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/1927/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Benjamin ROPER, of Pendleton and Pickens, SC, first appears by name within the 1800 Census. The ONLY Benjamin ROPER shown in the 1790 Census is Benjamin ROPER, of Princeton, Worcester, Massachusetts, who appears (by DNA evidence) to only be distantly related. Benjamin Dart ROPER, of Charleston, SC, is from a genetically distinct ROPER family and appears slightly later in Charleston records. There was also a Benjamin ROPER, of Charles City County, Virginia, but there is NO EVIDENCE that this Benjamin ROPER migrated to Pendleton, SC. * * * The Pendleton record shows a household of a young couple consistent with a very recent marriage: Benjamin ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1800] [Image 17 of 126 at Ancestry.com] See: "United States Census, 1800," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHRC-W8Q : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Benjm Roper, Not Stated, Pendleton District, South Carolina; citing "1800 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 110, NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 50, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 181425. Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1756-74). The eldest female within this household is shown to be age 18 to 25 (b abt 1775-82). There is one male child under age 10. * * * Benjamin is again enumerated in Pendleton, SC, in 1810, with a growing family: Ben. ROPER:.... 4 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Pendleton, SC 1810] See: "United States Census, 1810," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH2Y-CTH : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Ben Rosser, Not Stated, Pendleton, South Carolina; citing "1810 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 282, line 750, NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 61, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0181420. Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1766-84). The eldest female is shown to be of similar age. There are four (4) males under age 10 (b abt 1801-10) and three (3) females under age 10 in this household. * * * In 1820, Benjamin ROPER's family has continued to grow. Banjamin also owns a young male slave and a female slave for the first time: 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] See: "United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHG6-3MP : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Benjamin Roper, Not Stated, Pendleton, South Carolina; citing "1820 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 181, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 120, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0162023. Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 45 or more (b bef 1776). The eldest female in this household is shown to be of a similar age. There seem to be a total of eleven younger members of this household, two (2) males under age 10 (b abt 1811-20), one (1) male age 16 to 17 (b abt 1803-4), three (3) males age 18 to 25 (b abt 1795-1802), two (2) females under age 10 (b abt 1811-20), two females age 10 to 17 (b abt 1803-10), and one (1) female age 18 to 25 (b abt 1795-1802). * * * This Benjamin ROPER last appears in the U.S. Census in 1830: 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 [Pickens, SC 1830] [Image 127 of 142 at Ancestry.com] See: "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHGY-82V : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Benjamin 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. Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 40 to 49 (b abt 1781-1790). The eldest female in Benjamin ROPER's household is shown to be a similar age. There are two males in Benjamin's household shown to be age 10 to 14 (b abt 1816-20), one male age 20 to 29 (b abt 1801-10), one female age 5 to 9 (1821-5), two females age 15 to 19 (b abt 1811-15) and one female age 20 to 29 (b abt 1801-10). One of the daughters appears to have married and left the household. Cornelius KEITH is a contemporary and is enumerated within the adjacent record in 1830. * * * * * BENJAMIN ROPER's AGE We thus have four observations from the Census data from which to make inferences about Benjamin ROPER's date of birth. b abt 1756-74 (age 26 to 44) [1800] b abt 1766-84 (age 26 to 44) [1810] b bef 1776 (age 45 or more) [1820] b abt 1781-1790 (age 40 to 49) [1830] The first three Census observations are consistent and might support a year of birth of 1766-74 if ALL of these are correct. The age shown within the 1830 Census report is inconsistent with the earlier enumerations. It should probably be noted that in 1830 Benjamin had a fairly large household which included a number of adults. The enumerator may have obtained the Census information from a member of the household other than Benjamin or his wife and this might account for the inconsistency. If, by contrast, the 1830 Census record is considered to be correct rather than anomalous, then BOTH the 1800 and the 1820 Census enumerations must have been in error. Moreover, since Benjamin ROPER was already married and had one son by 1800, this seems somewhat more consistent with the error being in the 1830 enumeration since a year of birth of 1781 would suggest that Benjamin married at age 18 or 19 and each possible birth year after 1781 would shave an additional year from Benjamin's age at marriage. The simplest explanation is that there is one anomalous Census record rather than two and that Benjamin ROPER was at the lower end of the age range suggested by the other three Census records (b abt 1766-74). * * * * * THE YEAR OF BIRTH OF BENJAMIN's WIFE We also have four observations as to the age