This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Suggs, Crain Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/767.3.1.1.1 Message Board Post: OK friends, here goes. The info on Jesse Sugg(s) Will came from a dear lady in Lula, GA by the name of Betty Evans in 2001. Jesse Sugg(s) (my 5th great-grandpa) born abt. 1770, died Sept. 1843, Pickens County, SC. Married twice, 1st wife name unknown, 2nd wife named Elizabeth. Children by 1st wife: Winney (married Singleton Roper, these are my 4th great-grandparents), Sarah (married Alfred Roper, Singleton's brother), Arpha or Orphea (married William Crain), Rebbeca (married ? Black), Elizabeth (married William Stephens), Allen, John, Loven, and Jesse Jr. Children by 2nd wife: Elias, Elijah, Dorcas and Charlotte. Jesse's Will was dated Aug. 1838. He left $.50 cents each to his children by his 1st wife. The remainder he left to his 2nd wife Elizabeth, and upon her death, to go to their four children. Executors of the estate were his "friends" James M. Barton and James Ferguson. The older children sued but lost their case, finally settled in 1851. Another footnote, Singleton and Alfred Roper had a sister named Synthia Roper who married a Jesse Crain?? not sure where Jesse fits in at this point, but I'm sure they are all related some way. Apparently there were problems with the families during the next few years. On Genealogy.com, Janette Bryant has posted various legal problems with the families, including the following: "Pickens County, SC 1850. J. Ferguson (executor of Jesse Suggs' estate) appeared making claim that he believed Elijah Suggs and Franklin Crain did kill and feloniously steal one of his hogs. He asks that the court bring them in and deal with them." Interesting reading isn't it? Take care and God bless. CURT

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/767.3.1.1 Message Board Post: I would be interested in learning of the connection you mention. Thanks,

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Suggs, Crain Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/767.3.1 Message Board Post: I have info on this connection. Tried to post another message but apparently it didn't take. If you get this, you may email me and I'll tell you what I have. It's an interesting connection.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: winslow, Roper Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/524.1 Message Board Post: I am looking for a William Roper b. abt 1740 in Maryland. Married 7 Nov 1765 Freetown, Bristol Co., MA to Lois Winslow b. 1741 (behind Roper's name it says of Maryland . She remarried in 1775 to Wilbur Southward. What happened to William Roper? Does anyone know who his parents are?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/815 Message Board Post: I have an original Cabinet Card photograph of “Charles W. Roper”, which I would like to get back to family members. Photo was taken in about 1890, in Zanesville (Muskingum Co.) OH, and Charles looks to be about age 1. Written on the back of the photo under his name is “per Aunt Margaret on 12-13-67”, I found Charles W. Roper in the Zanesville 1900 census, son of Edward (1854) and Esther (1863) Roper. Charles’ DOB was Oct 1887. Email me at [email protected] if you are related to Charles W. Roper.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Dowd, Moore Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/814.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Edda's two eldest children would appear to be: Syble Dee MOORE (b 24 Jan 1923 - Lampasas, TX) Jesse Delbert DOWD (b 20 Jun 1929 - Anderson, TX), son of A. W. and Ediie Roy [sic] DOWD

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Moore, Dowd, Seburn, McGill, Anderson, Thompson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/814.1.1.1 Message Board Post: I understand that the central problem is the identification of the ancestors of Edda Ray Roper Moore Dowd SEBURN (b 13 Oct 1906, d 09 Nov 1985 - Grapeland, Houston Co, TX). You should first understand that you may use an SS-5 Letter to obtain a copy of Edda's original application for a Social Security Number (454-03-3345) issued in TEXAS. This application should show the names of BOTH of Edda's parents. Note that I have shown Edda's date of birth as 13 Oct 1906 rather than 13 Oct 1907. The former is the date shown in the Social Security Death Index. Edda SEBURN's death certificate might also have her parents names on it, but this is somewhat less certain. The application for a Social Security Number would have been completed by Edda during her lifetime and she would have furnished the information about her parents HERSELF. TO the extent that SHE knew who both of her parents were, this information would tend to appear on the application. By contrast, the death certificate would have been prepared using information furnished by a member of the immediate family. To the extent that her readily available survivors INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION of the death certificate KNEW, the information might be correct. To the extent that these folks did NOT know (E.g. Edda had outlived her parents, brothers and sisters and her children didn't KNOW their grandparents) the information in the death certificate might be incomplete or WRONG. Edda seems to have had at least the following children in Texas: Louis Demmel DOWD (b 04 Mar 1931 - Harris, TX), son of Walter DOWD and Edda Ray ROPER David Franklin SEBURN (b 20 Jan 1941 - Austin Co, TX), son of Jesse J. SEBURN and Edda Ray ROPER Elizabeth Florence SEBURN (b 12 Nov 1943), dau of Jesse John SEBURN and Edda Ray ROPER In 1930, Edda DOWD may be found residing with her husband Walter A. DOWD, age 40, and two children in Ft. Bend County, TX. Edda is then shown to be age 23. She is shown to have been born in MISSISSIPPI to parents both born in Mississippi. I will e-mail you the Census record. * There is a 1930 Census record showing a Bill and Gertrude McGILL in Palestine, Texas. There is also a Texas birth record for a: Jerry Ray McGILL (b 13 Nov 1932 - Harris, TX), son of William McGILL and Gertrude ROPER I believe that this record is rather conclusive as to the identity of Gertrude's McGILL husband. This may give you some additional traction to make inquiries of the McGILL family within another RootsWeb Message Board forum. Please note that one of the other siblings may have the family information you seek. There is also a Texas birth record for: Lula Jean McGILL (b 07 Mar 1928 - Anderson, TX), dau of Willie and Gertrude McGILL * There is a Texas birth reecord for: John Paul ANDERSON (b 27 Oct 1953 - Harris), son of John Marvel ANDERSON and Pearly Cecelia ROPER This seems rather LATE to be finding children of a Pearl ROPER - Anderson marriage, but the coincident appearance of "Cecelia" in Pearl's name is also compelling. Perhaps your paient will recall whether this seems plausible. * There was a the following child born to a Murry F. ROPER: Mack Mury ROPER (b 20 Aug 1928 - Hidalgo, TX), son of Murry F. ROPER and Amelia V. BROWN This could certainly be a child of Edda's brother Murray. * I found only four ROPER children born to a Ralph ROPER through about 1940. Of these, two appear to me to be particularly promising, due to the coincident appearance of the given name "Pearl": Ralph ROPER, Jr. (b 23 Feb 1926 - Wharton, TX), son of Ralph Walter ROPER and Ollie Mae FELDER Myrtis Pearl ROPER (b 19 Mar 1932 - Harris, TX), dau of Ralph Walter ROPER and Ollie Mae FELDER This couple may be found in the 1930 Census residing within the household of Virgil J. and Clara C. DOVER in Houston, Texas. Ollie M. ROPER, is shown to be Virgil J. DOVER's sister-in-law, so it would APPEAR that Ollie, age 23, and Clara, age 29, are sisters. This Ralph ROPER is shown to be age 25 (b abt 1905), born in TEXAS with FATHER born in "United States". When Census information is given my someone other than the head of household, it is notoriously UNRELIABLE, so