This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Rosser Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1878/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In the 1850 Census for Morgan County, Tennessee, there appears the household of a Jesse ROPER, age 56 (b abt 1794), born in Virginia seemingly with wife Elizabeth, age 58, and four sons, all born in Virginia. The surname is somewhat ambiguous and might say either ROPER or ROSSER. I had concluded that it said ROPER UNTIL I found the "p" in the surname of an APPLE family, which has caused me to reassess and believe that this may be a ROSSER family, instead. The complete household, as shown in the Census record is: Jesse ROPER [or ROSSER], age 56, Male, Farmer, RE $400, Born Va. Elizabeth ROPER [or ROSSER], age 58, Female, Born Va. William ROPER [or ROSSER], age 22, Male, Farmer, Born Va. John ROPER [or ROSSER], age 19, Male, Farmer, Born Va. James [or Jane??] ROPER [or ROSSER], age 17, Female [sic],Born Va. Francis ROPER [or ROSSER], age 14, Male, Born Va. See: "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11593-164536-29?cc=1401638 : accessed 24 Mar 2014), Tennessee > Morgan > Morgan county > image 42 of 80; citing NARA microfilm publication M432. * * * There is a Jesse ROPER shown enumerated in Amherst, Virginia, in the 1840 Census. See: "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHBM-CDP : accessed 24 Mar 2014), Jesse Roper, Not Stated, Amherst, Virginia; citing "1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 227, NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 550, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0029683. I haven't inspected the underlying images yet. * * * I do NOT see a corresponding Jesse ROPER in the Census records for 1810, 1820 or 1830. * * * There is a Campbell County marriage of a Jesse ROSSER to and Elizabeth FINCH dated 26 Dec 1823. There is also an earlier Campbell County marriage of Jesse ROSSER to Sarah GEORGE on 20 Sep 1817. See: "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRWH-LS7 : accessed 24 Mar 2014), Jesse Rosser and Sarah George, 20 Sep 1817; citing Campbell, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 31050. "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRWH-L4D : accessed 24 Mar 2014), Jesse Rosser and Elizabeth Finch, 26 Dec 1823; citing Campbell, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 31050. * If these marriage records are correct, this may indicate that the cited 1850 Census record is a ROSSER rather than a ROPER record. 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>