This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Cowley Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1902/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Over the years, I have posted information about a number of primary records concerning Jesse ROPER, of Richmond, VA, and Chesterfield, VA. For example, in 2006, I posted information appearing within an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette on 22 Nov 1770: "To Be RENTED, THE ORDINARY in Richmond town formerly kept by Mrs. Mary Cowley, deceased, and now by Mr. Jesse Roper. ... ???????? to me in Chesterfield or to Mr. Roper ??? ????. ABRAHAM COWLEY." See: "Jesse ROPER Mention in the Virginia Gazette on 22 Nov 1770" (25 Feb 2006 10:16PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/804/mb.ashx * I also noted that an Abraham COWLEY seems to have operated an ordinary (tavern) in Charles City County from a very early date. I noted that an extant Order Book from Charles City County shows that renewal of an ordianry license by Abraham COWLEY in February 1740: [at page 115, February Court 1739/40] "Abraham COWLEY's ordinary License renewed." This ordianry license is then shown to have been further renewed in the name of Thomas COWLEY in subsequent years. See: "ROPER Mentions Within the Charles City County Order Book, 1737-1757" (25 Sep 2010 7:33PM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1674/mb.ashx * Secondary sources show Jesse ROPER to have been an appraiser of the estate of Donald McDONALD, in Chesterfield County, VA, in April 1773. The same year Jesse ROPER's name is purported to appear on a Tax List for Brunswick County. I have NOT seen the tax list. * Also, several years ago, I posted some data from my notes concerning a Jesse ROPER who purchased land in Chesterfield, VA, in 1777: "Transcription of John B. FOESE's Chesterfield Deed To Jesse ROPER Dated 03 Jan 1777" (22 Sep 2010 12:59AM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1672/mb.ashx I had thought that this record might be of interest to those who trace their lineage to one of the Chesterfield ROPERs, however, it turns out that everyone is so satisfied with their FRAUDULENT lineage back to New Kent, that they have NO INTEEREST in any actual evidence that conflicts with the ficitious ancestors and fabricated evidence they have arrayed in support of their fraud. Taken by itself, the DATE and PLACE given in this record is highly suggestive that the Jesse ROPER who purchased John FOESE's land may have been Charles ROPER's son. As to date, since we have a KNOWN date of birth for Charles ROPER's son Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751), the purchase would have taken place when this Jesse ROPER was age 25, probably about the time that Jesse might have married and set up his own household. As to PLACE, Chesterfield is the county immediately to the North of Dinwiddie, across the Appomattox River, so this is geographically near to Dinwiddie County where Charles ROPER's son Jesse ROPER would have grown up. However, the other earlier records as early as 1770 seemingly describing the SAME Jesse ROPER and the coincident appearance of a Jesse ROPER in Brunswick County seem more consistent with the possibility that Jesse ROPER, of Richmond and Chesterfield, is a DIFFERENT and older Jesse ROPER, than Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751). * I noted in the post identifying this land transaction that Jesse ROPER seemed NOT to appear in the Chesterfield extant personal property tax records. Instead, a Jesse ROPER is shown within the Henrico Personal Property Tax Rolls beginning with the first extant list in 1783. It had seemed to me at the date of my cited post that this might have stimulated some interest by members of this ROPER family in looking at the Henrico Tax Lists year by year, as well as the Henrico deed records, to ascertain more precisely which years Jesse ROPER appeared to reside in Henrico. However, no one seems interested in doing this, probably again because it will only serve as further proof of the fraudulent lineages of so many ROPER families! * There is an additional advertisement in the Virginia Gazette on 04 Oct 1780 for the sale of a vessel at Warwick, Chesterfield County. Those interested were encouraged to apply to Jesse ROPER, at Warwick, or to Bernard MARKHAM near Manchester. This ad seems to suggest that Jesse ROPER may have been seated at Warwick, Chesterfield, as late as 1780, and that he might have removed to Henrico sometime between 1780 and 1783 when he is shown in the Tax Lists there. * In 1781, Jesse ROPER together with Robert BOYD, William WHITE and Robert RAWLINS were ordered by the Court in Richmond City (seemingly as special masters) to examine the state and situation of the public jail. * The Virginia Gazette again mentions Jesse ROPER on 11 May 1782 in designating his home (or place of business) as the place of auction of the personal estate of Abraham COWLEY by administrator John BROOKE. * The 07 Feb 1784 edition of the Virginia Gazette advertises the sale of two dwelling houses in the town of Warwick formerly occupied by Charles THOMAS and Jesse ROPER. This record is consistent with the absence of Jesse ROPER from the personal property tax lists for Chesterfield and his appearance instead in the tax lists for Henrico. It bears noting that Warwick was a town on the James River in Chesterfield County on the James River BELOW Richmond. Below Richmond, the James River turns and flows almost DUE SOUTH, forming a boundary between Henrico County on the East and Chesterfield County on the West. * Secondary sources seem to show Jesse ROPER in the militia lists for Richmond during the Revolutionary War. * Jesse ROPER is also shown in a number of records which seem to exemplify that he was both prosperous and generous in support of public projects. * The Virginia Gazette & Weekly Advertizer reported in its Thursday, 22 Mar 1787 edition that "Mrs. Roper, spouse of Jesse Roper of Richmond, d. last Tuesday." This would put Mrs. ROPER's death date at 20 Mar 1787. No first name or other genealogical information was given. As aforementioned, secondary sources have claimed that the wife's name was Theodocia. While I have no specific reason to believe otherwise, I also am NOT aware of any specific information that supports this assertion. * In 1791, Jesse ROPER signed a petition advocating the establishment of a Richmond branch of the Bank of the United States. The petition indicates that Richmond merchants were unhappy that they had to sell bills at a deeper discount due to the absence of a source of banking liquidity. * The Virginia Gazette & General Advertizer edition of 29 Jul 1795 informs us that Jesse ROPER, of Richmond, was named as administrator of the estate of John ROPER, deceased. * Nansemond County, VA, Clerk fee books identify several suits apparently brough by William WHITE, as assignee of Jesse ROPER in 1795, 1796 and 1797-8. Of course, a year by year study of the extant Richmond and Henrico Tax Lists would reveal Jesse ROPER's continued presence in Richmond. Further study of the deed records in Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond City would also show when various properties were purchased and sold. The sale of the parcel at Warwick might very well identify with certainty the name of this Jesse ROPER's wife. * On balance, after carefully studying these records, I am quite doubtful that the Jesse ROPER shown in the Chesterfield and Henrico records was Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN. I will discuss this further in another post within the context of other anomolous records which seem to show otherwise. Although I shown in the subject of this post only that Jesse ROPER, of Chesterfield and Henrico, was born before 1752, I suspect that this probably underestimates his year of birth. I think that it is MORE LIKELY that this Jesse ROPER was at least age 21 in 1770 when he advertized for someone to rent the ordinary, putting his year of birth BEFORE 1750. With a bit of concerted study, we ought to be able to identify a possibly earlier first mention of Jesse ROPER in the Chesterfield and Henrico records, especially if he is much older. 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>