This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: batchelorw Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1882/mb.ashx Message Board Post: David Y. Roper is shown by secondary sources to be married to Dionysia Abernathy. Although I have never seen a primary source which verifies that Dionysia's last name was Abernathy, there appears to be circumstantial evidence to draw that conclusion. >From what I can gather from the information on the Internet, the Abernathy family has been researched extensively and more than one book has been written on this family. I have not done any independent research on the Abernathy family and, therefore, cannot vouch for the accuracy of what I am reporting here. However, I believe the information collected on the Abernathy family may be quite useful to Roper genealogists in tracing the Roper family in Giles, TN to perhaps Charles City, VA. So, for what it is worth, here is a general outline of the Abernathy family. Robert Abernethy, was born abt. 1624 in Abernethy, Perthshire, Scotland, and died Jan 1684/85 in Charles City, VA. Robert was taken prisoner in the war between Cromwell and King Charles, and sent to the colonies as an indentured servant, although he came from a wealthy family: "From Public Records Office- Chancery Lane- From List of Scots Taken Prisoner: At the Battle of Worcestor (Eng) Sept. 15, 1651 Robert Abernethy, age 19- (Born 1632) son of George Abernethy de Barrie. He held the rank of Captain and served under General Leslie from Banff, one of his kinsmen. Given a choice of the Tower of London, or as an agricultural servant to the colonies in America, he chose to go as a prisoner of war and was deported October 1651 to Virginia. (copied by Frances Jones Kimayer from above records in London, October 1975)" Robert Abernethy married Sarah Cubishe/Coppage in 1657. Nugent's "Cavaliers and Pioneers" has the following entry for Robert Abernethy: "ROBT. ABERNETHE, 100 acs. Chas. City Co., 7 Mar. 1665, p. 466, (567). S. side of James Riv. on the head of the poplar runn where it boundeth on land of James Wallis, S. on land of Thomas Duglas & the quarter land &c. Part of a greater devdt. granted to Patrick Jackson & Richard Barker & by sd. Jackson out of his parte sould to sd. Abernathe." In an earlier post of mine on "Charles Roper, Goodwyn, Holloway, Quarles, Hayward, Barker, Yates", I mentioned the 1635 land grant shown in "Cavaliers and Pioneers" to "William Barker, Marriner" of 1850 acres in Charles City Co., VA for the transportation of, among others, Daniell Goodwin, Step. Godwin, Jon. Yates, and Robert Yates. Robert Abernethy and Sarah had a son named Robert Abernethy, Jr. b. abt 1657, VA, d. abt 1730 Prince George (?). VA, m. Christine Tillman. He acquired 100 acres in 1717 on the Horsepen Branch of Sapponi Creek. Robert Abernethy and Christine had a child named Robert Abernethy, III, b. abt 1695, Charles City Co. VA, d. abt 1772, Tyron, NC; married Mary Harwell/Howell. They lived in Prince George Co. and Dinwiddie County. Their children are listed in the Bristol Parish Register. Robert Abernethy and Christine had a child named David Harwell Abernethy, b. May 29, 1726, Bristol Parish, Brunswick County, VA; d. bef 1814 Lincoln County, NC; married Martha Ann Turner. David Harwell Abernethy and Martha had a son named David Abernathy, Jr. b. July 29, 1759, Lincoln Co., Nc; d. April14, 1838, Yokely, Giles Co, TN: m. Christine Fourney, May 27, 1782, Lincoln Co, NC (extant marriage record). David Abernathy, Jr. and Christine Fourney had a daughter named Dionysia Abernathy, who married David Y. Roper. Virginia L. Keefer, from a posted lineage on Ancestry.com titled "Charts Giles County Descendants of Robert I. Abernethy" has these comments on David Abernathy, Jr.: "Notes for REV WAR DAVID JR ABERNATHY: David and his brother, Joseph, came to TN on a scouting trip prior to 1800 and they both purchased land. He was in Maury Co. TN in 1810 for Charles Clayton Abernathy said that he and his mother spent the second night of their journey from White's Creek to Giles Co with David Abernathy, a distant cousin who lived on Big Creek. David was a Rev War soldier who served in NC Rev. Army with Cap't. Mc Lain. He was also on an expedition against the Cherokees with General Rutherford and spent three months with Cap't Jack's army. In 1832, his widow was granted pension number S1609 for his services. David and Christine are buried on a high hill in one of the Yokely cemeteries. Many of David's and Christine's children moved westward but those who remained were substantial members of their respective communities, most being farmers. One great grandson, David Abernathy Mc Knight made a name for himself in the field of education. David Mc Knight was the son of Kizzie Roper and Jackson Mc Knight, grandson of Dionysia Abernathy of Pleasant Valley Community and began teaching in a converted blacksmith shop. He earned a reputation for devising a very successful teaching method based on the Aristotelian method of asking questions. It was in his school that such men as Flourney Rivers and Edward and Cornelius Abernathy Craig got their start. More About REV WAR DAVID JR ABERNATHY: Burial: April 15, 1838, Yokely, Giles Co, TN" David Abernathy, age 60-70 can be found in the 1830 Giles, TN census. His grandson, Abernathy McKnight, aka David Abernathy McKnight, can be found in the 1860 Giles census, as age 21 and as a teacher, in the household of A. J. McKnight, age 50, and Kissiah Y. Roper, age 45. 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>