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/550.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: James: I have recently been making some concerted effort to sort through the relationships of the pioneer Tennessee ROPERs. This is difficult enough given the scarcity of the data, but is all the more confusing due to the number of various false and speculative ascriptions. In my view, any investigation needs to be grounded in verifiable facts supported by primary evidence. David Y. ROPER appears within the Census enumerated in Maury County in 1820 and 1830. David Y. ROPER is enumerated within Giles County in 1840. David Y ROPER: 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Maury, TN 1820] David Y. ROPER: 0 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 5 - 5 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 3 - 3 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Maury, TN 1830] In 1820, David Y. ROPER is shown to be age 26 to 44 in 1820 (b 1776-94). In 1830, David Y. ROPER is shown to be age 40 to 49 (b abt 1771-80). The data for 1820 and 1830 taken together suggests that David was born about 1776-80. I am not currently subscribed to Ancestry for Census access. L. David ROPER's Tennessee ROPER page suggests that David Y. ROPER was still age 40 to 49 in the 1840 Census. See: http://www.roperld.com/rtn1719.htm I haven't re-verified the 1840 data myself. It might support a later date of birth. See also my post: "ROPERs Households in the 1820 Census for Tennessee" (1 Mar 2014 4:29AM) http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1856.1/mb.ashx * * * David Y. ROPER is interred in the Lucy Cemetery in Giles County, TN. The grave marker for David Y. ROPER actually says that David Y. ROPER "Died Sept 1st 1843 in the 65th year of his age." An image of the grave marker appears at the Find A Grave website. In my view, the specific date given on an ancient grave marker ought to be given greater weight than the less specific age ranges shown in a census enumeration, which might be more casually provided by a member of the household without exact knowledge of David Y. ROPER's age. * The 1782 date given in many Internet postings seems to have been simply invented to make the ascription as a son of William ROPER and Keziah YATES plausible. Similarly, David Y. ROPER has been ascribed the middle name "Yates" when there seems to be no evidence to support such an ascription. 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>