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/1915/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In a post dated April 11, 2014 titled "Roper Children of William LEA (d 1794-GA) of Wilkes County, GA", William Alexander Roper, Jr. mentioned the following: "Another possible clue to the origins of William ROPER, of Sumner and Smith Counties, is perhaps the power of attorney granted by James YATES, of Sumner County, Western Territories, to brother William YATES, of Caswell, NC, on 01 Nov 1792. Caswell Will Book "C", Pages 27-8. The image of this Power of Attorney is now online at the FamilySearch.org website at Image 415 of 642 within the file shown as "Wills, Inventories, Settlements, 1777-1783, Vol. A" (this file contains Will Books A, B and C). See: "North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19424-99097-8?cc=... : accessed 11 Apr 2014), Caswell > Wills, Inventories, Settlements, 1777-1783, Vol. A > image 415 of 642. This record is abstracted within Caswell County, North Carolina, Will Books, 1777-1814, by Katharine Kerr Kendall, Mary Frances Kerr Donaldson, at page 42." Taking the advise of William Alexander Roper, Jr., I have taken this clue and found connections between the James Yates of Sumner County, TN and the William Roper of Caswell, NC, who I now believe is probably the same person as the William Roper of Sumner County, TN. Much of the information on James Yates and Thomas Kilgore which I will mention next comes from a web site titled "Nancy's Dead Relatives" by Nancy Denty Breidenthal, a descendant of the Kilgores. There is additional information contained on that site which I will not be able incorporate in this article. For those who wish to know more details on the inter-relationship of these families, I recommend going to her site directly. Both James Yates and Thomas Kilgore can be seen in the Ancestry.com's Sumner County, TN Tax Lists for 1788, 1790, 1792, and 1794. There appear to be no tax lists after 1794 until 1802 and 1811. William Roper of Sumner County is not shown in any of these tax lists. Before moving to Sumner County, TN, James Yates, Thomas Yates, Thomas Kilgore, and a Zebulon Hubbard can be seen in Caswell County, NC: "19 Jan 1785: Jane Gillgore married Zebulon B. Hubbard in Caswell County, NC, with Zeri Rice as the bondsman. (Vickie Miller, from Kendall, Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1778-1868, p. 50)" "20 May 1784: James (x) Yeates and Zebulon Hobarty witnessed a deed from Anderson Ashburn to Thomas Kilgore for 92 acres on the waters of South and North Hyco in Caswell County. (Caswell County Deed Book B, p. 390)" James Yates married Lydia Gillgore on July 21, 1784, bond #000019420, in Caswell, NC. Thomas Yates is the Bondsman (see Ancestry.com, image number 002946). Secondary sources state that Lydia Kilgore was the sister of Jane Kilgore, who married Zebulon B. Hubbard. "1787: Zebulon Hubbard was residing in Sumner County, TN, where he was listed as one of the militia officers, helped to clear a road from Capt. Keykendall's to Capt. Winchester's Mill, and served as a juror. [Cisco, Historic Sumner County, Tennessee, p. 40; 1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements, p. 158, on Ancestry] " "1790 Sumner County Tax List: Zebulon Hubbard was listed with 1 poll and 160 acres. That year he was summoned to jury duty in Superior Court of Law and Equity in Nashville. [Cisco, p. 58]" "Dec 1790: Zebulon Hubbard was appointed Captain in the Sumner Militia." "22 Jun 1796: Thomas (x) Kilgore sold 320 acres between Red River and Sulphur Fork in Robertson County to John Carter. Witnesses: Zebulon Obert and Thomas Yates. Proved 25 Jul 1796. [Carpenter, Thomas Kilgore Sr., 1712-1822, and his Proven Descendants to 1991, p. 276, from Deed Book A, p. 14]" There was a Thomas Kilgore, Sr., and his son, Thomas Kilgore, Jr., living in Caswell, NC, and also in Tennessee, and Ms. Breidenthal states that it is easy to confuse the two. However, William Alexander Roper, Jr. should find the following marriage of Thomas Kilgore, Jr. to be of interest because of the connection to the Lea family: "2 Jan 1786: Thomas (Kilgore) married Phoebe Lea in Caswell County, NC, with Thomas Yates as bondsman. [Vickie Miller, from Kendall, Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1778-1868, p. 52] The daughter of James and Ann Tolbert Lea, she was undoubtedly related to Unice Lea, who would