John Frederick Dorman a certified genealogist indicated in “Ancestors and Descendants of Francis Epes of Virginia Vol. I,” that the American Epps ancestors lived for centuries in the area around Ashford, Kent County, England. They came to the Virginia colony shortly after the Virginia Company of London established Jamestown.

    According to Dorman Roger Eppe whose name appears on the Hundred Role of Fourhowe, Norfolk in 1273 is the oldest known reference he found in England’s documents. In 1409 a John Eps and Stephen Eps appear as witnesses on a deed in Kent County. In 1459 William Aps alias Eps of Lamberdherst, Kent County alias Sussex County, was summoned concerning a debt he owed to a fishmonger of London.  Stephen Aps of Sussex County in 1463 was also involved in a court action concerning a dept. There is a Robert Epse who is deputy in the town of Rye, Kent County in 1433 and 1435 and later mayor of Yarmouth in 1436.

        It can be seen these early English sources spelled the name in various ways: Eppe, Eps, Aps, and Epse. These variations come from medieval scribes who worked without any spelling rules. The etymology of the Epps name taken from various internet sources says it is an English variant of the names Ebbs of north Germany or Apps which is a Dutch.

    Ebbs is the short form of Ebbert in north Germany. In medieval time many different cultural groups lived in the German states. This caused regional variations of German surnames. Some spoke Low German that is the dialect of those living in the northern low lying lands of Germany that is similar to Dutch.

    Apps is a Dutch variant of Epps. The Old English, which is of Germanic tribal origin, had a variant of Apps spelled Apse. The root meaning of both of these variants refers to someone who lived near an aspen tree. Both the Dutch “van” and German “von” which mean from or of are used as a prefix to some of the various forms of the Epps name as in van Epps or von Epps.

     Some of the numerous spellings of Epps are: Epple, Epp, Eppe, Eps, Ebs, Ebbs, Epps, Epes, Eppes, Eppling, Eppel, etc. Epp and Eppe is a Dutch pet form of the Germanic personal name Eberhardt.  Some of the individual names that appear in ancient German chronicles of various towns are Eberhart and Friedericus von Ebs in 1190, Albertus Dictum Eppelin in 1283, Rudel Eppfeler in 1367, and Nicolaus Eppler in 1390.  Compare these variations with the previous early English forms Roger Eppe 1273, John Eps 1409, William Aps 1463, and Robert Epse 1433.

     Clearly the Epps name has its roots among the Germanic tribes living in the European low lands. A review of Kent’s history follows which will document that people whose name would become the English Epes were in Kent at least by the sixth century. This review will also point to a Germanic tribe called Jutes as those who brought the name that became Epes in Kent.

History of Kent County

Roman Invasion: England before the Roman legions came was populated by people called the Celts. One of these Celtic tribes was called the Brython or Britons thus the origin of the name Britain. Julius Caesar was general of the armies who were fighting the Celts in Gaul.  The Celts of Britain had been aiding the Celts in Gaul and the defeated Celts in Gaul would often slip away to Britain to regroup. Caesar decided to invade to Britain. In the summer of 55 BC he crossed the channel from Europe and landed in Kent County. After a short stay he returned to Europe, but about 100 years later in 43 AD Emperor Claudius dreamed of expanding the Roman Empire to include Britain. He crossed the channel with about 40,000 troops and landed at a place now called Richborough in eastern Kent County. This place became the main Roman port for a century. It was situated on the southern shore of the channel which separated the Isle of Thanet from mainland Kent. Today the Isle of Thanet is no longer an island. Over the centuries the channel gradually filled with sediment and by the 19^th century Richborough was no longer a port since it stood two miles inland from the sea.   

     In the late first century these Roman legions had chased the Celts back to Wales and Ireland and ruled Britain for 400 years. During this time they defended it against Viking invasions. This was a time of peace and cultural progress brought own by the good governance of Romans. Archaeological evidence for the Roman habitations in Kent are plentiful. In 410 AD the Roman legions abandoned Britain and returned to Europe to help defend Rome from the invading Visogoths.