of the eldest female in Benjamin ROPER's household, presumably Benjamin's wife: b abt 1775-82 (age 18 to 25) [1800] b abt 1766-84 (age 26 to 44) [1810] b bef 1776 (age 45 or more) [1820] b abt 1781-1790 (age 40 to 49) [1830] Note that again the 1830 Census result appears to be anomalous. The Census returns for 1800, 1810 and 1820, when combined, support an inference that Benjamin ROPER's wife was born abt 1775-6. The 1830 enumeration suggests she was born later. However, we must also necessarily recognize that it could be the 1820 Census result that is anomalous. If only the 1800, 1810 and 1830 Census data is considered, discarding the 1820 result, this might support a year of birth of 1781-2, NOT inconsistent with a marriage by about 1798-9. Based on other extant evidence discussed below, the identity of Benjamin's widow seems to be Susannah ROPER and this Susannah ROPER later appears Lumpkin, Georgia, as will be further discussed in future post: 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] See: Susannah ROPER appears to be age 50 to 59 (b abt 1781-90) in the 1840 enumeration and therefore, in my view, the 1820 Census result for Susannah should be treated as anomalous and our estimate should be based solely on the 1800, 1810, 1830 and 1840 Census data. This supports an estimate of Susannah ROPER's age as born abt 1781-2. * * * * * Secondary sources assert that this Benjamin ROPER died on 08 Aug 1831. It is asserted that this Benjamin left a widow named Susannah ROPER and twelve children, of whom only 10 are mentioned by name: Meredith Roper, John H. Roper, Jacob Roper, Aaron Roper, Keziah Roper, Cazzy Roper wife of John Birus, Rachel Ward, ___ Roper, M. J. M. Keith, Benjamin Roper, Nancy Roper. The source of this information is NOT given, but the information is presumably abstracted from extant probate records. THOSE WITH A KEEN INTEREST IN THIS BRANCH OF THE FAMILY SHOULD OBTAIN, TRANSCRIBE AND POST THESE PROBATE RECORDS, AS THEY MAY CONTAIN VERY VALUABLE CLUES OMITTED BY THE ABSTRACTER. See: http://www.roperld.com/rsc18.htm There is also a separate abstract showing similar but slightly differing details, but identifying the underlying source: "Benjamin Roper, estate of, Box 3, #26. Probate Judge Office. Est. admr. 8 Aug 1831 by Wm. Sutherland, Wm. L. Keith who are bound unto James H. Hendy, Ord. in the sum of $400. Left a widow and 12 children. Heirs mentioned on 21 Nov 1831: John H., Jacob, Aaron, Sarah Roper, Rachel Ward, J. M. Keith, Keziah Roper, widow Nancy, Benjamin Roper decd, Susana Roper who married Moses Hendrick. On 18 Oct 1836 Wm. Sutherland wanted Mr. Dendy Ord. to pay Benj. Roper the part due John Byrus the husband of Cazzy Roper." Once again, this ABSTRACT was intended as a FINDING AID for the underlying record. Anyone who believes that family histories should be constructed from ABSTRACTS doesn't understand genealogy! Those interested in this family should OBTAIN, TRANSCRIBE and POST the underlying records. There may be a detail within the probate papers that could be exceptionally helpful in a further understanding of this family!! While it is UNCLEAR whether the information given is even correct and we cannot KNOW with any great certainty that the children are listed in the order shown in probate papers, extant Census data at least suggests that some of this information may be reliable and that the children may have been named in the order of their ages. Benjamin ROPER's children will be discussed further in a future post. * * * * * Secondary sources show a deed of land for 300 acres to Benjamin ROPER dated 29 Dec 1817: "Book O, p 88: Pendleton Dist, SC-Wm. Gipson for $600 from Benj. Roper of same, all land that Wm. Gipson bought of John Hudson, John Robertson and John Young, situated in Pendleton Dist on Weavers Creek, waters of the Oolenoy, containing 300 acres, being the place whereon said Benj. Roper now living. 29 Dec 1817. Wit: Thomas Crawford, John C. Gipson Wm. X Gipson" See: http://www.roperld.com/rsc18.htm I have NOT seen the underlying deed. There seems to be another record showing: "Benjamin Roper estate by Sherriff to Moses Hendricks, Book C-1, p 68, 1835, 243.5 acres Aulenoy" A sale by the Sheriff seems consistent with the possibility that Benjamin ROPER was in debt at his death and that his land was sold to satisfy the claims of creditors. The sale of this land also seems consistent with the subsequent removal of Benjamin ROPER's widow and children to Georgia after Benjamin ROPER's death. Weaver Creek is a stream in Pickens County flowing from roughly Lat. 35.0480556, Long. -82.6805556 (headwaters), to Lat. 35.0037293, Long. -82.6395735 (mouth), a tributary of the Oolenoy River. Weaver Creek flows into the Oolenoy River just South of Table Rock Road (SC State Highway 288) where it crosses Weaver Creek. This is just to the west of the junction of Table Rock Road and Miracle Hill Road and East of Pumpkintown Highway (SC State Highway 8). This location is almost immediately due West of Marietta (Greenville County), South Carolina. The site can be seen at this Google Map link: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0039485,-82.6411365,1106m/data=!3m1!1e3 Oolenoy Baptist Church is located immediately South of the place where Weaver Creek joins the Oolenoy River: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.9942775,-82.6409305,17z This is the Baptist church where Tyre L. ROPER was later pastor. There are a number of ROPERs known to be interred at the Oolenoy Baptist Church cemetery, however the earliest ROPER pioneers in this area may have been interred on their own property or may be interred in unmarked graves: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sc/pickens/cemeteries/p112.txt 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>