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/1915.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In searching the Internet for additional clues on the identity of the William Roper of Sumner County, TN, I came across two additional sources of information. Stephen Calvin Gregory was born on July 8, 1891 in Macon, TN. Besides being a minister, educator, genealogist, and civic leader, his was the publisher of a newspaper titled the Macon County times. Mr. Gregory wrote a regular feature column for his newspaper called "Cal's Column", which dealt with history of and pioneers of Macon County, which was created out of the northern part of Smith County in 1842. For that weekly column, he had others transcribe "the old records of the Quarterly Court and Pleas of Smith County, the court sitting at Fort Blount, now in Jackson County, Tenn." He would then comment on those entries, relating historical events and discussing families who still had deep ties to Smith and Macon Counties. The columns, which were published from 1946-1958, are a treasure trove of genealogical information on Smith and Macon Counties, and can be easily accessed by googling "Cal's Column". I have skimmed through most of those articles and found two entries on William Roper of Smith County: "Transcribed by Pat Stubbs March 1, 1951 CAL'S COLUMN "The following gentlemen were appointed as a venire to our ensuing Court; viz: William Martin, Grant Allen, James Ballou, Daniel Hammock, William Saunders, John Patterson, Patrick Donoho, Thomas Walker, William Roper, William Kelton, John Gray, Thomas Bowerman, Godfrey Fowler, William Haynie., John Chambers, William Stalcup, John Stafford, James Bradley, Andrew Greer, Richard Brittain, Jeremiah Taylor, Phillip Day, Charles McMurry, Anthony Samuel, John Murphy, John Brevard, David Keilough, Jr., Daniel Mungle, John Johnson, James Gibson, John Reid, Samuel Corrothers, John Rutherford, Robert Bowerman, Abraham Brittain and John Douglas." Here we have a list of 36 of the leading citizens of Smith County in December, 1800. Comment has been made about most of those whose names appear above. However, we have not commented on Daniel Hammock,*A* who, we suppose or presume, was the ancestor or relative of the Hammock family in Hartsville. We do not recall having seen the name of William Roper prior to its appearing in the above list. but we might be mistaken. Even if we have not mentioned it, we know nothing of the family except that Bill Roper is now connected with the subscription department of the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Tennessean." "Transcribed by Timothy R. Meador, Jr. July 5, 1951 We resume the publication of the old records of the Quarterly Court and Pleas of Smith County, the court sitting at Fort Blount, now in Jackson County, Tenn. The time is Wednesday, June 17, 1801. The record is in quotations marks. (See Note by R. D. Brooks)" "Venire Facias to the ensuing Court: William Martin, Vincent Ridley, Elias Johns, John Gray, Phillip Day, Charles McMurry, William Hargis, Grant Allen, Daniel Mungle, John Brevard, Richard Brittain, Andrew Greer, Anthony Samuel, James Bradley, James Cochran, Josiah Howell, John Shelton, John Johnson, John Douglas, William Saunders, Henry Dancer, Thomas Bowman, Robert Bowman, blacksmith: Edward Settles, Daniel Alexander, Charles Smith, Thomas Wimbs, William Gregory, Thomas Sutton, Aaron Hart, Edmond Boaz, Jeremiah Taylor, Frederick DeBow, William Roper and Isham Beasley." We have no information of John Gray, Anthony Samuel, James Cochran, Henry Dancer, Daniel Alexander, Charles Smith, Thomas Sutton, Jeremiah Taylor, or William Roper." The next two columns do not mention William Roper. However, I include them because they mention John Hargis and William Hargis: "Transcribed by Janette West Grimes December 20, 1951 CAL'S COLUMN We resume the publication of the old records of the Quarterly Court and Court of Pleas of Smith County, which included most of the present Macon County in the year 1801, which is the time of the meeting of the Court of which we are going to try to write. We give the actual record in quotation marks, followed by our own comments. The opening is as follows: "Dixon Springs, Tennessee, December 21st, 1801. Court met according to adjournment. Members present [viz] Tilman Dixon, Peter Turney, James Hibbetts, Esquires." The place was in the home of... "Venire Facias to the ensuing Court (viz) Grant Allen, Thomas Jamerson, Daniel McFarland, James Cherry, Thomas Bowman, Joel Dryer, Edmond Jennings, Wm. Saunders, John Rutherford, John Patterson, William Stalcup, James Gibson, William Hargis, John Sedgley, Francis Patterson, Francis Findley, Patrick Donoho, George Thomason, David Ventress, Eneas Harrold, William Simpson, William Penny, Josiah Payne, Thomas Armstrong, Nathaniel Brittain, Joel Dyer, Sr., John Chambers, Elisha Oglesby, John Murphy, Michael Murphy, Jeffrey Sutton, Daniel Hammock, Daniel Alexander and Jabez Gifford."" "Transcribed by Janette West Grimes June 18, 1953 CAL'S COLUMN We resume the publication of the old minutes of the Quarterly Court and Court of Pleas for Smith County, Tenn. The time is Wednesday, September 22, 1802. The opening item is as follows: "Court met according to adjournment. Members present: Charles Kavanaugh, Nathaniel Brittain, Peter Turney, William Kavanaugh, James Roberts." A list of the Venire to the next County Court (viz): Godfrey Fowler, Daniel Hammock, Edward Farris, Michael Murphy, John Payne, David Cochran, James Cochran, John Brevard, Jabus Gifford, Abraham Thompson, John Johnson, John Douglas, Philip Day, Charles McMurry, John Hargis, William Hargis, Isham Beasley, Thomas Bowman, Robert Bowman, William Boyd, Abram Brittain, Andrew Greer, Philip Thurman, William Payne, William Edwards, William Hankins, Samuel Carothers, William Cord, Samuel Hughes, Bill Hughes, John Murphy, William Alexander, Daniel Alexander, James Butler, Leonard Ballou and David Rorex."" I also found an article on USGENWEB which mentions Private William Roper as one of the "Smith County Revolutionary Volunteers" in a letter dated February 15, 1812, which would indicate that William Roper still resided in Smith County as of that date: "SMITH