This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Rosser, Rosher, Roziar Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1919.1.1.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Frank: I suspect that the purported place of the ROPER - ABERNATHY marriage as being in "Robertson, NC" was simply INVENTED by a dishonest researcher to support the assertion that David Y. ROPER was a son of William and Kesiah Yates ROPER. There is an anomalous 1810 Census record in Robeson County, North Carolina, which appears to show a William ROPER living there. The record is indexed as ROPER, but closer scrutiny shows some uncertainty as to whether the third letter of the surname is a "p" or an "ss". The record shows: Wm. ROSSER: 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1810] See: The three males are shown to be age 18 to 25 (b abt 1795-1802). There is a female age 45 or more, possibly William ROSSER's widowed mother. The handwriting of this Census enumerator is all over the map. Compare the "s" in John KENSEY at the top of the page. Note the two difference ways to form an "s" as shown in Charles COUNSEL several records above. Note the appearance of the double "ss" in Mark RUSSEL. Compare the variation in the formation of the "p" in Spenser PORTER with the "p" in the name Margaret CAMPBLE at the bottom of the page. It doesn't get any better on adjacent pages. Examples of anomalous "s" can be found within WEST on Image 5 and BEST on Image 6. Another "ss" appears within MESSER on Image 5. The enumerator's handwriting is both horrid and varied! * * * In 1820, there is a Willey ROSHER enumerated in Robison County, NC: Willey ROSHER: 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1820] See: Willey is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1776-94). Compare the "s" in ROSHER with the two "s" appearances in the name Joseph WILLISSON at the top of the same page. Then compare to the "s" in James CLIBURNE or Benjamin LEWIS. Others on this Census page include: Joseph WILLISON Jacob FREEMAN George JEKMAN?? James CLIBURNE Benjamin LEWIS Wm. WATTERS Willey ROSHER: 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1820] William TOWNSEND John BIGGS Charles BARKER John GREENDINE?? Jas. GREENDINE?? Josiah GRANTHAM Nathan BARRIT Jeremiah STORM Millisechia?? WYSHART Jordan RAWLS [Ancestry Image 27 of 33] * * * In 1830, a Willey ROSHER is found in Robeson County: Willey ROSHER: 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1830] See: Note that this Willey ROSHER is shown to be age 40 to 49 (1781-90), so he is far too young to be the William ROPER who married Kesiah YATES even if he was a ROPER at all. The handwriting of this Census enumerator is particularly problematic because it is not always consistent. Compare the "s' in the name ROSHER with the "s" appearing twice in the name Isham LUCAS two entries later. But then compare with the "s" in the name Josiah TAYLOR at the bottom of this Census page [Image 89 of 90]. For double "ss", look at the names Jesse BRILL, Catharine RUSSEL and Milby MUSSELWHITE on this same page. For a "p", compare with Celia POPE also on this page. The adjacent records are Jarvis H. HAMANS Charles BARKER Mary MERCER Celia POPE Elizabeth DAVIS Sintha LUCY Catharine RUSSEL Joseph GLOVIER Revd. Francis C. SPRAGAN Elijah HAMANS Mary DAVIS Willey ROSHER: 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1830] Ann WILLIS Isham LUCAS Milby MUSSELWHITE James KING Josiah TAYLOR I am left with the indelible conclusion that this record says ROSHER, which may actually be a variant on ROSIER or ROZIER. * * * * * The 1800 Census for Robeson County is in quasi alphabetical order, so it is impossible to discern anything meaningful as to proximity of adjacent records. The "R"s begin at Image 61 of 76 in 1800. There are three ROZIAR records at Image 62. These include: Mary ROZIAR:... 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1800] Reubin ROZIAR: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 1 [Robeson, NC 1800] David ROZIAR: 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 [Robeson, NC 1800] I believe that it is most likely that the ambiguous William ROSSER from 1810 ais likely to be one of the three sons shown within the 1800 Census record of David ROZIAR and that these sons are living with their widowed mother ten years later. In my view, it is unimportant to resolve this issue for the ROZIER/ROZIAR family. It is enough to REJECT the likelihood that William ROSSER/ROSHER is a ROPER and that his appearance in Robeson County might provide the "missing link" to support the fraudulent ascription of David Y. ROPER as a son of William ROPER. Unless someone can come forward with some actual evidence as to the purported place of marriage of David ROPER and Dionysia ABERNATHY, I believe we should REJECT Robeson, NC, as the place of marriage. Similarly, I believe that we should REJECT Robertson County, TN, as the place of marriage absent some more persuasive primary evidence. While I think that we lack sufficient evidence to make a conclusive ascription, that it is MOST LIKELY that David Y. ROPER and Dionysia ABERNATHY married in North Carolina rather than Tennessee. 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>