The last note examined the 1787 tax list of Culpeper Co., Virginia, as a source of information. From this same time period, there is another list of names for Culpeper Co. which is also useful. These are the so-called Culpeper Classes, a list of the militia in January of 1781. Each of the 106 classes is composed of thirteen or fourteen names. Thus, these lists furnish about fourteen hundred names of males, aged 16 to 50.
From the earliest colonial times, military service by the able-bodied males was compulsory. The age range was from 16 to 50. Men were organized geographically under designated, commissioned officers. To be an officer, especially in a higher rank, was much prized. One was entitled to be addressed by his military rank, e.g., Captain Mark Finks, of the Germanna family.
Toward the end of 1780, the Revolutionary War was heating up in the Southern colonies, and Virginia was in danger, and, a resource of manpower. To provide men, a draft was instituted in Virginia. The quota was divided among the counties, and Culpeper Co. was assigned to supply 106 men. Culpeper did this by dividing the militia into 106 classes and then one man was selected (drafted) from each class.
Provisions were made for the drafted person to be replaced by another person. One could hire a substitute. Some classes avoided the draft altogether by collectively hiring a man to serve as the draft from the class. In some cases, it appears that a relative served in place of the drafted person, most likely because the drafted person was married or essential at home.
There has been some argument as to the significance of a name appearing in one of these Culpeper classes. For a while, some patriotic organizations took the appearance of a name in these lists as meaning the man did service for the cause of the Revolution. At other times or places, the opinion has been the lists are an "inventory" of middle-aged males in Culpeper County. One had no control over whether his name was entered there or not. In theory, one could have been a Tory and opposed to the Revolution while still appearing in the lists.
For historians and genealogists, the lists are valuable because they are names, a fairly complete list of names at that. Also, like the tax data discussed in the last note, the names are arranged geographically. One can often assign a geographical area from the names, e.g., this is the Little Fork area of northern Culpeper (present day Jeffersonton).
Unfortunately, there was probably leakage. People avoided enrolling in the militia when they became 16. Or, those of age for the militia found excuses, perhaps semi-medical, to be exempted.
The rolls of the Culpeper classes are on microfilm in Richmond, with perhaps copies at other locations. The Library of Virginia has a card index by name (accessible by computer). Unfortunately this has lost the geographic information (the names of the other individuals in the class). The DAR has published a printed list but it has many errors in it. Even the card index has a few errors, some of which are subtle. For example, a Garr is given as Carr. Other German names have similar problems.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.