COUNTY, TN - MISC - Patriotic Veterans ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sereptha4988@cs.com ==================================================================== Carthage Gazette Saturday, March 14, 1812. No. 142. Vol. III. Patriotic Veterans With a conscious glow of pride and pleasure we call the attention of our readers to the following patriotic tender from the fathers of our country. He must deserve to be a slave whose pulse does not beat in unison with these gray headed volunteers, called by the Genius of Liberty once more from their peaceful dwellings to the tented field, to protect that Independence they fought to purchase. With youthful hearts and experienced heads success must crown exertions in the field, against any and every foe. In the produest days of Roman Virtue, a more brilliant example of Patriotism is not found, nay we can challenge all history for parallel cases to those of our country.......Clarion. Dixon Springs, February 15, 1812. To Brigadier General James Winchester Sir, We the undersigned, most of whom served in the late revolutionary war, have for years past, seen, with deep concern our national rights violated and outraged to an enormous extent, by the great belligerents of Europe, and we have seen at the same time, a disposition manifested in every act of our government to obtain in an amicable and conciliatory manner, redress for those abuses and to prevent a continuanace thereof. To this end, negotiation as it respects one of those powers [Great Britain] has been exhausted in vain. That proud and unprincipled nation, instead of attnding to and removing our just causes of complaint, have continued to multiply our grievances, and add insult to injury. In this state of things, longer forebearance would be unpardonable: and we rejoice to see that congress has determined on a different course of measures which promises to cause our rights to be respected in future, and in pursuance of which we conceive war to be inevitable. In that event it is probable that the whoe strength may be required to ensure success: and that the active part of our force may be occasionally called to distant service, which, afford to the disaffected, [if any there should be amoung us] an opportunity of doing much injur to the defenseless. Therefore for the purpose of defending the property of our younger brethren while they are fighting our battles abroad, and to suppress and put down any combination which may manifest itself inimical to our government, we have embodied into a company under the command of Major Tilmon Dixon, to be denominated the SMITH COUNTY REVOLUTIONARY VOLUNTEERS: and in that way and for the purpose aforesaid, do through you, Sir, tender our services to our country. In doing this we feel a pride in offering ourselaves a second time on the "altar of liberty". Although with the fatigues of the war, and the wear of many years since our bodily powers are much imparied, yet our zeal for our country's good is not abated. We have a greater degree of confidence that our services will be well directed, when we remember that we are to act under YOUR command. Yes, Sir, to be commanded by one who participated in the toils by which our rights were procured, and who knows how to appreciate the services of the men of that day inspires us with renewed vigor. In reviewing the scenes through which we have passed and anticipating those which may remain to be unfolded, there are sensations produced in us, more easily conceived of, than expressed. With a consoling hope and belief that our sons are zealous to maintain at every hazard those blessings which we with others obtained at the expense of so much blood and treasure, toil and suffering, and that this best of heavens gifts to earth may be perpetuated to the latest posterity is our most fervent prayer. And should it be the purpose of Him who rules the destiny of this land to spare us to see our beloved country safely and honorably delivered from her present difficulties and the olive branch once more spreading over all our borders, we will then retreat to our respective quarters, and lay our wearied heads on the pillow of rest, and our gray hairs will go down to the grave in peace. We cannot willingly conclude this address without declaring our high confidence in the public functionaries of our country, we believe that they have done every thing that human wisdom could devise and moral virtue approve, to maintain our rights and save the country from the calamities of war; but finding from experience that every effort to accomplish those desireable ends has failed of success, their having assumed a higher and more dignified attitude meets our entire approbation; and in the prosecution of which we pledge ourselves to support them, at the hazard of our lives, our property and sacred honor. We are, dear General, with sentiments of due respect and high consideration, your friends and brother soldiers, Tilmon Dixon, Capt. William Walton, 1st Lieut. Walter Caroth, 2nd, Lieut. James Bradley, Ensign John Wiseman, Chaplin William Alexander, 1st. Serg. William Haynie, 2nd do. Richard Alexander, 3rd do. Caleb Carman, Drummer Chip Boston, Fifer Jacob Burries, Private Andrew Greer Andrew Hoover Debony Malown Grant Allen John Gammon Richard Banks John Lovelady John Hargis John Barkley Francis Surles Charles McMurry John Shelton Phillip Day Frank Whiles Obediah Sanders William Legan Thomas Tabbott Charles Donoho Nicholas Shrum David Cochran Francis Moore William Moore Daniel Campbell Daniel Hammock Frederick Turner William Goodale Jacob Benton Hugh Shaw Philip Watson William Thompson James Wilson Johan Roseby John Ferguson William Collee William Roper John Brevard James Hibbits Champ Madden Daniel Burford Parish Lankford John Dorrece Shelton Smith ____ Stilwell Warren Walker In addition to the foregoing roll I have selected five active youths of about 15 years of age for the purpose of riding expresses, warning the company for duty and carrying messages [to wit] George Winchester Martin, Roger Dixon Flippen, Major Anderson Beasley, Martin Burrus and Isaac Goodale, which I trust will meet your approbation. Signed Tilmon Dixon". 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>