This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Ward, Keith, Hendricks Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1927.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: To once again summarize the four Census records for Benjamin ROPER shown within my original post above: Benjamin ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1800] Ben. ROPER:.... 4 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1810] Benjamin ROPER: 2 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 0 - 1 -- 2 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 -- 5 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1820] Benjamin ROPER: 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1830] The 1800 Census record seems to show that Benjamin and Susannah ROPER had one son born about 1791-1800. By 1810, this couple seems to have had four (4) males under age 10 (b abt 1801-10) and three (3) females under age 10 (b abt 1801-10). There doesn't seem to be a male child age 10 to 17 (b abt 1793-1800) or a young man age 18 to 25 (b abt 1785-92) which might explain the disposition of the child under age 10 in 1800. There would seem to be three possible explanations. First, this first born child, seemingly the eldest son, may have simply died young. This is the most obvious answer. Second, the first male child shown in the 1800 Census record could have left the household and might be living with another friend or relative. Third, this child might have been born in 1800 immediately prior to the 1800 Census enumeration, but had not yet turned age 10 by the date of the 1810 Census. These possibilities will be further explored as each of the children is discussed in greater depth. I will show that this third possibility is actually most consistent with the extant data. Thus, from the first two Census records, I would contend that the composition of Benjamin ROPER's family at 1810 consisted of: Son (b abt 1800) Son (b abt 1801-10) Son (b abt 1801-10) Son (b abt 1801-10) Daughter (b abt 1801-10) Daughter (b abt 1801-10) Daughter (b abt 1801-10) * * The 1820 Census record seems to reflect the continued presence of EVERY child shown in the 1810 Census record, but with some elaborating different details about age ranges. There are two males under age 10, plus one male age 16-17, as well as three males age 18 to 25. But there are zero males shown in the 10 to 16 age range. Unless one or more sons have departed and been replaced by non-family members (e.g. husbands of the daughters), the only reasonable way to harmonize the 1820 Census data for the males with that of 1800 and 1810 is if the family composition consists of: Son (b abt 1800) [age 18 to 25] Son (b abt 1801-2) [age 18 to 25] Son (b abt 1801-2) [age 18 to 25] Son (b abt 1803-4) [age 16 to 18] Son (b abt 1811-20) [under age 10] Son (b abt 1811-20) [under age 10] Similarly, the 1810 and 1820 Census data for the females can be reconciled and harmonized is Benjamin ROPER has daughters in these age ranges: Daughter (b abt 1801-02) [age 18 to 25] Daughter (b abt 1803-10) [age 10 to 17] Daughter (b abt 1803-10) [age 10 to 17] Daughter (b abt 1811-20) [under age 10] Daughter (b abt 1811-20) [under age 10] Note that this brings the count of children to eleven by 1820. * * In 1830, there are ZERO additional males under age 10 (either under age 5, or age 5 to 9), but there is ONE additional female age 5 to 9 (b abt 1821-5). The additional clarity and different age ranges used in the 1830 Census enumeration clarifies that the two sons shown to be under age 10 in 1820 (b abt 1811-20) are actually age 10 to 14 in 1830 (b abt 1816-20). Three sons seem to have left the household, leaving one other son now age 20 to 29. Age ranges adjusted for the 1830 Census would then be: Son (b abt 1800) Son (b abt 1801-2) Son (b abt 1801-2) Son (b abt 1803-4) [age 20 to 29 in 1830] Son (b abt 1816-20) [age 10 to 14 in 1830] Son (b abt 1816-20) [age 10 to 14 in 1830] For the females, the 1830 Census data clarifies that the two daughters in the under age 10 age range in 1820 age must have been at the upper end of that age range, since these are shown to be age 15 to 19 in 1830 (b abt 1811-5). Age ranges adjusted for the 1830 Census data for the female children are: Daughter (b abt 1801-02) Daughter (b abt 1803-10) Daughter (b abt 1803-10) [age 20 to 29 in 1830] Daughter (b abt 1811-15) [age 15 to 19 in 1830] Daughter (b abt 1811-15) [age 15 to 19 in 1830] Daughter (b abt 1821-5) [age 5 to 9 in 1830] * * * * * Recall that these names of Benjamin ROPER's children are purported to have been taken from Benjamin ROPER's probate files, though transcriptions or images from these files seem not to have been posted: Meredith ROPER John H. ROPER Jacob ROPER Aaron ROPER Sarah ROPER Rachel ROPER m WARD -- ROPER m J. M. KEITH Keziah "Cazzy" ROPER m John BIRUS or BYERS Benjamin ROPER Susannah ROPER m Moses HENDRICKS Nancy ROPER Another SON * * * * * On the SAME Census page as Benjamin ROPER in 1830, we find these additional ROPERs: Meredith ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1830] John H. ROPER:. 