This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: batchelorw Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1935/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Secondary sources on Ancestry.com state that Charles Roper, Jr. and Elizabeth Butler were the parents of Charles Roper, b. 23 May 1787, NC; died Oct 1870; m. Rachel Atkins. This is obviously incorrect for the simple reason that no such Charles Roper, b. 1787, is mentioned as a child of Charles Roper, Jr. and Elizabeth Butler in the Moore Family Bible. According to the Bible entries, Charles Roper, Jr. and Elizabeth Butler had two sons, one named Goodwyn Roper and the other named Joseph Roper. The Dinwiddie County Tax Lists from 1782-1824, showing a continuous presence of Charles Roper in that county until his death, are consistent with the entries in the Bible and inconsistent with Charles Roper being born in NC. However, Charles Roper, b. 23 1787, NC, may have been the son of Jesse Roper (b. 31 May 1751, d. bef 22 Jan 1810) and his wife Biddy. If this is true, then Charles Roper would have been the grandson of Charles Roper and Ann Goodwyn, who were the parents of Charles Roper, Jr. of Dinwiddie, VA. I rarely start from scratch when I begin researching a particular Roper family member. As usual, I am greatly indebted to William Alexander Roper, Jr. (WAR, Jr.) and his research on Jesse Roper, which was posted beginning on May 10, 2014 on the Roper-L Archives of Ancestry.com. The original post is titled" Jesse ROPER (b 31 May 1751, d bef. 22 Jan 1810), son of Charles ROPER and Ann GOODWYN" and has a number of follow-up threads. We know that Charles Roper (b. 23 May 1787) came from North Carolina, because both his census records and his obituary state this fact. Some of his children state that he was born in South Carolina, but these children may be confused because Charles Roper possibly was in South Carolina for a period of time before arriving in Stewart County, TN. Charles Roper's obituary can be found on Ancestry.com. I cannot find anyone to acknowledge for originally posting the obituary. An A. J. Simer has been given credit as the author of the obituary: "Died at his residence in Stewart CO., Tn., on the 10th, Mr. Roper in the 83rd year of his age. He is no more; he has passed from time to eternity. Truly may it be said of him, that he died the death of the righteous. He expoused the Christian religion, and attached himself to the Methodist Episcopal Church about 58 years ago, and if it can be said of any now, he was an israelite in whom there was no guile. While his eleven living children feel deeply his loss, they rejoice in the full assurance that their loss is his gain, and that he has gone to join their angel mother who died February 4, 1867, and their sainted brothers and sisters, who we have reason to believe are now basking in the eternal Sunshine around the throne of God. He was born in the State of North Carolina, May 23, 1787, and emigrated to Tennessee in 1808. He was married to Rachael Atkins, February 10, 1810. From the date of his marriage to that of his death, he lived in this County. He leaves a large circle of acquaintances besides his numerous relatives who mourn his loss. He was one of the settlers of this County. He served under General Jackson, in the War of 1812, was at the Battle of Tippecanoe and Horseshoe Bend, in 1815, and was discharged from service on Feb. 12th, 1815. The Christian, Patriot, and soldier, at once; he has heard his last tattoo, until he hears the great marshal Gabriel, sound the last Reveille of Earth to summon all the world to the Roll-call of Almighty God." >From this obituary we learn a number of important things about Charles Roper: 1. Charles Roper was a Methodist. The family of Charles Roper and Ann Goodwyn were Methodists, with many of the children and grandchildren becoming Methodist preachers. 