This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/787 Message Board Post: According to an Index entry at the Virginia State Library, appearing in the American Commercial Beacon and Norfolk & Portsmouth Daily Advertiser on Monday, July 10, 1820, was this death notice: "Died - On Wednesday, July 5, John Roper, a resident of Henrico County, by shooting himself." (p. 3, c. 2) This entry is apparently taken from the marriage and obituary citations compiled by Bernard J. Henley from Virginia newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. I have NOT seen the original entry. In the 1810 United States Census, there was one John ROPER residing in Henrico County: John ROPER: 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 -- 1 - 6 This John ROPER therefore appears to have been age 26 to 44 in 1810 (b abt 1766-1784). His wife would appear to be of similar age. The presence of six slaves in this household is highly suggestive that the John ROPER shown in the 1810 Census record is John ROPER, son of David ROPER (b 13 NOV 1744, d 16 APR 1808 - Charles City, VA). That John ROPER received slaves by deed of gift from his father in 1804 and again by Will upon his father's death in 1808. The 1804 deed of gift said in part: "Know all men by these presents that David Roper of the County of Charles City for and in consideration of the love and affection which I bear to my son John Roper and for the farther consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid by the said John Roper the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have given granted bargained and sold and by these presents do give grant bargain and sell unto my said son John Roper the following slaves to wit; Mary, Lotsey and Billy, to have and to hold the said slaves to my sd son John Roper his heirs and assigns forever, the title to which said slaves against me my heirs and assigns and every other person and persons unto the said John Roper his heirs and assigns will forever warrant and defend." This deed was executed on 13 APR 1804 and proved on 18 APR 1804. (see the transcription posted at Dr. L. David ROPER's website at http://www.roperld.com/rva18.htm ) The Will stated in part: "Then, after my just debts are paid; I give and bequeath to my son John Roper four Negroes which he hath now in his possession Nirt, Mary, Letsy, Randol and Debby: also an equal proportion of my household furniture: to him and his heirs forever. ... My desire is that my Man Fill and his wife live or continue with my son John Roper, but not as slaves; but to do moderate labour, and should they live to become chargeable in the Judgement of my executors then in that case, they shall be maintained out of my Estate." Note that Mary and Lotsey/Letsey seem to appear in BOTH the deed of gift AND the Will. Taken together, the list seems to be: Mary, Lotsey/Letsey, Billy, Nirt, Randol and Debby This works out to precisely SIX slaves, the exact number shown in the 1810 Census record. There is also one freed slave seemingly living in the John ROPER household, presumably "Fill" or his wife. This John ROPER does NOT seem to appear in the 1820 Census enumeration. Amongst those enumerated in 1820 in Henrico were an Elizabeth ROPER, Billy ROPER, Billy ROPER and Silvia ROPER. Elizabeth ROPER appears to be a white female over age 45: Elizabeth ROPER: 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 Each of the others named seems to be a freed slave: Billy ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 Billy ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 Silvia ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 Note that Elizabeth ROPER owns NO SLAVES. She seems to have two sons in her household, one age 10 to 16 and the other age 16 to 26. The first Billy ROPER seems to be a free colored male under age 14, remarkably with a female slave of age 26 to 44. The latter Billy ROPER seems to be a free colored male of age 26 to 44 with two free colored females of age 14 to 25 residing in his household. Silvia seems to be a free colored female of age 26 to 44, with two free colored males and one free colored female under age 14 residing in her household. * * * There is more than a little reason to suppose that the John ROPER shown to be residing in Henrico, Virginia, in 1810 was son of David ROPER (b 13 NOV 1744, d 16 APR 1808 - Charles City, VA). It is less clear that the John ROPER, of Henrico who died on July 5, 1820, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound was this same John ROPER. The John ROPER who died might have also been a SON of this John ROPER. One clue that this might have been the case is the reappearance in 1830 of a John ROPER in Henrico who is shown to be of age 60 to 70 (b abt 1760-70). It seems possible that the elder John ROPER was simply away in 1820 at the date of the Census. He may have moved to the frontier to stake a claim on some land, etc. In any event, it appears that John ROPER freed his slaves. The John ROPER reappearing in Henrico seems to have a wife age 40 to 50 and two daughters, one age 10 to 14 and one age 15 to 19, rsiding in his household. It would probably be a good idea to check the deed records and Will records for Henrico to ascertain whether there are additional extant clues to the ultimate disposition of the descendants of this John ROPER.