marry [Thomas' brother] Charles Kilgore." '20 Nov 1792: Thomas Kilgore, Thomas Yates, Robert Wade, and Edward Wade witnessed James Yates' purchase of 228 acres at the fork of Red River, south of Kilgore's line in Sumner County, from Abraham Hargas of Caswell County. [Vickie Miller, from Deed Book 1, p. 421; Carpenter, p. 53] Recorded 22 Jan 1793." (Notice the name of Abraham Hargis, which will have significance later) So is seems quite clear that the James Yates of Caswell, NC had moved to Sumner County, TN. What is the connection between James Yates of Sumner County, TN and the William Roper of Sumner, TN? James Yates was the witness to the deed that William Roper (m. Keziah Yates) of Caswell County, NC gave to his parents David Roper and Sarah in 1792: "Caswell Co. Deeds: H:85. 25 Sep 1792. 50 acres. William Roper of Caswell Co. "for Love Goodwill & Effection that I bear unto David Roper & Sarah Roper my father & mother" Land in Caswell on Rattlesnake Creek; land where on said David Roper now lives; "beg. Edmund Alleys SW corner runing E. 61 poles thence S. with Edward Swans line to my corner thence W. with Hubberts line to Rattle Snake Creek then down the creek to white oak Saplin neare the upper part or fence of my plantation thence meare a NE Course to the first Station". "During their natural life" Test: Edmd. Alley, James Yates William X Roper" (L. David Roper database) James Yates is probably related to Keziah Yates, wife of William Roper. Secondary sources state that they were brother and sister and the children of John Yates of Caswell, NC. I have not independently verified this. This is the last appearance of William Roper in Caswell County, NC. I have long suspected that William was disposing of his property because he was planning a move to another County or State. I think a case can be made that he moved to Sumner County, TN sometime after September, 1792. This is not based just on William Roper's close connection to James Yates. It is also based on other Caswell residents known to the family of David Roper and his son William Roper who can be shown moving to Sumner County, TN at about the same time as William Roper. There is a record of a deed transaction in Sumner County from an Ambrose Jones to a William Roper: "Index to Sumner Co. Deeds: Book A (records prior to 1797): p.26: Wm. Roper Deed Book 1 1793-97 (2nd book of deeds) (at Court House, Gallatin, TN) Ambrose Jones to Wm. Roper p.116" (L. David Roper database). Ambrose Jones appears to be in the business of buying land grants from North Carolina servicemen and reselling the land, without actually ever residing on the lands. The following are three of those Land Warrant Deeds. There is a Land Warrant Deed, #2263, dated May 20, 1793 from North Carolina which deeds 272 acres in Sumner County, TN to an Ambrose Jones, assignee of R(?) Johnston, a private in the Continental line of the States. There is a land grant for 640 acres in Sumner County dated July 11, 1788 to Ambrose Jones as assignee of John Hickman, heir of Corben Hickman, a private in the Continental line of the States There is also a North Carolina deed for 640 acres in Davidson County, TN dated July 11, 1788 granted to Ambrose Jones, as assignee of Private Daniel Ray in the Continental lines. William Alexander Roper, Jr., in a post dated December 22, 2012, titled "William ROPER'S Early Sumner County Deeds", mentions the following deeds: "William ROPER is shown to have been the grantee of two very early deeds in Sumner County, Tennessee. One of these is apparently within Sumner Deed Book A at Page 26 (Prior to 1793). The other is within Deed Book 1 (1793-97) at page 116." I have searched the Internet and cannot find the deed of Ambrose Jones or the ones mentioned by WAR, Jr. in which William Roper was the grantee. Thus, the actual date that this William Roper started residing in Sumner County will remain a mystery until a document can be found. William Roper appears next in Sumner County, TN is a legislative petition found transcribed in a document posted on the Internet by Vernon Roddy. (William Alexander Roper, Jr. also brought attention to this document in an earlier post). I will first reproduce a portion of Mr. Roddy's history of Hartsville, TN that is contained in that document: "1799 Petition for Hart Sumner County, Tennessee Present Day Trousdale County, Tennessee Contributed by Vernon Roddy Hartsville, Tennessee Trousdale