this information about Ralph may not be accurate. The three ROPER children in the household are Ralph W. ROPER, Jr., age 4 1/12, Thomas ROPER, age 2 3/12, and Ethel M. ROPER, age 3/12 [enumeration at 11 Apr 1930]. This is probably the WRONG Ralph ROPER, as it seems most likely that this Ralph is the son of Jim ROPER, age 47 (b abt 1873 - TX), enumerated in Wharton County, TX, in 1920. That Jim ROPER is shown to have been born in Texas to parents each born in Texas. The children within that household were Rosie, age 17, Ralph, age 14, ??? [female], age 12, Lucille, age 7, and Oliver, age 9. There is another Ralph ROPER, age 11, enumerated in 1920 in a large ROPER family in Eastland, TX. The father is shown as E. ROPER, age 60 (b abt 1860 - AL). The mother is Louisa ROPER, age 44 (b abt 1876 - IL). All of the children in this household beginning with Bailey, age 20, are shown to have been born in Texas. Interestingly, there is an adjacent MOORE family. There is also a YATES in an adjacent record. These are familynames that repeatedly are found in close proximity to ROPERs throughout America! * I do NOT see any ROPER children born in Texas to a J.C. ROPER as such, but there ARE these two candidates: ALma Marie ROPER (b 29 May 1930 - King, TX) dau of Jessie Clarence ROPER and Alma May GUNNELS Willie V. ROPER (b 05 Sep 1928 - Montague, TX), son of Joseph Columbus ROPER and Mary Louesa COX * There is a Texas death record for a Mack W. ROPER (d 07 Apr 1986 - McClennan, TX) There is a Texas death record for a Gertude Ann McGILL (d 08 Apr 1980 - Harris, TX). This seems likely to be the Gertrude McGILL shown in the Social Security Death Index as Gertrude McGILL (b 01 Aug 1917, d Apr 1980) with SSN 465-07-6454 and last residence in Bryan, Brazos, Texas (Zip Code 77801). while it is far from certain that this is the Gertrude ROPER who married William McGILL, it is POSSIBLY the correct record. But IF it were the correct record, it might seem to imply that Gertrude's child Lula Jean McGILL was born when Gertrude was age 11. However, I HAVE seen instances when women have shaved years OFF of their age in Census records and even SSN applications! Bear in mind that for women born in this era, a Social Security Number was NOT REQUIRED if that woman didn't work. It was only much later... when Gertrude might have been an age when fudging her age by a several years seemed attractive that she likely would have applied. There are several other more prod! uctive avenues that should probably be exhausted before shelling out $27 for the SS-5 Letter. Again, if you used an SS-5 Letter to obtain the Social Security application of this Gertrude McGILL it MIGHT correctly list her PARENTS. * The name "Mack ROPER" gives us some particularly interesting traction. In 1930, there was a child named Mack ROPER, age 1 7/12 residing within the the household of Amelia V. ROPER, age 23, a widow, in HIdalgo County, TX. Margaret ROEPR, age 6, is also residing within this household. Mack M. ROPER's deceased father is shown to have been born in Mississippi. In 1910, there was a Mack ROPER, age 22?, born MS, working as a farm laborer on the farm of William A. BOWLIN in Kully Chaha Twp, Le Flore Co., OK. A Mack ROPER marriedMargie HAYNES in Drew Co. AR, on 21 Dec 1936. The Mack ROPER of Le Flore, OK, seems likely to be the Mack Umby ROPER (b 04 Aug 1884) who reigstered there for the WW I Draft. Several children were born in Texas to Mack William ROPER and Frances Marie TOMEK in the 1950s. Also, there is a Mack ROPER (b 17 Jun 1912, d Jun 1946) with SSN 265-36-7522 (probably issued in Florida). You might want to get some clarifying details from your patient regarding Mack ROPER. Does she recall roughly WHEN he was born, etc.? Was he an older or younger brother of Edda? * It is unclear to me from your Query whether this entire ROPER family relocated to Texas from Mississippi or whether only several children found their way to Texas. If the paretns relocated to Texas, then one or both of their deaths MIGHT be reflected in one of the ROPER death records I Indexed at this ROPER message board in 2002. Please see my previous Posts: Index of Texas ROPER Death Certificates, 1904-1945, By First Name [3 Aug 2002 7:02 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/522 Index of Texas ROPER Death Certificates, 1904-1945, By Date [3 Aug 2002 6:52 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/521 Index of Texas ROPER Death Certificates, 1904-1945, By County [3 Aug 2002 7:10 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/523 * * * Since we believe that we KNOW that Gertrude McGILL was born in MS about 1904 and that Edda was born there about 1906, it seems that the paretns were most likely in Mississippi during the 1900 Census. It is less clear whether they would be found in Texas or in Mississippi in 1910 and the Census Index that year is of marginal quality. The BEST prospect for Edda's parents appear to me to be the Frank L. and Cecelia ROPER enumerated in Jackson County, MS, in 1900. Though NONE of the named children seem to have been yet born, this record has MUCH to recommend it. Frank L. ROPER, is shown to be age 26, born in Mississippi in Oct 1873. Cecelia ROPER is also shown to be age 26, born in June 1873. But more importantly, Frank and Cecelia ROPER's Census record is neatly tucked between two JONES families! It appears most likely that Cecelia ROPER might be an elder daughter of the Tom JONES, age 44, and his first wife. Tom's current wife Frances, age 34, is too young to be Cecelia's mother. I will send you this Census record. This at least gives us more than a little traction into the prior generation! However, I am presently UNABLE to pick up ANY traction in finding Frank L. ROPER in EITHER the 1880 or the 1910 Census. One possibility is that this is one of the Frank ROPER's shown to have died in Harris County: Roper, Frank; Harris; 4 Jul 1912; 17738 Roper, Frank; Harris; 7 Feb 1940; 8842 See: Index of Texas ROPER Death Certificates, 1904-1945, By First Name [3 Aug 2002 7:02 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/522 Very often, when a name is NOT remembered it was because that person died when children were young. I would encourage you to obtain the 04 Jul 1912 death record. You can possibly also obtain an obituary from there deaths as they were in an area well coverered by Houston newspapers. The Houston Public Library Reference Section will do a LOOKUP for you and can let you know if they have found the record. WHEN they find the record, they will copy it and send it for a small charge. http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/services/askalibrarian.html My bet is that Edda's father was Frank L. ROPER, of Jackson, MS, and that he may have died in 1912. I do NOT see an obvious death record for Cecelia, so she MIGHT HAVE remarried. I would encourage you to obtain the SS-5 application for Edda and to seek to obtain a copy of a Jackson, MS, marriage record for Frank and Cecelia ROPER. Jackson County MIGHT also have birth reocrds for the children. This is where I would concerntrate my search. Take a look at the Jackson County RootsWeb site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~msjackso/ . In seeking information from Jackson County officials regarding records, bear in mind that Jackson County got absolutely whalloped by Hurricane Katrina, so some services may not be particularly efficient and the folks down there have a lot of other things on their minds. I would also encourage you to Post messages on the McGill, Thompson and Anderson Message Boards. Have the Harris County Clerk check to see if there is a marriage record for a Cecelia JONES or ROPER about 1915. Also check to see if there are probate files, particularly Wills for either of the Frank ROPERs shown to have died. Dr. L. David ROPER (http://www.roperld.com) may also be able to help you. Perhaps he already has something in his files for someone in this branch of the family!

