This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Wiley, Stinson, Fincher, Riche, McEwen Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1903.4.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In my previous post above, I sought to show that the 1810 and 1820 Census records in Mecklenburg, NC, for a John ROPER almost certainly belonged to Revolutionary War Veteran John ROPER (b 24 Feb 1763-6 - Brunswick, VA, d 25 Jul 1852 - Oak Level, Cleburne, AL). I also showed that it was likely that John ROPER had also migrated through South Carolina with his parents Jesse and Obedience ROPER, despite John ROPER's failure to mention South Carolina within his pension application. Further support for both propositions can be found within the extant diary of John ROPER's son, Methodist minister Joseph Fletcher ROPER (b 05 Dec 1808 - SC, d 14 Sep 1860 - AL). Portions of Joseph Fletcher ROPER's diary were transcribed in an article appearing within Volume 19 of the Alabama Historical Quarterly in 1957. Despite the enormous importance of this Diary to the family history of this branch of the ROPER family, I have found little evidence that the diary has ever been examined by ROPER family historians, nor has it received much attention since the publication of excerpts within Alabama Historical Quarterly more than five decades ago. This kind of evidence can be kind of inconvenient, though, to those who have invented various ancestors and details of their family history! I want to call particular attention to this autobiographical provision appearing in the published excerpts at page 395: "I Joseph F. Roper was born in York District South Carolina on the big Saluda road, in the Stony fork of big fishing creek about one mile from where it empties into said bug fishing creek on the fifth day of Dec. one thousand eight hundred and eight, at which place my father lived but a short time after my birth, when he moved to a mill on half mile creek about 2 miles from old nation ford on the Catawba river, at which place he lived about 3 years, and then moved to J. Finchers place in North Carolina Mecklenburg Co. at which place he lived about 1 year and then moved to a place called Stinson's, at which place he lived about 6 years, from which he removed to John Riche's place where he lived 2 years and then moved to Patterson's place Providence Settlement, at which place he lived 2 years and then moved to the Wiley place and lived 3 years and then he moved to Gwinnette Co. Ga. Where I lived ten years and where I married my first wife, Margaret H. McEwen, daughter of Rober! t and Rachel McEwen. I moved from there to Benton Co. Ala where I lived 9 years and then moved to Macon Co, Ala where I lived 3 years, from here I moved to Coosa Co., Ala., where I lived 1 year. I resided here when I joined the Ala. Con. [Conference of the Methodist Church] It held its session in Mobile as stated in the beginning of this book. I travelled Tombigby circuit the first year. Big Swamp Mission the second year, Catoma Mission the third year in Dec. of which my first wife died. Awful! Awful! Awful! day for me. In losing her I lost all I had, or ever shall have except my children that was worth living for." This account of Joseph F. ROPER's childhood and lifetime migrations contains so many details that it defies a thorough analysis in the time now available to me this morning. But I want to call attention to several very specific details a was these pertain to my discussion of the migrations of Jesse and Obedience ROPER, as well as Joseph's father John ROPER. First, Joseph tells us very precisely WHERE he was born: York, SC. Since he also gives the date, this fixes the location of Joseph's father John ROPER at 05 Dec 1808. It is axiomatic that Joseph cannot have remembered the place where he was born and this almost certainly must have been related to him by members of his family. Joseph was born on Big Saluda Road in the Stony Fork of Big Fishing Creek about a mile from where it (presumably Stony Fork) empties into said Big Fishing Creek. Stony Fork joins Fishing Creek at Lat / Long 34.8394909, -81.0654680, very near the intersection of Strait Road and Auten Road, just to the South and East of Saluda Road (SC Hwy 72 / 121) near the junction of SC Hwy 324 with Saluda Road. This is to the South of Rock Hill, South Carolina. * It bears mention that the Catawba River separates Chester from Lancaster County. Although I didn't immediately find a creek shown to be named "Half Mile" Creek on modern maps, I did find a Creek flowing into the Catawba River which is about one half mile in length which creek coincidentally seems to be adjacent to Fincher Road. This is in Chester County just below the York County line. A somewhat to the North of this is Abernathy's Creek. * I had previously noted John ROPER's presence amongst FINCHERS in my previous post. Joseph ROPER expressly tells us that his father lived at "J. FINCHER's place", but MOST of John ROPER's neighboring FINCHERs at Mecklenburg have the first initial "J." Even so, this is rather conclusive evidence that John ROPER lived not merely nearby, but on J. FINCHER's property! * The place called "Stinsons" is somewhat less identifiable, but there is a Stinson's Cemetery at Lat / Long 34.8340292, -80.8261789 in Lancaster County, SC, just South of SC Hwy 5 and East of Old Hickory Road to the West of Andrew Jackson State Park. This is very close to the other locations mentioned and this seems unlikely to be a coincidence. A STINSON family would seem likely to have been seated at or near this cemetery. The North Carolina state line is a short walk from this place. The county immediately opposite in North Carolina is now Union County. Providence is located in Mecklenburg County near where I-485 junctions with NC 16. It bears mention that Joseph ROPER mentions residing at "PATTERSON's Place." In 1820, John ROPER is found enumerated between a John PATTERSON and a James N. H. PATTERSON. It seems to me that when read in conjunction with the Joseph ROPER diary, this places John ROPER at the PATTERSON Place in Providence Settlement in 1820. * I have not yet sought to locate John Riche's place or the Wiley Place. It seems to me appropriate to mention that John ROPER's residence at the "Wiley Place" should also perhaps inform our inquiry into the origins of the given name "Wiley" in the ROPER family. I had been inclined to surmise that "Wiley Blount ROPER" was probably named for Wiley BLOUNT, who served as Governor of Tennessee during the Creek War. But other Wiley ROPERs may be named for some allied WILEY family with which the ROPERs were intermarried or with whom the co-located or resided. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1900.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Rev. Jim ROPER, a descendent of George ROPER (b abt 1788-9 - NC, d 08 Sep 1866 - IL) through his son William Carroll ROPER, yesterday sent me a link to a page which includes a very nice high resolution photo of the grave marker of George and Rachel ROPER (d 08 Sep 1866 - IL): http://www.kinconnect.com/KC_FamOtherPages/RoperDocsPages/TemPg5.html This photo bears out the secondary reports I have been hearing for some years as to what appears on the grave marker. Notwithstanding, I believe, based upon the analysis within the prior post, that the person who erected that ancient grave marker was mistaken about George ROPER's age at his death. Several of George ROPER's sons had died or moved to other states by the date of George and Rachel ROPER's death. The coinciding death of both George and Rachel on the same day also precluded either spouse from participating in the preparation of the grave marker. Many thanks to Rev. Jim ROPER for this photograph!! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1898.8/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In my previous post "Revolutionary War Veteran George Roper (b abt 1762-65), of Illinois" (16 Apr 2014 8:49AM GMT), I refrained from re-posting the widely published date of death of Revolutionary War Veteran George Roper (b abt 1762-5 - NC, 04 Feb 1845 - IL), because I have NOT seen a Will or obituary which supports the published date, NOR have I ever seen a photo of an ancient grave marker which memorializes this date. My reticence in republishing the date wasn't so much because I suspected the date to be in error as in caution given the numerous unsupported assertions which wash around the Internet. However, upon a review of my notes, I have found that there exists support for the widely published date within the War Department's Pension Ledgers reflecting George ROPER's pension payments. The ledger, showing which payments were made to various Veterans tracked on that ledger page, shows various biennial payments to George ROPER from March 1833 through September 1844. Then there is an inline notation "Died 4th Feb 1845 paid 1st Qr 1845". The "4" in the year of death (1845) is overwritten by a large "X" seemingly indicating that George ROPER was dead and NOT to make further payments, but the indications as to WHEN his last payments were made makes it clear that the omitted decade was a "4" and that 04 Feb 1845 is the correct date of death, at least as concurrently reported to the War Department. These Pension Ledgers can be found online within the Ancestry.com Collection "U.S. Pensioners, 1818-1872." Thus, I believe that this date (04 Feb 1845) may be validly taken as George ROPER's date of death even absent probate information or a grave marker. This is NOT so much new information as re-verification of the information about George ROPER's date of death which has been widely reported for some decades, but without specification of a primary source. