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/mb.ashx Message Board Post: As has been recently discussed in another recent thread initiated by Frank BATCHELOR -- "George Roper, b. 1762-65, NC; d. aft 1840, Jefferson County, IL" (16 Apr 2014 12:12AM GMT) -- there were two very early George ROPERs who settled in Illinois. One of these was Revolutionary War Veteran George ROPER (b abt 1762-5). The other was a younger George ROPER (b abt 1788-9 - NC, d 08 Sep 1866 - IL). The likely year of birth of the younger George ROPER has been a subject of some contention since it is reported that his grave marker shows this information: "G.W. Roper died Sept 8, 1866 Aged 89 years" The indications represented on this purported grave marker would seem to suggest that this George W. ROPER was born about 1777. * * * It is helpful to review the extant primary information to establish our confidence in the date of birth which might be inferred from the purported grave marker. The most specific primary evidence of this George ROPER's year of birth prior to his death is the age given in the 1850 and 1860 Census enumerations. In 1850, this George ROPER was enumerated residing in the household of James M. ROPER, age 18, in Stonefort, Saline County, IL. George is then reported to be age 61 and born in North Carolina in James ROPER's Census record, implying a year of birth of about 1789. In 1860, this George ROPER is shown to be age 72 (b abt 1788 - NC) and born in North Carolina. He is enumerated with wife Rachal (Rachel), age 65, a Louis ROPER, age 12, residing in Township 9, Range 5 E, Saline County, IL. David ROPER, age 35, a Wagon Maker, is enumerated in the adjacent record. Thus, we have two very similar indications in Census returns a decade apart six years before George ROPER's death. * But there are also earlier Census records which give consistent similar indications, though less specific. We believe that this George ROPER was enumerated in Fayette, IL, in 1840. Here are the counts from the 1840 record: George ROPER: 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Fayette, IL 1840] This George ROPER is age 50 to 59 (b abt 1781-90). The elder female in the 1840 Census record seems to be age 40 to 49 (b abt 1791-1800). * In 1830, we are inclined to believe that this is the same George ROPER enumerated residing in Marion, IL. Here is the distribution for George ROPER, of Marion: George ROPER: 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Marion, IL 1830] This George ROPER is age 40 to 49 (b abt 1781-90). The elder female in the 1830 Census record seems to be age 30 to 39 (b abt 1791-1800). The female child under age 5 is consistent with the female age 10 to 14 in 1840. The younger males are consistent if the two eldest males from the 1830 record have left the household and been replaced by two younger males, one under age 5 and one age 5 to 9. * In 1820, this George ROPER seems to have been enumerated residing in Monroe, Pope County, IL. The different age categories of the 1820 Census give us a little additional insight.: George ROPER: 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 [Monroe, Pope, IL 1820] This George ROPER is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1776-94). The female is also shown to be in this same age range. There are two males under age 10 (b abt 1811-20) and two females under age 10. * * But there is even yet another Census record for this George ROPER in the 1855 Illinois State Census, enumerated in Township 5, White County, adjacent to William M. ROPER and James M. ROPER. In the 1855 enumeration, George ROPER is shown to be age 60 to 69 (b abt 1786-95). * * * Thus, across SIX Census enumerations, we have these implicit estimates of George ROPER's age: 1820: b abt 1776-94 (age 26 to 44) 1830: b abt 1781-90 (age 40 to 49) 1840: b abt 1781-90 (age 50 to 59) 1850: b abt 1789 (age 61) 1855: b abt 1786-95 (age 60 to 69) 1860: b abt 1788 (age 72) Does anyone see a pattern here? These Census figures are ALL consistent and support the validity of the more precise figures given in 1850 and 1860. * * * Finally, we have a Census record for George ROPER in 1865, when is again enumerated within the State Census residing in Brushy Township, Saline County, IL, adjacent to David ROPER. In this enumeration, George is shown to be age 80 to 89 (b abt 1774-85). This is the FIRST Census since 1820 to suggest that George might have been born before 1781 and the ONLY Census which data is INCONSISTENT with the 1850 and 1860 Census returns. If our estimate of George ROPER's year of birth 1788-9 is correct, this George ROPER is actually about age 76 to 77 at the date of the 1865 State Census enumeration taken a year before his death. On balance, it seems to me that we must place greater confidence in the six consistent Census enumerations across five decades before he became elderly and infirm over the recollections of the children AFTER George ROPER's death. The apparent coinciding death of Rachel ROPER the very same day seems to add to the uncertainty about the verity of information appearing on the grave marker. I believe that the data supports the ascription of 1788-9 OVER the 1777, which is inconsistent with data from FIVE of the seven Census enumerations. 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>