This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Montgomery Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1912/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am going to begin this sketch by noting that this Benjamin F. ROPER's date and place of birth is clearly shown upon an extant ancient grave marker at the Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. This Benjamin F. ROPER was born on March 25, 1800, in James City, Virginia, and died on January 8, 1857, in Mobile, Alabama. As will be further shown, his migration, at least upon arrival in Alabama, is rather well established and documented, as are the identities of his children, though most seem to be overlooking his two eldest children by Benjamin's first wife. No one seems to have bothered to look at the extant Virginia Tax Lists to find Benjamin F. ROPER in the records in Virginia prior to his migration to Alabama. Instead, lazy family historians seem to prefer to simply GUESS the identity of his parents. I apologize to anyone that might have been misled by my own previous posts, wherein I carelessly re-published speculative and unsourced ascriptions by others without making a more thorough investigation. This thread seeks to correct and rectify some of that misinformation. * * * 1830 CENSUS Benjamin F. ROPER seems to first appear within the extant records in Pickens County, Alabama, in 1830: Benj F. ROPER: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1830] [Image 63 of 64 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1840 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPL-QCC : accessed 18 May 2014), Benj F Roper, Not Stated, Pickens, Alabama; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 141, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 2, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0002329. * The eldest male in Benjamin's household in age 50 to 59 (b abt 1771-80). However, Benjamin F. ROPER's 1850 Census record shows him to be age 51 that year (b abt 1799) and his grave marker shows this Benjamin to have been born on 25 Mar 1800. The next eldest male is shown to be age 30 to 39 (b abt 1791-1800), so this must be Benjamin ROPER. The eldest female in this household is shown to be age 15 to 19 (b abt 1801-5), consistent with the age for Caroline ROPER shown in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Censis records shown below, as well as consistent with her grave marker. There is also a male age 5 to 9 (b abt 1821-5) and one female the same age. Benjamin ROPER is enumerated on the very last page of the 1830 Census enumeration. On the chance that the proximity of any of those on the same Census page is of any significance to Benjamin's more precise identification or the relationship to others, I have shown those on this Census page below: Riland H. NASH John EVANS Henry WILLIAMS William WILLIAMS Henry RAMSEY Thos. C. STEEN Joseph B. CRAIG Anne P. BARKSDALE Thos. MOORE Thos. MANN Jesse ANSE James RUSSELL John HENDRICK Wm. LAUGARD Wm. CARSON James NEWMAN Geo. H. FLOURNOY Benj. F. ROPER: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1830] Wm. DOWNES Elijah WILBANKS Elijah WILBANKS was apparently the Marshal who conducted the enumeration of this district. * * * 1840 CENSUS Benjamin F. ROPER is again enumerated in Pickens, Alabama, with his growing family in 1840: B. F. ROPER: 1 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1840] [Image 15 of 106 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1840 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHB4-XQ9 : accessed 18 May 2014), B F Roper, Not Stated, Pickens, Alabama; citing "1840 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 312, NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 12, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0002334. * Benjamin ROPER is shown to be age 40 to 49 (b abt 1791-1800) in this enumeration. The male shown to be age 5 to 9 in 1830 is now seemingly shown in the age 15 to 19 (b abt 1821-5) age category. There are two new younger males in Benjamin's household, one under age 5 (b abt 1836-40) and one male age 5 to 9 (b abt 1831-5). The eldest female is shown to be age 20 to 29 (b abt 1811-20). There are also two younger females in age ranges corresponding to the two young males. * The other heads of household of Pickens, AL, shown on the same Census page with Benjamin F. ROPER in 1840: Robert LAVENDER Beuford H. NEALEY Wm. McCRACKEN