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1916/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There is a report of the Court of Claims as to the claim of the Trustees of Roper Church of New Kent County, VA v. United States for damage to and use of the church building during the Civil War. The report, dated May 4, 1909, is a part of Document No. 35, U.S. Senate, 61st Congress, First Session. Since this document is readily available online, I will not post a complete transcription: http://books.google.com/books?id=7h8pAAAAYAAJ&dq=&pg=RA1-PA67#v=onepage&q&f=false This report is at least suggestive that there may be some other detailed archive showing the precise claim, as presented. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1867.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In November 2012, I noted in another different thread that James ROPER, of Cumberland, Virginia, was amongst the subscribers of a published volume of "Sermons and Essays by the Late Mr. John McLaurin, a Presbyterian minister: "James ROPER, of Cumberland, Virginia" (24 Nov 2012 6:01PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1719.1/mb.ashx This had suggested the possibility that James ROPER was a Presbyterian, which turns out NOT to be the case. The following residents of Cumberland, Virginia, were amongst the subscribers of this volume: James AIKEN Daniel ALLEN William ALLEN Miss Caroline P. P. ENDE Robert FLIPPEN William GLENN, Sr. Randolph HARRISON Thomas JONES John MORROW Mrs. Lucy PAGE Captain Nathaniel PENNICK John H. RANSOME Samuel REYNOLDS James ROPER Stephen W. TRENT William S. WALTON Abner WATKINS William WRIGHT Thomas ELDRIDGE, Jr., of Goochland County, Virginia, was also a subscriber. David HAWTHORNE, John HARRIS and Patrick NORRIS, of Pendleton, South Carolina, were also subscribers. John HARRIS subscribed eight copies and Patrick NORRIS subscribed two. Other subscribers seemed to include concentrations in Abbeville, SC, and Powhattan, VA. I am UNSURE what to make of the list of subscribers other than some Presbyterian minister in Cumberland, Virginia, must have been peddling subscriptions! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Fincher, Ritchie, Lawson, Houston Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1903.4.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Despite the described migrations of Jesse ROPER and his son John ROPER, John ROPER seems to have entered land on the waters of Twelve Mile Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina as early as 1801, with a warrant for 230 acres issued in 1803. John ROPER's grant from the State of North Carolina was recorded on 20 Feb 1804 in Mecklenburg Old Deed Book 17, at Page 104. Jesse FINCHER is shown to have entered a 28 acre parcel on Twelve mile Creek in 1800. Joseph FINCHER and James FINCHER are shown to have entered parcels on nearby Six Mile Creek in 1808 (20 acres) and 1810 (150 acres), respectively. John RITCHIE entered a 50 acre parcel on Twelve Mile Creek in 1789. Thomas LAWSON seems to have preceded the ROPER family to Twelve Mile Creek in 1787, settling near the land entered by John LAWSON on Crooked Creek as early as 1767. Moses LAWSON entered land on Twelve Mile Creek in 1793 and was granted an additional 136 acre parcel there in 1802. John LAWSON entered two parcels on Twelve Mile Creek in 1803. There is also a HOUSTON family here, to whom David and James W. ROPER sold their land in 1836. * Interestingly, Twelve Mile Creek was also the site of President Andrew JACKSON's birthplace. JACKSON is said to have been born at the house of George McKEMEY. See: Life of Andrew Jackson: In Three Volumes, By James Parton (New York: Mason Brothers, 1860), pp. 49-58: http://books.google.com/books?id=0vY5AAAAcAAJ&lpg=PA54&ots=6m0xUmlGqY&dq="Twelve Mile Creek" Mecklenburg NC&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q&f=false Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: batchelorw Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1915/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In a post dated April 11, 2014 titled "Roper Children of William LEA (d 1794-GA) of Wilkes County, GA", William Alexander Roper, Jr. mentioned the following: "Another possible clue to the origins of William ROPER, of Sumner and Smith Counties, is perhaps the power of attorney granted by James YATES, of Sumner County, Western Territories, to brother William YATES, of Caswell, NC, on 01 Nov 1792. Caswell Will Book "C", Pages 27-8. The image of this Power of Attorney is now online at the FamilySearch.org website at Image 415 of 642 within the file shown as "Wills, Inventories, Settlements, 1777-1783, Vol. A" (this file contains Will Books A, B and C). See: "North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19424-99097-8?cc=... : accessed 11 Apr 2014), Caswell > Wills, Inventories, Settlements, 1777-1783, Vol. A > image 415 of 642. This record is abstracted within Caswell County, North Carolina, Will Books, 1777-1814, by Katharine Kerr Kendall, Mary Frances Kerr Donaldson, at page 42." Taking the advise of William Alexander Roper, Jr., I have taken this clue and found connections between the James Yates of Sumner County, TN and the William Roper of Caswell, NC, who I now believe is probably the same person as the William Roper of Sumner County, TN. Much of the information on James Yates and Thomas Kilgore which I will mention next comes from a web site titled "Nancy's Dead Relatives" by Nancy Denty Breidenthal, a descendant of the Kilgores. There is additional information contained on that site which I will not be able incorporate in this article. For those who wish to know more details on the inter-relationship of these families, I recommend going to her site directly. Both James Yates and Thomas Kilgore can be seen in the Ancestry.com's Sumner County, TN Tax Lists for 1788, 1790, 1792, and 1794. There appear to be no tax lists after 1794 until 1802 and 1811. William Roper of Sumner County is not shown in any of these tax lists. Before moving to Sumner County, TN, James Yates, Thomas Yates, Thomas Kilgore, and a Zebulon Hubbard can be seen in Caswell County, NC: "19 Jan 1785: Jane Gillgore married Zebulon B. Hubbard in Caswell County, NC, with Zeri Rice as the bondsman. (Vickie Miller, from Kendall, Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1778-1868, p. 50)" "20 May 1784: James (x) Yeates and Zebulon Hobarty witnessed a deed from Anderson Ashburn to Thomas Kilgore for 92 acres on the waters of South and North Hyco in Caswell County. (Caswell County Deed Book B, p. 390)" James Yates married Lydia Gillgore on July 21, 1784, bond #000019420, in Caswell, NC. Thomas Yates is the Bondsman (see Ancestry.com, image number 002946). Secondary sources state that Lydia Kilgore was the sister of Jane Kilgore, who married Zebulon B. Hubbard. "1787: Zebulon Hubbard was residing in Sumner County, TN, where he was listed as one of the militia officers, helped to clear a road from Capt. Keykendall's to Capt. Winchester's Mill, and served as a juror. [Cisco, Historic Sumner County, Tennessee, p. 40; 1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements, p. 158, on Ancestry] " "1790 Sumner County Tax List: Zebulon Hubbard was listed with 1 poll and 160 acres. That year he was summoned to jury duty in Superior Court of Law and Equity in Nashville. [Cisco, p. 58]" "Dec 1790: Zebulon Hubbard was appointed Captain in the Sumner Militia." "22 Jun 1796: Thomas (x) Kilgore sold 320 acres between Red River and Sulphur Fork in Robertson County to John Carter. Witnesses: Zebulon Obert and Thomas Yates. Proved 25 Jul 1796. [Carpenter, Thomas Kilgore Sr., 1712-1822, and his Proven Descendants to 1991, p. 276, from Deed Book A, p. 14]" There was a Thomas Kilgore, Sr., and his son, Thomas Kilgore, Jr., living in Caswell, NC, and also in Tennessee, and Ms. Breidenthal states that it is easy to confuse the two. However, William Alexander Roper, Jr. should find the following marriage of Thomas Kilgore, Jr. to be of interest because of the connection to the Lea family: "2 Jan 1786: Thomas (Kilgore) married Phoebe Lea in Caswell County, NC, with Thomas Yates as bondsman. [Vickie Miller, from Kendall, Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1778-1868, p. 52] The daughter of James and Ann Tolbert Lea, she was undoubtedly related to Unice Lea, who would marry [Thomas' brother] Charles Kilgore." '20 Nov 1792: Thomas Kilgore, Thomas Yates, Robert Wade, and Edward Wade witnessed James Yates' purchase of 228 acres at the fork of Red River, south of Kilgore's line in Sumner County, from Abraham Hargas of Caswell County. [Vickie Miller, from Deed Book 1, p. 421; Carpenter, p. 53] Recorded 22 Jan 1793." (Notice the name of Abraham Hargis, which will have significance later) So is seems quite clear that the James Yates of Caswell, NC had moved to Sumner County, TN. What is the connection between James Yates of Sumner County, TN and the William Roper of Sumner, TN? James Yates was the witness to the deed that William Roper (m. Keziah Yates) of Caswell County, NC gave to his parents David Roper and Sarah in 1792: "Caswell Co. Deeds: H:85. 25 Sep 1792. 