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1830] Jacob ROPER:... 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1830] See: "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/1TJZ-T6V : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Meredith Roper, Not Stated, Pickens, South Carolina; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 314, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 173, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0022507. Meredith ROPER is shown to be age 30 to 39 (b abt 1791-1800), suggesting that he was the male child under age 10 in the 1800 Census. As the first born son, his given name is suggestive that he may have been named for Benjamin ROPER's father. Both proximity and the age ranges of the 1830 Census records are suggestive that John H. ROPER and Jacob ROPER might be the two sons of Benjamin shown to be born about 1801-2. Recall that three of Benjamin ROPER's six sons seem to have left his household between 1820 and 1820 and there are precisely three other ROPERs on the very same Census page. Moreover, Meredith, John and Jacob are the first three sons mentioned in the secondary accounts from the probate records. (The PRECISE details from the probate records still need to be established by examination and transcription of the underlying probate records.) A William WARD is enumerated in the record immediately adjacent to John H. ROPER: William WARD: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1830] This may be Rachel ROPER's husband, but this should be treated as an avenue for further investigation rather than an ascription. Another John ROPER and a Reuben ROPER are shown on the previous Census page. Also shown is a Mary BIERS who may be the mother of the John BYERS who is shown by secondary sources to have married Kesiah/Keziah ROPER. I will discuss this John ROPER in another separate thread. * * * * * Benjamin ROPER's family seems to have departed from Pickens before the 1840 Census. The family is next most centrally seated at Smiths, Lumpkin, Georgia. These 1840 Census records from Lumpkin further inform our understanding of Benjamin ROPER's family: Susanna ROPER: 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Lumpkin, GA 1840] Aaron ROPER:.. 3 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Lumpkin, GA 1840] Jacob ROPER:.. 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Lumpkin, GA 1840] [Image 3 of 10 for Lumpkin, GA, in the Ancestry.com presentation of Census data] See: "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/1TP4-TN1 : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Susanna Roper, Smiths, Lumpkin, Georgia; citing "1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 267, NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 45, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0007045. There is a John ROPER on the immediate following page: John ROPER:... 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 3 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Lumpkin, GA 1840] See: "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/1TP4-TV9 : accessed 12 Jun 2014), John Roper, Smiths, Lumpkin, Georgia; citing "1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 268, NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 45, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0007045. Susanna ROPER seems to be age 50 to 59 in 1840 (b abt 1781-90). One (1) male age 20 to 29 (b abt 1811-20) and three (3) females in this age range are also shown within this record. There is also one male under age 5 (b abt 1836-40), one male age 5 to 9 (b abt 1831-5) and one female age 5 to 9 (b abt 1831-5) in this household. Aaron ROPER is shown to be age 30 to 39 (b abt 1801-10) with a female of a similar age. Jacob ROPER is shown to be age 20 to 29 (b abt 1811-20) with a wife of a similar age. I will further elaborate on Benjamin ROPER's children in individual forthcoming topical posts about each child. 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>