c 1665—unknown)
• Andrew Culbertson, Jr. (c 1726, Culbertson's Row, Franklin County, Pennsylvania—1763), married Esther Arbuckle (1726, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania—unknown), daughter of Matthew Arbuckle (c 1700-unknown) and unknown
• Joseph C Culbertson (1744, Cumberland, Pennsylvania—5 December 1805, Russell County, Virginia), married Agnes Bailey Stacy (1 August 1745, Westmoreland County, Virginia, or Lancaster, Pennsylvania—3 April 1811, Russell County, Virginia)
• Joseph Culbertson (1766, Caswell County, North Carolina—1815, Scott County, Virginia), married Agnes Chittleton
• Elizabeth Culbertson ((1792-1859), married Dr. Jeremiah Wells (1792-1845), David Wells' father.
  

With their origins in Scotland, it seems possible that the Culbertsons were part of the English and Scottish Plantations in Ireland during the 17th century organized by the Stuart kings, although they would migrate long after the establishment of most of these plantations during the reign of King James VI  of Scotland and I of England. The Culbertsons' move to Ireland appears to have been among the last to take place in this wave of colonization in the Emerald Isle. Given the connection with County Antrim, the Culbertsons were arguably among the Ulster Scots, or Scotch Irish, as Americans typically call them. Those in our line left for America before establishing a foothold in Ireland, first settling in Pennsylvania and then moving to North Carolina and Virginia. A quite detailed account of Andrew “Irish Andrew” Culbertson is found at Find A Grave. Here is an excerpt:

Andrew Culbertson (Irish Andrew) came to America from Londonderry, Ireland, before 1726. He was among the first to come to the Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, area in 1729. Irish Andrew was born about 1694 and died in about 1746. The location of the Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, area was in Chester County in the 1726 to 1729. With the creation of Lancaster County out of Chester County, Shippensburg fell into Lancaster County, and then when Cumberland and Franklin Counties were formed, Shippensburg was in Cumberland County, very near the border with Franklin County.

Andrew Culbertson, Sr., (ca. 1694-1746) is one of the Culbertson immigrants from Ireland. Dr. Lewis R. Culbertson is perhaps known as the foremost authority on the Culbertson families. On pages 43 and 44 of his book, Genealogy of the Culbertson and Culberson Families, Lewis R. Culbertson, M.D., The Courier Co, Zanesvillie, Ohio, 1923, he relates the following information:

"Andrew Culbertson emigrated to America from Londonderry Co., Ireland, and settled in Kennett Tp., Chester Co., Pa., before 1726. He is on tax records of this county until 1728, but left Chester Co. in 1728-29 and settled in Hopewell Tp., Lancaster Co. (now Cumberland Co.), Pa., in 1729, being one of the very first permanent settlers of the present Cumberland Co., Pa. There is little doubt but that he was with the first party of Benjamin Chambers that went to Cumberland Co., Pa. Benjamin Chambers was the first white man who made a settlement in what is now known as Franklin County. . . ."

Culbertson family information indicates that Irish Andrew Culbertson was buried in Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The church was formed in 1734. In later years, Andrew Culbertson and his family were recorded as members of Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, which was formed in 1738. Since his land was located on both sides of Middle Spring it would be logical that he would join a church closer to his home. Research indicates that there is no Andrew Culbertson on the list of burials at the Middle Spring church cemetery. It is possible that Andrew acquired lots in Rocky Spring Church Cemetery prior to the time Middle Spring Church was formed. There are numerous unmarked graves in the Rocky Spring Church cemetery.