50 acres. William Roper of Caswell Co. "for Love Goodwill & Effection that I bear unto David Roper & Sarah Roper my father & mother" Land in Caswell on Rattlesnake Creek; land where on said David Roper now lives; "beg. Edmund Alleys SW corner runing E. 61 poles thence S. with Edward Swans line to my corner thence W. with Hubberts line to Rattle Snake Creek then down the creek to white oak Saplin neare the upper part or fence of my plantation thence meare a NE Course to the first Station". "During their natural life" Test: Edmd. Alley, James Yates William X Roper" (L. David Roper database) James Yates is probably related to Keziah Yates, wife of William Roper. Secondary sources state that they were brother and sister and the children of John Yates of Caswell, NC. I have not independently verified this. This is the last appearance of William Roper in Caswell County, NC. I have long suspected that William was disposing of his property because he was planning a move to another County or State. I think a case can be made that he moved to Sumner County, TN sometime after September, 1792. This is not based just on William Roper's close connection to James Yates. It is also based on other Caswell residents known to the family of David Roper and his son William Roper who can be shown moving to Sumner County, TN at about the same time as William Roper. There is a record of a deed transaction in Sumner County from an Ambrose Jones to a William Roper: "Index to Sumner Co. Deeds: Book A (records prior to 1797): p.26: Wm. Roper Deed Book 1 1793-97 (2nd book of deeds) (at Court House, Gallatin, TN) Ambrose Jones to Wm. Roper p.116" (L. David Roper database). Ambrose Jones appears to be in the business of buying land grants from North Carolina servicemen and reselling the land, without actually ever residing on the lands. The following are three of those Land Warrant Deeds. There is a Land Warrant Deed, #2263, dated May 20, 1793 from North Carolina which deeds 272 acres in Sumner County, TN to an Ambrose Jones, assignee of R(?) Johnston, a private in the Continental line of the States. There is a land grant for 640 acres in Sumner County dated July 11, 1788 to Ambrose Jones as assignee of John Hickman, heir of Corben Hickman, a private in the Continental line of the States There is also a North Carolina deed for 640 acres in Davidson County, TN dated July 11, 1788 granted to Ambrose Jones, as assignee of Private Daniel Ray in the Continental lines. William Alexander Roper, Jr., in a post dated December 22, 2012, titled "William ROPER'S Early Sumner County Deeds", mentions the following deeds: "William ROPER is shown to have been the grantee of two very early deeds in Sumner County, Tennessee. One of these is apparently within Sumner Deed Book A at Page 26 (Prior to 1793). The other is within Deed Book 1 (1793-97) at page 116." I have searched the Internet and cannot find the deed of Ambrose Jones or the ones mentioned by WAR, Jr. in which William Roper was the grantee. Thus, the actual date that this William Roper started residing in Sumner County will remain a mystery until a document can be found. William Roper appears next in Sumner County, TN is a legislative petition found transcribed in a document posted on the Internet by Vernon Roddy. (William Alexander Roper, Jr. also brought attention to this document in an earlier post). I will first reproduce a portion of Mr. Roddy's history of Hartsville, TN that is contained in that document: "1799 Petition for Hart Sumner County, Tennessee Present Day Trousdale County, Tennessee Contributed by Vernon Roddy Hartsville, Tennessee Trousdale County, Tennessee was formed in 1870 from Sumner, Smith, Macon and Wilson counties of Tennessee. Hartsville, which was situated in the extreme eastern corner of Sumner County from late 1799 until 1870, began in 1797 as Donoho's Mill. Hart's Ferry of the Cumberland River began shortly thereafter. Horse racing with Andy (Jackson) and others started about the same time or even before at the Goose Creek Track. The Hartsville post office was officially opened in 1807. In 1817, the state legislature declared Hartsville an "established' Tennessee town. Donoho's Mill was standing on West Fork of Goose Creek (now Little Goose), at the present Hartsville, present Trousdale County, Tennessee, by the time of 1797. Charles, Patrick and Edward Donoho were around, and maybe Thomas, for a while, too. (Major Thomas Donoho died in 1825 in Caswell County, North Carolina.)" Vernon Roddy then sets forth the Petition by the residents of the town that would become Hartsville, TN: "Augst 23rd 1799 To the Honorable, the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. We, your petitioners, whose names are Under Signed in the bounds of Capt. Bradley's Company, and in Sumner County, thinking it necessary to have a Justice of the Peace, Appointed, there being only one in Sd company, And that one has in Contemplation Soon to Remove, etc. We therefore Humbly pray that you would Appoint Capt. James Hart to Serve in that place, and your petitioners as in duty Bound Shall Ever pray. Thos Bradley Champness Mading Edward Bradley Charles Donoho Cormond Boaas (?) Saml Rorex (?) John Stubblefield Richard Grossage (?) James Sanders Cloudsburey Grenhaw Daniel Sanders Ricky Sanders William Sanders Isaac Coopper (?) John McConnel Thomas Parker John Binnion ___ Graham John Wood Sr (?) Wm Wood Jr Daniel McConnell Mtg. McConnell Francis Patterson Henry Weakfield E.P. Chambers William Hargis John Wright James Ellis" Benage Hardison Wm Irwin John Morris (?) William Story Alexander Cathey, Senr Aaron Lambert Thomas Walker Joseph Markes Benjamin Markes Wm Roper Thos Roper David Ventuers William Roper John Sanderson James McKinnes Griffith Cathey James Petty John Cathey Patrick Hamilton John Jones Every Lambert Frederick Erick James Graham And__ Hamilton Wm Cathey Bruckner Russel The Petition has the name of William Roper. There is also another Wm Roper and a Thos Roper, who I will discuss later. A "William Hargus" married a Sally Roper on July 21, 1810, where the bondsman was Wm. McAdams, according to the transcribed records shown on Ancestry.com. One will find a William Hargis in the list of 1799 petitioners. Sally Roper was probably the daughter of William Roper, since the other two (Wm. Roper and Thos. Roper) will be shown to not be old enough to be the father. (Thomas was born abt. 1780 and Wm. was born abt. 1774-1780) The Hargis family was quite prominent in Caswell, NC in the last quarter of the 18th century. Abraham Hargis was a Revolutionary War Veteran. Secondary sources state that Richard Hargis of Caswell, NC was one of his sons. A Richard Hargis can be seen in Caswell County, NC in 1790. I found these notes on the Internet in reference to Richard Hargis and his family: "Note: Richard's will was recorded in Person County 1799-1800. He came to old Orange County before the division of the county into four counties, while his son, Oliver, was quite young, and soon after his son, William, was born in Fairfax County, VA in 1769. Richard apparently had been living here long enough to establish himself as a trustworthy man when in 1772 he was asked to sign a petition for the establishment of a new county - Caswell... He is listed in the Hillsborough District, Caswell County, St. Luke's District, NC 1790 census but not in the 1800 census. He bought and sold a lot of land in NC that are recorded in various county courthouses. The family plantation changed from Orange to Caswell to Person County as the new counties were formed from older ones in the late 1700s. His will, on file in the Person County, NC courthouse, was filed in June 1800 (Book A p260-1) He left everything to his wife, Jane, and children, except Oliver and Nancy. His son William and his wife Jane were the executors." I cannot say with certainty that the Executor William Hargis in the Will of Richard Hargis is the same as the William Hargis in Sumner, TN, but I think the presence of the Hargis family in Caswell, NC is important in identifying this particular William Roper in Sumner, TN. As can be seen from both the history of Hartsville and the Petition, the Donoho family was quite prominent in the early settlement of Sumner County. This family's origins can also be found in Caswell, NC before members of the family migrated to Sumner County: "Caswell Co. Deeds H:20: Jacob Williams & Thomas Donoho to Edward Swan for 200 lbs 406 acres on Rattlesnake Creek adj Geo Wite, Morrow, Hubbert, Roper, it being tract Jacob Williams has possessed and part sold by Sheriff to satisfy execution at Hillsborough for Dudly Runnals and purchased by Thomas Donoho. 22 Nov 1791. Wit: David Cochran, Edmund Alley. H:55: Jacob Williams & Thomas Donoho to Edmund Alley for 42 lbs 63 acres on Rattlesnake Creek adj. Edward Swan, Wm. Roper, John Davis, Samuel Welch, being part of tract on which Williams lived for 9 or 10 years. 22 Nov 1791. Wit: David Cochran, Edward Swan." There is also a Thomas Bradley listed in the Sumner County Petition. A James Bradley can be seen as a witness to a deed by David Roper to William Roper in 1779: "Caswell Co. Deeds: A:186-20 Jan 1779 224 acres. David Roper to William Roper (both of Caswell Co.). Land in Caswell Co. on both sides of Rattlesnake Creek. [Description identical to that of Orange Co. deed 3:454. Wit: James Bradley & David Cochran. David X Roper" L David Roper data base. "C:1: William Roper to Robert Morroe for 400 lbs 38 acres adjacent David Roper, the tract Morrow has now in his possession. Also signed by Keziah Roper 13 Jan 1784 Wit: Thomas Tarpley, James Bradly." L. David Roper data base. A Thomas Bradley, James Bradly and a John Bradley are listed in the 1790 Richmond District, Caswell, NC census. A Daniel Sanders and a Ricky Sanders can also be seen in the 1799 Sumner County Petition. The Sanders family had numerous connections to Caswell, NC and secondary sources show many members of this family moving to Sumner County, TN. A:565: James Stringer to Jacob Williams for 100 lbs 640 acres both sides of main road on waters Rattlesnake Creek adjacent David Shelton, David Roper 5 Dec 1781. Wit: Adams Sanders, Robert Payne, Mat Hubert." L. David Roper data base. A Richard Sanders, William Sanders, Col., James Sanders, Col. Adam Sanders, and Obediah Sanders can all be seen in the 1790 Richmond District, Caswell, NC census. Captain William Sanders filed a petition in 1799 in Sumner County asking