County, Tennessee was formed in 1870 from Sumner, Smith, Macon and Wilson counties of Tennessee. Hartsville, which was situated in the extreme eastern corner of Sumner County from late 1799 until 1870, began in 1797 as Donoho's Mill. Hart's Ferry of the Cumberland River began shortly thereafter. Horse racing with Andy (Jackson) and others started about the same time or even before at the Goose Creek Track. The Hartsville post office was officially opened in 1807. In 1817, the state legislature declared Hartsville an "established' Tennessee town. Donoho's Mill was standing on West Fork of Goose Creek (now Little Goose), at the present Hartsville, present Trousdale County, Tennessee, by the time of 1797. Charles, Patrick and Edward Donoho were around, and maybe Thomas, for a while, too. (Major Thomas Donoho died in 1825 in Caswell County, North Carolina.)" Vernon Roddy then sets forth the Petition by the residents of the town that would become Hartsville, TN: "Augst 23rd 1799 To the Honorable, the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. We, your petitioners, whose names are Under Signed in the bounds of Capt. Bradley's Company, and in Sumner County, thinking it necessary to have a Justice of the Peace, Appointed, there being only one in Sd company, And that one has in Contemplation Soon to Remove, etc. We therefore Humbly pray that you would Appoint Capt. James Hart to Serve in that place, and your petitioners as in duty Bound Shall Ever pray. Thos Bradley Champness Mading Edward Bradley Charles Donoho Cormond Boaas (?) Saml Rorex (?) John Stubblefield Richard Grossage (?) James Sanders Cloudsburey Grenhaw Daniel Sanders Ricky Sanders William Sanders Isaac Coopper (?) John McConnel Thomas Parker John Binnion ___ Graham John Wood Sr (?) Wm Wood Jr Daniel McConnell Mtg. McConnell Francis Patterson Henry Weakfield E.P. Chambers William Hargis John Wright James Ellis" Benage Hardison Wm Irwin John Morris (?) William Story Alexander Cathey, Senr Aaron Lambert Thomas Walker Joseph Markes Benjamin Markes Wm Roper Thos Roper David Ventuers William Roper John Sanderson James McKinnes Griffith Cathey James Petty John Cathey Patrick Hamilton John Jones Every Lambert Frederick Erick James Graham And__ Hamilton Wm Cathey Bruckner Russel The Petition has the name of William Roper. There is also another Wm Roper and a Thos Roper, who I will discuss later. A "William Hargus" married a Sally Roper on July 21, 1810, where the bondsman was Wm. McAdams, according to the transcribed records shown on Ancestry.com. One will find a William Hargis in the list of 1799 petitioners. Sally Roper was probably the daughter of William Roper, since the other two (Wm. Roper and Thos. Roper) will be shown to not be old enough to be the father. (Thomas was born abt. 1780 and Wm. was born abt. 1774-1780) The Hargis family was quite prominent in Caswell, NC in the last quarter of the 18th century. Abraham Hargis was a Revolutionary War Veteran. Secondary sources state that Richard Hargis of Caswell, NC was one of his sons. A Richard Hargis can be seen in Caswell County, NC in 1790. I found these notes on the Internet in reference to Richard Hargis and his family: "Note: Richard's will was recorded in Person County 1799-1800. He came to old Orange County before the division of the county into four counties, while his son, Oliver, was quite young, and soon after his son, William, was born in Fairfax County, VA in 1769. Richard apparently had been living here long enough to establish himself as a trustworthy man when in 1772 he was asked to sign a petition for the establishment of a new county - Caswell... He is listed in the Hillsborough District, Caswell County, St. Luke's District, NC 1790 census but not in the 1800 census. He bought and sold a lot of land in NC that are recorded in various county courthouses. The family plantation changed from Orange to Caswell to Person County as the new counties were formed from older ones in the late 1700s. His will, on file in the Person County, NC courthouse, was filed in June 1800 (Book A p260-1) He left everything to his wife, Jane, and children, except Oliver and Nancy. His son William and his wife Jane were the executors." I cannot say with certainty that the Executor William Hargis in the Will of Richard Hargis is the same as the William Hargis in Sumner, TN, but I think the presence of the Hargis family in Caswell, NC is important in identifying this particular William Roper in Sumner, TN. As can be seen from both the history of Hartsville and the Petition, the Donoho family was quite prominent in the early settlement of Sumner County. This family's origins can also be found in Caswell, NC before members of the family migrated to Sumner County: "Caswell Co. Deeds H:20: Jacob Williams & Thomas Donoho to Edward Swan for 200 lbs 406 acres on Rattlesnake Creek adj Geo Wite, Morrow, Hubbert, Roper, it being tract Jacob Williams has possessed and part sold by Sheriff to satisfy execution at Hillsborough for Dudly Runnals and purchased by Thomas Donoho. 