2. As mentioned above, Charles Roper was born on May 23, 1787 in North Carolina, and settled in Stewart County, TN in 1808. 3. He married Rachel Adkins on February 10, 1810, two years after his arrival in Stewart County, and Rachel died on February 4, 1867. 4. Charles had 11 living children at his death. 5. Charles served in the War of 1812. 6. I could not find a date for the obituary. However, if Charles was born in 1787 and was 83 years of age when he died, the obituary was probably written in 1870, the year he would have died. The obituary does not tell us in which County of North Carolina Charles was born or who his parents were. Charles Roper is first seen in an abstract for the 1810 Stewart County Tax List on Ancestry.com, but I can find no image of this Tax List. There is another abstract titled "1810 Stewart County TN Tax List- TNGenWeb" which shows Charles Roper in Capt. Kendall's district owning 74 acres, location unspecified. In the same district, one can find the following Atkins' family members: John Atkins, Sr.*****226 acres*****Cub Creek Lewis Atkins*******188 acres*****Neville's Creek George Atkins John Atkins, Jr. (his name has a line through it) Charles Roper is next seen in an image of the 1811 Stewart County Tax List on page 5 on Ancestry.com. Charles is seen living within 5 properties of two members of the Atkins' family, Asa Atkins and Ephraim Atkins. On page 3 of the Tax List, you will find John Atkins, Sr., John Atkins, Jr., George Atkins, William Atkins, James Atkins, and Lewis Atkins, all listed next to each other in that order. Secondary sources state that Rachel Atkins, who married Charles Roper, was the daughter of Lewis Atkins and Rebecca Smith. Secondary sources also state that George Atkins was her brother. This may be true, but I cannot verify it. Lewis Atkins filed for a Revolutionary War Pension. I have not been able to locate the images of Pension paper, so I am relying on two abstracts that I found on the Internet. In that Pension application dated September 4, 1832, Lewis states he was born April 10, 1756 in Prince Edward County, VA. In 1780, while a resident of Anson County, he volunteered in the North Carolina Line and served 17 months. In the 1860 Stewart County census, Rachel Atkins stated that she was born in NC and was 68 years of age, which would mean that she was born in 1792. Lewis Atkins would have been about 36 years of age at her birth. Secondary sources state that Lewis Atkins resided in Anson County, NC from 1780 until he moved to Stewart County, TN in 1808. Lewis Atkins can be seen in the 1790 Anson County, NC census with 5 females in his household. I cannot find him in the 1800 Anson County, NC census, but I did find a transcription of a 1797 Anson County deed showing the presence of Lewis Atkins: "1797 Jan - DB E p265. Francis Smith of Anson County to Lewis Atkins of same 50 ac on SW side of Pee Dee River; border: begins at a stake ...3 pines in James Long's first corner and James Auld's third corner, and fourth line of said 200 ac survey part of 200 ac granted Oct 1 1778 to Francis Smyth. Wit: Wm Howlet and *John Kendall*." Lewis Atkins also signed a petition in 1800 in Anson County which was filed with the North Carolina General Assembly (Nov-Dec 1800) opposing the repeal of a Bill passed in December of 1799. During the early 1800's, Anson County was adjacent to and to the east of Mecklenburg County. Asa Atkins had some land dealings with Charles Roper, abstracts of which I found on the Internet: "1809 : Deed Book C. #211 2 Oct. 1809 ASA ATKINS to CHARLES ROPER, 74a on N. Cross Creek for $100, purchased of EDWARD LUCAS; wit: BARNEBAS SKINNER, EPHRAIM ATKINS." "1814 : Deed Book 5 - #98 Charles ROPER to ASA ATKINS, 74a on N. Cross Creek, adj. land ATKINS bought of LUCAS; wit : James R. Randle, John DAVIDSON; 12 Jan. 1814. 