This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Montgomery Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/792.1 Message Board Post: Amongst the children of Randolph ROPER (b abt 1761, d 06 Aug 1822), secondary sources show a son Benjamin F. ROPER (b 28 Mar 1800 - James City, VA, d 18 Jan 1857 - Mobile, Mobile, AL). I am NOT acquainted with the basis for this ascription. Randolph ROPER is shown to have one son age 10 to 16 in 1800. But son Benjamin F. ROPER may have already left the household by that date. In 1850, we get a clearer understanding of Benjamin F. ROPER's household: United States Census -- 1850 Carrollton, Pickens County, AL 21 Sep 1850 Line 18, Dwelling 12, Family 12, B. F. ROPER, age 50, Male, Hotel Keeper, RE $4,200, Born VA Line 19, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Caroline M. ROPER, age 38, Female, Born TN Line 20, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Frances V. ROPER, age 19, Female, Born AL Line 21, Dwelling 12, Family 12, William ROPER, age 17, Male, Student, Born AL Line 22, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Benjamin ROPER, age 15, Male, Student, Born AL Line 23, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Alabama ROPER, age 13, Female, Born AL Line 24, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Dick ROPER, age 9, Male, Born AL Line 25, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Alda ROPER, age 7, Female, Born AL Line 26, Dwelling 12, Family 12, Gilbert ROPER, age 5, Male, Born AL .. others presumably Hotel residents [Image 2 of 5 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1850 Census data for this jurisdiction.] * In 1860, it is clear that Benjamin F. ROPER is already dead. (I am unfamiliar with the basis for the assertion that this Benjamin died on 18 Jan 1857 at Mobile, but this appears credible and probably true.) Caroline M. ROPER is the head of the household in the 1860 Census record: United States Census Mobile Ward 1, Mobile, AL 11 Jul 1860 Line 29, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Caroline M. ROPER, age 45, Female, Landlady Boarding House, Pers Estate $20,000, Born TN Line 30, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Benajamin F. ROPER, age 24, Male, Clerk, Born AL Line 31, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Alabama ROPER, age 21, Female, Born AL Line 32, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Chas A. ROPER, age 17, Male, Born AL Line 33, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Alda F. ROPER, age 14, Female, Born AL Line 34, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Gilbert M. ROPER, age 12, Male, Born AL Line 35, Dwelling 363, Family 304, Luella B. ROPER, age 10, Female, Born AL .. others in house [Image 37 of 39 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data for this jurisdiction.] * In 1870, Caroline is managing the hotel with her son Dick: United States Census -- 1870 Mobile, Mobile, AL 8 & 9 Jun 1870 Line 31, Dwelling 77, Family 76, ROPER, C. M., age 55, Female, White, Hotel Proprietor, RE $25,000, Pers. Estate $3,000, Born TN Line 31, Dwelling 77, Family 76, ROPER, Dick, Age 27, Male, White, Manager, Born AL Line 32, Dwelling 77, Family 76, ROPER, Alda, Age 20, Female, White, At Home, Born AL Line 33, Dwelling 77, Family 76, ROPER, G. M., Age 23, Male, White, Bookkeeper, Born AL .. others within hotel [Image 100 of 808 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1870 Census data for this jurisdiction.] Dr. L. David ROPER's Rope rfamily history database shows Caroline M. Montgomery ROPER as born 16 Dec 1812 and dying 07 Mar 1893. I am unfamiliar with the data supporting these assertions, but they appear to be credible.