This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Shouse, Elam, Polsgrove, Scarce, Scearce Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/806 Message Board Post: The Will of Joseph ROPER (d bef 14 Jan 1836 - Hickman Co, KY) appearing in Hickman County Will Book "A" at Page 318, was transcribed by Laura Willis and republished in the publication :Hickman County, KY, Will Books, Vol. Two (1834 - 1838), published by Simmons Historical Publications, Melber, KY, in 1995 [at pp. 30, 31]: "WILL BOOK A, Page 318 Will of Joseph ROPER, deceased In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph ROPER, being weak in body but of sound and disposable memory, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I therefore, make this my last Will and testament in manner following. My desire is that my loving wife Mildred have all of my estate, both real and personal to use and enjoy by her and my children during her state of widowhood, except such as I may dispose of in this my Will, to other members of my family, and that my loving wife keep and raise my heirs and have them schooled to the common extent of learning, and defray the expenses of the same out of said property by me put into her hands. Also my desire is that my wife gives out of said property to each heir under her care, as they may arrive at lawfull age, or may marry, one horse, saddle and bridle up to the value of one hundred dollars and also one hundred and twenty dollars in money to make them equal to those of my children that are now married and left me. And ! in case of my wife changing her state by marriage, in that case, my desire is, she my wife, then have a child's part only, and the remainder part of my property be equally divided with and amongst all my children by sale of valuation as may be thought best by my Executor. I bequeath to my daughter, Martha POLSGROVE, one quarter section of land on which she now lives to be enjoyed by her and her bodily heirs forever. 3rd, I bequeath to my daughter, Clemina SCARCE, one hundred and twenty dollars to be used and applied to her benefit and her family. 4th, I bequeath to my son, Dittoway ROPER, one hundred and twenty dollars, all of which my said son has received except twenty dollars. 5th, I bequeath my son, Samuel ROPER, one half quarter section of land in which said son has commissioned an improvement. In addition to that, a horse, saddle, and briddle, which he now has in his possession, and for the true and faithful execution of this my last Will, I ordain and appoint my! two sons, Dittoway and Samuel, to be and act as my Executors, to perf orm all my Will and bequests named above and all matters relative to my estate. In testimony hereunto, I have set my hand this 14th day of January 1836. Witness W.C. ASBURN Nathan SCARCE J.B. CLARK Joseph ROPER Will of Joseph ROPER, deceased, was produced in open court, proven by witness and ordered recorded this 10th day of March 1836." * * * This Joseph ROPER is shown to be born 30 Jun 1781 in a transcription of family Bible records of a Bible since destroyed by fire. Those records also assert that this Joseph ROPER was the son of a Samuel ROPER. Joseph ROPER married Mildred SHOUSE (b 28 Nov 1789) on 15 Mar 1808. * The transcription of the family Bible records shows the following children of this Joseph ROPER and Mildred SHOUSE: Clemence ROPER (b 15 Dec 1808) Dutoy ROPER (b 25 Mar 1810) Samuel ROPER (b 20 Dec 1811) Joseph ROPER (b 30 Jul 1813) Andrew Jackson ROPER (b 25 Mar 1815) John ROPER (b 02 Jan 1817) Elam ROPER (b 18 Apr 1818) Elizabeth ROPER (b 10 Jun 1821) William Henry ROPER (b 06 Sep 1822) Louis ROPER (b 25 Mar 1824) Edward ROPER (b 07 Apr 1826), died young Lucy Ann ROPER (b 06 Oct 1830) Henrietta ROPER (b 07 May 1832) * In addition, the Bible transcription shows a prior marriage to Martha ELAM (b 11 Nov 1784). Children from the first marriage are shown to be: William J. ROPER (b 03 Aug 1802) Edward ROPER (b 29 Jul 1803) Martha ROPER (b 29 Nov 1804) * * * The 1820 United States Census record for Joseph ROPER, of Woodford, KY, shows: Joseph ROPER: 4 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 13 [Image 29 of 38 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1820 Census data for this jurisdiction.] This shows there being 4 white males under age 10 [presumably Samuel, Joseph, Andrew Jackson, John and Elam] and 3 white males age 10 to 16 [presumably William J., Edward and Dutoy]], 1 male 26 to 44 [presumably Joseph (b 30 Jun 1781)], two white females age 10 to 16 [presumably Martha and Clemence], and one white female age 26 to 45 [presumably Mildred Shouse ROPER (b 28 Nov 1789)]. This Census record seems to support and vaidate the purported Bible transcription in every material respect. * * In 1830, Joseph ROPER was enumerated in Hickman County, Kentucky: Joseph ROPER: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 14 This record shows 3 white males under age five [Louis, Edward, ???], 2 white males age 5 to 9 [William Henry, ????], 2 white males age 10 to 14 [John, Elam], 2 white males age 15 to 19 [Samuel, Joseph], one white male age 40 to 49 [Joseph], 1 white female under age 5 [Lucretia], one female age 40 to 49 [Mildred], and two slaves. * The unidentified younger children might be grandchildren. * Someone with a particularly keen interest in this family might want to obtain this Will and any other related probabte materials from Hickman County using the references cited.