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: ROPER, MOORE Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/814.1.1 Message Board Post: Unfortunately, I have little more information. I can add a few details....but minimal at best. I am doing this research for a patient of mine. She is 83 years old and wants to know something about her family history. Original post: I am looking for information on the following family:Roper married a Cecelia Jones. I do not know his first name. They had several children: Lula, Gertrude, Edda, Bob (Murray), Mack, J.C., Pearl, Ralph. Gertrude married a McGill, Lula married a Thompson, Pearl married an Anderson, Edda married a Moore then a Dowd then a Seburn. This informaiton is all word of mouth. Any information would be very appreciated. Thank you for your time. Additional information: I know that Edda was born Oct 13, 1907 possibly in Mississippi (mabe in Gulfport area). She died Nov 9, 1985 in Grapeland, Houston, TX. Her first husband was Andrew Jackson Moore. The married approximately 1921 probably in Texas when she was 14 years old. Their daughter Syble was born in Lampassas TX in 1923. Edda left Andy Moore about two years later. She married Waller A Dowd and had another child, a son by the name of JD in 1926. I don't know their date of marriage or divorce. She later married Jesse J Seburn and had three more children: David, Ruth and Elizabeth. I know that Edda and her mother lived around the West End area of Houston about 1940ish. I was told that they attended West End Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX which I cannot find. Other than that, I am lost. I have been unable to find them in the census records, etc. Like I said, this is word of mouth from an 83 year old patient of mine that I am trying to help find out about her family. I was hoping the combination of names would ring a bell for someone. Thanks for taking the time to read my posting. If you have any information or any ideas for me, I would be forever indebted to you.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Moore, Jones, Seaborne Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/814.1 Message Board Post: Leading ROPER genealogists and other persons using this Board are researching ROPER lines from the 1500s though the present. ROPERs have been marrying MOOREs (MOREs) since at least the 1521. (See http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13183a.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Roper . See also http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/08/euwb/ho_50.69.2.htm ). I have found JONES adjacent to ROPERs in almost every location from Kent England to Virginia and Maryland and thereafter throughout America. This has been the subject of more than one prior Post. SEABORNE is the family name of the wife of Christopher ROPER, the 2nd Baron Teynham. SEABORNEs were transported to America by John YATES about the same year Captain William ROPER settled at Accomack (1633). Thereafter, SEABORNEs are found in the same South River parish as William ROPER in Anne Arundel, Maryland (late 1600s). It would be very helpful to have some more precise TIME FRAMES for at least several of those noted. Can you give us an approximate date of birth, marriage or death for one or more of those cited? Also can you help us by fixing at least a PLACE where some of these moght be found at various times? Giving some additional precise details will enable others to get a little traction in identifying the ROPERs of interest to you!

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: ROPER Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/814 Message Board Post: I am looking for information on the following family: Roper married a Cecelia Jones. I do not know his first name. They had several children: Lula, Gertrude, Edda, Bob (Murray), Mack, J.C., Pearl, Ralph. Gertrude married a McGill, Lula married a Thompson, Pearl married an Anderson, Edda married a Moore then a Dowd then a Seburn. This informaiton is all word of mouth. Any information would be very appreciated. Thank you for your time.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Edwards, Crittenden, Hubbard, Terrell Classification: Will Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/813 Message Board Post: Will of Thomas ROPER (Dated 15 Nov 1766, Proved 03 May 1769) Roper Thos his Will In the name of God amen. November the 15th 1766, I Thomas ROPER, Planter of Charles City County being of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to die do make and Ordain this my last will and Testament. First I give & recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I commend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executor and for my Worldly estate I give and dispose of the same in the following Manner and form. Imprimis I leave in possession of Susanah my wife all my estate for and during her Natural life or Widow hood and my will is that if she should Marry again thin my Estate to be Equally divided that is to say the one half to Susanah My Wife and the other half to be Equally Divided between my loving brother Joseph ROPER & my loving cousin Jame EDWARDS and in Case she never Marry after her decease all to be Equally Divided between Joseph ROPER & Jane EDWARDS. I make and Appoint Susannah my wife my Executrix and Joseph ROPER and Wm. EDWARDS my Executors of this my last will & Testament. My desire is that my Estate be not appraised. I do hereby Utterly revoke and disannul all and every other former will and bequeath whatsoever Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament and minding to the meaning of the same I hereunto Sett hand and seal the day and date first above written. Signed sealed and Published by Thomas ROPER as his last will & Testament in the Sight of John CRITTENDEN Wm. CRITTENDEN Shadrach ROPER Thomas ROPER <seal> At a Court held for Charles City County the 3d day of May 1769 The aforewritten Last will and Testament of Thomas ROPER decd was presented in Court by Jos. ROPER and Wm. EDWARDS two of the Executors therein named sworn to by the said Executors and being proved by the Oaths of John CRITTENDEN, Wm. CRITTENDEN and Shadrach ROPER all the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded Certificate is Granted the sayd Exes for obtaining a probate thereupon due form they having Made Oath and entered into bond with Security According to Law. Liberty is reserved the Executrix to Join in the probate when she thinks fit no Appraisement by the said Will. Test. Lyddall BACON DCCC * Will and deed book for 1766-1774: pp. 128, 129., Charles City County Records, Microfilm Reel No. 1, Virginia State Library. * * * This Will, long appearing in abstracted form within “Charles City County, Virginia Records 1737-1774 with Several 17th Century Fragments” by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, and therefrom referenced at the ROPER Family History wes site of Dr. L. David ROPER at http://www.roperld.com/rva17.htm is a fascinating read in its entirety. Though the abstract is quite faithful to the disposition of the property and the identities of those involved, the original adds a richness to our understanding of Thomas ROPER. NOTE 1: I believe that this Will implicitly indicates that this Thomas ROPER has no