permission to erect a tobacco Warehouse and to change the name do Bledsoe Burrough to Valladolia. (Tennessee Petitions 1799-1812 TN.Gov) There were two other Ropers shown in the 1799 Hartsville Sumner Petition: Wm. Roper and Thomas Roper. Secondary sources have speculated that they were the illegitimate children of William Roper or children of William Roper by another marriage prior to his marriage to Keziah Yates in 1781. (They apparently were both born before 1781). I have no substantial evidence to offer on that subject. However, I do find the family connections of Thos. Roper to be of interest. Thomas Roper is mentioned as a son-in-law in the 1804 Will of William Brown of Sumner County: "WILL OF WILLIAM BROWN In the name of God Amen: I William Brown of Sumner County being very sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and from as follows, First of all I recommend my soul to Almight God, he gave it through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redemer. Secondly it is my will that all my just debts shall be paid by my executors here after named. Item. I give unto my son James Brown one small bay mare colt, Item. I give my daughter Sally Brown one sorrel filly about six years old and fifteen dollars in cash to be raided (raised) out of my estate. Item. I give my son in law Thomas Roper fifteen dollars to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give my son in law John ______ one dollar to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give my son Robert Brown one dollar to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give to my son Alexander Brown fifty dollars to be raised in the same manner to be paid to him when he becomes of age or marries. Item. I give to my son Richard Brown fifty dollars to be raised in the same manner and to be paid to him when he comes of age or marries. Item. I give my son John Brown sixty dollars to be raised in the same manner and to be paid to him when he comes of age or marries. Item. I lend to my beloved wife Nancy Brown all the balance of my estate both real and personal be it what nature so ever during her life or widow hood to be kept together by my Executors and at her death or marriage it is my desire that the property lent to her should be equally divided between my two sons James and William Brown and if either of the before mentioned children should die before they come of age, or have a lawful issue that part allotted to them should be equally divided among the surviving Legaties. Lastly of all I appoint my worthy friends James Hart, Arthur Exam and my son James Brown Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me made here to fore and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this the twelth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and four. /s/ William Brown Seal In presence of John Teim, Elisha Cheek, Simon Cool." I found the following information on William Brown on the Internet, which I have not verified independently: "William Brown received 150 acres of land in Caswell County, NC, from his father, Leonard Brown, in 1791. In Caswell County Deed Book H, p. 121, it shows that on 21 Sep 1791, Leonard Brown of Caswell County, NC, deeded 150 acres to his son William Brown "for love and affection." The land was part of the survey where Leonard Brown then lived. The witnesses to the transaction were Daniel Williams and William Dorris. (Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 140.) William was listed in the 1800 Caswell County census as follows: o one male (26-45, b. 1755-1774) - probably William, b. ca 1767 o one female (26-45, b. 1774-1784) - probably Nancy, b. ? o one female (10-18, b. 1782-1790) - probably Mary "Polly" b. ca 1789? o one male (< 10, b. 1790-1800) - probably Azariah b. ? o one female (< 10, b. 1790-1800). - probably Nancy b. ? On 30 Dec 1800, Leonard Brown sold another 100 acres of his land adjacent Solomon Brown to his son William for 65 lbs. The witnesses were Robert Dorris and Thomas Brown. (Source: Deed Book L, p. 363, Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 214.) In 1804 William sold his land in Caswell County, NC, apparently in anticipation of his move to Sumner County,TN. In Caswell County Deed Book O, p. 14 & 15, it shows that on 1 Oct 1804, William Brown of Caswell County sold 261 acres to George Shelton also of Caswell County for $520.00. The land was located on the south fork of Country Line Creek and was a part of the grant from State to Leonard Brown, adjacent Goforth near the old log meeting house, Solomon Brown, Thomas Brown, and William Slade. The witnesses were William Dickie and William L. McNeill. (Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 256.)... William Brown and his family migrated from Caswell County, NC sometime between 1804 and 1808, when William died in Sumner County, TN. It is likely that they made the move nearer 1804 of 1805, since William had time to locate and purchase land in Sumner County prior to his death. According to William's estate records, he died on 10-Dec-1808, probably in Sumner County, TN. His wife, Nancy, and brother-in-law, William Dorris, were the administrators of his estate..." A Thomas Roper appears in a Maury County, TN record alongside Tennessee Roper "Maury Co., TN Genealogist: Enrollment Book B of Chancery Court Index (1818-1829& 1837-1840): Joseph Hackney vs Thos. & Tennessee Roper." L. David Roper database. This Thomas Roper probably went on to Hickman County, TN, where he is seen living next to a William Brown in the 1820 census, and then on the Clinton County, IL where he can be found in the census records. It is possible that this Thomas Roper, who was probably in Sumner County, TN in 1798 when Tennessee Roper was born, could be the father of Tennessee Roper. The last census in which Thomas Roper is seen is in the 1850 Clinton County, IL census where he is shown at age 70 and born in NC. His wife is shown as age 70 and born in Ireland. Thus, Thomas Roper would have been about 18 years of age when Tennessee Roper was born in TN in 1798. However, I think it is more likely that Tennessee Roper is the son of William Roper, b. bef. 1756, married Keziah Yates, of Caswell, NC because Tennessee Roper named one of his daughters Keziah and one of his sons William. Finally, I should mention John Y. Roper of Sumner County, TN, who makes his first appearance in the 1820 Smith County, TN census: John Y Roper 1-0-0-1-0-0*********0-1-0-1-0 John Y Roper is shown as age 26-44, with a wife age 26-44. They have one male <10 and one female 10-15. William Roper is in neither the Smith County nor Sumner County census records of 1820. William Roper is probably in Maury County, TN where he appears in the 1820 census. Mysteriously, John Y. Roper next appears in the 1830 Sumner County census record, rather that Smith County: John Y Roper 0-0-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0***********0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 John Y. Roper, Sr. will be shown as age 70 in the 1870 Sumner County, TN census, living in the household of his son John Y. Roper, Jun. Thus, in 1830 he would be 30 years of age, which is consistent with the age of 30-39 shown in the 1830 census. A female is shown as age 40-49. There is one male 10-14 and one female 10-14. There is also one male 50-59. Why is John Y. Roper shown in Smith County in 1820 and in Sumner County in 1830? Perhaps he moved between counties, but then perhaps there is another reason. I found the following on the Internet: "Summer County, Tennessee Civil, Districts-1836 Compiled by Linda Carpenter Source: Copies from the Sumner County Archives, Sumner County Civil, Districts - 1836 Map VF... State of Tennessee Sumner County In pursuance of an act of the General Assemble of the State of Tennessee passed the Third day of December 1835 we have proceeded to lay off the County of Sumner aforesaid into twenty Districts bounded as follows. District Number 1 Election to be held at Hartsville. Begins at the mouth of Goose Creek running thence Northwardly with the Smith County Lines to a point that will include John Y. Roper, then Westwardly including Pleasant Duncan and along Vances' lanes crossing the West Fork of Goose Creek below John Mills continue Westwardly with the extreme height of the ridge which divides the waters of Second Creek from those of Goose Creek to the corner of Bartholomew Stovalls field, then down Second Creek to the mouth, then up the river to the beginning...." It is possible that John Y. Roper's property was straddling the line between Sumner County and Smith County, and ended up in different county records in 1820 and 1830. Although William Roper of Sumner County probably joined his sons David Y. Roper and Tennessee Roper in Maury County, TN, he was buried in what is now Hartsville, Trousdale, TN. Worth Ray in "TN Cousins" mentions William Roper being buried not far from Hartsville, Trousdale County, TN: "Ansearchin News 36, 1989: p.139: Who was Wm. Roper in "TN Cousins" by Worth Ray, buried on old Roper place not far from Hartsville, Trousdale Co.? Mrs. T. A. Stallworth, 102 Sunset Dr., Box 766, Chester, SC 29706." L. David Roper database." I found an excerpt from Worth Ray's book as follows: "Tennessee Cousins: Smith Co., TN, the home of Rev. Heroes: p.649: When North Carolina opened up lands for it's revolutionary soldiers, practically all of what is now Smith, Sumner and adjoining counties (of TN), save the pre-emptioned tracts, were included. A great flock of Rev. patriots from NC and East TN poured in, and among them were the following, some of whom may not have lived in Smith County but some in Trousdale Co. and adjoining areas that for a while was a part of Smith, and perhaps before that their original set-element had been actually in Sumner Co., from which Smith had been taken. p.651: William Roper is buried on the old Roper Place not far from Hartsville in Truesdale Co...." William Alexander Roper, Jr. has determined the actual location of this Roper gravesite from some older records. I refer to you his posts of December 14, 2012 titled "Location of Grave of Revolutionary War Veteran William Roper and of December 23, 2012 titled "Possible Specific Location of William Roper Grave Site in Trousdale County, TN", all on Roper-LArchives. The gravesite is in present day Hartsville, which is now in the County of Truesdale, and is located to the west of the Little Goose river. Thus, considering the presence in Sumner County from 1790-1810 of a number of neighbors of the Roper family in Caswell County, NC from 1780-1792 and of James Yates, the William Roper of Caswell County, NC, son of David and Sarah, appears likely to be the same William Roper who arrived in Sumner County sometime in the 1790s. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cbpratt Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1914/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Daniel Dow Davis,Jr.& , Jeffson Davis, married Roper s. their sister married a Roper.They lived in the Hickman County Kentucky area. Would like to contact any of their decendants. This is my husbands side of the family. His great grandfather was Jefferson Davis who married Sarah Nanny Roper. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: t42FortGraham Surnames: ROPER Classification: cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1913/mb.ashx Message Board Post: ROPER Neta 1896-1932 I photographed this tombstone in the Fort Graham Cemetery, Hill County, Texas. Feel free to use the picture for your records. See this photo, one of the 235,021 cemetery photos free at http://teafor2.com . If you know more about this person please reply here,instead of contacting me because this is most likely not my family. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

Gayle Clemons Newkirk "For where your treasure is, There will your heart be also. “ ----Matt. 6:21 > On May 17, 2014, at 11:32 AM, "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> wrote: > > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Author: waroper > Surnames: Roper > Classification: queries > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/564.1.2/mb.ashx > > Message Board Post: > > I stumbled across this old post while searching for something else. When I posted this Reply, I was overly relying upon the verity of Dave ROPER's ROPER Family History Files, which I later learned were notoriously unreliable. > > I apologize again to ALL for various postings of erroneous information I garnered from those files. > > Within the post above, I wanted to particularly CORRECT erroneous information about Jesse ROPER: > > "Isaiah ROPER's lineage is shown inthe ROPER Family History FIles to be: > > Charles ROPER (b abt 1720) m Ann GOODWYN > Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751 - Dinwiddie, VA) m Theodocia COWLEY > Eldridge ROPER (b 1770 - Richmond, Henrico, VA) > Eldridge Mortimer ROPER (b abt 1803 - VA) m 18 Sep 1838 Amelia WATSON (b abt 1820 - AL) > Isaiah ROPER (b abt 1846 - AL)" > > I recently posted two new dedicated threads distinguishing between Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Chesterfield and Richmond, and Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751,d bef 22 Jan 1810), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN: > > "Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Chesterfield and Richmond, VA" > http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1902/mb.ashx > > "Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751, d bef 22 Jan 1810), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN" (10 May 2014 8:12AM GMT ) > http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1903/mb.ashx > > Eldridge ROPER appears within the household of Jesse ROPER, of Richmond, in 1782, and seems likely to be this Jesse ROPER's son. > > Even with that being said, it is important to note that the fixation of ROPER researchers on trying to connect to New Kent ROPER families and the careless and almost whimsical ascription of various ancestors based upon the thinnest of evidence has created a climate where everyone thinks it is OK to make ascriptions WITHOUT DOING ANY RESEARCH OF PRIMARY RECORDS. > > There was a large family seated at Henrico, Virginia, from a VERY EARLY DATE about whom almost NOTHING IS KNOWN because NO ONE HAS BOTHERED TO LOOK UP THE RECORDS FOR HENRICO AND RICHMOND CITY. > > The ascription of Eldridge ROPER as the son of Jesse and Theodocia ROPER, of Richmond, should be treated as an avenue for further research rather than a definitely conclusion. While further research will probably support such an ascription, the evidence seems CONTRARY to any conclusion that Eldridge was a son of Jesse and Obedience ROPER. > > Important Note: > The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. > > <br> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ROPER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1709.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The cited list appears within the book "Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002), at page 175. It is shown to say: "I do certify that the following persons were joined together in Holy Matrimony according to the rites & ceremonies of the Methodist Episcopal Church the day & date as follows: Dick Butler & Mason Booker ... June 2th 1818 Moses Johnson & Dinah Butcher... July 25, 1818 Thomas Tally & Nancy Eanes ... Aug 18, 1818 Chamer Crowder & Sarah Caudle ... Oct 29, 1818 Robert Williams & Mary Caudle ... Nov. 5, 1818 Frederick Thomas & Agnes Valentine ... Nov. 7, 1818 Abraham V. Wells & Salley Williams ... Nov. 14, 1818 William Prosise & Moriah Wells ... Dec 2, 1818 Allin Thweatt & Nancy M. Sutherland .. Dec. 1, 1818 Armistead Wells & Dolly B. Williamson ... Dec. 11, 1818 Isaac Williamson & Catherine Wells ... Dec. 18, 1818 Joel Hitchcock & Mary Nance ... Jan. 13, 1819 Norman Croford & --- Hitchcock ... Jan. 13, 1819 William J. Crowder & Rebecca Roper ... Mar 11, 1819 June 1819 Chas Roper D. M. E. C." * * * I understand this to be a list given by Deacon Charles ROPER of the Methodist Episcopal Church to be recorded by the Clerk in the public records for Dinwiddie County, Virginia. It bears mention that when a person wanted to marry, they needed to obtain a license, for which a marriage bond was also required. The bond was made out in favor of the identified official and presented to the County Clerk who would issue the license. The license, in turn, authorized the solemnization of the marriage by a minister or justice of the peace. The marriage returns would then be made by the official solemnizing the marriage. It is unclear whether Charles ROPER had neglected to previously make a return contemporaneous with each marriage or whether the marriage returns had been lost. But it appears that Charles Roper prepared a certification showing the list of persons he had married during some interval and presented it for recording. It is UNCLEAR to me the extent to which recording of lists of solemnized marriages was then common either in Dinwiddie County or elsewhere. The appearance of these lists is yet another reason WHY it is very important to get a look at the original records in the places where your ancestors lived. Abstracts of records rarely give the details necessary to prepared rigorous and honest family history! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, White, Bostick Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1912.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There is a brief biographical sketch of Benjamin F. ROPER within the book History of Pickens County, Ala: From Its First Development is Eighteen Hundred and Seventeen, to Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-six, by Nelson Foot Smith (Carrollton, Ala: Pickens Republican Office, 1856), in the chapter discussing the various Sheriffs of Pickens County: "Mr. Benjamin F. Roper was the next Sheriff, succeeding Henry White, whose deputy he had been nearly all his term, being elected in 1832. Mr. Roper left Virginia with his family in 1826 for this country, and on his journey had the misfortune to lose his first wife. He married his present wife in Pickens, Miss Montgomery was her maiden name. Mr. Roper is among the oldest settlers of this county, and has seen it in all the phases of its history, civil, religious and political. He has raised a large family here, and it is to be regretted that he has removed from among us to the city of Mobile. He is too well known to our readers to require a history from us, having been twice Sheriff of this county, and held several minor offices, besides having been the landlord of one of the Carrollton Hotels for many years. He sold out the Phoenix Hotel, now kept by the widow of General F. W. Bostick, in 1853, and has just opened the "Roper House" in the city of Mobile, where, for two ! seasons he has kept an excellent Hotel." [at pages 84-5] This book is available for FREE at the Google Books web site. The quoted section above can be found at: http://books.google.com/books?id=bPcxAQAAMAAJ&dq=&pg=PA84#v=onepage&q&f=false * * "Mr. B. F. Roper was again chosen Sheriff in 1841, and served out his second term as an efficient public officer. Mr. Roper having ever been a decided whig in his political opinions, was both times elected as such." [at page 86] * * "Mr. Davis became a candidate for the office of Sheriff in 1841, but as we have stated above that Mr. Roper was elected that year. In 1844 he was again a candidate and successful, receiving a majority of all the votes