161. Ordered by the court that PETER KENDALL and ASA ATKINS settle with JOHN GASTON, administrator of WALTER BROWN; May 1814." (Notice the name Peter Kendall; John Kendall was a witness to the Anson County deed to Lewis Atkins in 1797). Asa Atkins and Ephraim Atkins can both be found in the 1800 Montgomery County, NC census living next to each other. In the early 1800s, Montgomery county was to the north of and adjacent to Anson county, and the southwest corner of Montgomery county was adjacent to Mecklenburg county. The presence of the Akkins' family in both Montgomery County, NC and Anson County, NC initially led me to believe that Charles Roper came from one or both of those counties and that either William Roper or Green Roper of Anson County might be his father. (Charles did name sons Green Roper and William Roper.) It is still possible that Charles Roper's was born in one of those counties, but the evidence does not support a theory that either William Roper or Green Roper was the father of Charles Roper. Charles Roper was born of May 23, 1787. WAR, Jr. has the estimated birth date of William Roper to be 1774-80. Green Roper was born on 23 July 1773, Anson County, NC. Thus, William and Green Roper would have been only 13 or 14 years of age when Charles was born. Additionally, Martha Peay Roper, wife of William Roper, left a will dated July 10, 1839, which lists her surviving children, none of whom is named Charles Roper. And the final distribution of the Estate of Green Roper, which occurred in Hardeman County, TN on July 28, 1858, does not list Charles Roper as one of the heirs. (See the post of WAR, Jr. dated 27 Jan 2012, titled "Martha Roper (b abt 1776-80, d bef 24 Oct 1839 - Phillips, AR) and the post of WAR, Jr dated 31 Dec 2012 titled "Green ROPER (b 23 Jul 1773 - Anson Co, NC, d 03 Apr 1855 - Hardeman Co. TN)). Thus, neither William Roper nor Green Roper could be the father of Charles Roper. Charles Roper next appears in the 1820 Stewart County, TN census as seen of Ancestry.com: Charles Roper*****2-0-0-0-1-0*****1-0-1-1-0 Charles is shown as age 26-44, and his wife Rachel as age 26-44. There are 2 males<10, 1 female <10, and one female 16-25. Lewis Atkins, age 45 can be found on the same census page 3 properties away from Charles Also, a William L. Atkins, age 17-25, is seen living next to Charles Roper. Secondary sources state that William Atkins, b. abt 1705, was the father of Lewis Atkins of Anson County. A John Atkins Sr, age 45 , with an apparent wife 45 , and one male 26-44 and one female 16-25, is seen residing 5 houses away from Charles. On the preceding 1820 Stewart County census page, one can find Henry Atkins age 26-44, George W. Atkins age 26-44, John Atkins age 26-44, and Asa Atkins age 45 , with a female age 26-44. Charles Roper next appears in the 1830 Stewart County, TN census. The census record seems to be compiled in an alphabetical order, so we cannot determine who his neighbors might have been: Charles Roper*****2-0-3-0-0-0-2-0-0-0-0-0-0*****1-2-0-1-0-2-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Charles is shown age 40-50, and Rachel is shown age 40-50. There are two males <5, and 3 males 10-14. There is another female age 40-50, one female <5, 2 females 5-9, and one female 15-19. Charles Roper appears next in the 1840 Stewart County, TN census: Charles Roper*****1-1-1-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0*****0-0-2-2-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 Charles is shown age 50-60, and Rachel is shown 40-50. There are a number of children. Also, a Carroll Roper age 20-30, with a wife the same age, with two males <5, are seen on the same page. Charles next appears in the 1850 Stewart County, TN census: Charles Roper 63 NC Rachel Roper 58 NC James Roper 21 TN Mary Roper 28 TN Richard Roper 19 TN Meranda Roper 7 TN Robert Roper 15 TN Martha Hayman 27 TN Elizabeth 8 TN William 6 TN Ellie Wyatt 20 TN Martha Hayman, with two children ages 8 and 6, is a widowed daughter of Charles Roper and Rachel. She will