living children. It seems inconceivable that he would have omitted mention of children or made a disposition of such a large portion of his estate to a cousin had he had any living children. It is less clear whether this Thomas ROPER is older or younger. I am most inclined to believe that this Thomas ROPER was a younger man whose marriage had produced no children of his own. He mentions no grandchildren nor any nieces and nephews. This is possibly consistent with his siblings being of an age that none of them yet had their own children or, at least, that their children were all still minors. If Thomas had been an older man, it seems more likely that he would have felt an obligation to remember more members of an extended family. Perhaps Thomas had married a somewhat older woman and this explains the lack of children in his household. But this is mere speculation. My perception that ! Thomas ROPER was a younger married man is based upon the overall feeling of the Will. NOTE 2: Another clue to Thomas ROPER’s age and identity is the identification of his brother Joseph ROPER and the appearance of Shadrach ROPER as a witness thereunto. It seems to me to be unusual that Shadrach would be omitted as a beneficiary if Shadrach were another brother, particularly where cousin Jane EDWARDS IS named as a beneficiary and William EDWARDS is named as an Executor. I am most inclined to interpret this as an indication that Shadrach ROPER is an OLDER member of the family, possibly the father, an uncle or another cousin. Shadrach ROPER’s Will, dated 17 Sep 1784 and Proved 16 Dec 1784, names sons William, Jesse, Samuel and daughter Mary (see my Post “Will of Shadrach ROPER (d aft 17 Sep 1784 - Powhatan, VA)” [5 Mar 2006 2:12 AM GMT] at http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=surnames.roper&m=808 ). Since Shadrach does NOT seem to have a son named Joseph ROPER, I am disinclined to believe that Shadrach! ROPER is Thomas ROPER’s FATHER. NOTE 3: From 1782 through 1787, a Samuel ROPER appears within the Personal Property Tax records for Charles City County. This Samuel ROPER seems to own one slave – Moses – in 1782 and is shown to own Moses and Lucy in 1784. In 1787, he seems to own at least four unnamed slaves. Samuel ROPER is shown to one 102 acres of land from 1782 through 1786. In 1786, Samuel ROPER seems to have sold his land to William TERRELL and George HUBBARD. There is no extant deed from this transaction, but the conveyance is reflected in the change in ownership noted in the Charles City County Land Tax records. Though we lack a meaningful property description, such a description MIGHT be found in a subsequent extant deed by William TERRELL and George HUBBARD. This bears investigation. It probably bears mention that George HUBBARD is expressly identified as a neighbor of David ROPER in his Will dated 15 Mar 1808. The parcel bequeathed by David ROPER to his son George ROPER! is described as: “bounded as follows N__t beginningat the head of Col. Bradleys Mill pond, thence up the broad run to the branch leading to the issuing spring. Hence along William Hewlets line to George Hubbard, thence to crews line, thence to fill Bates's line,then to Col. John Bradley's line, thence down the said line to the Mill pond; thence alongthe pond to the place began at.”. I mention the subsequent appearance of a Samuel ROPER within Charles City County, as the express provisions of Thomas ROPER’s Will presents us with an expectation that upon Susannah ROPER’s death or marriage a portion of Thomas ROPER’s property is to devolve upon Jane EDWARDS and Joseph ROPER. One would therefore EXPECT a reappearance of either Joseph ROPER, himself, or one of his sons within Charles City County sometime after 1769. Shadrach ROPER is known to have had a son named Samuel. And Susannah ROPER’s 16 Aug 1790 Will in Powhatan e! xpressly mentions her brother Samuel, as well as a Samuel ROPER, Jr. Samuel ROPER, of Charles City County, bears further scrutiny! NOTE 4: We implicitly know that Joseph ROPER, William EDWARDS, and Susannah ROPER were all still living at the date this will was proved on 03 May 1769. NOTE 5: The Will expressly mentions that Thomas ROPER does NOT desire an appraisement of the estate and this is also expressly acknowledged within the probate information when the Will was proved on 03 May 1769. However, an inventory WAS conducted anyway on 08 May 1769, which Inventory was recorded on 07 Jun 1769. I will Post that inventory another time. It seems likely that Joseph ROPER and William EDWARDS reconsidered the advisability of an inventory when faced with the problem that property would ultimately need to be divided. NOTE 6: It is also interesting to note that though this Will was dated 15 Nov 1766, it was not proved until 03 May 1769. Of course, it may very well be that the Will was NOT written in contemplation of imminent death and Thomas ROPER may have died much closer to the date of probate. It is also possible that Thomas ROPER died shortly after the making of the Will and that the filing of the Will for probate might have been precipitated by Susannah ROPER’s subsequent remarriage. In such an instance, it can be readily seen that Joseph ROPER and William EDWARDS may have felt compelled to protect their interests by presenting the Will for probate, which could also explain the inventory that shortly followed. If Susannah ROPER had neither died nor remarried, one might imagine that the urgency of the inventory might be somewhat less. NOTE 7: This Will reads almost identically in form to ROPER Wills in England during the previous one hundred and fifty years. Thomas ROPER seems to have signed the Will himself and is shown to have affixed his SEAL. This Thomas ROPER appears likely to be well educated, though we cannot discount the possibility that the Will was professionally prepared. Those reading subsequent Wills of ROPERs living at the frontier in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama will note the rather substantial difference in language and tone.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Miller, Payne, Crawford Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/812 Message Board Post: The following obituary of Rev. David Roper (b 27 Sep 1792 - Charles City County, VA; d 28 Feb 1827 - Richmond, VA) appeared in the Richmond Enquirer on Saturday, March 10, 1827, at Page 3, Column 5: “DIED – in this city, on the 28th ultimo, after a tedious and painful indisposition, the REV. DAVID ROPER. The same day, which terminated only his 35th year closed also his mortal existence. And thus, when to all human view, the period had arrived for most efficient effort, society, the cause of religion, the denomination to which he belonged and an afflicted family, have been bereaved of an invaluable member and leader. How mysterious are the plans and the operations of Divine Providence! This truly amiable and universally respected man was an example worthy of imitation, whether we consider him as a citizen, a professor of religion or a preacher of the gospel. ‘Owing no man any thing, he provided things honest in the sight of all.’ Integrity and kindness, hospitality and beneficence, -- indeed, what virtue possible in this imperfect state, did not adorn this man’s character? Even qualities seemingly opposite, were happily blended in him. Inflexible in his adherence to righteousness, he was a stranger to bigotry. His firmness and candor in declaring and maintaining his sentiments were sweetly associated with liberality and mildness. Economical and provident in the management of his temporal concern, -- although the situation in which Divine Providence had placed him, rendered his support dependent upon his own industry; if contributions for benevolent and religious objects were required, his name was enrolled among the first. With an understanding and a taste of no ordinary character, Mr. Roper had devoted a large portion of the last eighteen years of his life to such a course of literary and Evangelical reading and thought, as qualified him for extensive usefulness. His success in these pursuits was seen in the judicious method, the sound arguments, the apt illustrations and the unexceptionable style of his public discourses. One whole year, at least, before his death, declining health rendering him unable to perform pastoral duty, he relinquished the charge, over which he had faithfully provided, in the Second Baptist Church in this city, from the time of its constitution. Desirous to be useful as long as he might live, he did not fail, until the close of the last year, to discharge the duties of a responsible and lucrative office, to which his known integrity and talent had called him. Although in health now evidently sinking, hopes were nevertheless entertained by his friends, that the softness of the Spring might be instrumental in preserving his invaluable life. But the design of Heaven was otherwise. In calmness and resignation of mind, with intellectual powers totally unimpaired, he suffered a gradual decay of constitution. With an exclusive and unshaken reliance upon the Atonement, he selected several works before his death, a portion of the Sacred Scriptures, the improvement of which he wished at his funeral; and also made other arrangements as to what should be done after his departure. On the morning of the 28th ultimo, at 3 o’clock, he reached the other side of the valley of the shadow of death, in his passage through which, he had been comforted with the rod and the staff of gospel consolation and support. ‘After he had served his own generation, by the will of God, he fell on sleep.’ ‘The memory of the just is blessed.’ ‘Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.’ His widow and four children sustain in this bereavement, a loss not to be repaired. But ‘their loss is his gain.’ * * * I previously Posted a transcription of the biographical sketch concerning Rev. David ROPER appearing within the “Lives of Virginia Baptist Ministers” (1837, 1838) at: "Biography of Rev. David Roper, of Richmond, VA" [14 Mar 2002 10:48 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=surnames.roper&m=461 Additional genealogical information concerning Rev. David ROPER’s family is appended as notes to that Post. * * * I previously Posted Rev. David ROPER’s Will at: “Will of Rev. David Roper (b 27 Sep 1792 - Charles City County, VA; d 28 Feb 1827 - Richmond, VA)” [21 Apr 2002 5:57 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/465 Some additional records relating to David ROPER’s father and immediate family are Posted within Dr. L. David ROPER’s ROPER Family History web site at http://www.roperld.com/rva18.htm . * * * For additional genealogical information concerning Rev. David ROPER’s son Benjamin Eliscus Roper (b 8 Nov 1816 - Richmond, Henrico Co., VA; d 11 Apr 1871 - Lynchburg, Harris, TX), see my Post: “Benjamin Eliscus Roper (b 8 Nov 1816 - Richmond, Henrico Co., VA; d 11 Apr 1871 - Lynchburg, Harris, TX)” [17 Sep 2002 5:49 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/540.1 * * * For additional genealogical information concerning Rev. David ROPER’s son Frederick A. ROPER (b abt 1815 – VA, d bef 1845), see my Post: “Frederick A. ROPER (b abt 1815 - VA) m Lethe A. CRAWFORD” [2 Mar 2003 1:27 AM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/461.1 * * * A transcription of the Patent for the ROPER Plantation on the Chickahominy is Posted at: “Transcription of Charles City Co Patent of John Roper dated 16 Jun 1714” [28 Apr 2002 5:12 PM GMT] http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.roper/468

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/811 Message Board Post: If anyone has been trying to contact me regarding any previous posts I may have left on this message board or its corresponding mailing list, please note that my email address is no longer [email protected] My email address is now [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/786.1.1 Message Board Post: FYI, the Robert J. Roper with wife Vira listed in IT, Chickasaw Nation in 1900 are my relatives. The last names of the children are not Roper. Joseph is Ledford and John R and Clyde's are McBride. Robert and Vira were married in 1899 in Sugden, IT Chickasaw Nation. There are many Roper descendants living around the Marietta/ Thackerville OK area. I am willing to share what info I have. Thanks. Jane

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kgDBAEB/25.3 Message Board Post: My husband 's father was Robert Lloyd Roper son of James Monroe Roper who was born in Banks Co. His father was Isaac who was born in SC. Isaac was the son of Singleton Roper of Pickens Co. I more information if you still need it. Please e-mail me at [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/810 Message Board Post: The following ROPER Index Entries are shown in the Index to the Chesterfield, Virginia, Will Books: ROPER, Joseph, Will, Book 6, Page 116 [Will Dated 25 Jan 1803] ROPER, Joseph, Inventory, Book 6, Page 214 [Approved 08 Oct 1804] ROPER, Samuel, Will, Book 7, Page 503 [Proved 10 Feb 1812] ROPER, Samuel, Executor's Bond, Book 7, Page 504 [Presented 16 Feb 1812] ROPER, Samuel, Memo Regarding Watch, Book 7, Page 550 [Proved 08 Jun 1812] ROPER, Samuel, Inventory, Book 8, Page 51 [Presented 08 Mar 1813] ROPER, Samuel, Administrator's Acct & Division, Book 10, Page 467 [13 Apr 1818] ROPER, John, Will, Book 20, Page 393 ROPER, John, Appraisement, Book 20, Page 600 ROPER, Ann P., Guardian Acct., Book 21, Page 156 ROPER, James, Guardian Acct., Book 21, Page 385 ROPER, John, Administrator's Acct., Book 21, Page 388 ROPER, Ann P., Inventory, etc., Book 21, Page 424 ROPER, Ann P., Guardian Acct., Book 21, Page 533? ROPER, Ann P., Guardian Acct., Book 22, Page 387 ROPER, James M., Guardian Acct., Book 23, Page 144 * I previously Posted "Will of Joseph ROPER (d aft 25 Jan 1803 - Chesterfield, VA)" [5 Mar 2006 8:45 PM GMT] at http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=surnames.roper&m=807 . I have in hand copies of each of the dated items. I will endeavor to Post transcriptions of these during the coming weeks. * Those with a singular interest in this family might want to obtain the recorded items in Books 20-23, particularly John ROPER's Will.