This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1899.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: By following John and Nancy ROPER's children forward in time to the 1880 Census, we can garner some additional clues about John and Nancy ROPER's places of birth and origin. GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION GARNERED FROM 1880 CENSUS RECORDS OF THE CHILDREN Six of John and Nancy ROPER's children survived to the date of the 1880 Census enumeration: Yewel ROPER (b 16 Sep 1813 - TN) William M. ROPER (b 16 Nov 1816 - TN) John H. ROPER (b 27 Jan 1819 - TN) Sarah Roper HARDIN (b 22 Mar 1823 - TN) Nancy J. Roper LONG (b 08 Mar 1823 - TN) Margaret A. Roper BREEDLOVE (b 17 Jan 1825 - TN) * Yewall ROPER was enumerated in 1880 residing in the household of his son-in-law M. TSCHUDI in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi. He is shown to be age 64 and to have been born in Tennessee, however his father's and mother's birthplace is NOT given in this record. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4G5-BDL : accessed 19 Apr 2014), Gemel Roper in household of M Tschudi, Aberdeen, Monroe, Mississippi, United States; citing sheet 232C, NARA microfilm publication T9. * William ROPER, shown to be age 63, is enumerated with wife Mary K., age 46, and his family in Clinton, Texas, Missouri, in 1880. His father is shown to have been born in North Carolina and his mother to have been born in South Carolina. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6NF-4DH : accessed 19 Apr 2014), William Roper, Clinton, Texas, Missouri, United States; citing sheet 313B, NARA microfilm publication T9. * John H. ROPER, shown to be age 61, is enumerated with wife Nancy I. ROPER, age 55, and granddaughter Ella GREEN, residing in Mountain Grove, Wright County, MO, in 1880. John H. ROPER shows his father to be born in South Carolina and his mother to be born in South Carolina. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6NV-LK8 : accessed 19 Apr 2014), John H Roper, Mountain Grove, Wright, Missouri, United States; citing sheet 506B, NARA microfilm publication T9. * Sarah (Roper) HARDIN, shown to be age 57 and widowed, is enumerated with son Joseph W. HARDIN, age 20, in the 1880 Census, residing in Clinton, Texas County, MO. Sarah HARDIN shows her parents to have both been born in South Carolina. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6NF-48N : accessed 19 Apr 2014), Sarah Hardin, Clinton, Texas, Missouri, United States; citing sheet 313B, NARA microfilm publication T9. * Nancy J. (Roper) LONG, shown to be age 55, is enumerated with her husband William A. LONG, age 57 and born in Georgia, and children, J. Avery LONG, age 21, and Benjamin S. LONG, age 17, residing in Milford, Ellis County, Texas, in 1880. Both children are shown to be born in Texas. Nancy's father is shown to be born in North Carolina and her mother is shown to be born in Tennessee. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFN7-JL5 : accessed 19 Apr 2014), Nancy J Long in household of William A Long W, Milford, Ellis, Texas, United States; citing sheet 519A, NARA microfilm publication T9. * Margaret A. (Roper) BREEDLOVE, shown to be age 52, is enumerated with her husband Milton BREEDLOVE, and four children, residing in La Fayette, Scott, Arkansas, in 1880. Margaret's parents are both shown to be born in South Carolina. See: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNWG-RSX : accessed 19 Apr 2014), Margarett Breedlove in household of Milton Breedlove, La Fayette, Scott, Arkansas, United States; citing sheet 424C, NARA microfilm publication T9. * * To summarize, the children report their parent's places of birth as: Francis: NOT GIVEN William: North Carolina / South Carolina John H.: South Carolina / South Carolina Sarah: South Carolina / South Carolina Nancy: North Carolina / Tennessee Margaret: South Carolina / South Carolina * * * JOHN ROPER's BIRTHPLACE I have NOT yet succeeded in locating John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788) in the 1860 Census. The BEST indication of John ROPER's birthplace is shown in the 1850 Census record. This is shown to be North Carolina. While THREE of the five children who survived to 1880 reported that their father was born in South Carolina rather than North Carolina, in my view the report during John ROPER's lifetime must be given the greatest weight. Also, we know that there was a significant migration of ROPERs from Virginia and North Carolina into the upper South Carolina counties from about 1790 to 1810. There were far FEWER ROPER households in South Carolina than in North Carolina at John ROPER's date of birth. The migration may also help explain WHY the children are reporting South Carolina as John ROPER's birthplace. My suspicion is that John ROPER was BORN in North Carolina, but that his parents then migrated to South Carolina when John was still young. This suggests that John ROPER's father may be found amongst the earliest ROPER settlers of upper South Carolina. * * * NANCY ROPER's BIRTHPLACE Since Nancy ROPER died before the 1850 Census, the only clues to her birthplace are those given in the 1880 Census returns of her children. Since four of the five children who identified their parent's birthplaces identified Nancy's place of birth as South Carolina, this seems to be the consensus answer. That three of Nancy's children also thought their father was from South Carolina seems to further suggest some presence in South Carolina and that John and Nancy may have even married there. 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>