remarry a Matthew J. Thweatt on December 28, 1854 in Stewart County. The marriage record image on Ancestry.com of her marriage to Matthew J Thweatt shows her as "Martha L. Roper". On the same page of the 1850 Stewart County census we find a Thomas Roper, age 23, married to Demarius, a Marcus Roper, age 25, and a Bidda Lineberry, age 27, who will all turn out to be children of Charles Roper and Rachel. Thomas Roper is actually Thomas Carroll Roper, who was seen as Carroll Roper in the 1840 Stewart census. On the following page we find another Thomas Roper, age 30, married to a Jane. This will turn out to be Thomas Randal Roper, another son of Charles and Rachel. Charles Roper makes his final appearance in the 1860 Stewart County, TN census: Charles Roper 73 NC Farmer Rachel Roper 68 NC Mary Roper 23 TN Green Roper 29 TN Farm Laborer Moranda Roper 27 TN (This conflicts with the previous census). William Wyatt 16 TN William Wyatt 8 TN Martha Wyatt 5 TN John Wyatt 3 TN Thomas Roper (i.e. Thomas Randal Roper) and Robert Roper, and their families, can be seen on the same page. I am including a story about the Wyatt Twins, which will explain their presence in the census: "Excerpts from a journal about the Wyatt twins who joined the Roper family as babies. "Eli John Wyatt was a twin brother to Mitchell James Wyatt they were born in North Carolina on June 19, 1830. They were babies about a year old when they were left with the Charlie and Rachel Roper family. They were ill and too sick to travel with the wagon train, and their family left them and promised to come back for them, when they got settled out west. History tells us the family never came back, where or not they ever made it west I don't think anyone ever knew. Charles and Rachel Roper had nine children at this time, two were born to them after the twins were left there." "Sammy said the only thing other than name ever seperated them (Wyatt twins) from the Roper kids was anytime Mitchell came in the house Ma (Rachel) Roper would always hug and say thank you God for sending my special baby back to me, and if anyone was there she would always say you know these twin boys were a very special gift God left here one day, and that was the one and only answer anyone ever got out of her about why they were there, she would say they are my children just like all the rest, the only difference being I bore no pain having them, they were a very special gift God dropped off here one day. They have always been my very special babies, they have always been such good boys Pa (Charles) and I are so proud of them." " Charles Roper is not seen in the 1870 Stewart census, the purported year of his death. So I will now discuss the children of Charles Roper and Rachel Atkins. Charles Roper's obituary stated he had eleven children living at his death in 1870. As of 1860, I can account for eleven children still living: Thomas Carroll Roper 1817 Mary Roper 1822 Martha Roper 1823 Biddy Roper 1820-24 Thomas Randall Roper 1827 James Roper 1829 Richard Green Roper 1831 Robert Roper 1835 Elizabeth Roper 1842 Meranda Roper 1843 William Roper 1844 Charles Roper and Rachel married in 1812, so one would think they should have had other children born between 1812 and 1817. The 1820 Stewart census does show one additional male<10 and one female <10. Perhaps these two children died in their youth, since they are not in the list of the 11 living children. So who were some of these children? 