This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Fownes Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/785.11 Message Board Post: Amongst the very earliest ROPERs in Illinois was Isaac ROPER (b abt 1850 - England, d aft 1900 - Poss IL). The first apppearance I have found to date is within the United States Census at age 20 in 1870, residing within the household of James and Martha WICK in French Creek, Edwards County, Illinois: United States Census -- 1870 French Creek Precinct, Edwards County, Illinois, (Albion Post Office) Page 1 (Page Imprinted "322") 09 Jul 1870 Line 20, Dwelling 4, Family 4, WICK, James, Age 25, Male, White, Farmer, RE $1,400, Pers, Estate $416, Born Illinois, Father Foreign Born Line 21, Dwelling 4, Family 4, WICK, Martha, Age 25, Female, White, Keeping House, Born Illinois Line 22, Dwelling 4, Family 4, WICK, Olive, Age 4, Female, White, Born Illinois Line 23, Dwelling 4, Family 4, WICK, Camella, Age 1, Female, White, Born Illinois Line 24, Dwelling 4, Family 4, ROPER, Isaac, Age 20, Male, White, Born England, Father Foreign Born, Mother Foreign Born [Image 1 of 29 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1870 Census data for this jurisdiction.] It seems most likely that James WICK is a son of Adam WICK, age 50, and possibly Selina WICK, age 42, shown on the same Census page. Isaac ROPER's relationship to the WICK, is any, is unclear. * I have foung no other ROPER residing in Edwards County, IL, in either 1860 or 1870. Nor have I found any obvious record for this Isaac ROPER (b abt 1830 - England) anywhere in teh United States in 1860. * In 1880, there is a somewhat older Isaac ROP, age 36?, born PA, residing with brother Levi J. ROP, age 31, and wife Nancy, age 27. Levi ROP is also shown to be born in PA and both Levi and Isaac ROP are shown to be born to parents both of whom were also born in PA. In 1880, there was also an Isaac ROPER, age 29, born IL, residing with wife Sarah E. ROPER, age 29?, in Douglas, Saline County, Illinois. This Isaac ROPER's parents are shown to each have been born in NC. This couple is rather clearly Isaac and Sarah E. Motsinger ROPER, who married in Saline COunty on 28 Jan 1878. And there was also a younger Isaac ROPER, age 22, born in TN, to parents both born in TN, who is shown to be residing with his brothers A.C. and Samuel ROPER in Saline, Madison County, Illinois. This seems likely to be the Isaac H. ROPER shown to have married Jennie RAWLSTON on 24 SEP 1882, in Madison, IL. * This Isaac ROPER next seems to reappear in Gray, White County, Illinois, in the 1900 Census enumeration some thirty years later, as a Boarder within the household of John and Mary COULTER: United States Census -- 1900 Gray, White County, Illinois, Enumeration District 113, Sheet 18B 21 Jun 1900 Line 81, Dwelling 390, Family 393, COULTER, John D.?, Head, White, Male, Born Nov 1828, Age 71, Married 49 Yrs, Born IL, Father Born DE, Mother Born DE, Farmer Line 82, Dwelling 390, Family 393, COULTER, Mary?, Wife, White, Female, Born May 1831, Age 69, Married 49 Yrs, 5 Children, 5 Children Living, Born IL, Father Born IL, Mother Born NC, Weaver Carpet Line 83, Dwelling 390, Family 394, ROPER, Isaac, Border, White, Male, Born Jun 1840, Age 50, Unmarried, Born England, Father Born England, Mother Born England, Immigrated 1858, In US 42 Yrs, Farm Laborer [Image 36 of 42 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1900 Census data for this jurisdiction.] * * * Grey, White County, Illinois, by the way, seems to be about eight miles from Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, so Isaac ROPER seems NOT to have made a major migration (or to the extent that he has, he has RETURNED to near the place he first seems to have settled in America.) Note that the AGE (50) and year of birth (1840) given in the 1900 Census record do NOT agree. The AGE given in 1900 (50) DOES agree with the age given in 1870 (20). I am ASSUMING that the AGES age roughly correct. This Census record also informs us that this Isaac ROPER seems to have come to America in 1858 and therefore OUGHT TO BE found in the 1860 and 1880 United States Census. Presumably, this Isaac ROPER also ought to be found in the 1851 Census of England. Within the 1851 Census of England, there seem to be six particularly compelling candidates to be the Isaac ROPER (b abt 1850) who settled in Illinois. Isaac ROPER, age 2, of Bilston, Staffordshire, apparantly son of William and Mary Ann ROPER.