This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Yates Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1915.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Frank: Listed on the Personal Property Tax List for Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in 1800, is a William ROPER: William ROPER: 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- $1.56 See: http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/Pittsylvania/1800PersonalB/25.jpg The figures shown above reflect: The number of White Tithes Negroes Over 12 and Under 16 Negroes 16 and Over Horses, mares and mules Ordinary Licenses Mixed horses?? Rates of ??? Riding Carriages with 4 Wheels Riding Carriages with 2 Wheels See: http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/Pittsylvania/1800PersonalB/01.jpg Perhaps you can better make out the latter categories though these seem important ONLY by way fo exclusion as this William ROPER seems to have ZERO of these. * * * This William ROPER seems to have ONE Tithable White Male in his household (himself), ONE (1) slave age 12 to 15, two (2) slaves age 16 or more and two (2) horses, mares or mules. * * * * * WHERE do you think this William ROPER fits into the ROPER family? Does the fact that Pittsylvania County immediately abuts Caswell County, NC, to the North influence your suggested placement? Does the location of ROPER properties on Rattlesnake Creek, Caswell County only about eight miles from Danville, the largest populated place in Pittsylvania County, VA, just up river on the Dan River influence your suggested placement? Does the fact that Keziah YATES was from PITTSLVANIA County, Virginia, color or influence the placement of this William ROPER? * * * Don't you think it would make sense to actually FIX a location for William ROPER and Keziah YATES in North Carolina or Virginia BEFORE beginning to look for them in Tennessee? Do you think it would make sense to obtain the extant ANNUAL Personal Property Tax records for Pittsylvania County, Virginia, for OTHER years, as well as the Land Tax records for Pittsylvania to identify the year of appearance of this William ROPER and the year he ceased to reside in Pittsylvania County in assessing HOW this William ROPER connects to OTHER records for William ROPER found in Caswell County, NC, and Tennessee? I wonder if the departure of this William ROPER from Pittsylvania could be shown to coincide with the date one or more of the William ROPERs arrived in Tennessee? I wonder if any of the other Virginia Tax records identify William ROPER's slaves by name? I wonder if deed records for Pittsylvania, Virginia, show any land transactions for this William ROPER? * * * * * Some experienced genealogists seem to believe that the appearance of a person in the Tax Lists for a place should trigger an inquiry into the existence of other records for that person. Fictionalists seem to believe that these records should be either dismissed (when inconsistent with the prevailing fictional account) or should form the basis for fabrication of other records to elaborate the made up version of the family history. WHY do you suppose that this record is OMITTED from the Fictionalist's construction of the ROPER family history? 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>