Germanic Tribal Invasion:  A collapse of Roman law and civilization occurred rapidly after the departure in 410 AD. The Celtic people returned to the areas from which the Romans had evicted them and Britain no longer protected by the Roman legions began to be raided by Vikings, Picts, and Scots. The Celts turned to mercenaries from Europe to help defend them from these raiding attacks. These mercenary soldiers came from a mixture of low land northern Germanic tribes. Among these tribes were Angles (the source of the name England), Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, and others. Even though there were many tribes involved the period is commonly referred to as the Anglo-Saxon invasion.

     The name Kent comes from the people who called themselves ‘Cantware’ or ‘Kentings’ which was the Roman name of the area, ‘Cantium’ where they settled. Venerable Bede says these were the Jute people that sailed across the North Sea and settled in east Kent. Western Kent County was more sparsely settled by the Angles and Saxons who guarded there frontier along the Medway River from further advances of the Jute tribal people into their territory.  The Jutes were among the three most powerful Germanic peoples of that time. Bede says these Jutes came from a region north of the Angles which was located in the northern part of today’s Danish Jutland peninsula which borders northern Germany. The Jutes have also been associated with the east Frisian coast and perhaps the mouth of the Rhine River. Bede indicated that the Jute culture was different from that of the Angles and Saxons. This is supported by artifacts from Kent which are distinctively different from those found elsewhere in the country, implying a different cultural origin for Kentish settlers.

     In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles a Celt leader named Vortigern invited Hengist and Horsa to come and defend his people and in return they would be given land. They landed according to the Chronicles in 449 AD at a place called Ypwines fleot on the Isle of Thanet which is believed to be the same as the place called Ebbes Fleet today.  This marked the beginning of the so called Anglo-Saxon invasion. It was not long until the culture of these Germanic tribes absorbed or replaced Kent’s Celtic culture. Hengist (d. circa 488) was the semi-legendary founding ruler of the kingdom of Kent.Legendary or not the first Christian king of Kent named Aethelberht claimed descent through many  generations of kings before him from Hengist.

     In 596 Pope Gregory sent St. Augustine to Kent and he landed at Ebbsfleet where he had an open air meeting with King Aethelberht and his elders. The open air meeting was demanded so Augustine could not cast a magic spell on them. After this meeting the King allowed monks to lodge in Canterbury and preach the Gospel. He was converted and baptized shortly after this first meeting. Today there is a large Celtic style cross standing in Ebbsfleet to commenorate this historic event. Ebbsfleet like the old Roman port at Richborough is no longer on the seas but is situated well inland on the Isle of Thanet as a result of the channel that ran by it filling with sediment.

     These previous references to a port named Ebbsfleet or Ebbes Fleet on Thanet are significant to Epps history. The name Ebb or Ebbs was earlier shown to be a short form of the German name Ebbert. Epps is an English variant of Ebb or Ebbs. Ebbsfleet is a name associated with fleet which means a group of ships. If the English variant for Ebb is used then the meaning of Ebbsfleet is Epps Harbor. The importance of this place shows that the Germanic form of the name Epps occurs on the Isle of Thanet at least by the sixth century when Augustine landed at this place. It was probably established even earlier perhaps in the mid fifth century. The history of the place name Ebbsfleet pushes the Epps name back in the Kent history centuries before the first extant reference to one Roger Eppe in 1273.

Conclusions

People with the low land Germanic tribal short name Ebb or Ebbs came to Kent County during the so called Anglo-Saxon invasion. Members of the tribe known as the Jutes are probably the ones who carried the Ebb or Ebbs name to Kent. A place in Thanet, Kent County name Ebbs
Fleet which means Epps Harbor existed when Augustine landed there in the sixth century. This means people named Ebbs were in that area at that time and perhaps earlier. The English form of Ebbs in Kent County eventually became Epes which is the name one Francis Epes I of Ashford, Kent County. The Epps Society documented in “The Ancestors and Descendants of Francis Epes I Vol. I” that Francis came to Virginia before 1625 and founded the family line of American Epps. Like many of his fellow Englishmen his ancient ancestors were Germanic tribal people.