1. Biddy Roper, b. 1820-24 I mentioned above that the Bidda Lineberry mentioned in the 1850 Stewart census was married to Saul Lineberry and had a child named Rachal. Bidda Lineberry can next be seen in the 1860 Stewart County, TN census. However, this time she is listed as Biddie Linebury and her husband is listed as Samuel Linebury: 1860 Stewart County, TN: Samuel Linebury 37 Beddie Linebury 36 Rachal Linebury 12 Martha Linebury 9 George Linebury 8 Mary Linebury 6 Meattie Linebury 4 Bettie Linebury 11/12 All are born in Tennessee, except Samuel who was born in Kentucky. Notice that the names Beddie, Rachal, Martha, George, and Mary also appear as children of Charles and Rachel. I cannot find an 1870 census record for Beddie Linebury, but she does appear in the 1880 Indian Mound, Stewart County, TN census as Biddy Lembury or Biddy Lineberry in Ancestry.com. My reading of the name is Biddy Lineberry: Biddy Lineberry 50 Widowed b. Tenn Father b. NC Mother b. SC George D. Lembery 27 Kate F. Lembery 20 Sallie G. Lembery 18 Allis Smith 29 Samuel B. Smith 10 Bettie Smith 8 Katy Smith 4 2. Thomas Carroll Roper As noted above, there was a Carroll Roper age 20-30, with a wife the same 20-30, with two males <5 residing two properties from Charles Roper and Rachel in the 1840 Stewart County census. Carroll Roper appears next in the 1850 Stewart County, TN census as Thomas Roper: 1850 Stewart County, TN: Thomas Roper 23 TN Demarius Roper (F) 31 KY Charles Roper 13 TN Jesse Roper 11 TN Allen Roper 9 TN George Roper 6 TN Susan Roper 4 TN Richard Roper 1 TN Thomas Roper is listed as the head of the household. He is listed as age 23, but this is probably a mistake by the census taker. He will show up as age 43 in the next census. Demarius Roper, a 31 year old female, is his wife. Thomas Carroll Roper next shows up in the 1860 Pocahontas, Bond, IL census as T. C. Roper: T C Roper 43 TN Elizabeth Roper 25 IL Charles A. Roper 23 TN Jesse T. Roper 21 TN Allen P. Roper 19 TN George W. Roper 16 TN Rachel S. Roper 12 TN Martha S. Roper 1 IL Perhaps Demarius died and Thomas Carroll remarried younger woman, Elizabeth, and they now have a one year old child named Martha S. Roper. 3. Thomas Randall Roper Thomas Randall Roper, b. abt. 1827, can first be seen in the 1850 Stewart County, TN census: 1850 Stewart County, TN: Thomas Roper 30 b. TN Jane Roper 27 b. TN Rachel Roper 7 b. TN Sarah Roper 5 b. TN James Roper 3 b. TN Charles Roper 3/12 b. TN I cannot find Thomas Randall Roper in an 1860 census. However he does appear in the 1870 Pocahontas, Bond, IL census: Thomas R. Roper 50 b. TN Jane D. Roper 47 Rachael Hendricks 25 Sarah E. Dixon 23 James A. C. Roper 21 Minerva R. Roper 16 Isaac N. Roper 13 Samuel G. Roper 10 Louisa D. Roper 8 Biddy L. Roper 6 Robert N. Hendricks9 Adrian M. Hendricks 2/12 Charles G B Roper 20 Here is an interesting story I found on the Internet in reference to Thomas Randall Roper: "Civil War on the Plantation Written about 1930 by Samuel George Linebery Roper, grandson of Charles Roper, and son of Thomas and Jane Roper. "My grandfather, Charles Roper, was a slave owner. Rumor has it that when the clouds of the Civil War began to rise along the horizon, grandfather, having an eye for business, exchanged all his slaves (except his wife's two personal servants) for anything of value he could get -- money, chattel, or land. Thus, he did not lose his wealth when the slaves were declared free men. This shrewd business insight is characteristic of certain Ropers to this day. In 1864 we left our birthplace (Stewart County, Tennessee) and moved to Illinois. My father (Thomas Randall) was anti-slave; and when war broke, he in company with my oldest brother (A.C.) set out for the North, sending for mother and the rest of us children later. It seems a wonder to me that we ever crossed the Mason and Dixon line, but we did. Some one in the family has said that we travelled under the protection of General Grant's army. Now my grandfather's (Charles) wrath at his son's (Thomas Randall Roper) disloyalty to the cause of slavery was expressed in his will. All that my father inherited of that Southern plantation (Stewart County, Tennessee) was a large flat rock, which covers several acres. It is called Roper's Rock to this day; and I just want to say that I think the world and all of that rock. If it were possible, I'd have it marked as a monument to my father and for what he stood. For my part, I'd rather have that bare rock with our country freed from slavery than have the most beautiful plantation in all Tennessee with slavery."" I don't know how reliable this story is. Charles Roper is shown with no slaves in 1820, 1830, and 1840. Slaves were not counted in the 1850 and 1860 census. However, this story does add support for establishing that Biddy Lineberry was the daughter of Charles and Rachel, since a son of Thomas Randal Roper was named after Biddy's husband, Samuel Lineberry. 