* Isaac ROPER, age 1, of Elland with Greetland, Yorkshire, apparantly son of Emma ROPER Isaac ROPER, age 1, of Sedgley, Staffordshire, son of Isaac and Phoebe ROPER Isaac ROPES, age 1, of Fishwick, Lancashire, son of Robert and Sarah ROPES Isaac ROPER, age 1 mos, of Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, son of Andrew and Elizabeth ROPER * This Isaac, along with his parents, seems to have been enumerated twice within Bilston, Staffordshire, once while a visitor in the household of Stephen and Sarah HILL. * * * These records at least somewhat correspond to records for births of Isaac ROPERs shown in the English Civil Registration Index: Isaac ROPER, birth registered Dec Qtr, 1848, Dudley District, Staffordshire Worcestershire Isaac ROPER, birth registered Sep Qtr, 1849, Dudley District, Staffordshire Worcestershire Isaac ROPER, borth registered Mar Qtr, 1850, Dewsbury District, West Riding of Yorkshire * * * William and Mary Ann ROPER, parents of Isaac ROPER, age 2, of Bilston, Staffordshire, are shown to be age 48 and 44, respectively, in 1851. This Isaac ROPER was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, as was his mother. His father is shown to have been born in Broseley, Shropshire. In the second enumeration in which this Isaac ROPER appeared , he is shown to have been born in Sedgley, Staffordshire, England. William ROPER is a coal miner. In 1871, this Isaac, age 19, is still residing with his father William (b abt 1829 - Broseley, Shropshire), stepmother Tryphenia, age 42, and his brothers and sisters: Enoch, age 19, Sarah, age 17, William, age 15, Tryphenia, age 12, and Jane, age 10. In 1881, this Issac ROPER, age 32, is residing in Bilston, Staffordshire, with wife Sarah Ann ROPER, and children Ann ROPER, age 2, and Alfred J. ROPER, 3 mos. It seems that we can rule this Isaac OUT. Emma ROPER, who appears to be the mother of Isaac ROPER, is shown to be age 44, in 1851. She is residing with William and Mary SMITHIES, where Emma appears to be working as a domestic. Emma is shown to have been born in Yorkshire Halifax. This Isaac ROPER is shown to have been born in Yorkshire Batty Carr. The Isaac appears to be still residing with his parents Eli and Emma ROPER in Batley, Yorkshire in 1871. It seems that we can rule this Isaac OUT. Isaac and Phoebe ROPER, ages 41 and 40, respectively, were each born in Sedgley:Coseley, Staffordshire, as was Isaac Jr. Also residing within this household are Prudence, age 16, Esther, age 11, and Abraham, age 9. Isaac Jr. is the youngest shown in 1851. Isaac ROPER (b abt 1810 - Sedgley:Coseley, Staffordshire) is a coal miner. The Isaac ROPES, age 1, found in Fishwick, Lancashire, is clearly the same child shown in the parish records as: Isaac ROPER (Chr 11 NOV 1849 - Saint John, Preston, Lancashire, England), son of Robert and Sarah ROPER The parents, Robert and Sarah ROPER, are shown to be ages 45 and 46, respectively. Also present in this household are sisters Esther, age 16, and Sarah Jane, age 4. Ester and Sarah Jane are shown to have been born in Preston, Lancashire. Isaac is shown to have been born in Fishwick. Robert, who is shown to be have occupation "Shop Reeper" is shown to have been born in Standish, Lancashire. Sarah was born in Whittle, Lancashire. Isaac ROPER, age 21, born Preston, Lancashire, is shown to be residing at Whitworth, Spotland, Lancashire, in 1871, where he is employed as a "Grocer". Andrew and Elizabeth ROPER, aged 37 and 