                                         A List of Sale October 17th & 18th 1861
      Name                                               Articles                              Amount
James N. Epps                      Colter? Plow & axe & c                   2.20
Larra Epps                             Plow & Sundries                                  .10
W M Epps J C Epps             Sythe & c                                              1.15
H Gowen J C Epps               Crop cut sow & c                                 .30
James N. Epps                     Cutting Knife & c                                  .20
Hugh M. Epps                      2 Plows & Hames                                  .10
H M Epps                               Round Chain                                          .10
James N Epps                      Lot of Sundries                                     .65
James N Epps                      Bryan Sythe                                           .25
H M Epps                               Wheat Fan                                              .10
Mrs Cummings                    Weeding hoe                                         .05
H Gowen J C Epps              Cubbard & Table                               4.15
Mrs E T Thomas                  Sifter                                                        .20
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
H M Epps                               Oven & Lead                                         .50
H M Epps                               fire Shovel                                             .10
H M Epps                               Skillet & Lea                                          .50
H M Epps                               Oven                                                        .35
Larra Epps                            Gallon pot & c                                      .65
H M Epps                               Clock & Bible                                        .10
H M Epps                               Ladies Saddle                                    5.00
Mrs Cummings                    Bucket                                                     .10
Mrs Cummings                    Coffee Mill                                             .10
Mrs Cummings                    Coffee Mill                                             .05
Mrs Cummings                    Chairs                                                     .10
Mrs Cummings                    Looking Glass                                      .25
Mrs Cummings                    Kittle & Pots                                         .25
Larra Epps                            Old Saddle                                             .35
Mrs Cummings                    Water Bucket                                       .05
H M Epps                               Sow & 5 Piggs                                  17.25
Mrs Cummings                    Cow                                                     16.00
H M Epps J C Epps             Sythe & Cradle                                  2.00
H M Epps J C Epps             3 Hogs                                                38.80
W Cummings                        2 Shotes                                               7.50
The above is a true and perfect act of sale of all the personal property of Larry Epps decd. That was sold by me on the on the 17th day of October 1861. Sold on twelve months credit notes with good security taken for the sum.
Sworn today in submission before me Jan. 24th 1867                            James C. Epps
J T Grossman Clerk Clerk                    fee 50 ct paid J. T. G.                              Admin
Approved R. Farqu__?___