22 Nov 1791. Wit: David Cochran, Edmund Alley. H:55: Jacob Williams & Thomas Donoho to Edmund Alley for 42 lbs 63 acres on Rattlesnake Creek adj. Edward Swan, Wm. Roper, John Davis, Samuel Welch, being part of tract on which Williams lived for 9 or 10 years. 22 Nov 1791. Wit: David Cochran, Edward Swan." There is also a Thomas Bradley listed in the Sumner County Petition. A James Bradley can be seen as a witness to a deed by David Roper to William Roper in 1779: "Caswell Co. Deeds: A:186-20 Jan 1779 224 acres. David Roper to William Roper (both of Caswell Co.). Land in Caswell Co. on both sides of Rattlesnake Creek. [Description identical to that of Orange Co. deed 3:454. Wit: James Bradley & David Cochran. David X Roper" L David Roper data base. "C:1: William Roper to Robert Morroe for 400 lbs 38 acres adjacent David Roper, the tract Morrow has now in his possession. Also signed by Keziah Roper 13 Jan 1784 Wit: Thomas Tarpley, James Bradly." L. David Roper data base. A Thomas Bradley, James Bradly and a John Bradley are listed in the 1790 Richmond District, Caswell, NC census. A Daniel Sanders and a Ricky Sanders can also be seen in the 1799 Sumner County Petition. The Sanders family had numerous connections to Caswell, NC and secondary sources show many members of this family moving to Sumner County, TN. A:565: James Stringer to Jacob Williams for 100 lbs 640 acres both sides of main road on waters Rattlesnake Creek adjacent David Shelton, David Roper 5 Dec 1781. Wit: Adams Sanders, Robert Payne, Mat Hubert." L. David Roper data base. A Richard Sanders, William Sanders, Col., James Sanders, Col. Adam Sanders, and Obediah Sanders can all be seen in the 1790 Richmond District, Caswell, NC census. Captain William Sanders filed a petition in 1799 in Sumner County asking permission to erect a tobacco Warehouse and to change the name do Bledsoe Burrough to Valladolia. (Tennessee Petitions 1799-1812 TN.Gov) There were two other Ropers shown in the 1799 Hartsville Sumner Petition: Wm. Roper and Thomas Roper. Secondary sources have speculated that they were the illegitimate children of William Roper or children of William Roper by another marriage prior to his marriage to Keziah Yates in 1781. (They apparently were both born before 1781). I have no substantial evidence to offer on that subject. However, I do find the family connections of Thos. Roper to be of interest. Thomas Roper is mentioned as a son-in-law in the 1804 Will of William Brown of Sumner County: "WILL OF WILLIAM BROWN In the name of God Amen: I William Brown of Sumner County being very sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and from as follows, First of all I recommend my soul to Almight God, he gave it through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redemer. Secondly it is my will that all my just debts shall be paid by my executors here after named. Item. I give unto my son James Brown one small bay mare colt, Item. I give my daughter Sally Brown one sorrel filly about six years old and fifteen dollars in cash to be raided (raised) out of my estate. Item. I give my son in law Thomas Roper fifteen dollars to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give my son in law John ______ one dollar to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give my son Robert Brown one dollar to be raised in the same manner. Item. I give to my son Alexander Brown fifty dollars to be raised in the same manner to be paid to him when he becomes of age or marries. Item. I give to my son Richard Brown fifty dollars to be raised in the same manner and to be paid to him when he comes of age or marries. Item. I give my son John Brown sixty dollars to be raised in the same manner and to be paid to him when he comes of age or marries. Item. I lend to my beloved wife Nancy Brown all