Hugh Caperton

Who was Hugh Caperton?

Hugh Caperton was a nineteenth-century congressman and planter from Virginia. He was the father of Allen Taylor Caperton whom he had with his wife Jane Erskine Caperton.

Born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, Caperton was a planter and engaged in mercantile pursuits as a young man. He moved to Monroe County, Virginia which he became sheriff of in 1805 and became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1810, serving until 1813. He was elected a Federalist to the United States House of Representatives in 1812, serving from 1813 to 1815 and later returned to the House of Delegates from 1826 to 1830. Caperton resumed engaging in agricultural and mercantile pursuits until his death at his estate called "Elmwood" near Union, Virginia on February 9, 1847. He was interred at Green Hill Cemetery in Union.

"Elmwood" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.