NASHVILLE BANNER Tuesday Evening, May 23, 1893
The United States Circuit, Court-room was crowded yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock when Marshal Harrison convened (sic) the court. Judge Taft presided. (William Howard Taft served as federal circuit judge of the Sixth Circuit Court from 1892 to 1900. He was civil governor of the Philippines from 1901 to 1904. He was elected 27th President of the United States in 1908. In 1921, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.)
Prosecutor testimony regarding the Lincoln County killings:
For six months they have languished in the Davidson County jail and the confinement has told on their faces. Patrick’s face still retains a flush, which is rather hectic, however, but Petty’s skin is chalky-white and in marked contrast to his coal-black hair and moustache(sic). Epps’ eyes look sunken and his skin clammy. The contrast between the appearance of the men is something remarkable. Patrick is between 30 and 35 years old, and has a handsome, intelligent face. He is a large land owner and his alleged accomplices were hands employed on his farm. Petty looks to be near Patrick’s age, but his forehead is low, his eyes are close together, and his countenance lacks the light of intelligence. Epps is past the prime of life by a decade, as is evidenced by his bald head, gray hair and moustache. He has a thoroughly responsible look. As to the outcome of the case Patrick displays the greatest concern, because, perhaps, his superior intelligence tells him more clearly the enormity of the crime with which he stands charged. Judge Taft then put the question to each defendant separately and each responded in full clear voice, ‘Not Guilty.’ Epps’ reply was in a cracked voice, though evidently from age and not fear or excitement. The first witness for the prosecutions was E. A. Norvell. He stated that he was a United States Deputy Internal Revenue Collector. He identified a report of a seizure of brandy manufactured by T. E. and A. J. Patrick made by J. L. Spurrier under date of August 22, 1892. Next witness is Dr. T. P. He stated that he attended Spurrier during his last illness. He told Spurrier that he could not live, and at the latter’s request sent for the Federal Grand Jury in order that he might make a statement before them. On his last day on earth Spurrier reiterated the statement made before the Grand Jury, to the effect that he recognized beyond doubt one of the men who formed the ambush in which he received his death wound. He made this statement knowing to a certainty that his end was near and after he had told his family good-bye. The witness continued that Spurrier had told him that he recognized Andrew Patrick as one of his assailants and saw another man, but could not determine whether he was a man named Cooper or James Epps, as both live in the community and very much resemble each other. Next came witness John C. New. He was a member of the Grand Jury that visited Spurrier. He said that Spurrier said that he saw Andrew Patrick behind the log, and either Epps or Cooper, but he didn’t know which. Nex George Winters was called. He lives at Belvidere, Franklin County. He knew Capt. Mather, who died on october 7, last. Saw his remains at Belvidere the day he was killed and helped to wash the body. There were about nine shots in the upper part of his body evidently from a shotgun. W.O.Campbell said that he examined the remains of Mr. Cardwell. Met the train at Nashville and went with the remains to an undertaker’s on the day the shooting occurred. There were twenty-one wounds, mostly in the back and right side, each about the size of a lead pencil. J. M. Puckett said that he was at Flintville on October 7. Met the wounded party as they came in. Cardwell died about 3:30 o’clock. Mathes (sic) was brought in dead. Both bodies were put on the train, as was also Mr. Spurrier, and the witness came to Nashville with them. E. S. Robertson said that he was a Deputy Marshal. On October 7 last he was in Lincoln County with a party searching for wildcat whisky. Was present when Mather, Spurrier and Cardwell were shot. As they were riding along first there was a single shot and then a volley. At the first shot Mather and Pulver Fell. At the second volley Spurrier and Cardwell fell. Witness kept on and four or five men arose from behind a log and began to shoot pistols. Witness shot and two, three or four men ran. Witness advanced, got behind a tree, and a man raised from behind the log and witness shot at him and he fell. At the adjournment of the Federal Court yesterday afternoon the defendants, Patrick, Epps and Petty, in the conspiracy case now on trial held a sort of family levee in the prisoners’ dock previous to their removal to jail. The wives and children of all three men were present and they seemed to be in the best of spirits. Cooper is the man Spurrier got confused with Epps in his statement as to who he saw behind the log. Both men were made to stand up while the jury looked at them. Cooper has had his moustache shaved off, and the comparison made by Col. Holman created some merriment in the court-room Patrick, Epps and Petty laughed heartily when Cooper said that his moustache was yaller.
Squire N. J. Fentress (W. J. Ventress) testifies: I have been a magistrate for about ten years in the Patrick settlement. Epps has been living in the neighborhood about two years. Miss Belle Downing testifies: I live in sight of Andrew Patrick’s house at my step-father’s Hick Koonts, house. I know the defendants all except Mr. Epps. He had not live there long.

Now testimony for the defense:
J. A. Paterson testifies that on the day of the killing James Epps was washing some clothes near his house, about 11 o’clock. Other witnesses said that old man Epps was an exceedingly poor man, and having no wife had to do the washing and cooking for himself and little children When this testimony was brought out the tears welled in the aged prisoner’s eyes and he had to use a handkerchief to wipe them away. We overtook Andrew Patrick, Morgan Petty and James Epps. Lifus Patrick was on ahead. Mr. Edmonson said that he thought Mr. Spurrier was a nice man. Andrew said: ‘When you see a revenue man you see a ____ ____ rascal.’

