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/792.2 Message Board Post: The ROPER family history database files of Dr. L. David ROPER show another of the sons of Randolph ROPER as James W. ROPER (b abt 1800, d 12 Jan 1856 - Mobile, Mobile, AL). The factual basis for this ascription is unknown to me. But there is some primary evidence which helps to give a better understanding of this family. This James W. ROPER is shown to have married Elizabeth Ann SIMISON (b 02 Aug 1810, d 09 Jan 1887 - Mobile, Mobile, AL) on 22 Nov 1838. In 1850, this couple may be found residing in Ward 2, New Orleans, Louisiana: United States Census -- 1850 Ward 2, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana 28 Aug 1850 Line 11, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, James W. ROPER, age 50, Male, Lumber Mrkt, RE $1,000, Born VA Line 12, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, E. A. ROPER, age 37, Female, Born PA Line 13, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, Anne ROPER, age 10, Female, Born AL Line 14, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, E. H. ROPER, age 8, Male, Born AL Line 15, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, Mary ROPER, age 6, Female, Born AL Line 16, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, Charles D. ROPER, age 4, Male, Born AL Line 17, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, Margaret ROPER, age 18, Female, Born IRELAND Line 18, Dwelling 1047, Family 1080, Mrs. C. WALKER, age 30, Female, Born LA [Image 32 of 84 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1850 Census data.] I am a bit uncertain about the CORRECTNESS of the ascription of this James ROPER as a son of Randolph ROPER. Two things about this record puzzle me. First, when I think of LUMBER, I tend to think of the family of the ROPERs of Petersburg or of Norfolk. Second, I find it particularly puzzling that there appears a Margaret ROPER who seems to have been born in IRELAND residing within this household. This may simply reflect some error. Perhaps Margaret isn't really a ROPER at all. Or perhaps she was sent to school in Ireland. But it is a puzzle nevertheless. And it causes me some misgivings about the ascription. * This Census record is substantially consistent with the 1840 Census record showing a James W. ROPER in Sumter County, Alabama: James W. ROPER: 2 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 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 - 0 -- 9 -- 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 – 0 [Image 36, 37 of 151] * James W. ROPER is shown to be age 40 to 49. Elizabeth is of similar age. Perhaps of greatest significance is the appeance of a woman of age 70 to 79 in this household. If this James W. ROPER is actually Randolph ROPER's son, this may be his mother Ann. * In 1830, James W. ROPER seems to have been residing in Mecklinburg, NC: James W. ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 2 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 9 [Image 39, 40 of 162] He is shown to be age 30 to 39, which is consistent with the other records shown above. The wife is also shown to be in her thirties. This is presumably Sarah A. DAVENPORT (m 10 Jun 1830) or perhaps even a prior wife. * In 1860, Elizabeth Ann ROPER is still residing in New Orleans: United States Census -- 1860 Ward 3, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana 07 Jun 1860 Line 33, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Mrs. E. A. ROPER, age 45, Female, Boarding House, Pers. Estate $1,500, Born Penn Line 34, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Anna P. ROPER, age 19, Female, Born Ala Line 35, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Edw. H. ROPER, age 18, Male, clerk, Born Ala Line 36, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Mary W. ROPER, age 16, Female, Born Ala Line 37, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Charles D. ROPER, age 12, Male, Born Ala Line 38, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Saml. BARRETT, age 50, Male, Comm. Merchant, Born Vermont Line 39, Dwelling 351, Family 458, Sarah BARRETT, age 45, Female, Born Mass. [Image 64 of 552 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data.] * United States Census -- 1870 Ward 3, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana 02 Jun 1870 Line 26, Dwelling 64, Famliy 70, ROPER, Eliza A., Age 55, Female, White, House Keeper, RE $800, Born Pennsylvania Line 27, Dwelling 64, Famliy 70, ROPER, Annie, Age 24, Female, White, At Home, Born Alabama Line 28, Dwelling 64, Famliy 70, ROPER, Charles D., Age 22, Male, White, Clerk in store, Born Alabama [Image 574 of 651 at the Ancestry.com presentation of 1860 Census data.] * New Orleans, Louisiana, death records show the death of an Edward H. ROPER, age 25, on 23 May 1869. New Orleans death records also show a death of a Charles Dellinger ROPER, at age 27, on 06 Sep 1877 (Volume 69, Page 780). This appears likely to have been Charles D. ROPER, son of James W. ROPER.