polled, his opponents being Mssrs. Renfroe and Upchurch. ..." [at page 89] * * "Mr. Jesse W. Bryan, the late landlord of the "Exchange" was the next Sheriff, elected in August 1849, over two whig competitors, Mr. B. F. Roper and B. G. McAllister. Mr. Bryan is a native of Kentucky, was born in Christian county, August 17, 1819. ..." [at page 100] * * "Mr. Barnabas G. McAllister, succeeded Mr. Bryan in 1850, the vote in the previous contest between these two now ex-Sheriffs, showing a difference of only twenty-nine, a third candidate (Roper,) being in the field. B. G. McAllister was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, and removed to Greene county, Alabama, with the rest of his father's family in 1826, where he remained until 1842. ..." [at page 105-6] * * "RECAPITULATION SHERIFFS OF PICKENS Adino Griffin David Taggart Thomas Davis Henry White B. F. Roper G. G. Childs J. F. Nabers B. F. Roper W. H. David J. W. Bryan B. G. McAllister T. P. Duncan Of the eleven, every man filled out his ful [sic] term, (Mr. Roper two,) except of course, the present incumbent. The two Davises are not related, five are democrats and six are whigs -- six, and until lately, seven reside still in Pickens county and four at Carrollton. Two reside in Mobile, and one out of this State -- the other two are dead; the widow of one resides at Carrollton. Six, or more than half are South Carolinians, and four from the famous home of John C. Calhoun, the District of Abbeville. Of the other five, but one was born in this State. The Sheriffs of Pickns have been men of the people. Self-made, plain, business men. Taken together, they will undoubtedly compare most favorably for efficiency and ability, with the same number of Sheriffs, for the same period, and length of time, of any county in Alabama." [at pages 109-10] http://books.google.com/books?id=bPcxAQAAMAAJ&dq=&pg=PA109#v=onepage&q&f=false * * * * * Those who are actually descended from Benjamin F. ROPER of with a keen interest in Alabama history would be well counseled to read the entire book. Since it was written in 1856 and spans only several decades of county history, it is reasonably compact. A thorough reading may give you some other insight into the county, life and times of Benjamin ROPER which I cannot afford to take the time to relate. * * * * * A photograph of the Phoenix Hotel in Carrollton, Alabama, can be found at the Alabama State Archives: http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/8289 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Montgomery Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1912/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am going to begin this sketch by noting that this Benjamin F. ROPER's date and place of birth is clearly shown upon an extant ancient grave marker at the Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. This Benjamin F. ROPER was born on March 25, 1800, in James City, Virginia, and died on January 8, 1857, in Mobile, Alabama. As will be further shown, his migration, at least upon arrival in Alabama, is rather well established and documented, as are the identities of his children, though most seem to be overlooking his two eldest children by Benjamin's first wife. No one seems to have bothered to look at the extant Virginia Tax Lists to find Benjamin F. ROPER in the records in Virginia prior to his migration to Alabama. Instead, lazy family historians seem to prefer to simply GUESS the identity of his parents. I apologize to anyone that might have been misled by my own previous posts, wherein I carelessly re-published speculative and unsourced ascriptions by others without making a more thorough investigation. This thread seeks to correct and rectify some of that misinformation. * * * 1830 CENSUS Benjamin F. ROPER seems to first appear within the extant records in Pickens County, Alabama, in 1830: Benj F. ROPER: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1830] [Image 63 of 64 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1840 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPL-QCC : accessed 18 May 2014), Benj F Roper, Not Stated, Pickens, Alabama; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 141, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 2, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0002329. * The eldest male in Benjamin's household in age 50 to 59 (b abt 1771-80). However, Benjamin F. ROPER's 1850 Census record shows him to be age 51 that year (b abt 1799) and his grave marker shows this Benjamin to have been born on 25 Mar 1800. The next eldest male is shown to be age 30 to 39 (b abt 1791-1800), so this must be Benjamin ROPER. The eldest female in this household is shown to be age 15 to 19 (b abt 1801-5), consistent with the age for Caroline ROPER shown in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Censis records shown below, as well as consistent with her grave marker. There is also a male age 5 to 9 (b abt 1821-5) and one female the same age. Benjamin ROPER is enumerated on the very last page of the 1830 Census enumeration. On the chance that the proximity of any of those on the same Census page is of any significance to Benjamin's more precise identification or the relationship to others, I have shown those on this Census page below: Riland H. NASH John EVANS Henry WILLIAMS William WILLIAMS Henry RAMSEY Thos. C. STEEN Joseph B. CRAIG Anne P. BARKSDALE Thos. MOORE Thos. MANN Jesse ANSE James RUSSELL John HENDRICK Wm. LAUGARD Wm. CARSON James NEWMAN Geo. H. FLOURNOY Benj. F. ROPER: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1830] Wm. DOWNES Elijah WILBANKS Elijah WILBANKS was apparently the Marshal who conducted the enumeration of this district. * * * 1840 CENSUS Benjamin F. ROPER is again enumerated in Pickens, Alabama, with his growing family in 1840: B. F. ROPER: 1 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1840] [Image 15 of 106 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1840 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHB4-XQ9 : accessed 18 May 2014), B F Roper, Not Stated, Pickens, Alabama; citing "1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 312, NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 12, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0002334. * Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 40 to 49 (b abt 1791-1800) in this enumeration. The male shown to be age 5 to 9 in 1830 is now seemingly shown in the age 15 to 19 (b abt 1821-5) age category. There are two new younger males in Benjamin's household, one under age 5 (b abt 1836-40) and one male age 5 to 9 (b abt 1831-5). The eldest female is shown to be age 20 to 29 (b abt 1811-20). There are also two younger females in age ranges corresponding to the two young males. * The other heads of household of Pickens, AL, shown on the same Census page with Benjamin F. ROPER in 1840: Robert LAVENDER Beuford H. NEALEY Wm. McCRACKEN James McCRACKEN John LITTON Thos. GOLAND Thos. STACKS Samuel JOHNSON Philip M. BREWTON B. F. ROPER: 1 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1840] Allen MORGAN David BURTON Wm. A. HICKS James DAVIDSON Jeremiah RODES James McKINNY John STORY John JONES John S. LAVENDER Story PARKS M PARSON John V. JOHNSON Samuel SNODDY Elender LAVENDER Thos. THORNELL Gilbert REYNOLDS Elijah BENNET Smith LAVENDER Enoch FINCH Ervin COLSON * * * 1850 CENSUS We get the first clarity as to the identity of the various members of Benjamin ROPER's household with the 1850 enumeration. Benjamin F. ROPER is still residing in Pickens, AL, where he is shown to be the proprietor of a hotel: United States Census - 1850 Carrollton, Pickens County, AL Dwelling 12 / Family 12 B. F. ROPER, age 51, Male, Hotel Keper [sic], R.E. $4,100, born Va. Caroline M. ROPER, age 38, Female, born Tenn. Frances P. ROPER, age 19, Female, born Ala. William ROPER, age 17, Male, Student, born Ala. Benjamin ROPER, age 15, Male Ditto [Student], born Ala. Alabama ROPER, age 13, Female, born Ala. Dick ROPER, age 9, Male, born Ala. Alda ROPER, age 7, Female, born Ala. Gilbert ROPER, age 6, Male, born Ala. John RAWLS, age 28, Male, Wagon Maker, born Ala. Henry A. BENSON, age 28, Male, Carpenter, born SC George THOMPSON, age 22, Male Ditto [Carpenter], born Ala. James DERDON, age 30, Laborer, born "unknown" [Image 2 of 5 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1850 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH57-SZG : accessed 18 May 2014), B F Roper, Carrollton, Pickens, Alabama, United States; citing family 12, NARA microfilm publication M432. * * * 1860 CENSUS By 1860, Benjamin had died leaving his widow Caroline. Benjamin ROPER's date of death -- 08 Jan 1857 -- is given both on his grave marker and within extant probate records. She is enumerated in Ward 1, Mobile, Alabama, where she and Benjamin had relocated and opened a hotel called "Roper House". United States Census -- 1860 (11 Jul 1860) Mobile Ward 1, Mobile, AL Dwelling 363 / Family 304 Caroline M. ROPER, age 45, Female, Landlady Boarding House, Pers Estate $20,000, Born TN Benjamin F. ROPER, age 24, Male, Clerk, Born AL Alabama ROPER, age 21, Female, Born AL Chas A. ROPER, age 17, Male, Born AL Alda F. ROPER, age 14, Female, Born AL Gilbert M. ROPER, age 12, Male, Born AL Luella B. ROPER, age 10, Female, Born AL ... others presumably Hotel residents [Image 37 of 39 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHDN-CT4 : accessed 18 May 2014), Caroline M Roper, 1st Ward City Of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 37, household ID 304, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 803017. * * * 1870 CENSUS United States Census -- 1870 (8 & 9 Jun 1870) Mobile, Mobile, AL Dwelling 77 / Family 76 ROPER, C. M., age 55, Female, White, Hotel