The following picks up the narrative with Taft’s comments on a motion after a large portion of pervious testimony is skipped because it did not relate to Epps: His Honor stated that he must at this stage of the proceedings refuse to entertain the motion. At a later date he might be in a mood to entertain it again. From the evidence now before the Court he could not discharge any of the defendants because Lifus Patrick was undoubtedly present at the killing. Andrew Patrick and James Epps were also there according to some of the testimony.

Now Patrick, Epps and Petty give there testimony which substantially tells the same story. The testimony suggest that Petty and Epps were brother-in-laws who married sisters.
James Epps was the first to take the stand. He said, I was at home on the morning of the killing. I left there about 8 o’clock. I started to Andrew Patrick’s to borrow a mattock. I stopped at Morgan Petty’s and talked to his wife. While I was sitting there I heard some shooting. It sounded like two reports from a shotgun. Mrs. Petty said: ‘Tittle has killed Morgan.’ I went to the door and heard some more firing. I then went up to Patrick’s house and saw Mrs. Patrick. She said she had heard the shooting, and thought it was Elzey Tittle. Petty’s little girl ran down the road by the house. I went down in the field where Andrew Patrick was and told him about the shooting. He said Petty’s little girl had told him that Tittle was in the neighborhood. We then went back to the house, and Patrick got two guns and gave me one. We came out, and met Mr. Miller and another man in the road. We then went down the road and talked to Mrs. Petty about Tittle. I gave my gun to Patrick and he went on back to his wagon. I went home and began my washing. It was about 12 o’clock when a crowd of men came by my house and told me about the shooting. I did not take breakfast at Mrs. Henderson’s on the morning of the killing, nor was I there that morning. I ate breakfast at home that morning. Jack Patterson passed my house while I was washing my clothes. I had on a black slouch hat. This was about 12 o’clock. Stubblefield and Clipper passed my house about 7 o’clock that morning while I was sweeping my house. “Were you at the place at the time those revenue officer were killed? I was not. Did you know anything about the shooting before or when it occurred? No, sir. A revenue officer arrested me on October 20. He said he was going to take my statement at Fayetteville. When he got me there he put me in jail. Next morning I was hand-cuffed and brought to Nashville. No warrant was even or has ever been read to me. I had heard that they wanted me, and I told Mr. Locker to write and tell them that they could find me at my home.”

Morgan Petty takes the stand to testify: I have been living on Andrew Patrick’s place as a share-cropper since August a year ago. I worked in the distillery some. They began stilling there in July or August. The October 6 I came home from Alabama. I had been there to see about getting a place near where my brother lived. When I got back Jim Epps and I grubbed in Andrew Patrick’s field. I called to Morgan Petty to come and help me load some pumpkins. He came and we got a load, and when we started the horses balked and the breeching string broke. I went on and met James Epps. He asked me if I heard the shooting. We then went up to the house, where I got two guns and gave Epps one. I stopped Mr. Miller at the gate and asked him if he had seen Elzey Tittle. He said, ‘No.’ Epps and I went on down to Petty’s.

Mrs. James Henderson’s testimony: I did not see Andrew Patrick pass through my yard on the day the revenue officers where killed. James Epps was not there that morning that I know of. I am the mother-in-law of both Epps and Petty, but am no relation of Andrew Patrick.

Zack Ivey’s testimony: I told Jim Epps about the killing at his house between 11 and 12 o’clock. He said that he had heard some shooting at Morgan Petty’s that morning and that it was awful. He was washing and wore a dark wool hat. We started to the killing, but were told that the bodies had been moved and we came back.

The attorney for the defense R. K. Locker testimony: James Epps asked me to write to Mr. Ruhm and tell him that if he wanted him he was at home. This was after I had heard that Epps was hiding out from the revenue officers.