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/809 Message Board Post: There is a death notice in the Richmond Examiner abstracted: "Died at her father's in Chesterfield Co. on the 15th Inst., age 22, Amanda A. ROPER, leaving parents, sister & 3 brothers", Richmond Enquirer, 20 Nov 1835, page 3. This abstract appears in "Death Notices from Richmond Virginia Newspapers, 1821-1840", Special Publication No. 9, The Virginia Genealogical Society [at Page 262]. The full death notice reads: "Died, at the residence of her father, in Chesterfield county, Va., on Sunday, the 15th instant, in the 22nd year of her age, Amanda A. ROPER, after a lingering illness of six months, which she bore with the utmost patience, leaving her father, and mother, and sister, and three brothers, and an extensive circle of relations to mourn over their irreparable loss." * In my previous Post "Will of Joseph ROPER (d aft 25 Jan 1803 - Chesterfield, VA)" [5 Mar 2006 8:45 PM GMT] at http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=surnames.roper&m=807 I showed that this was likely to be a daughter of John ROPER and a granddaughter of Samuel ROPER. See that other Post for my analysis and the details.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Smith, Martin, Branch, Jean, Walls, Meredith, Jennings Classification: Will Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/808 Message Board Post: Will of Shadrach ROPER, of Powhatan, VA (Dated 17 Sep 1784, Proved 16 Dec 1784) Powhatan Will Book 1, Pages 100, 101 [page 100] In the Name of God Amen. I Shadrach ROPER of King William Parish within the county of Powhatan do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows. First, my desire is that my Executors hereafter mentioned do make such Improvements on my land as they shall think necessary for the Reception of my family and that they sell such a part of my stock as they think can be best spared to pay the expenses and then my Desire is that after my Just debts are paid the Rest of my Est. be kept together until my Daughter Mary Arrives at the Age of Eighteen and then All my Est. (Land excepted) be Equally Divided between my Wife & my three Children William, Jesse & Mary and that my Wife have the Use of my Land during her life and at her Death my Land be Equally Divided Between my Two Sons William and Jesse & their heirs forever, further Whereas my Father-in-Law Samuel LANDRUM has promised to give my Son Samuel ROPER a Negroe, I have Omitted giving my Sd Son Saml any part of my Est. I have now in possession, but if my Sd Father-in-law should not give my Sd Son Samuel any part of his Est. as he has promised, thin my Will is that he should have an Equal part, of my Est. with the Rest of my Children at the Division as is above mentioned and my desire is that my Est. be not appraised. And Lastly, I do appoint my Friends George SMITH & Anthony MARTIN Exrs. Of this my last Will and Testament Revoking all other Wills made by me heretofore as Witness my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of Sept. One thousand seven hundred and Eighty four. The words he my my Interlined before Signd. Signd that day In presence of Daniel BRANCH Wm. JEAN Patrick X WALLS [his mark] Shadrach ROPER <seal> * [page 101] At a Court held for Powhaton county the Sixtienth day of December Anno Dom. One thousand seven hundred and eighty four This last Will an Testament of Shadrach ROPER Deceased was presented to court by George SMITH & Anthony MARTIN the Executors therein named and being Proved by the Oaths of Wm JEAN and Patrick WALLS two of the Witnesses Thereto was Ordered to be Recorded And on the motion of the said Executors who made Oath and entered into bond according to Law Probate thereof was Granted them in due form. Test. M. MILLER Clk. * * * NOTES: 1. This is a complete transcription of the Will of Shadrach ROPER. A copy of this Will has long appeared at the ROPER Family History web site of Dr. L. David ROPER (at http://www.roperld.com ). [The transcription appears at http://www.roperld.com/rva17.htm .] I had thought that transcription to be an abstract, but it is complete. I have preserved the line breaks from the original recorded version in the transcription posted above. 2. Shadrach ROPER appears as a witness to the Will of Thomas ROPER, of Charles City, on 15 Nov 1766, so it seems likely that Shadrach was already age 21 by that date. 3. Shadrach signed a petition to the Fifth Virginia Convention made by the inhabitants of Cumberland County, VA. The petition was received by the Convention on 05 Nov 1776. 4. On 31 Jul 1777, Shadrack ROPER, of Powhatan County, subscribed $12 for maintaining the militia. 5. On 13 Oct 1777, Shadrack ROPER signed an oath of allegiance to the commonwealth of VA and renounced allegiance to King George III. In Powhatan County. 6. Mary Ann ROPER m Joseph MEREDITH; Marriage Bond dated 06 Jan 1787, Powhatan County. This seems likely to be Shadrach ROPER’s daughter Mary. 7. Kisey ROPER m Benjamin JENNINGS; Marriage Bond dated 04 Feb 1792, Powhatan County. Kisey or Keziah ROPER seems likely by LOCATION and time to be a granddaughter of Shadrach ROPER, presumably a daughter of William, Jesse or Samuel. Keziah ROPER is somewhat problematic. She is described in Susannah ROPER’s Powhatan Will dated 16 Aug 1790 as Susannah’s “sister”. Susannah also mentions sister Elizabeth JORDAN and brother Samuel ROPER. Shadrach fails to mention any Elizabeth Roper JORDAN or any Keziah ROPER in his Will. Nor does he mention a daughter named Susannah. Susannah ROPER does NOT mention any CHILDREN in her Will. One distinct possibility is that this Susannah ROPER might be Thomas ROPER’s widow. That Thomas seemed NOT to have any children. In that construction, Thomas ROPER, Samuel ROPER, Elizabeth Roper JORDAN and Keziah ROPER are brothers and sisters and Susannah is their sister-in-law. We need a little more data to be clearer on how Susannah ROPER (d aft 16 Aug 1790) fits in. 8. I found the provision “Executors hereafter mentioned do make such Improvements on my land as they shall think necessary for the Reception of my family” to be particularly interesting. This seems to suggest that Shadrach’s family was not yet situated at Powhatan at the date of his Will. 9. I also found it to be interesting that the original image of the recorded copy makes mention of a SEAL. The language of Shadrach’s Will, the fact that he signed this Will himself and the fact that the Will seems to have been SEALED suggests that Shadrach ROPER was a person of some education and fortune. * * * I would appreciate learning of any additional primary information regarding Shadrach ROPER not mentioned above.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Wotton, Saunders, Sasseen, Burnett, Franklin, Larseen, Larsen, Hatcher Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/807 Message Board Post: Will of Joseph ROPER, of Chesterfield, VA (Dated 25 Jan 1803) Chesterfield Will Book 5 (Reel 28), Page 116-118. In the name of God amen, I Joseph ROPER the elder of Chesterfield County being of perfect memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament Item. I lend unto my daughter Nancy WOTON thirty acres of Land adjoining of SAUNDERS’s tract during her natural life and after her decease my desire is that her Daughter Anna possess it. I further lend to my Daughter Nancy one Negro Girl name Beak but my Will and desire is that my Executors shall Heir said negroe and the money arising thereupon to support the family during her natural life. I lend to my Daugh- ter Nancy one Feather Bed and furniture and three head of Cattle and after her death the above mentioned articles to be equally divided among her Children. Item. I lend unto my Daughter Sally SASSEEN one negroe Rose and one named Charles but my Will and desire is that my Executors do hire the said Negroes and the money arising therefrom go to support the family during her natural life and at her decease that the Negroes be sold and the money equally divided between her Children. I further lend my Daughter Sally one cow during her life and then to be divided in the manner aforesaid. Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Rodah BURNETT one cow and Calf to her and her Heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth FRANKLIN one negroe boy named Manuel, one Feather Bed and furniture and three Head of Cattle to her and her Heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Drury ROPER five Shillings Cash forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph ROPER all my Land lying on James River that I have not given also one negroe Girl named Charity one Feather Bed and furniture one woman name Holy and one cow and Calf to him and his Heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son John ROPER the Land and plantation whereon I now live also that ten and a half acres lying south Buckingham road and also one negroe Boy named Hamton and one woman Silvery and one Hundred and fifty pounds cash to be laid out in Land at the discretion of the Executors also one feather Bed and furniture and one cow and Calf to him and his Heirs forever. Item I lend unto my beloved wife two Negroes Daniel & Rachiel with all the remainder of my Estate both within Doors and without during her natural life and after my wife’s death my desire is that the remainder of my Estate be equally divided between my sons John and Joseph ROPER to them and their Heirs forever. I do hereby appoint my sons Joseph ROPER and John ROPER my Executors. I do hereby wholy revoke and disannul all other Wills by me heretofore made declaring and this alone to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of January Eighteen Hundred and three. Signed sealed and delivered in presences of Daniel FERGUSSIN?? Thomas X SMITH [his mark] Charles ROPER Joseph ROPER <seal> * I seem to have NEGLECTED to copy the page immediately following, which presumably includes the probate information, including the date this Will was PROVED. If someone has occasion to obtain this information, please Post it as a Reply. * * * NOTES: 1. Sally ROPER m William LARSEEN on 21 Feb 1794 in Chesterfield. 2. Rhoda ROPER m Edward BURNETT on 02 Jun 1797 in Chesterfield. 3. There is a marriage of a John ROPER to Asenath HATCHER on 06 Jan 1807. 4. There are NO ROPERs enumerated in Chesterfield County in the 1810 Census enumeration. We need to carefully scrutinize the Chesterfield County Personal Property Tax and Land Tax records beginning in 1782 to identify precisely which ROPERs were taxpayers and tithables in Chesterfield each year from 1783 through 1850. 4. John ROPER is shown in the 1820 Census residing in Chesterfield. One way of viewing this data is that this John ROPER is Joseph ROPER’s SON. As is shown in the Will, John ROPER was to receive the plantation upon which Joseph ROPER lived plus one half of the residue of the estate after the death of his mother. But there is also another possible ascription that may make more sense under the circumstances. Samuel ROPER (d aft 06 Nov 1811 – Chesterfield), also had a son named Joseph ROPER and a son named John ROPER. John ROPER’s Census record shows: John ROPER: 1 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 3 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 1 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 – Nelson COUSIN – 19 Retter JOHNSON: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 1 -- 6 [Image 3 of 38 at the Ancestry.com presentation of the 1820 Census data for this jurisdiction.] It appears to me that the Rettor JOHNSON, enumerated in the adjacent record is probably the widow of Samuel ROPER (d aft 06 Nov 1811 – Chesterfield). Daniel JOHNSON m Rettor ROPER on 03 Jun 1817 at Chesterfield. 5. John ROPER is again shown in the 1830 Census enumeration for Chesterfield: John ROPER: 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 4 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 5 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 – 18 [Images 49, 50 of 110 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1830 Census data for this jurisdiction.] John ROPER seems to be age 40 to 49 in 1830 (b abt 1781-90). John ROPER’s wife appears to be already deceased by 1830. 6. In 1840, John ROPER is again enumerated in Chesterfield. A Samuel C. ROPER also appears as a head of household there for the first time. Samuel C. ROPER is enumerated in the adjacent record and would appear likely to be the male aged 20 to 29 residing in John ROPER’s household in 1830: John ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 6 - 3 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 18 -- 0 - 7 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 Samuel C. ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 6 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Images 51, 52 of 60 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1840 Census data for this jurisdiction.] Samuel C. ROPER seems to have married and had two children, a boy and a girl each under age 5 (b abt 1835-39). 7. John ROPER is again enumerated in the 1850 Census and this record shows him to be age 63 that year (b abt 1787). Also residing with John ROPER are a James ROPER, age 13, and an Ann ROPER, age 11. These appear most likely to be the young children shown in Samuel C. ROPER’s household in 1840. 8. Now learning John ROPER’s approximate year of birth from the 1850 Census record presents us with evidence suggesting that it is MORE LIKELY that the John ROPER shown in Chesterfield from 1820 through 1850 is probably Samuel ROPER’s son rather than Joseph ROPER’s son. Bear in mind that Joseph ROPER’s Will transcribed above names John ROPER as one of the Executors and makes an express bequest of his plantation. If the John ROPER shown in the Census records were to have been Joseph ROPER’s son, he would have been only about age 16 at his father’s death and therefore probably wouldn’t have qualified to be an executor. Samuel ROPER named son John ROPER and John JORDAN as Executors of his Will dated 06 Nov 1811. By the date of probate (10 Feb 1812), the John ROPER shown in the 1850 Census record seems most likely to have been about age 25. That he was enumerated adjacent to Rettor JOHNSON seems to further bolster such an ascription. It is therefore most likely that the John ROPER shown in the Census records cited above was Samuel ROPER’s son rather than Joseph ROPER’s son. A careful study of the Personal Property Tax Records, Land Tax Records and deeds for Chesterfield may give us a clearer picture of precisely what became of John and Samuel ROPER, sons of Joseph ROPER. 9. In 1860, John ROPER is no longer shown in the Census for Chesterfield. James ROPER is shown to be residing in the household of “A. BURNETT”, age 30. This appears likely to be James ROPER’s cousin. There is also an “R. A. BURNETT”, female, age 51, in this household. The daughter Rodah BURNETT mentioned in Joseph ROPER’s Will in 1803 must have been at least sixteen by that year (b bef 1787) to have been already married. That would make Rodah BURNETT at least age 73 by 1860. It seems unlikely that the 51 year old R. A. BURNETT would be the SAME Rodah. 