This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Moore, Biggs, Lyell, Latimer, Dameron, Miskell, Morris, Quarles, Birchett, Brown, Hicks, Harvey, Howerton, Bass, Rosser, Harris, Andrews, , Stith, Matins, Martains, Turnbull, Lanier, Williams, Read, Russell, Ball, Lambert, Harper, Coleman, Holloway Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1939.4/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Transcriptions of several Brunswick, Virginia, Deed Books have been posted at the U.S. Genweb Archives. Shown below are transcriptions of several Brunswick deeds from Deed Book 15 which bear on ROPERs and ROSSERs: 30 Sep 1788 [Samuel and Sarah DAMERON conveys 103 acres, bounded by David ROPER, Joel BIGGS, and EMBROURS, to John LATIMORE ] This Indenture made this 30th Day of September 1788 BETWEEN Samuel Dameron of the County of Brunswick of the one part & John Latimore of the said County of the other part . . . that the said Samuel Dameron & Sarah his wife for and in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds . . . doth bargain sell alien & confirm unto the said John Latimore . . . one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the said County on the North side Hicory Run containing one hundred & three acres by estimation and bounded as followeth (to wit) by David Ropers Joel Biggs and the land of Embrours with the appurtenances thereunto belonging . . . Signed by Saml. Dameron and Sarah Dameron, and witnessed by Jos. Lyell, William Latimer, and Robert Latimer. Brunswick County Court August 22nd 1791. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale was proved by the oaths of Joseph Lyell a witness thereto and having been proved on the 27th Day of October 1788 by the oaths of Wm. and Robert Latimer also witnesses thereto the same is ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, page 131. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-200.txt * * * 12 Nov 1788 [John MISKELL's Security Deed To Henry MORRIS TO Secure Payment of Debts and an Injunction Bond of Joseph LYELL (for Which John MISKELL Stands as Security, Secured by eight slaves, a sorrel horse, a sorrel mare, three head of cattle and assorted household furniture] This Indenture of three parts made this twelfth Day of November 1788 BETWEEN John Miskell of the County of Lunenburg of the first part Joseph Lyell of Brunswick of the second part and Henry Morris of the said County of the third part whereas the said Joseph Lyell at the time of sealing and delivery of this presents is and stands bound to John Ingram to the amount of twenty pounds to Drury Stith the sum of thirteen pounds to John Edmunds the sum of thirty three pounds and should he the said Lyell become security to an injunction bond in Lunenburg to the amount of one hundred and fifty pounds which said sums the said Joseph Lyell is and will be subject to pay as security for the said Miskell and the said Miskell being willing to secure the payment of the same and thereby save harmless the said Lyell Now This Indenture Witnesseth that the said John Miskell for and in consideration of the premises and farther consideration of five shillings to him in hand paid by Henry Morris . ! . . doth grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said Henry Morris . . . eight Negroes King, Lucy, Ephraim, David, Peter, Esther, John, Moses, also one sorrel horse and sorrel mare three head of cattle three feather beds and furniture, household and kitchin [sic] furniture with the right title interest claim property and demand to the said premises and every part and parcel thereof . . . but to and for the uses trust intent and purpose following and to and for no other trust intent or purpose whatsoever (that is to say) for the use and benefit of the said John Miskell . . . until his interest thereon shall be determined by the contingency hereafter set forth and from thence farther upon this special trust that in case the said several sums of money for which the said Joseph Lyell is or may stand bound or any part thereof is not paid by the twenty fifth Day of December . . . one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight and the said Joseph Lyell should be called upon to be the! same or any part thereof and he the said Lyell by writing under his h and shall so desire then in that or eight of the cases aforesaid it shall and may be lawful and the said John Miskell doth hereby consent hereto for the said Henry Morris . . . to apose to sail for ready money all or any part of the aforesaid Negroes and property giving unto the said John Miskell ten days previous notice of the time and place of making such sale and also advertising the same in one of the Virginia Gazettes and out of the money arising to pay and satisfie, the aforesaid sums of money or any part thereof that may be then unpaid and for which the said Joseph Lyell is liable to the different persons to whom the same may be due . . . that the said Joseph Lyell shall not be obliged to