Mrs. Fannie Moore testitfies (This is Frances Ann Moore wife of Daniel Franklin Moore.): I am a sister to James Epps. I sent for him to come to my house, five miles above Fayetteville, to see his grandchild buried on the Sunday after the killing. He stayed up there four or five days, as his daughter and father were sick at the time, and have since died (Grace Lee Eakes is the granddaughter who died and her mother Hepsey Jane the daughter of James died Nov 1892)

J. P. McGhee testifies: I know Andrew Patrick. His general character has been, so far as I knew, good. I haven’t known Epps long, but his character is good for peace and good order so far as I know.

William Williams, Sheriff of Lincoln County, knew nothing against Andrew Patrick except that he was under arrest for running a wildcat still. He didn’t know Epps very well, but had always considered Petty rather weak-minded.

J. A. Farnwalt gave Patrick and Epps an unqualified character endorsement. He had not know Petty so long. He thought he was weak-minded and could be easily led.

Squire A. S. Moore, 81 years old, gave the defendants a good character, but admitted that he had received Brandy in exchange for fruit at Patrick’s distillery (note: this is probably the father-in-law of James Epps sister Fannie)

Charley Koonts testimony: Epps came and hollered for me one night about four days after the killing. I went out and he came up into the yard and said he had been out for a day or two and hadn’t had anything to eat. I don’t remember whether he said he had been hunting his cow or not.

E. A. Norvell testimony: I went to Epps’ house one night about 10 o’clock, and he was not at home. We then went to his sister’s, where his folks said he was, but couldn’t find him. This paper was written by Mr. Kinsely and signed by James Epps. I read it over to him and swore him to it myself.

The Verdict of the Trial: Patrick, Epps and Petty Are Acquitted. The Jury reached a verdict in thirty minutes. Judge Taft gives an able and impartial charge.
Summary of trial ending: “On Saturday night at 8:35 o’clock, by the verdict of a jury of twelve men, Andrew J. Patrick, James Epps and Morgan Petty were given a freedom which they knew well how to appreciate, as men who had languished six months in Davidson County’s dark dungeon, with their lives in constant lawful menace in expiation of the crime charged against them of murdering Deputy Collectors Spurrier, Caldwell and Mather in Lincoln County last October. For two long weeks they have been submitted to the racking strain of a trial for their lives, and when, in response to the usual interrogatory by Judge Lurton, Foreman W. A. Wray, of the jury, arose and said simply ‘Not guilty,’ there was an evident relaxation that sent a tremor of relief over the prisoners, and gave birth to a burst of disorderly applause from the spectators. The defendants were also charged with illicit distilling, but, on motion of Mr. Ruhm, their cases on this count were continued until the next term

Here is a comment Buck wrote.. Since a lot of people do not read the comments I thought it would be a good idea to post it.

J D Epps husband of Lois Kent is Joseph Daniel Epps son of James Craton Epps Jr. He was born 30 Nov. 1891. His mother was Adlade Fox Epps also called Addie. She was the second wife of James Craton Epps Jr.   Dovie is Hepsey Jane Epps daughter of James Craton Epps Jr. and Hepsey Prosser.  Bettie is Elizabeth Epps another daughter of James Craton Epps Jr. and his first wife Hepsey Prosser. 
The W. C. Epps is a son of Hugh M Epps named William C Epps. The C probably is either Cole his mothers maiden name or Craton his grandmothers maiden name.  Mary J Epps in the Simms – Land Cemetery above is the first wife of Lawrence Franklin Epps who is the son of Hugh M Epps. Mary Jane’s maiden name was Mason. She died before before Dec 1876 and is the daughter of Solomon Mason. Lawrence F Epps later married Luticia Francis Cotner.

James Craton Epps the first son of Lawrence and Elizabeth is probably named for his mothers brother James Craton. The name James Craton has come down through many generations but with the spelling Creighton instead of Craton.

The above information submitted by Lawrence Epps, here known as Buck!