This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Graham Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/763.1 Message Board Post: I am unfamiliar with the basis for the ascription of Mary V. GRAHAM as a daughter of James Mc and Jane P. GRAHAM. I am inclined to place the father as John McB GRAHAM, as the grandson Caswell G. ROPER is found in his grandfather's household in the 1900 Census enumeration: United States Census -- 1900 Ridge, Williamsburg County, SC (Enumeration District 117), Sheet 9B 15 Jun 1900 Line 87, Dwelling 147, Family 149, GRAHAM, Jas, Head, Black, Male, born Mar 1840, Age 60, Married 35 Years, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC, Farmer Line 88, Dwelling 147, Family 149, GRAHAM, Rachel, Wife, Black, Female, born Jun 1850, Age 50, Married 35 Years, 11 Children, 8 Children Living, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 89, Dwelling 147, Family 149, GRAHAM, John McB, Head, White, Male, born Dec 1840, Age 59, Married 39 Years, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC, Farmer Line 90, Dwelling 147, Family 149, GRAHAM, Ella J., Daughter, White, Female, born Dec 1873, Age 26, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 91, Dwelling 147, Family 149, GRAHAM, Sam McB, Son, White, Male, born Mar 1876, Age 23, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 92, Dwelling 147, Family 149, ROPER, Caswell G., Gr Son, White, Male, born Oct 1889, Age 10, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC [Image 18 of 28 within the Ancestry.com presentation of 1900 Census data for this jurisdiction.] * * * I am inclined from this record to ascribe the grandfather as John McB. GRAHAM as is indicated in the Census data. James GRAHAM appears to be a black GRAHAM (probably a freed slave) living next door. * * * John McB. GRAHAM, age 39, is enumerated in Ridge, Williamsburg County, SC, with wife Jane P., age 39, in 1880. Mary V. GRAHAM, age 13, is the eldest child then residing in the household. * * * In the 1880 Census, there is a William ROPER, age 22, who is enumerated at Paris Mountain, Greenville County, SC, along with his brother Timothy, age 20. It is unclear to me whether this is the father, William ROPER. * * * In the 1880 Census, there is a William ROPER, age 22, who is enumerated at Paris Mountain, Greenville County, SC, along with his brother Timothy, age 20. It is unclear to me whether this is the father, William ROPER. * * * Dr. Dave ROPER's ROPER Family History files show an a William B. ROPER (b abt 1859 - SC) who married a Mary V. GRAHAM (b 04 Jan 1867 - WIlliamsburg, SC, d 21 Oct 1891). He shows a son named Caswell Graham ROPER. This would seem to AGREE with the Census data shown above for the household of John McB. GRAHAM in 1880 and 1900. I believe that he e-mailed you this data directly. His files also ascribe William B. ROPER's father as John Caswell ROPER (b 14 Nov 1829 - North Clio, Marlboro, SC, m 10 Jan 1850, d 15 Aug 1872). This seems to be very consistent with the information of John Caswell ROPER's 1870 Census record: United States Census -- 1870 Red Bluff Township, Marlboro, SC 30 Aug 1870 Line 8, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Caswell, Age 43, Male, White, Farmer, RE $750, Pers Estate $400, Born SC Line 9, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Margaret, Age 38, Female, White, Keeping House, Born SC Line 10, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, John, Age 20, Male, White, Farm Laborer, Born SC Line 11, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Laurance, Age 13, Male, White, Farm Laborer, Born SC Line 12, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, William, Age 11, Male, White, Attending School, Born SC Line 13, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Benjamin, Age 7, Male, White, At Home, Born SC Line 14, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Robert, Age 3, Male, White, At Home, Born SC Line 15, Dwelling 13, Family 13, ROPER, Martha, Age 1, Female, White, At Home, Born SC Line 16, Dwelling 13, Family 13, McLAURIN, Catharine, Age 68, Female, White, Farmer, RE $1,250, Pers Estate $90, Born SC * * * The 1860 Census record gives us a further confirming fix on William ROPER's year of birth: United States Census -- 1860 Bennettsville, Marlboro District, SC (Page Imprinted "187") 10 Aug 1860 Line 7, Dwelling 746, Family 746, Caswel ROPER, Age 33, Male, Farmer, RE $2,750, Pers Estate $3,792, Born SC Line 8, Dwelling 