Proprietor, RE $25,000, Pers. Estate $3,000, Born TN ROPER, Dick, Age 27, Male, White, Manager, Born AL ROPER, Alda, Age 20, Female, White, At Home, Born AL ROPER, G. M., Age 23, Male, White, Bookkeeper, Born AL ... others within hotel [Image 100 of 808 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1870 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHKL-ZYZ : accessed 18 May 2014), C M Roper, Alabama, United States; citing p. 8, family 76, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545530. * * * I have NOT yet located Caroline Montgomery ROPER in the 1880 Census. If someone locates this record, I would appreciate hearing from you. * * * Caroline M. ROPER (b 16 Dec 1812 - TN, d 07 Mar 1883 - Mobile, AL) is also shown to be interred at the Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama. Her grave marker says: "CAROLINE M. ROPER Born Dec. 16th 1812, Died March 7th, 1883 the weary are at rest" * * * * * I previously discussed this Benjamin F. ROPER within my post "Benjamin F. ROPER (b 28 Mar 1800 - James City, VA, d 18 Jan 1857 - Mobile, Mobile, AL)" in the message thread "Randoph ROPER (b abt 1761, d 06 Aug 1822 - James City County, VA)": "Benjamin F. ROPER (b 28 Mar 1800 - James City, VA, d 18 Jan 1857 - Mobile, Mobile, AL)" (31 Jan 2006 12:07PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/792.1/mb.ashx This thread is intended to be more complete, academically rigorous and less reliant on the unsourced information appearing in the prior thread. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/564.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I stumbled across this old post while searching for something else. When I posted this Reply, I was overly relying upon the verity of Dave ROPER's ROPER Family History Files, which I later learned were notoriously unreliable. I apologize again to ALL for various postings of erroneous information I garnered from those files. Within the post above, I wanted to particularly CORRECT erroneous information about Jesse ROPER: "Isaiah ROPER's lineage is shown inthe ROPER Family History FIles to be: Charles ROPER (b abt 1720) m Ann GOODWYN Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751 - Dinwiddie, VA) m Theodocia COWLEY Eldridge ROPER (b 1770 - Richmond, Henrico, VA) Eldridge Mortimer ROPER (b abt 1803 - VA) m 18 Sep 1838 Amelia WATSON (b abt 1820 - AL) Isaiah ROPER (b abt 1846 - AL)" I recently posted two new dedicated threads distinguishing between Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Chesterfield and Richmond, and Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751,d bef 22 Jan 1810), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN: "Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Chesterfield and Richmond, VA" http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1902/mb.ashx "Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751, d bef 22 Jan 1810), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN" (10 May 2014 8:12AM GMT ) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1903/mb.ashx Eldridge ROPER appears within the household of Jesse ROPER, of Richmond, in 1782, and seems likely to be this Jesse ROPER's son. Even with that being said, it is important to note that the fixation of ROPER researchers on trying to connect to New Kent ROPER families and the careless and almost whimsical ascription of various ancestors based upon the thinnest of evidence has created a climate where everyone thinks it is OK to make ascriptions WITHOUT DOING ANY RESEARCH OF PRIMARY RECORDS. There was a large family seated at Henrico, Virginia, from a VERY EARLY DATE about whom almost NOTHING IS KNOWN because NO ONE HAS BOTHERED TO LOOK UP THE RECORDS FOR HENRICO AND RICHMOND CITY. The ascription of Eldridge ROPER as the son of Jesse and Theodocia ROPER, of Richmond, should be treated as an avenue for further research rather than a definitely conclusion. While further research will probably support such an ascription, the evidence seems CONTRARY to any conclusion that Eldridge was a son of Jesse and Obedience ROPER. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Raper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1911/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Earlier, I posted a biographical sketch I found of a "J. R. Roper", of Logan, Arkansas, to the RAPER Message Board. I had this sketch amongst my notes and upon review of other primary records, determined that it pertains to Jacob R. RAPER, rather than to any ROPER family. This Jacob R. RAPER seems to have been the son of John M. and Mary Mahala (Giddon) RAPER, of Monroe County, Bradley County and later Hamilton County, Tennessee. In reviewing the Census records for this family, I found a number of records for John M. RAPER and his son Jacob R. RAPER which were reflected in the Ancestry.com indices as ROPER rather than RAPER. I have corrected the Ancestry.com indices where applicable and posted the Census records I reviewed within the thread shown below. ROPER researchers are cautioned to take care in assessing records in Monroe County, Bradley County and Hamilton County, Tennessee, as well as Johnson County and Logan County, Arkansas, where they may encounter these or other RAPER records mis-recorded, mis-transcribed and/or mis-indexed as ROPER. The thread is: "Biographical Sketch of Jacob R. RAPER (b 1832 - McMinn, TN)" (17 May 2014 8:06AM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.raper/648/mb.ashx * * * One additional cautionary note is also in order. The ROPER family definitely passed through both Monroe and McMinn County, Tennessee. Although I have not yet made an exhaustive study of the Monroe Census records, I believe that most, if not all of the record in Regiment 98, Monroe County, are probably RAPER records pertaining to the family discussed in the cited sketch. By contrast, there are two ROAPER records in Regiment 67, Monroe County, TN, which seem to pertain to the family of the David ROPER and John ROPER who later settled in Greene County, Missouri. See my thread: "John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863), of Greene and Pulaski Counties, Missouri" (19 Apr 2014 9:58PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1899/mb.ashx In particular, see my post: "John ROPER's (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863) 1830 Census Record in Monroe County, TN" (23 Apr 2014 7:49AM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1899.6/mb.ashx Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1910/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There is a Henry ROPER shown in the 1790 Tax List for Augusta County, Virginia. There is shown to be only one titheable male in the this household, no blacks and no horses, mares or colts. See: http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/Augusta/1790PersonalB/15.jpg Has anyone inspected the other Tax Lists or deeds for Augusta County? Does anyone have any knowledge or insight into the identity of this Henry ROPER and where he fits into the ROPER family? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Moorman Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1751.3.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Mary MOORMAN's father seems likely to be the Robert MOORMAN enumerated in Fairfield, SC, in 1800: Robert MOOREMAN: 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 6 [Fairfield, SC 1800] This Robert MOORMAN is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1756-74). Recall that we were told that Robert MOORMAN had EIGHT (8) children: Mary, Elizabeth (married Benjamin Johnson) and other unnamed children. There are four younger males and three younger females in this record. * In 1810, this Robert MOORMAN is still residing in Fairfield and seems to be singularly prosperous: Robert MOORMAN: 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 14 [Fairfield, SC 1810] (Ancestry Image 16 of 26 for Fairfield) Robert MOORMAN is shown to be age 45 or more (b bef 1766). * In 1820, Robert MOORMAN is again found living in Fairfield, with all the children departed from the household: Robert MOORMAN: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 4 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 2 - 0 [Fairfield, SC 1820] (Ancestry Image 26 of 43 for Fairfield) Robert MOORMAN is shown to be age 45 or more (b bef 1776). * Robert MOORMAN is again enumerated in Fairfield, SC, in the 1830 Census: Robert MOORMAN: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Fairfield, SC 1830] (Ancestry Image 117 of 122 for Fairfield) Robert is shown to be age 70 to 79 (b abt 1751-9), with his wife of similar age. * * * Taken together, these records seem to imply these age ranges for Robert MOORMAN: b abt 1756-74 (age 26 to 44) [Fairfield, SC 1800] b bef 1766 (age 45 or more) [Fairfield, SC 1810] b bef 1776 (age 45 or more) [Fairfield, SC 1820] b abt 1751-9 (age 70 to 79) [Fairfield, SC 1830] If ALL of the Census records are correct, then this Robert MOORMAN must have been born about 1756-9. This would have made him age 33 to 36 at Mary MOORMAN's marriage on 29 Apr 1792. If Mary MOORMAN married at about age 16, it seems most likely that Robert MOORMAN would have been at the upper end of this age range and was probably born about 1756. To put this another way, Mary MOORMAN could hardly have been much older than age 16 at her marriage, since for her to be older, her she would have had to have been born before her father was age 20. I believe that we can therefore reasonably ascribe Mary Moorman ROPER's year of birth as about 1776. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Moorman, Morman Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1751.