This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Raper, Ainsworth Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1925.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: In my original post within this thread, I had noted what was shown to be the marriage of a John S. ROPER: "John S. ROPER is shown to have married Mary Ann ROBESON on 28 Sep 1843 in McMinn, Tennessee (marriage license dated 27 Sep 1843). Rev. John SCRUGGS performed the ceremony. See: "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9814-4923-58?cc=1... : accessed 10 Jun 2014), 004539034 > image 61 of 1389. This seems reasonably consistent with a young man who was born abt 1821-5, as found in James ROPER's household in 1830, since this young man would have therefore been age 18 to 22 in 1843. Mary Ann ROBESON seems most likely to be a daughter of either the widow Elizabeth ROBISON [Image 1] or of Thomas ROBISON [Image 89], of McMinn, TN, each of whom had daughters of a marriageable age in 1840. Neither of these seems immediately proximate to James ROPER's hosuehold, but if John S. ROPER is the young man shown in the 1830 Census record, he had already left home by 1840." * Noting the presence of a Mary ROPER residing within the household of James and Margaret ROPER, I had inferred that this Mary ROPER was probably the widow of John S. ROPER and accordingly made only a cursory search for subsequent records reflecting John S. ROPER and Mary Ann ROBESON. For that matter, I ASSUMED that the James ROPER residing within James and Margaret ROPER's household in 1850 was probably somewhat exagerating his age, shown to be age 8. However, James ROPER's age is shown as 18 in the 1860 Census. Upon the realization that the Mary ROPER shown in the 1850 Census record might actually be James ROPER's daughter, Mary (Roper) AINSWORTH, the widow of William AINSWORTH, rather than his daughter-in-law, I have made a renewed search for John S. ROPER. In so doing, I have reached the tentative conclusion that the indicated marriage record cited above is that of John S. RAPER rather than John S. ROPER. * There is an 1850 Census record for a John S. RAPER, age 29, and Mary A. RAPER, age 26, with a family of four, residing in the Bradley County, TN. The eldest son is William T. RAPER, age 6. The names -- John S. RAPER and Mary A. RAPER -- and the ages of the children are consistent with this couple being those who are shown to have married on 28 Sep 1843 in McMinn, TN. * This couple is again found residing in Tennessee, this time in Monroe County, in the 1860 Census. John RAPER is shown to be age 38 and Mary A. RAPER is shown to be age 36. * John RAPER, age 50, and Polly RAPER, age 47, are once again shown to be residing in Monroe County, in the 1870 Census. * John RAPER, age 58, and Mary A. RAPER, age 55, are again enumerated in 1880 Census residing in Monroe County. * * * It is perhaps noteworthy that this couple had a son named James. On the other hand, the four Census records seem to unmistakably say "RAPER" rather than "ROPER." This seems to leave us with ONE unidentified SON of James and Margaret ROPER (b abt 1821-5), as well as one unidentified daughter (b abt 1821-5). However, we do NOT know with any certainty the NAME of this young ROPER. 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>