4. Richard Green Roper Richard Green Roper, who is shown as Richard Roper in the 1850 census and Green Roper in the 1860 census, next appears in the 1870 Stewart County, TN census: 1870 Stewart County, TN: Green Roper 39 TN Eurethre Roper 35 TN Iddie Roper 6 IL Laura Roper 3 TN Edward Roper 2 KY Notice that Iddie, Laura, and Edward are reportedly born in three separate states. Richard Green Roper next appears as R.M.G. Roper in 1880 Flannigan, Hamilton, IL census as follows: R. M. G. Roper 49 b. TN Father b. SC Mother b. SC Mithre Roper 45 b. TN Mother b. Virginia Father b. Virginia Addie A. Roper 16 b. IL Father b. SC Mother b. Virginia Lora L Roper 13 b. TN Father b. SC Mother b. Virginia Edward 12 b. KY Mother b. SC Mother b. Virginia The three children are listed as a son and two daughters. However, both Mithre and R.M.G. Roper were born in TN, and the three children claim that there mother was born in Virginia. I cannot find an 1890 census record for R. M. G. Roper. However, he does appear in the 1900 Knight Prairie, Hamilton, IL census: Richard M. G. Roper 69 b. June 1831 TN Father b. SC Mother b. NC Eurethre M. Roper 64 b. Aug 1835 TN Father b. VA Mother b.VA Lauria L. Roper 33 b. Mar 1867 TN Father b. TN Mother b. TN Notice that Lauria is giving completely different information on where her parents were born. She had previously stated in the 1870 census that her father was born in SC and her mother in VA. 5. Marcus Roper As mentioned above, Marcus Roper first appears by name as a neighbor to Charles and Rachel in the 1850 Stewart County census. He can be found next as M. L. Roper in the 1860 District 5, Maury County, TN census: 1860 Maury County, TN: M. L. Roper 35 Elizabeth M. Roper 33 Sarah J. Roper 13 Rachael F. Roper 9 William R. Roper 4 Martha A. Roper 2 All are born in Tennessee. Marcus Roper can next be found in the 1870 District 6, Humphreys, TN census: 1870 Humphreys, TN: Macus L. Roper 45 Elizabeth Roper 43 Sarah J. Roper 23 Rachel R. A. Roper 19 Mary C. Roper 14 Martha A. Roper 12 Elizabeth M. Roper 9 Margaret A. R. Roper 6 Chaska(?) Roper 1 Robert C. Roper 33 All were born in Tennessee. Robert C. Roper is probably the brother of Marcus Roper and the Robert who is shown as age 15 in the 1850 census of the family of Charles and Rachel Roper. Marcus is last seen in the 1880 Dyer's Creek, Stewart, TN census as Marcus L. Roper: 1880 Stewart, TN: Marcus L. Roper 55 Elizabeth M.Roper 53 Sarah Jane Roper 33 Delphina E. Roper 19 Margaret A. Roper 15 All are born in Tennessee. Marcus says his parents were born in North Carolina. So what connections can we now make between Charles Roper of Stewart, TN and Jesse Roper, son of Charles Roper and Ann Goodwyn? First, there is the North Carolina connection. A Jesse Roper can be seen in Northampton County, NC deed abstracts dated in 1780, 1882, and 1786 and in the 1786 Northampton County Tax List, one year before the birth of Charles Roper. (See above mentioned post on Jesse Roper by WAR, Jr.) Also as noted by WAR, Jr. in his post on Jesse Roper mentioned above, a Jesse Roper can be seen in the 1790 Cumberland County, NC census. As WAR, Jr notes, Jesses Roper is apparently the only Jesse Roper found in the United States in 1790 and there is a good probability that this is Jesse Roper, son of Charles Roper and Ann Goodwyn: 1790 Cumberland , NC Jesse ROPER 3 - 2 - 7 -- 