This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Ainsworth Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1925.1.1.1.1.2.2.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: One of the interesting dividends from this ascription is that it also provides additional circumstantial evidence in support of a close family connection between James ROPER (b abt 1786 - NC) and John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863). My suspicion is that they are probably BROTHERS. It is UNCLEAR to me whether you noted my previous post: "John ROPER (b abt 1756-66), of Pendleton, SC" (8 Jun 2014 1:51AM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1923/mb.ashx The evidence supports the idea that this John ROPER had FIVE SONS, one born abt 1775-90, two (2) born b abt 1783-90 and two (2) born abt 1791-1800. See my post: "Children of John ROPER (b abt 1756-66), of Pendleton, SC" (9 Jun 2014 11:24AM GMT) http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1923.1/mb.ashx The connection between John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863) and Monroe County is particular strong due to the very close conformance of the 1830 Census record placing this John ROPER in Monroe County. There is good reason to believe that John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863) and David ROPER (b 08 Jun 1792 - SC, d 17 Apr 1878 - Lawrence, MO) are probably brothers and my suspcion is that James ROPER (b abt 1786 - NC) was the eldest or second eldest brother. I believe that the Ewel ROPER shown in the Blount County muster rolls for the War of 1812 is probably another brother, though the evidence is purely circumstantial. The presence of James R. AINSWORTH within the household of a grandson of John ROPER (b 08 Jan 1788 - NC, d Oct 1863) in 1870 seems unlikely to be a coincidence. While it is hardly conclusive about the nature of the relationship between John ROPER and James ROPER, it is at least suggestive that such a relationship existed. It also seems to me that it suggests some ongoing contact and correspondence at least during James ROPERs lifetime. We are recently making some really good headway with this branch of the family, but no one from this branch seems to be actually engaged in active current research. You will find that most of the posts are by ME, sometimes collecting and reporting earlier efforts of others. There remain a LOT of details to investigate and understand! Your help is expressly solicited and much appreciated! Two particularly important avenues of investigation include finding a modern male ROPER surnamed patrilienal descendent of David ROPER for DNA testing for comparative purposes with John ROPER's descendant. Also, no one has ever bothered to obtain the War of 1812 Pension file for David ROPER, which might identify his parents, place of birth or siblings. My primary interest is in cleaning up and resolving ROPER relationships during the Colonial and early Federalist period before the Census records began to give us better evidence. Although I am most willing to assist all ROPER researchers with their investigations, time permitting, I am NOT particularly interested in tracking down every contemporary descendent within each branch of the family. I instead merely view bringing the family history forward a generation or two to be a helpful aid in resolving these relationships. 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>