This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper, Meach, Musk, Mush, Carr, Osborne Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1872.6/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Within previous posts in this thread, I have identified Samuel ROPER (b abt 1802 - England, d Jul 1849 - IL) and pointed to several primary records which seem to also identify several members of his immediate family. It appears to me that there is one English Samuel ROPER who seems to be particularly consistent with the information shown for Samuel ROPER (b abt 1802 - England, d Jul 1849 - IL), of Pope, IL. This is the Samuel ROPER (Chr 16 Mar 1802 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England) shown to be the son of James ROPER and Susanna MEACH. See: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NNX7-GX2 : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Samuel Roper, 16 Mar 1802; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 49; FHL microfilm 1658088. This Samuel ROPER closely conforms to the Samuel ROPER found in Golconda, Pope County, in at least three ways. First, his Christening very closely corresponds to the expected birth date of Samuel ROPER, of Golconda, as shown in the 1850 Mortality Schedule. Second, Samuel ROPER, of Golconda, seems to have named his eldest son "James" and it was very common to name the eldest son for one's father in those days. Third, the Golconda Church shows the Baptismal record of Mary Susan ROPER on December 3, 1827. Naming of a child "Mary Susan" might honor the memory of both the mother (Mary Jane COWAN) and paternal grandmother (Susanna MEACH) of the child. There are only a handful of other extant Baptismal records for a Samuel ROPER in England and NONE of these seems to as closely correspond to the record identified above. * * * * * While I would stop short of a definite ascription of Samuel ROPER, of Golconda, Pope County, IL, as a son of James ROPER, of St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England, it seems to me that this is the avenue which merits additional focused research. Since Samuel ROPER seems to have already been in Golconda by 1827, it would seem to me to be appropiate to look for this Samuel ROPER in the English Census in 1811, 1821 and 1831. The presence of Samuel ROPER within James ROPER's household in earlier years, coupled with absence from the English records by 1831 would add further support to an ascription. Similarly, the other alternative candidate Samuel ROPERs born proximate to 1802 should also be further examined to show that NONE of these could be the Samuel ROPER who turns up in Golconda. Ideally, one would also find a DNA test subject from the family of Samuel ROPER, of Golconda, to compare to another known descendant of James ROPER, of of St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England. * * * In support of further research into this family, I have summarized below the other extant records from the St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Parish Register: Mary ROPER (Chr. 05 Jan 1793 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susannah MUSK. James ROPER (Chr. 08 Oct 1795 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susanna MUSK. Susanna Roper (Chr. 10 Jul 1797 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susanna MUSK. Nicholas Roper (Chr. 12 Nov 1798 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susanna MUSK. Osborne ROPER (Chr. 09 Feb 1801 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susanna MUSK. James ROPER (Chr. 16 Mar 1802 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susanna MEACH. Elizabeth ROPER (Chr. 12 Feb 1803 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susannah MUSK. Lucy ROPER (Chr. 23 Jun 1805 - St Mary, Redgrave with Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James ROPER and Susannah MUSK. See: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NNX7-JQ8 : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Mary Roper, 05 Jan 1793; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 26; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NTKW-R9X : accessed 28 Aug 2014), James Roper, 08 Oct 1795; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 33; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NNX7-JVJ : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Susanna Roper, 10 Jul 1797; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 39; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JQ74-3JM : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Nicholas Roper, 12 Nov 1798; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 42; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N1C6-SQ9 : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Osborne Roper, 09 Feb 1801; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 46; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NNX7-RVD : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Elizabeth Roper, 12 Feb 1803; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference 51; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JS3N-BM4 : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Lucy Roper, 23 Jun 1805; citing Redgrave, Suffolk, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 1658088. * * * Two of these children are also shown to have died in this parish in their infancy, probably of the same contageous malady: Mary ROPER (bur. 17 Sep 1808 - St Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England), dau of James and Susanna ROPER Osborn ROPER (bur. 28 Sep 1808 - St Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England), son of James and Susanna ROPER See: "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J84N-GJN : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Mary Roper, 17 Sep 1808; citing , reference 41; FHL microfilm 1658088. "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J84N-GJG : accessed 28 Aug 2014), Osborn Roper, 28 Sep 1808; citing , reference 41; FHL microfilm 1658088. * * * * * Finally, in respect of the several other records, I am inclined to believe that the indication that James ROPER's mother was a Susannah MEACH is probably erroneous and that the mother's name was probably MUSK as shown in the other children's records, although there seems to be some uncertainty or ambiguity about the spelling. James ROPER is shown to have married a Susanna MUSH on 05 Jan 1792 at St. Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England. See: "England Marriages, 1538-1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NNQR-KLW : accessed 28 Aug 2014), James Roper and Susanna Mush, 05 Jan 1792; citing St. Mary, Redgrave With Botesdale, Suffolk, England, reference 40; FHL microfilm 1658088. * * * * * The elder James ROPER is shown by some secondary sources to be a son of Stephen ROPER and Susanna CARR and a grandson of James ROPER and Hannah OSBORNE. Given the appearance of an Osborne ROPER in this family, this ascription would seem to have some merit, though I have NOT investigated these assertions and cannot vouch for them. 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>