the balance of my estate both real and personal be it what nature so ever during her life or widow hood to be kept together by my Executors and at her death or marriage it is my desire that the property lent to her should be equally divided between my two sons James and William Brown and if either of the before mentioned children should die before they come of age, or have a lawful issue that part allotted to them should be equally divided among the surviving Legaties. Lastly of all I appoint my worthy friends James Hart, Arthur Exam and my son James Brown Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me made here to fore and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this the twelth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and four. /s/ William Brown Seal In presence of John Teim, Elisha Cheek, Simon Cool." I found the following information on William Brown on the Internet, which I have not verified independently: "William Brown received 150 acres of land in Caswell County, NC, from his father, Leonard Brown, in 1791. In Caswell County Deed Book H, p. 121, it shows that on 21 Sep 1791, Leonard Brown of Caswell County, NC, deeded 150 acres to his son William Brown "for love and affection." The land was part of the survey where Leonard Brown then lived. The witnesses to the transaction were Daniel Williams and William Dorris. (Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 140.) William was listed in the 1800 Caswell County census as follows: o one male (26-45, b. 1755-1774) - probably William, b. ca 1767 o one female (26-45, b. 1774-1784) - probably Nancy, b. ? o one female (10-18, b. 1782-1790) - probably Mary "Polly" b. ca 1789? o one male (< 10, b. 1790-1800) - probably Azariah b. ? o one female (< 10, b. 1790-1800). - probably Nancy b. ? On 30 Dec 1800, Leonard Brown sold another 100 acres of his land adjacent Solomon Brown to his son William for 65 lbs. The witnesses were Robert Dorris and Thomas Brown. (Source: Deed Book L, p. 363, Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 214.) In 1804 William sold his land in Caswell County, NC, apparently in anticipation of his move to Sumner County,TN. In Caswell County Deed Book O, p. 14 & 15, it shows that on 1 Oct 1804, William Brown of Caswell County sold 261 acres to George Shelton also of Caswell County for $520.00. The land was located on the south fork of Country Line Creek and was a part of the grant from State to Leonard Brown, adjacent Goforth near the old log meeting house, Solomon Brown, Thomas Brown, and William Slade. The witnesses were William Dickie and William L. McNeill. (Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books, 1777-1817, abstracts by Katharine Kerr Kendall, 1989, p. 256.)... William Brown and his family migrated from Caswell County, NC sometime between 1804 and 1808, when William died in Sumner County, TN. It is likely that they made the move nearer 1804 of 1805, since William had time to locate and purchase land in Sumner County prior to his death. According to William's estate records, he died on 10-Dec-1808, probably in Sumner County, TN. His wife, Nancy, and brother-in-law, William Dorris, were the administrators of his estate..." A Thomas Roper appears in a Maury County, TN record alongside Tennessee Roper "Maury Co., TN Genealogist: Enrollment Book B of Chancery Court Index (1818-1829& 1837-1840): Joseph Hackney vs Thos. & Tennessee Roper." L. David Roper database. This Thomas Roper probably went on to Hickman County, TN, where he is seen living next to a William Brown in the 1820 census, and then on the Clinton County, IL where he can be found in the census records. It is possible that this Thomas Roper, who was probably in Sumner County, TN in 1798 when Tennessee Roper was born, could be the father of Tennessee Roper. The last census in which Thomas Roper is seen is in the 1850 Clinton County, IL census where he is shown at age 70 and born in NC. His wife is shown as age 70 and born in Ireland. Thus, Thomas Roper would have been about 18 years of age when Tennessee Roper was born in TN in 1798. However, I think it is more likely that Tennessee Roper is the son of William Roper, b. bef. 1756, married Keziah Yates, of Caswell, NC because Tennessee Roper named one of his daughters Keziah and one of his sons William. Finally, I should mention John Y. Roper of Sumner County, TN, who makes his first appearance in the 1820 Smith