James McCRACKEN John LITTON Thos. GOLAND Thos. STACKS Samuel JOHNSON Philip M. BREWTON B. F. ROPER: 1 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Pickens, AL 1840] Allen MORGAN David BURTON Wm. A. HICKS James DAVIDSON Jeremiah RODES James McKINNY John STORY John JONES John S. LAVENDER Story PARKS M PARSON John V. JOHNSON Samuel SNODDY Elender LAVENDER Thos. THORNELL Gilbert REYNOLDS Elijah BENNET Smith LAVENDER Enoch FINCH Ervin COLSON * * * 1850 CENSUS We get the first clarity as to the identity of the various members of Benjamin ROPER's household with the 1850 enumeration. Benjamin F. ROPER is still residing in Pickens, AL, where he is shown to be the proprietor of a hotel: United States Census - 1850 Carrollton, Pickens County, AL Dwelling 12 / Family 12 B. F. ROPER, age 51, Male, Hotel Keper [sic], R.E. $4,100, born Va. Caroline M. ROPER, age 38, Female, born Tenn. Frances P. ROPER, age 19, Female, born Ala. William ROPER, age 17, Male, Student, born Ala. Benjamin ROPER, age 15, Male Ditto [Student], born Ala. Alabama ROPER, age 13, Female, born Ala. Dick ROPER, age 9, Male, born Ala. Alda ROPER, age 7, Female, born Ala. Gilbert ROPER, age 6, Male, born Ala. John RAWLS, age 28, Male, Wagon Maker, born Ala. Henry A. BENSON, age 28, Male, Carpenter, born SC George THOMPSON, age 22, Male Ditto [Carpenter], born Ala. James DERDON, age 30, Laborer, born "unknown" [Image 2 of 5 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1850 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH57-SZG : accessed 18 May 2014), B F Roper, Carrollton, Pickens, Alabama, United States; citing family 12, NARA microfilm publication M432. * * * 1860 CENSUS By 1860, Benjamin had died leaving his widow Caroline. Benjamin ROPER's date of death -- 08 Jan 1857 -- is given both on his grave marker and within extant probate records. She is enumerated in Ward 1, Mobile, Alabama, where she and Benjamin had relocated and opened a hotel called "Roper House". United States Census -- 1860 (11 Jul 1860) Mobile Ward 1, Mobile, AL Dwelling 363 / Family 304 Caroline M. ROPER, age 45, Female, Landlady Boarding House, Pers Estate $20,000, Born TN Benjamin F. ROPER, age 24, Male, Clerk, Born AL Alabama ROPER, age 21, Female, Born AL Chas A. ROPER, age 17, Male, Born AL Alda F. ROPER, age 14, Female, Born AL Gilbert M. ROPER, age 12, Male, Born AL Luella B. ROPER, age 10, Female, Born AL ... others presumably Hotel residents [Image 37 of 39 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHDN-CT4 : accessed 18 May 2014), Caroline M Roper, 1st Ward City Of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 37, household ID 304, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 803017. * * * 1870 CENSUS United States Census -- 1870 (8 & 9 Jun 1870) Mobile, Mobile, AL Dwelling 77 / Family 76 ROPER, C. M., age 55, Female, White, Hotel Proprietor, RE $25,000, Pers. Estate $3,000, Born TN ROPER, Dick, Age 27, Male, White, Manager, Born AL ROPER, Alda, Age 20, Female, White, At Home, Born AL ROPER, G. M., Age 23, Male, White, Bookkeeper, Born AL ... others within hotel [Image 100 of 808 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1870 Census data for this jurisdiction.] See: "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHKL-ZYZ : accessed 18 May 2014), C M Roper, Alabama, United States; citing p. 8, family 76, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545530. * * * I have NOT yet located Caroline Montgomery ROPER in the 1880 Census. If someone locates this record, I would appreciate hearing from you. * * * Caroline M. ROPER (b 16 Dec 1812 - TN, d 07 Mar 1883 - Mobile, AL) is also shown to be interred at the Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama. Her grave marker says: "CAROLINE M. ROPER Born Dec. 16th 1812, Died March 7th, 1883 the weary are at rest" * * * * * I previously discussed this Benjamin F. ROPER within my post "Benjamin F. ROPER (b 28 Mar 1800 - James City, VA, d 18 Jan 1857 - Mobile, Mobile, AL)" in the message thread "Randoph ROPER (b abt 1761, d 06 Aug 1822 - James City County, VA)": "Benjamin F. ROPER (b 28 Mar 1800 - James City, VA, d 18 Jan 1857 - Mobile, Mobile, AL)" (31 Jan 2006 12:07PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/792.1/mb.ashx This thread is intended to be more complete, academically rigorous and less reliant on the unsourced information appearing in the prior thread. 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>