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In Autumn 2012 and Winter 2012-3, I sought to elaborate our understanding of the William and Polly ROPER mentioned in petitions for a divorce presented to the Tennessee legislature. In so doing, I particularly focused on Martha ROPER, of Chester, SC, who I showed seemed to be the widow of William ROPER. While I developed quite a bit of helpful factual information about William ROPER and Martha PEAY, I believe that my suspicion that Martha might have been the notorious "Polly" ROPER was misplaced. One misgiving I previously had as to the possible ascription of Martha Peay ROPER as "Polly" ROPER was that her husband William ROPER seemed mostly connected only to North Carolina and South Carolina prior to his possible migration in trace with brother Green ROPER across the deep South. In reviewing some old notes, I have found another different candidate who seems to correspond rather precisely with the abstracted information readily available online. I should perhaps add that the precise facts associated with William and Polly ROPER can probably be discovered simply by reference to the PRIMARY RECORDS, the actually petitions rather than secondary abstracts of these petitions which serve mostly as finding aids for the underlying records. But since no one seems to want to be related to this William and Polly ROPER, even after a couple of decades of persistent mystery, no one has pulled the actual underlying records. * The notes I rediscovered are secondary reports primarily pertaining to the MOORMAN family in Albemarle, Virginia. The following account appeared within the book Albemarle County in Virginia: Giving Some Account of what it was by Nature ..., By Edgar Woods, at pp. 285-6: "MOORMAN Charles Moorman came from the Isle of Wight, England, and in 1744 was living in Louisa, not for from the Green Spring. He was a leading Quaker, and at that time he and his son Thomas were overseers of the Friends' Meeting House on Camp Creek, in Louisa. As early as 1735 they were both patentees of land within the present bounds of Albemarle. Charles entered four hundred acres "at the forks of the Rivanna, near the Blue mountains" -- the junction of Mechum's and Moorman''s Rivers -- and the entry of Thomas comprehended the present Carrsbrook, and was described as "including the Indian Grave low grounds." Seven years later Thomas entered a larger tract further up the Moorman's, and thus gave his name to that stream. Charles also purchased land on Totier Creek, where two of his sons, Thomas and Robert, afterwards lived. He himself appears never to have resided in the county. He married Mary, daughter of Abraham Venable, whose home was on Byrd Creek in Goochland, and his ! children were Thomas, Charles, Robert, Achilles, James, Judith, the wife of Christopher Anthony, Elizabeth, the wife of Christopher Johnson, Agnes, the wife of John Venable and Mary, the wife of a Taylor. Thomas Moorman was married twice, first to Rachel, daughter of Christopher Clark, and secondly to Elizabeth, daughter of Mourning Adams. He died in 1787, and left one son, Robert, who died in 1813, whose widow, Dorothy, became the wife of John T. Holman, and whose children were Dorothy, the wife of James L. Neville, Mary, the wife of Eli Tutwiler, Elizabeth Ann, the wife of Robert L. Jefferson, and Robert J. Charles married Sarah, daughter of William Moon. Robert married Sarah, another daughter of William Moon and had eight children, of whom Mary was the wife of William Roper, and Elizabeth , the wife of Benjamin Johnson, of Locust Hill on James River; these last were the parents of Janet, the wife of Austin M. Appling, Sarah, the wife of John Darneille, Louisiana, the wife of Edwin H. Gooch, and Dorothy, the wife of William A. Turner. Robert Moorman sold his land on Totier Creek to John Harris in 1792, and with the view of emigrating to South Carolina, appointed John Hu! dson and William Roper his attorneys in fact. Achilles married Mary, daughter of Robert and Mourning Adams, and removed to Bedford County. The land on Mechunk, which came to the wives of Thomas and Achilles from their father, Robert Adams, was purchased by Dr. George Gilmer, of Pen Park." A digital copy of this book is available online at the Google Books site: http://books.google.com/books?id=oX3hxtr5L24C&dq=&pg=PA285#v=onepage&q&f=false * Note the close conformance with the facts recited within the abstracts to the divorce petition. We have a William and Mary ROPER. "Polly" is a common nickname for Mary. This William ROPER has married Mary MOORMAN, daughter of Robert MOORMAN and Sarah MOON, which Robert MOORMAN is relocating to South Carolina about 1792 at rather precisely the date that William and Polly ROPER are shown within the divorce petition to have been married (29 Apr 1792): "They were married 29 Apr 1792 and in 1794 went to SC to visit her father, "from which place she positively refused to return with him." About a year later she returned to his house in VA "and pursued such a rotine (sic) of conduct as is not proper to place before your reputable body." William moved to TN in 1806, hoping to restore his marriage, but Polly had two male children "without the aid or assistance of your petitioner!!!"" * This ascription can be readily tested by review of the extant Virginia Personal Property Tax Records. We would expect to find William ROPER residing in or near Albemarle County, Virginia, from about 1792 to 1806 and then disappearing. We might find this William ROPER living near or adjacent to Robert MOORMAN. Deed records, probate records and militia records from Albemarle County might also inform our inquiry. Similarly, we can look for records for Robert MOORMAN in South Carolina. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/804.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Given the advertisement of the ordinary for rent, it bears elaboration that the 1782 Tax List for Richmond, Virginia, shows a John ROPER, age 35, Ordinary Keeper, together with Elizabeth ROPER, age 30. John ROPER is shown to have an ordinary license. This John ROPER is also shown to own two (2) tithable slaves, one (1) non-tithable slave, eight (8) cattle, four (4) horses and one (1) mare. John ROPER was apparently a resident of the Second Ward in Richmond. * Similarly, Binns Genealogy shows that John ROPER still had an ordinary license in 1791. By that year, when enumerated in the 1791 Tax List for Richmond, Virginia, John ROPER seems to have owned eight (8) blacks age 16 and up, as well as four (4) horses, mares and colts. See: http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/CityRichmond/1791Personal/14.jpg It perhaps bears mention that Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Richmond, also shown in the 1782 Richmond City Tax Lists seems to have only been about a year older than John ROPER (b abt 1747). See also: "Jesse ROPER (b abt 1746), of Chesterfield and Richmond, VA" (9 May 2014 9:56PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1902/mb.ashx Jesse ROPER was shown to be the administrator of John ROPER's estate. No one seems to be interested in this family and as far as I can tell, no one has ever bothered to obtain the probate records from the Virginia State Library and Archives. It seems most likely that Jesse ROPER is John ROPER's brother, but this is a rather speculative ascription without actually getting a look at the probate records. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Sherwin Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1909/mb.ashx Message Board Post: A biographical sketch of William ROPER (b 1822 - Manchester, England) appears within the book History of Greene County, Illinois: Its Past and Present, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens ... (Chicago: Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd, Publishers, 1879) at page 561-2: "ROPER WILLIAM, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 6, P.O. Breese. Mr. Roper, who for the past twenty years has been a resident of Greene County, was born at Manchester, England in 1822. His father, John Roper, was a machinist by trade, and to him young Roper was regularly apprenticed. Completing his apprenticeship he worked some time as a journeyman, and on the decease of his father became proprietor of his shops. In 1844 he married Mary Ann Sherwin, a daughter of William Sherwin, of Derby, England. In 1849 William determined to emigrate to America. On two occasions he was nearly shipwrecked. Landed in New York City, and from here he made his was to Scott County, thence to St. Louis, where he worked in the Western Foundry for seven years. He then went to Springfield, from Springfield to Jacksonville, and thence to Greene County, where he now owns a farm of forty acres. He has four children living: John, William, George and Catherine, who married Charles Clough. Rudel John, renter, P.O. Breese." William ROPER's farm is further shown to be in Township 12, North, Range 12 West. A copy of this book is available online at Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=S4xQAAAAYAAJ&dq=%&pg=PA561#v=onepage&q&f=false * * * William and Mary ROPER are enumerated residing in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, in the 1870 Census enumeration. William is shown to be age 45, born England, Mary is shown to be age 44, born England, John ROPER, age 12, is shown to be born in Illinois, as is William ROPER, age 5. [Ancestry Image 33 of 68 for Jacksonville Ward 4.] William ROPER (b Dec 1865 - IL) is shown to be residing in Greene County, IL, at the 1900 Census enumeration, with wife Martha and two children. I did NOT find William ROPER in the 1880 Census. Secondary sources show this William ROPER dying in Saline County, Kansas. I am unaware of the support for this assertion. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>