County, TN census: John Y Roper 1-0-0-1-0-0*********0-1-0-1-0 John Y Roper is shown as age 26-44, with a wife age 26-44. They have one male <10 and one female 10-15. William Roper is in neither the Smith County nor Sumner County census records of 1820. William Roper is probably in Maury County, TN where he appears in the 1820 census. Mysteriously, John Y. Roper next appears in the 1830 Sumner County census record, rather that Smith County: John Y Roper 0-0-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0***********0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 John Y. Roper, Sr. will be shown as age 70 in the 1870 Sumner County, TN census, living in the household of his son John Y. Roper, Jun. Thus, in 1830 he would be 30 years of age, which is consistent with the age of 30-39 shown in the 1830 census. A female is shown as age 40-49. There is one male 10-14 and one female 10-14. There is also one male 50-59. Why is John Y. Roper shown in Smith County in 1820 and in Sumner County in 1830? Perhaps he moved between counties, but then perhaps there is another reason. I found the following on the Internet: "Summer County, Tennessee Civil, Districts-1836 Compiled by Linda Carpenter Source: Copies from the Sumner County Archives, Sumner County Civil, Districts - 1836 Map VF... State of Tennessee Sumner County In pursuance of an act of the General Assemble of the State of Tennessee passed the Third day of December 1835 we have proceeded to lay off the County of Sumner aforesaid into twenty Districts bounded as follows. District Number 1 Election to be held at Hartsville. Begins at the mouth of Goose Creek running thence Northwardly with the Smith County Lines to a point that will include John Y. Roper, then Westwardly including Pleasant Duncan and along Vances' lanes crossing the West Fork of Goose Creek below John Mills continue Westwardly with the extreme height of the ridge which divides the waters of Second Creek from those of Goose Creek to the corner of Bartholomew Stovalls field, then down Second Creek to the mouth, then up the river to the beginning...." It is possible that John Y. Roper's property was straddling the line between Sumner County and Smith County, and ended up in different county records in 1820 and 1830. Although William Roper of Sumner County probably joined his sons David Y. Roper and Tennessee Roper in Maury County, TN, he was buried in what is now Hartsville, Trousdale, TN. Worth Ray in "TN Cousins" mentions William Roper being buried not far from Hartsville, Trousdale County, TN: "Ansearchin News 36, 1989: p.139: Who was Wm. Roper in "TN Cousins" by Worth Ray, buried on old Roper place not far from Hartsville, Trousdale Co.? Mrs. T. A. Stallworth, 102 Sunset Dr., Box 766, Chester, SC 29706." L. David Roper database." I found an excerpt from Worth Ray's book as follows: "Tennessee Cousins: Smith Co., TN, the home of Rev. Heroes: p.649: When North Carolina opened up lands for it's revolutionary soldiers, practically all of what is now Smith, Sumner and adjoining counties (of TN), save the pre-emptioned tracts, were included. A great flock of Rev. patriots from NC and East TN poured in, and among them were the following, some of whom may not have lived in Smith County but some in Trousdale Co. and adjoining areas that for a while was a part of Smith, and perhaps before that their original set-element had been actually in Sumner Co., from which Smith had been taken. p.651: William Roper is buried on the old Roper Place not far from Hartsville in Truesdale Co...." William Alexander Roper, Jr. has determined the actual location of this Roper gravesite from some older records. I refer to you his posts of December 14, 2012 titled "Location of Grave of Revolutionary War Veteran William Roper and of December 23, 2012 titled "Possible Specific Location of William Roper Grave Site in Trousdale County, TN", all on Roper-LArchives. The gravesite is in present day Hartsville, which is now in the County of Truesdale, and is located to the west of the Little Goose river. Thus, considering the presence in Sumner County from 1790-1810 of a number of neighbors of the Roper family in Caswell County, NC from 1780-1792 and of James Yates, the William Roper of Caswell County, NC, son of David and Sarah, appears likely to be the same William Roper who arrived in Sumner County sometime in the 1790s. 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>