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/1887.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Bill, I have no solid answer for you, but I have a few thoughts. I have never established who married John Roper of Halifax, VA. I don't have a first name and she doesn't appear in any of John's deed records. My suspicion is that he married one of the Lewis family women, but this is based soley on John's appearance as a witness to the will of John Lewis in Halifax, VA, which apparently was probated in Caswell, NC. But all of this is still pure speculation. I read your article on the "ROPER Grandchildren of William LEA (d 1794 - GA), of Wilkes County, GA" (10 Apr 2014 2:09PM) http://boards.ancestry.com.au/surnames.roper/1893/mb.ashx. I think you have a pretty thorough list of the usual suspects to be considered as the possible father of William and Sarah Roper. After reading your article, I get the impression that the parents of Wiliiam and Sarah Roper had died, although I could be wrong. In any case, they were minors in 1794 when the will was executed as they hadn't "come of age" as yet. After William Lee's wife Nancy died in 1809, they appear to be of age to receive the proceeds of the sale of the slave. So if they were at least 21 in 1809, their latest birth date would be around 1788. All the candidates for the father of William and Sarah Roper that you list seem to be still living in 1794, with the exception of one possibility, James Roper. John Roper is found in Caswell in 1798. Although we are having an argument over William Roper and Kiziah Yates, I believe that at least William was still living in 1794 and later. David Roper is obviously still alive in Kentucky in 1810. George Roper is still alive in Jefferson County, IL in 1820. So, if the parents of William and Sarah Roper were dead, by the process of elimination, that leaves James Roper of Caswell, NC as the possible father of William and Sarah Roper. I have always been a bit confused by L. David Roper's suggestion that the James Roper in Burke, NC was the same James Roper in Caswell, NC. They may have both been in Caswell at some time, but I think we are perhaps speaking of two different James Ropers. James Roper appears in these Caswell, NC records: "Caswell County North Carolina Land Grants, Tax Lists, State Census, Apprentice Bonds, Estate Records, by Katharine Kerr Kendall: 1777 Tax List: Amount Taxable Property of the Inhabitants of the Several districts in the County of Caswell also those who by law are liable to pay a poll Tax returned by the several assessors to December Court 1777. NB Those left blank are liable to pay a poll tax. Signed Wm Moore C.C. May 2d 1778. ... David Roper Sen., Richmond District, 403 pounds & 8 shillings David Roper Jun., Richmond District; James Roper, Richmond District; William Roper, Richmond District State Census of North Carolina, 1786, for Caswell County. The report for Richmond District is missing. No Roper is listed." L David Roper database. "Caswell County marriages in the 1700s are:... John Yeats & Jemima Ropper 8 Mar 1779 BmW: James Ropper, W. Campbell" "1790 US Census for NC: M16up M<16 - F - other free - slaves Burke Co.: James Roper 1 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 Caswell Co.: Hillsborough District James Roper - - - - - - - - William Roper - - - - - - - -" After 1790, there are no further appearances by a James Roper in Caswell, NC, and I cannot find him anywhere else L. David Roper has suggested that perhaps the James Roper in Burke, NC, as shown in the 1790 census above, returned with his father David Roper to Caswell, NC, and thus appeared in both the 1790 Caswell and 1790 Burke census records. I have seen this happen once with another individual who appeared in two different State census records in the same year, but this is an unlikely scenario in my opinion. And since I am also of the opinion that the James Roper in Burke, NC was the probable son of Meredith Roper, I am further convinced that we are dealing with two different James Ropers. Of course, you and I have differing opinions on much of what I have related. And even if I am correct in most of my assumptions, drawing the conclusion that James Roper of Caswell, merely because he disappeared after 1790, was the father of William and Sarah Roper of Wilkes County, GA, is highly speculative without additional factual or circumstantial support. I find the appearance of a William Lee next to John Roper in Halifax, VA to be a excellent observation on your part. Also, I very much enjoyed your latest posting on the William Ropers in Tennessee, which was very thoughtful and well argued. 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>