prosecute any suit at law or in equity for the recovery of the amount of the said sum of money and the said John Miskell . . . covenant and agree to and with the said Henry Morris . . . that upon making sale of all or my part of the aforesaid Negroes or property before mentioned that! he the said Henry Morris . . . hath and shall have full power and lawful authority to make seal and execute to the purchaser or purchasers of the above or any my part thereof good full and sufficient deed or deeds of conveyance . . . Signed by John Miskell, Joseph Lyell and Henry Morris, Senior, and witnessed by James Quarles, Sarah Roper (her mark), Grief Birchett, Aaron Brown, Isaac Hicks and Thomas Sadler. Brunswick County Court 22d Day of June 1789. This Indenture was proved by the oaths of Aaron Brown and Isaac Hicks witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 14, page 507. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db14-550.txt SPECIAL NOTE: This Deed is actually in Deed Book 14 but fits chronologically here because the first relevant Book 15 deed (above) was held for almost three years before it was recorded. * * * * * 22 Oct 1790 [Thomas HARVEY's Deed of Trust of a 50 acre parcel at the fork of Red Oak Creek, bounded by Nathaniel HARPER, William MOORE and PURDIE, to Moses QUARLES, Jr., in respect of William MOORE, Sr., and David ROPER, Sr.'s agreement to act as securities in probate] This Indenture of three parts made this 22nd Day of October 1790 BETWEEN Thomas Harvey of the County of Brunswick of the first part William Moore and David Roper of the same County of the second part and Moses Quarles, Junior, of the third part whereas the said William Moore & David Roper . . . stands bound for the said Thomas Harvey as securities for the said Thomas Harvey as an executor for Thomas Harvey deceased his father which the said Moore & Roper are subject to pay sundry bequest legacies & debts both foreign & domestic as securities for the said Harvey for the performance of his said father's Last Will & Testament and the said Harvey being willing to secure the payment of the same & thereby save harmless the said Moore and Roper now this indenture . . . for and in consideration of the promises and further consideration of five shillings to him in hand paid by Moses Quarles Junior party hereto . . . doth grant bargain sell & confirm unto the said Moses Quarles . . . but to and for the uses intents & purposes following thereafter mentioned one certain piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County of Brunswick on the fork of Read Oak Creek & bounded by the lines Nathaniel Harpers land William Moores land & Purdies land containing by estimation fifty acres . . . that is to say for the use and benefit of the Thomas Harvey . . . until his interest therein shall be determined contingency hereafter set forth . . . in case the several sums of money bequest and legacies for which the said William Moore Senior & David Roper S! enior is and stands bound or any part thereof is not paid either the said Moore & Roper should be called upon to pay the same or any part thereof and they the said Moore & Roper by writing under their hands shall so desire then and that or either of the cases aforesaid that it shall and may be lawful and the said Thomas Harvey doth hereby consent thereto for the said Moses Quarles Junior to expose to sell for ready money all or any part of the aforesaid land and property giving to the said Thomas Harvey ten days previous notice of the time and place of making such sale and also advertising in some one of the Virginia Gazette and out of the money arising to pay & satisfy the aforesaid sums of debts due legacies & bequests not discharged pursuant to the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Harvey deceased . . . Signed by Thomas Harvey, William Moore (his mark), and Moses Quarles, Junior, and witnessed by Jno. Miskell, Benjamim Roper, James Howerton, and William Moore, Junior. Notwithstanding the within deed of trust entitles William Moore to sell the whole or any part of the within said land when called upon to pay the whole or any part of the within mentioned debts due legacies or bequests of Thomas Harvey deceased he has since agreed not to sell the whole or any part of the said land for a legacy & bequest of Thomas Harvey deceased to his son Rawleigh Harvey until the expiration of six years from the within date as witness my hand & seal this 29th Day of October 1790. Signed by William Moore (his mark) and witnessed by Jno. Miskell, Benjamin Roper, James Howerton, and William Moore, Junior. Brunswick County Court the 28th Day of February 1791. This Deed of Trust and Memorandum endorsed was proved by the oaths of Benjamin Roper Junior, Jas. Howerton, & Wm. Moore, Junior, three of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, Page 43. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-100.txt * * * 10 Dec 1790 [Allen BASS' receipt from David ROSSER of a cash and tobacco bond as guardian of Elizabeth DAVIS, orphan of William DAVIS] 1790 December 10th. Received of Mr. David Rosser who was guardian of Elizabeth Davis orphan of William Davis decd. cash Bond to amount thirty three pounds six shillings & eight pence and a tobacco Bond for fifteen hundred & thirty one pounds Petersburg tobacco it being in full of all demands on Accont. his being guardian for the said orphan. Signed by Allen Bass and witnessed by William Andrews, Absalem Harris and Samuel Andrews. Brunswick County Court October 22nd 1792. This receipt was acknowledged by Allen Bass party thereto to be his act & deed and ordered to be recorded. Bunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, page 332. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-400.txt * * * 06 Aug 1791 This Indenture made this six day of August 1791 BETWEEN William Roper of the county of Brunswick of the one part and Joel Roper of the county of Dinwitty of the other part . . . for and in consideration of the sum of sixty pounds . . . do grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said Joel Roper . . . a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Brunswick and Parrish of St. Andrews on the head of Red Oak Creek and bounded as followeth vizt., BEGINNING on Drury Stith's line thence along the said Stith's line to William Martains line thence along his line to James Quarles's line thence along the said Quarles line to the BEGINNING containing by estimation one hundred acres . . . signed by Wilham [William] Roper witnessed by Benjamin Roper, James Howerton, Benjamin Moore, Robert Latimer, and David Roper. Brunswick County Court February 27th 1792. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale was proved by the oaths of Benjamin Roper, Benjamin Moore & David Roper three of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Deed Book 15, Page 182. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-200.txt * * * 27 Feb 1792 [Joel and Lucy ROPER convey 100 acres bounded by Drury STITH, Wm. MARTINS and Wm. ROPER to James QUARLES, Jr.] This Indenture made this 27th of February, 1792, in this Commonwealth between Joel Roper & Lucy Roper his wife of the one part & County of Dinwiddie and James Quarles, Sr. of the County of Brunswick of the other part . . . for and in consideration of the sum of Sixty Pounds . . . doth freely fully & absolutely give grant bargain & alien convey & confirm unto the said James Quarles . . . one certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the Parish of Saint Andrews and County of Brunswick containing One Hundred Acres . . . and bounded as followeth to wit Beginning at a corner on Drury Stiths line thence along the said Stiths line to Wm. Martins line thence along the said Martains his line to William Ropers that the said William Roper sold unto the said James Quarles thence along the said line to the beginning the same being granted unto the said Joel Roper and wife . . . Signed by Joel Roper and witnessed by Moses Quarles, Jr., Benjamin Roper, Jos. Lyell, William Moore (by his mark), and David Roper. Brunswick County Court April 23rd, 1792. This Indenture of Bargain & Sale was proved by the oaths of Moses Quarles, Jr., William Moore & David Roper, three of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, Page 231. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-300.txt * * * 02 Jan 1793 [James QUARLES coveyance of 100 acres, bounded by Drury STITH, William MARTAINS, and James QUARLES, to William ROPER] This Indenture made this 2nd day of January 1793 between James Quarles of the County of Brunswick Virginia of the one part and William Roper of the County aforesaid of the other part . . . for and in consideration of the sum of seventy pounds . . . doth grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said William Roper . . . a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County of Brunswick on the head of Red Oak Creek in St. Andrews Parish and bounded as followeth, vizt., BEGINNING on Drury Stiths line thence along Stiths line to William Martains line thence along his line to James Quarles thence along his line to the Beginning containing by estimation one hundred acres . . . Signed by James Quarles and witnessed by David Roper, Charles Moore, Wm. Moore, and Benjamin Moore. Brunswick County Court September 23rd 1793. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale between James Quarles of the one part and William Roper of the other part was proved by the oaths of William Moore, David Roper and Benjamin Moore, three of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded. Deed Book 15, page 439. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-500.txt * * * 02 Jan 1793 [William ROPER's Deed of trust secured by 100 acres at Hickory Run to secure the reciprocal debt of the Charles ROPER Estate to William BEATIA] This Indenture made this 2nd day of January 1793 between William Roper of the County of Brunswick of the one part and Dennes Stell & Joel Roper of the County of Dinwiddie Executors of Charles Roper Senr. decd. of the other part . . . for and in consideration of the sum of sixty pounds . . . which the said William Roper is justly indebted to the estate of the above decd. and honestly desires to secure and pay whenever William Beatia formerly a merchant of the Town of Petersburg in the County of Dinwiddie or his legal representatives heirs or successors shall have a right to demand the same of the estate of the said decd. with Interest and costs (in any) and for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings . . . do grant bargain and sell and confirm unto the said Dennes Stell & Joel Roper Exors. of the sd. decd. and to their heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Brunswick containing by estimation one hundred acres . .! . BEGINNING on Drury Stiths line thence along his line to James Martains line thence along his line to James Quarles thence along his line to the Beginning . . . UPON TRUST nevertheless that the said Dennes Stell and Joel Roper Exors. of the sd. decd. . . . shall have full power (whenever the above sd. William Beatie or any personal legally for him shall have a rite to demand the above sum of sixty pounds) and Interests and costs (if any) should arise of the estate of the estate of the said Charles Roper Senr. decd. They are to give ten days public notice and sell the said land and premises to the highest bidder and of the money arising from such sale satisfy the above debt if not otherwise discharged . . . Signed by William Roper and witnessed by Charles Moore, David Roper and James Quarles. Brunswick County Court September 23rd 1793. This Indenture of Deed and Trust was acknowledged by William Roper party thereto to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded. Deed Book 15, page 441. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-500.txt * * * 21 Jan 1793 [Robert TURNBULL as Attorney for David RUSSELL conveying two parcels totalling 80 3/4 acres purchased from Richard LANIER, bounded by Hugh WILLIAMS corner, READ, Red Oak Creek, School House Branch, BALL, to Richard COLEMAN, Sr.] This Indenture made this 21st day of January 1793 between Robert Turnbull of Prince George County Attorney for David Russell of the City of Glasgow Merchant of the one part and Richard Coleman Sr. of the County of Dinwiddie of the other part Witnesseth that whereas Richard Lanier did by Deed bearing date the 11th day of March in the year of Christ 1774 sell and convey to the said David Russell two certain tracts of land lying in the County of Brunswick one being that tract of land given to the said Lanier by his father in law Hubbard Quarles by deed bearing date the 21st day of February in the year 1771 and also one other tract purchased by the said Richard Lanier of a certain Thomas Ball both of which are bounded as is expressed in the deeds of the same duly recorded in the County Court of Brunswick and will fully appear reference being thereunto had and containing in all two hundred acres . . . and whereas the said David Russell being now beyond sea hath constituted and ap! pointed the said Robert Turnbull his true and lawful attorney to sell and dispose of the said land and grant conveyances for the same in as full and ample manner as the David Russell could have done had he himself been personally present . . . for and in consideration of the full and just quantity of eight thousand & seventy five pounds of merchantible crop tobacco passed at the Appomattox Inspections . . . doth bargain sell alien enfeoff and confirm to the said Richard Coleman Senr. . . . the tract of land above mentioned which was granted to the said Richard Lanier by Hubbard Quarles as will appear by the deed above referred to bounded as followeth BEGINNING at Hugh Williams corner red oak thence along Reads line to Red Oak Creek thence up the said Creek to the mouth of the School House Branch thence up the said branch to the head thereof at the School House Spring thence by a straight line of marked trees to Balls line at a red oak where it crosses the road thence along ! Balls line to the Beginning and containing by measurement eighty & thr ee quarter acres . . . Signed by Robert Turnbull Attorney for David Russell and witnessed by David Roper, William Roper, and David Roper Junr. Brunswick County Court September 23rd 1793. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale from Robert Turnbull Attorney for David Russell of the one part and Richard Coleman of the other part was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, Page 433. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-500.txt * * * 25 Jan 1793 [Confirming deed of Robert TURNBULL attorney in fact for David RUSSELL for 200 acres in favor of Nathaniel HARPER in Respect of Deed of Trust by Robert READ] This Indenture made this 25th day of January 1793 betwixt Robert Turnbull of the County of Prince George attorney for David Russell of the City of Glasgow Merchant for the express purpose of the one part and Nathaniel Harper of the County of Brunswick of the other part witnesseth that whereas Robert Read late of the said County decd. was indebted to the said David Russell in a considerable sum of money as will appear by reference to the sundry papers hereinafter mentioned and which said sum of money the said Read being desirous to secure and pay did by instrument of writing conveyed to the said David Russell . . . sundry tracts of land in the said County of Brunswick viz. a certain tract of land whereon the said Robert Read formerly did live another tract of land commonly known by the name of Lamberts another tract of land which he the said Read purchased from Richard Lanier and another tract which he purchased from Charles Roper lying on Nottoway River all of which were by ! virtue of the said instrument of writing sold to the highest bidder for the purposes therein mentioned and purchased by George Purdie of the County of Isle of Wight to whom a conveyance for the same has never been made and by whom the last mentioned tract known by the name of Ropers has been sold to the said Nathaniel Harper abovementioned for a valuable consideration . . . that for and in consideration of the sum of forty thousand pounds of merchantable crop tobacco past at Petersburg warehouse in hand paid to the said Robert Turnbull attorney for the said David Russell . . . doth bargain sell alien enfeoff release and confirm unto the said Nathaniel Harper . . . one certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County of Brunswick on Nottoway River containing by estimation two hundred acres . . . and bounded by the lands following Hugh Williams's lands, Robert Reads lands, Nathaniel Harpers lands & Nottoway River agreeable to the courses mentioned in the ! deeds for the forementioned lands all of which will more fully appear reference being thereto had it being that tract of land whereon David Roper formerly lived which had been purchased by Charles Roper from Hugh Williams and by said Roper sold to Robert Read which will also fully appear by reference to the deeds for the same duly recorded in the County Court of Brunswick . . . Signed by Robert Turnbull attorney in fact for David Russell and witnessed by Sterling Quarles, William Quarles, and Moses Quarles, Sr. Brunswick County Court January 28th 1793. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale was acknowledged by Robert Turnbull attorney for David Russell party thereto to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, page 346. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-400.txt * * * 14 Feb 1793 [Trustee's Deed by Robert TURNBULL of Prince George County Attorney for David RUSSELL for 384 acres on the waters of Red Oak Creek to Richard COLEMAN, Sr.] This Indenture made this 14th day of February 1793 betwixt Robert Turnbull of Prince George County Attorney for David Russell of the City of Glasgow Merchant of the one part and Richard Coleman of Dinwiddie County of the other part Witnesseth that whereas Robert Read late of Brunswick County being indebted to David Russell aforesaid in a large sum of money and being desirous to secure and pay the same did convey by a certain instrument of writing recorded in the County Court of Brunswick sundry tracts of land as is therein specified which said tracts of land were fairly sold to the highest bidder and purchased by George Purdie but to which the said George Purdie hath never yet had a title and whereas all the said lands have been since sold by the said Robert Turnbull for the behoof and by virtue of powers from the said George Purdie amongst which lands are those hereafter mentioned and which have been sold for behoof of the said George Purdie and by his missive now in the po! ssession of the said Robert Turnbull directed to be conveyed by him as Attorney for David Russell to the said Richard Coleman Senr. instead of him the said George Purdie now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said Robert Turnbull Attorney for David Russell as aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of twenty thousand pounds of Merchantible Petersburg tobacco . . . doth bargain sell alien enfeoff and confirm to the said Richard Coleman Sr. . . . one certain tract or parcel of land lying in the County of Brunswick on the waters of Red Oak Creek containing by estimation three hundred and eighty four acres . . . being the lands formerly belonging to William Read and Robert Read and whereon they both lived and bounded by the lands of Nathaniel Harper (formerly those of Hugh Williams), Hubbard Quarles, William Martains, John Lambert, Thomas Harvey, and Nathaniel Harper . . . signed by Richard Turnbull Attorney for David Russell and witnessed by David Roper, William Roper and David Roper, Jr. Brunswick County Court September 23rd 1793. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale between Robert Turnbull Attorney for David Russell of the one part and Richard Coleman of the other part was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, Page 436. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-500.txt * * * 12 Jul 1793 [Richard COLEMAN's conveyance of 61 1/4 acres, bounded by Elizabeth HOWERTON, David ROPER and Little Red Oak Creek.] This Indenture made this 12th day of July 1793 between Richard Coleman of the County of Brunswick of the one part and David Roper Senr. of the aforesaid County of the other part . . . for and in consideration of the sum of sixty one pounds five shillings . . . doth grant bargain sell alien infeoff [sic] absolutely confirm unto the said David Roper . . . one certain tract or parcell [sic] of land in the County of Brunswick containing by survey sixty one and one quarter of acres and lying on the East side of Little Red Oak and bounded as followeth BEGINNING at the said creek thence up Elizabeth Howertons line to a corner of the said David Ropers line thence on the said Ropers line to the creek thence up the said to the Beginning . . . Signed by Richard Coleman and witnessed by Lewis Holloway, Bartholomew Ingram, and Jno. Miskell. Brunswick County Court September 23rd 1793. This Indenture of Bargain and Sale was acknowledged by Richard Coleman party thereto to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded. Brunswick, VA, Deed Book 15, page 438. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/db15-500.txt * * * * * NOTE 1: The DAMERON deed of 30 Sep 1788 establishes that David ROPER, Joel BIGGS and an EMBROURS own the property adjacent to a 103 acre parcel conveyed by Samuel and Sarah DAMERON to John LATIMORE. The appearance of the names Joseph LYELL, William LATIMORE and Robert LATIMORE suggests that these, too, may have been neighbors of David ROPER. NOTE 2: The complex deed of trust dated 12 Nov 1788 by John MISKELL in favor of Henry MORRIS, Sr., in respect of the debts of Joseph LYELL is interesting mostly in showing the presence of a Sarah ROPER in Brunswick County at 12 Nov 1788 who is unable to sign her name. William ROPER is known to have been married to a Sarah. NOTE 3: It is UNCLEAR whether William MOORE and David ROPER, Sr., are acting as security for Thomas HARVEY, executor of the Estate of Thomas HARVEY, as mentioned in the deed of trust dated 22 Oct 1790 because HARVEY is related or merely as an accomodation for a neighbor. In any case MOORE and ROPER no doubt obtained the deed of trust to minimize their exposure. NOTE 4: The HARVEY deed of trust seems to clarify that it is the elder William MOORE who is illiterate and the son William MOORE, Jr., seems to sign his own name. Benjamin ROPER, Jr., appears on this instrument as a witness and Benjamin seems to sign his own name. He is probably at least age 16 by the date of this instrument and likely to be at least age 21 (b bef 1769). NOTE 5: The HARVEY deed of trust further implicitly identifies the location of William MOORE's land by showing that the Thomas HARVEY tract pledged as security for the subject deed of trust is a 50 acre parcel at the fork of Red Oak Creek bounded by Nathaniel HARPER, William MOORE and PURDIE. NOTE 6: Without examining the underlying primary document dated 10 Dec 1790 and shown to be a receipt for a cash and tobacco bond, it is difficult to speculate about whether this is correctly shown as a ROSSER rather than a ROPER record, however, the names shown on the instrument are NOT those frequently seen on ROPER related records. I think we should probably assume that the transcriber got it right unless and until some contrary evidence emerges. The record seems to show the presence of a David ROSSER in or near Brunswick by December 1790. NOTE 7: Joel ROPER (b 26 Jun 1766), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN is shown to be residing within the household of Rev. Devereux JARRATT (b 06 Jan 1732/3 - New Kent, d 29 Jan 1801) in 1790. On 06 Aug 1791, Joel ROPER purchased a 100 acre parcel from William ROPER. This transaction gives the appearance that Joel ROPER may have had in mind to settle in Brunswick adjacent to his much older brother David ROPER and may have actually done so. NOTE 8: William ROPER seems to have executed the deed himself. Benjamin ROPER, Benjamin MOORE and David ROPER are shown to be amongst the witnesses and each seems to have signed as a witness himself, if the transcription is correct. The Benjamin ROPER signing seems likely to be the elder Benjamin ROPER. The Benjamin MOORE signing would seem to be Benjamin MOORE, William, David and Joel ROPER's first cousin, son of William and Laura Roper MOORE, who later marries his own first cousin and the first cousin of William David and Joel -- Nancy ROPER, daughter of Charles ROPER and Elizabeth BUTLER. NOTE 9: The mention of Drury STITH as an immediate neighbor of William ROPER within this deed is particularly fascinating. Drury STITH was also an immediate neighbor of the John ROPER plantation in