This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Rosser Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1898.5.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Within my April 2014 post above, I noted the purported presence of two ROPERs on the 1812 Tax Lists for Robertson County, Tennessee: "It is my understanding that a John ROPER and a David ROPER appear on the Tax List for Robertson County, TN, in 1812. I have NOT seen this Tax List." After examining the images of BOTH of these entries, I have reached the conclusion that these are at best ambiguous entries that might say ROSSER, rather than ROPER records. The 1812 Robertson Tax List is now available on Ancestry.com. A John ROPER is shown within the Index and the entry appears at Image 6 of 93. The entry for John ROPER/ROSSER is within Captain ELLIOTT's Company, apearing as the second entry from the top in the fourth column. Compare the "p" in the name Joseph for the entry of Joseph WASHINGTON half way down the same column. Then compare the "ss" in Jesse in Jesse MARTIN's name two entries later. Similarly, there is a Jesse MOSELY in the third column. But then seen the "p" in Christopher CHEATHAM's name (3rd Column), the "p" in Spencer PICKERING, the "p" in the word Company, and the "p" in Richard COOPER. The bottom line is that the writing of "p" and "ss" on this page seems to me to be completley ambiguous. I am therefore NOT declaring a belief that John ROPER is a ROSSER, but rather only cautioning that other records need to be consulted for context. * * * I find the appearance of David ROPER or ROSSER at Image 7 to be somewhat more troubling. This David ROPER or ROSSER is shown to be within Captain YATES' Company. The name looks more like ROSSER to me (4th Column). Compare the "p" in Joseph FREY (3rd Column) the "p" in "Capt." or the in "Compy." or the "p" in Joseph PAINE (4th Column). I see LITTLE REASON to suspect that the name is ROPER and much reason to suspect that it says ROSSER, despite the appearance of several members of the YATES family on this list. I would counsel some CAUTION in concluding that ROPERs were in Robertson County in 1812, though I see more than a little room for doubt as to interpretation of the handwriting. 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>