36, respectively, are residing with children Andrew, age 8, Charles, age 4, and Isaac, 1 mos. Andrew ROPER is a "Edge Tool Forger" born in Dronfield Derbyshire. ELizabeth and each of the children was born in Sheffield Yorkshire. Elizabeth CARNES, age 13, is shown to be a servant in this household. * * * This seems to leave us with two viable prospects: Isaac ROPER, age 1, of Sedgley, Staffordshire, son of Isaac and Phoebe ROPER Isaac ROPER, age 1 mos, of Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, son of Andrew and Elizabeth ROPER * Isaac and Phoebe ROPER do NOT seem to appear in the 1871 English census enumeration. Neither does Andrew ROPER. But Isaac ROPER, age 10, of Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, son of Andrew and Elizabeth ROPER, DOES appear inthe 1861 Census record with his parents. This would place him with his parents in England at a time when his Isaac ROPER's 1900 Census record suggests he should already be in America. And Isaac ROPER, of Ecclesall Bierlow, seems a year too YOUNG to be Isaac ROPER, of Illinois, anyway. Isaac ROPER (b abt 1810 - ), of Sedgley, Staffordshire, at age 50, is still shown to be residing in Segley, in 1861, but he is shown to be a widower (Phoebe seems to have died) and only Esther, age 21, remains within this household. Phoebe ROPER's death is no doubt the death recorded during Sep Qtr 1858 at Dudley District, Staffordshire/Worcestershire, at Vol. 6c., Page 33. Note that this is also the year that Isaac ROPER, of Illinois seemed to come to America. * * * Accordingly, I believe that it is MOST LIKELY that the Isaac ROPER (b abt 1850 - England) shown in the 1870 and 1900 Census residing in Illinois is probably: Isaac ROPER, age 1, of Sedgley, Staffordshire, son of Isaac and Phoebe ROPER Isaac ROPER, birth registered Sep Qtr, 1849, Dudley District, Staffordshire Worcestershire, The parents are no doubt the couple shown in this parish record: Isaac ROPER m Phebe FOWNES on 02 AUG 1829 at Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England [IGI Batch No. M040144] The elder Isaac ROPER seems to possibly be: Isaac ROPER (Chr 06 JAN 1808 - Sedgley, Stafford, England), son of Abraham and Hannah ROPER [IGI Batch No. J009986] However, it should be noted that the Census of England records are suggestive that this Isaac ROPER was age 30 in 1841, age 41, in 1851, and age 50 in 1861. So we are EXPECTING Isaac to have been born about 1810. There is also another parish record which should be considered a possibility: Isaac ROPER (b 17 JUL 1805, Chr 16 SEP 1810 - Halifax, Yorkshire, England), son of Luke and Jane ROPER [C007494] But it should be noted that the year of birth 1805 may be even EARLIER. Also, The Isaac ROPER who married Phoebe named his eldest daughter Hannah and his eldest son Abraham. This is probably a pretty strong indication that these were his parents names. * * * The 1841 Census record shows: Census of England -- 1841 Cosely, Wolverhampton, Segley Parish, Staffordshire TNA Ref. No. HO107-0998, Image No. 429, Folio No. 10\16, Page No. 24 Isaac ROPER, Male, age 30, Miner, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] Phoebe ROPER, Female, age 30, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] Hannah ROPER, Female, age 9, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] Elizabeth ROPER, Female, age 7, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] Prudence ROPER, Female, age 5, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] Esther ROPER, Female, age 1, Born Within this Same County [Staffordshire] * * * This probably seems to be a lot of effort for an English ROPER immigrant who doesn't seem to have married or had any children. But I have found it to often be helpful to establish migration patterns which may be instructive as to the point of origin of others arriving about the same time and near the same places. * I would be interested in hearing from anyone with additional information regarding this family!