Charles City County on the Chickahominy. This adjacency seems to suggest the possibility of some intermarriage between the ROPER and the STITH family and also is the strongest indication I have seen suggesting a connection between Charles ROPER's family and the Charles City County ROPER family. NOTE 10: Joel and Lucy ROPER conveyed a 100 acre parcel in St. Andrew's Parish bounded by Drury STITH, William MARTINs and William ROPER to James QUARLES, Sr. This seems likely to be a property adjacent to Hickory Run, just South of the Nottoway River. Benjamin ROPER, William MOORE and David ROPER are shown to be witnesses to this instrument, each signing his own name. This seems to be the very same property which Joel ROPER purchased from his brother William ROPER only six months earlier (see the deed of 06 Aug 1791 immediately previous). NOTE 11: Charles ROPER's Estate is shown in the 1791 Land Tax List for Dinwiddie as the owner of a 200 acre parcel at Dinwiddie (at Adobe Page 16): http://va-dinwiddiecounty.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/135 It seems possible that Joel ROPER purchased land in Dinwiddie BEFORE his father Charles ROPER died and then found himself the co-executor of Charles ROPER's estate and decided to remain in Dinwiddie. NOTE 12: James QUARLES reconveys the land purcahsed from Joel ROPER (who had purchased from William ROPER), completing this circular transaction. However the Charles ROPER Estate seems to have financed this purchase (see below)! NOTE 13: NO ONE seems to have ever bothered to check the Dinwiddie probate records to obtain Charles ROPER's Will. Instead, we learn obliquely from the transription of the Dinwiddie Deed reocrds by a U.S. GenWeb volunteer that Joel ROPER and his brother-in-law Dennis STELL are serving as co-executors of Charles ROPER's Estate. William ROPER seems to have owed his father's estate money. The Charles ROPER Estate, in turn, may have owed William BEATIA, some money at his death. William ROPER seems to have pledged the 100 acre parcel by deed of trust to secure the debt to BEATIA. NOTE 14: This record further identifies neighbors of David and William ROPER near Red Oak Creek. More importantly, this record was witnessed by David ROPER, William ROPER and David ROPER, Jr., each of whom seems to have signed his own name. NOTE 15: The 25 Jan 1793 deed by Robert TURNBULL attorney in fact for David RUSSELL in favor of Nathaniel HARPER is significant in confirming that which might have been inferred from the abstracted Brunswick deed records from 1767 (Book 9, Page 67) and 1771 (Book 10, Page 402). Charles and Ann ROPER seem to have purcahsed a 200 acre parcel from Hugh WILLIAMS when David ROPER was about age 25. This parcel was sold four years later to Robert READ. David ROPER is identified as the occupant of the property at its sale. This parcel seems to have subsequent been conveyed by Robert READ by deed of trust to David RUSSELL as security for several debts, together with several other parcels. It seems that RUSSELL then sold the former Charles ROPER parcel to George PURDIE of the County of Isle of Wight and PURDIE, in turn sold this parcel to Nathaniel HARPER. HARPER seems to have purchased the other parcels and this seems to be a confirming deed of sorts. The description seems to! suggest that the original ROPER parcel was directly on teh South bank of the Nottoway River. NOTE 16: Richard TURNBULL seems to have sold 384 acres pledged to Richard RUSSELL first be Robert READ and later by George PURDIE. TURNBULL may have first sold this land by trustee's deed to PURDIE on credit, but then PURDIE may have failed to pay. This parcel seems to have been adjacent to the former Charles ROPER parcel purchased from Hugh WILLIAMS, occupied by David ROPER and later sold to Robert READ and ultimately, seemingly after non-judicial sale under another deed of trust, to Nathaniel HARPER. * * * * * Everything shown on this page (twelve deeds with significant ROPER mentions) with complete transcriptions of these select deeds from Brunswick Deed Book 15 is summarized within Dave's abstracts for these five deeds as follows: "William Roper to Joel Roper of Dinwiddie Co. deed 100 acres 1792 Wit: Benjamin Roper, David Roper 15-182 Joel Roper & wife Lucy of Dinwiddie Co. to James Quarles deed 1792 Wit: Benjamin Roper, David Roper 15-231 David Roper Senr from Richard Coleman deed 61.5 acres 1793 15-438 William Roper from James Quarles deed 1793 Wit: David Roper 15-439 William Roper to Charles Roper's Exors D.T. Joel Roper of Dinwiddie Co. deed 100 acres 1793 15-441" Once again, Dave has summarized the records he was able to find no doubt relying upon the Grantor - Grantee Index for Brunswick Deeds, Volume 15. Once more, the PURPOSE OF ABSTRACTS is as a FINDING AID for the priamry records. If you are basing your family history on ABSTRACTS you may be assured that any difficulties you are having are self-inflicted. 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>