746, Family 746, Margaret ROPER, Age 28, Female, Born SC Line 9, Dwelling 746, Family 746, John J. ROPER, Age 9, Male, Born SC Line 10, Dwelling 746, Family 746, Laurin B. ROPER, Age 3, Male, Born SC Line 11, Dwelling 746, Family 746, William ROPER, Age 1, Male, Born SC Line 12, Dwelling 746, Family 746, Catharine McLAURIN, Age 55, Female, Born SC [Image 91 of 139 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data for this jurisdiction.] I believe that ages are usually particularly RELIABLE for the younger children. I believe that we can reasonably surmise that William was actually born in 1859. * * * Caswell ROPER's 1850 Census record shows Caswell ROPER and young wife Margaret residing in Catharine McLAURIN's home without any of the children: United States Census -- 1850 Marlboro District, SC 02 Aug 1850 Line 6, Dwelling 41, Family 41, Catharine McLAURIN, Age 45, Female, Born SC Line 7, Dwelling 41, Family 41, Caswell ROPER, Age 22, Male, Farmer, RE $1,000, Born SC Line 8, Dwelling 41, Family 41, Margaret ROPER, Age 18, Female, Born SC Line 9, Dwelling 41, Family 41, W. L. Bethea, Age 20, Male, Schoolmaster, Born SC Caswell and Margaret are shown to have been "married within the year". * * * Dr. Dave ROPER's ROPER Family History Files currently show the death of John Caswell ROPER as occuring on 15 Aug 1872. That information appears to be IN ERROR. Note the following Census record from 1880: United States Census -- 1880 Red Bluff Township, Marlboro County, SC (Page Imprinted "488") 01 Jun 1880 Line 13, Dwelling 3, Family 3, ROPER, Caswell, White, Male, Age 57, Farmer, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 14, Dwelling 3, Family 3, ROPER, Christian, White, Female, Age 48, Wife, Keeping House, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 15, Dwelling 3, Family 3, ROPER, Benjamin F., White, Male, Age 17, Son, Laborer, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 16, Dwelling 3, Family 3, ROPER, Robert B., White, Male, Age 12, Son, At School, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 17, Dwelling 3, Family 3, ROPER, Martha J., White, Female, Age 10, Daughter, At School, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 18, Dwelling 3, Family 3, FAGIN Lucinda, White, Female, Age 29, Aunt, Keeping House, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC [Image 1 of 49 for the Ancestry.com presentation of the Census data for this jurisdiction in 1880.] So Caswell ROPER is rather clearly still alive in 1880! * * * It is less clear where William ROPER is that year. THe Census record cited above showing a William ROPER and Timothy ROPER at Paris Mountain, Greenville, SC, seem NOT likely to be the correct record. There is NO TRACE of a brother named TImothy in the household in the other Census years. * But I do NOT find another record which seems to identify this William ROPER in 1880. * * * Of course the 20 year interval between the 1880 Census and the 1900 Census leaves a rather large gap. I think you are going to need to find a Will, Administration, and/or Guardianship record to obtain additional information. ANd you are definitely doing the right thing to be inquiring of the GRAHAM family! * * * Willim's brother Lauren B. ROPER seems to have died in Williamsburg County, SC, at age 61, on 07 Feb 1919. Lauren B. ROPER may be a basis to gain some further traction, too, as he seems to have also settled in Williamsburg County, SC: United States Census -- 1900 Ridge, Williamsburg County, DC 20 Jun 1900 Line 39, Dwelling 199, Family 200, ROPER, Lauren B., Head, White, Male, Born May 1857, Age 43, Married 24 Yrs, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC, Farmer Line 40, Dwelling 199, Family 200, ROPER, Pochahontas, Wife, White, Female, Born Nov 1849, Age 50, Married 24 Yrs, 3 Children, 3 Children Living, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 41, Dwelling 199, Family 200, ROPER, Mary, Daughter, White, Female, Born Oct 1880, Age 19, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 42, Dwelling 199, Family 200, ROPER, Margaret, Daughter, White, Female, Born Nov 1883, Age 16, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC Line 43, Dwelling 199, Family 200, ROPER, Martha, Daughter, White, Female, Born Sep 1886, Age 13, Single, Born SC, Father Born SC, Mother Born SC [Image 23 of 28 at the Ancestry.com presentation of Census data for this jurisdiction in 1900.] * * * * * Hope this HELPS!! Please let us know what else you uncover!