0 - 0 WAR, Jr. notes that "the first figure shown is for free white males age 16 and up (b bef 1775). The second figure is for white males under age 16 (b abt 1774-90). The third figure is for white females. The two remaining figures (both zero) are for free blacks and slaves." One of the white male children under age 16 could be Charles Roper of Stewart County, TN. WAR, Jr. further suggests the possibility that Jesse Roper next appeared in the 1800 Lancaster District, SC census: "1800 United States Census for Lancaster District, SC Jesse ROPER: 2 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 1 -- 6 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 1 -- 0 - 0 [Lancaster District, SC 1800]" As can be seen from this record, there is one male child age 10-16. This could be Charles Roper born in 1887. (When I mentioned above that two of the children of Charles Roper stated in their census records that their father was born in South Carolina, one could surmise that Charles spoke to his children of his family residing in South Carolina at some time prior to his moving to Stewart County, TN). Jesse Roper died sometime before 1810, when the Inventory of his Estate occurred in Mecklenburg County, NC. As WAR, Jr. points out in his post, an administrator's bond dated 22 Jan 1810 was given by Biddy Roper, James Roper and Josiah Harrison. Biddy Roper and James Roper had been appointed administrators of his estate. There is no list of heirs, but only purchasers of various property items of the Estate. Charles Roper is not listed as one of those purchasers. Biddy Roper is generally considered to be the wife of Jesse Roper. James Roper, one of the administrators, is generally considered to be one of the sons of Jesse Roper. James Roper's estate was probated 1828. One of the administrators of the estate was James W. Roper, most likely the son of James Roper. James W. Roper married a Biddy Roper on August 14, 1821 in Mecklenburg, NC. James W. Roper may have had a son who was named Charles B. Roper. (See WAR, Jr. post of May11, 2014 titled "James Roper (b abt 1769-74, d bef 24 Nov 1828"). Finally, there was a Thomas Roper who died in Mecklenburg, NC sometime prior to November 29, 1814. A James Roper and Joseph Fincher are shown as the bondsmen for the administrator's bond. WAJ, Jr. has suggested this may be another son of Jesse Roper and Biddy. The second connection we can make between Charles Roper of Stewart County and Jesse Roper of Mecklenburg is through the numerous similarities in names in the families of Charles and Rachel Roper and Jesse and Obedience (Biddy) Roper. The name that sticks out the most is "Biddy". Jesse Roper married a "Biddy", which is a nickname for Obedience. Charles and Rachel named a child "Biddy", perhaps to honor the mother of Charles, and Thomas Randall Roper named a child "Biddy L. Roper". Also, Jesse Roper's grandson, James W. Roper, married a Biddy Roper, who was perhaps the daughter of John Roper, who married Sarah Fincher and who is another possible son of Jesse Roper. Charles and Rachel named a child James, perhaps in honor of his brother James Roper, b. abt 1769-74. Thomas Carroll Roper, son of Charles and Rachel, named children James Roper, Jesse Roper, Charles Roper, and Allen Roper. (Charles Roper and Ann Goodwyn named a child Allen Roper who was born on April 3, 1756. Not much is known about the Allen Roper, but it is a unique name in this line of Ropers). Thomas Randal Roper named children Biddy, James, and Charles. Charles and Rachel named two children Thomas, perhaps after the Thomas Roper who died prior to Nov 29, 2014 in Mecklenburg. Finally, there is Charles Roper himself, who was perhaps named by Jesse Roper to honor his father Charles Roper of Dinwiddie, VA. Any contributions to further identifying this particular Charles Roper of Stewart County, TN would be welcomed. 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>