This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Peay, Downs, Smith, Allen, Jenkins, Cook Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1768.11/mb.ashx Message Board Post: There seems to be still more to the family scandal involving William ROPER and the notorious Polly ROPER at the end of the life of the following generation. In the Tennessee Chancery Case State of Tennessee v. James C. ALLEN, et al, decided at April Term, 1874, the court considered a matter arising from the intestacy of one William P. DOWNS. Within the introductory recitation of the facts of this case, it is explained: "Bill and amended bill filed, under the act of May 26, 1866, ch. 46, to have the estate of one William P. DOWNS declared escheated to the state. The bill is based upon the ground that the deceased was the illegitimate son of one James P. DOWNS by one Polly ROPER, while she lived in lawful wedlock with one William ROPER, and that he died, never having been married, without issue, intestate, and leaving no relatives entitled by law to his estate. The facts to be gathered from the bill are: That William P. DOWNS died about the 12th of July, 1866; that first CARTWRIGHT, and afterwards ROPER, qualified as administrators of his estate; that the children of one SMITH, of the state of Ohio, who claimed to be the heirs and next of kin of DOWNS through the DOWNS, sent out J.C. ALLEN, the husband of one of them named Anna Henrietta, as their agent, who took possession of the property, and received the rents and profits ..." * I will NOT attempt a full transcription here, as the full text of the case is available online through Gaoogle Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=QzEtAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA43&ots=4MAeTq6w-P&dq="William Roper" Tennessee&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=false * * * While the facts of the case, as presented, seem to contradict my conclusion that the Martha ROPER who died in Phillips, Arkansas, was the former wife of William ROPER and the notorious "Polly" ROPER, given the reports of a subsequent marriage to James P. DOWNS, most of the other facts actually seem reasonably consistent with what I have previously posted. There may still be some valuable genealogical details to be found in the underlying probate filings of this case, including more details as to the family of James P. DOWNS, etc. * * * This seems likely to be the same William P. DOWNS, age 46, enumerated in the 1860 Census residing in Nashville, Davidson County within the household of Fielding COOK. See: "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8YM-7XG : accessed 18 Mar 2014), William P Downs in household of Fielding P Cook, 4th Ward City Of Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 114, household ID 712, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 805246. * In 1850, a William DOWNS [no middle initial], age 35, born Tennessee, is enumerated in Nashville, Davidson County, within the household of O. JENKINS, age 56, and Elizabeth JENKINS, age 54. This William DOWNS is shown to own real estate worth $26,000, a quite substantial estate! See: "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12400-286532-3?cc=1401638 : accessed 18 Mar 2014), Tennessee > Davidson > Nashville > image 36 of 169; citing NARA microfilm publication M432. * * * I stumbled across this case while looking for something else and wanted to push the information out for the consideration and analysis of others interested in this branch of the family. 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>