10. There is a death notice in the Richmond Examiner abstracted: "Died at her father's in Chesterfield Co. on the 15th Inst., age 22, Amanda A. ROPER, leaving parents, sister & 3 brothers", Richmond Enquirer, 20 Nov 1835, page 3. Absent the discovery of another ROPER household in the Chesterfield Personal Property Tax or Land Tax records, this Amanda A. ROPER (b abt 1813, d 15 Nov 1835) seems most likely to be a daughter of John ROPER. It seems unlikely that Amanda would have been a daughter of Samuel ROPER, whose Will was dated 06 Nov 1811. Presumably Amanda A. ROPER was the female age 15 to 19 living within her father’s household during the 1830 Census enumeration. 11. There is a death notice in the Richmond Examiner abstracted: "Died at res. of his father in Chesterfield Co., Jan. 17th, age 33, Nathaniel J. ROPER, leaving parents, sister & 2 brothers", Richmond Enquirer, 28 Jan 1840, page 3. Absent the discovery of another ROPER household in the Chesterfield Personal Property Tax or Land Tax records, this Nathaniel J. ROPER (b abt 1807, d 17 Jan 1840) seems most likely to be a son of John ROPER. It is unclear whether Nathaniel ROPER is the male age 20 to 29 living in the household in 1830 or whether this was Samuel C. ROPER. But it seems most likely that this was Nathaniel and that Samuel C. ROPER had already left the household by that year. Taken together with Amanda ROPER’s obituary, it appears that there must have been a daughter and a son who had already left the household by 1830. This is certainly consistent with the 1820 Census record, which suggests the presence of four sons and two daughters.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Shouse, Elam, Polsgrove, Scarce, Scearce Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/806 Message Board Post: The Will of Joseph ROPER (d bef 14 Jan 1836 - Hickman Co, KY) appearing in Hickman County Will Book "A" at Page 318, was transcribed by Laura Willis and republished in the publication :Hickman County, KY, Will Books, Vol. Two (1834 - 1838), published by Simmons Historical Publications, Melber, KY, in 1995 [at pp. 30, 31]: "WILL BOOK A, Page 318 Will of Joseph ROPER, deceased In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph ROPER, being weak in body but of sound and disposable memory, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I therefore, make this my last Will and testament in manner following. My desire is that my loving wife Mildred have all of my estate, both real and personal to use and enjoy by her and my children during her state of widowhood, except such as I may dispose of in this my Will, to other members of my family, and that my loving wife keep and raise my heirs and have them schooled to the common extent of learning, and defray the expenses of the same out of said property by me put into her hands. Also my desire is that my wife gives out of said property to each heir under her care, as they may arrive at lawfull age, or may marry, one horse, saddle and bridle up to the value of one hundred dollars and also one hundred and twenty dollars in money to make them equal to those of my children that are now married and left me. And ! in case of my wife changing her state by marriage, in that case, my desire is, she my wife, then have a child's part only, and the remainder part of my property be equally divided with and amongst all my children by sale of valuation as may be thought best by my Executor. I bequeath to my daughter, Martha POLSGROVE, one quarter section of land on which she now lives to be enjoyed by her and her bodily heirs forever. 3rd, I bequeath to my daughter, Clemina SCARCE, one hundred and twenty dollars to be used and applied to her benefit and her family. 4th, I bequeath to my son, Dittoway ROPER, one hundred and twenty dollars, all of which my said son has received except twenty dollars. 5th, I bequeath my son, Samuel ROPER, one half quarter section of land in which said son has commissioned an improvement. In addition to that, a horse, saddle, and briddle, which he now has in his possession, and for the true and faithful execution of this my last Will, I ordain and appoint my! two sons, Dittoway and Samuel, to be and act as my Executors, to perf orm all my Will and bequests named above and all matters relative to my estate. In testimony hereunto, I have set my hand this 14th day of January 1836. Witness W.C. ASBURN Nathan SCARCE J.B. CLARK Joseph ROPER Will of Joseph ROPER, deceased, was produced in open court, proven by witness and ordered recorded this 10th day of March 1836." * * * This Joseph ROPER is shown to be born 30 Jun 1781 in a transcription of family Bible records of a Bible since destroyed by fire. Those records also assert that this Joseph ROPER was the son of a Samuel ROPER. Joseph ROPER married Mildred SHOUSE (b 28 Nov 1789) on 15 Mar 1808. * The transcription of the family Bible records shows the following children of this Joseph ROPER and Mildred SHOUSE: Clemence ROPER (b 15 Dec 1808) Dutoy ROPER (b 25 Mar 1810) Samuel ROPER (b 20 Dec 1811) Joseph ROPER (b 30 Jul 1813) Andrew Jackson ROPER (b 25 Mar 1815) John ROPER (b 02 Jan 1817) Elam ROPER (b 18 Apr 1818) Elizabeth ROPER (b 10 Jun 1821) William Henry ROPER (b 06 Sep 1822) Louis ROPER (b 25 Mar 1824) Edward ROPER (b 07 Apr 1826), died young Lucy Ann ROPER (b 06 Oct 1830) Henrietta ROPER (b 07 May 1832) * In addition, the Bible transcription shows a prior marriage to Martha ELAM (b 11 Nov 1784). Children from the first marriage are shown to be: William J. ROPER (b 03 Aug 1802) Edward ROPER (b 29 Jul 1803) Martha ROPER (b 29 Nov 1804) * * * The 1820 United States Census record for Joseph ROPER, of Woodford, KY, shows: Joseph ROPER: 4 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 13 [Image 29 of 38 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1820 Census data for this jurisdiction.] This shows there being 4 white males under age 10 [presumably Samuel, Joseph, Andrew Jackson, John and Elam] and 3 white males age 10 to 16 [presumably William J., Edward and Dutoy]], 1 male 26 to 44 [presumably Joseph (b 30 Jun 1781)], two white females age 10 to 16 [presumably Martha and Clemence], and one white female age 26 to 45 [presumably Mildred Shouse ROPER (b 28 Nov 1789)]. This Census record seems to support and vaidate the purported Bible transcription in every material respect. * * In 1830, Joseph ROPER was enumerated in Hickman County, Kentucky: Joseph ROPER: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 14 This record shows 3 white males under age five [Louis, Edward, ???], 2 white males age 5 to 9 [William Henry, ????], 2 white males age 10 to 14 [John, Elam], 2 white males age 15 to 19 [Samuel, Joseph], one white male age 40 to 49 [Joseph], 1 white female under age 5 [Lucretia], one female age 40 to 49 [Mildred], and two slaves. * The unidentified younger children might be grandchildren. * Someone with a particularly keen interest in this family might want to obtain this Will and any other related probabte materials from Hickman County using the references cited.