Amongst the profiles of Revolutionary War veterans appearing within the book "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia and Other States, Volume II", compiled by Mrs. Howard H. McCALL (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1968, 1996, 2004), pp. 106-7 is a sketch of a James ROPER:
"JAMES ROPER, b. in Northamoton Co., N.C., 1741; d. in Johnston Co., N.C., 1800. He mar. Alice --, she d. after 1800. He was a REV. SOLDIER of N.C., served as Private in Capt. Brinkley's Co., April 7, 1777 for 3 year term; in Capt. Yarbrough's Co., 1780. Had land alloted him for his services, Oct. 14, 1783. (N.S.D.A.R.) His widow drew a Pension for his services.
(Ref. Pages 448 and 584, Roster of N.C. Soldiers by D.A.R.)
Children (not in order of birth):
1. Elijah
2. Benjamin.
3. Elisha.
4. Isaac.
5. John.
6. James.
7. Betsey (of Elizabeth).
8. Rebecca, mar. Johnston Co., N.C., 1778, FADDY WHITTINGTON, b. N.C., Feb 12, 1752; d. in Pike Co., Ga. Oct., 1855, age 103 years. He was a REV. SOLDIER of N.C. (See page 179, Roster of Rev. Soldiers in Ga., by Mrs. Howard H. McCall.)"
Source: Ancestry.com. Roster of Revoloutionary Soldiers in Georgia Vol. II [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: McCall, Mrs. Howard H. Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.
Dave ROPER includes a mention of this record at:
The First Two Centuries of Ropers in North Carolina (1600-1799)
http://www.roperld.com/rnc1617.htm*
I have several problems with this record, which may reflect some very BAD genealogy.
First, while Faddy WHITTINGDON is clearly a Revolutionary War soldier and his basic information appears to be valid and consistent with his Pension application, that application makes no mention of his wife's name, place of marriage or other genealogical information.
Perhaps that information reliably comes down through WHITTINGTON's family via a family Bible or other similarly reliable information. If so, it would be very helpful to identify the primary support for the assertions about the ROPER family.
As far as I am able to tell, there is NO RECORD of a James ROPER in Johnston County, NC. There does seem to be a James ROSSER there.
I know of NO PRIMARY support for the purported year of birth or the year of death of this purported James ROPER.
We DO know of the Revolutionary War Veteran James ROPER (R 8996) who died in Simpson County, Kentucky, in 1833. See my thread:
"James ROPER (b Jun 1745 - Caswell, NC, d 18 Nov 1835 - Simpson, KY)" (27 Nov 2012 9:23PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1721/mb.ashxThis James ROPER (d 18 Nov 1835) received a pension for his last years of life, but his widow was unable to obtain a pension as his survivor.
We also know about James ROPER (S 7413):
"James ROPER (b abt 1766, d 1833 - Richmond County, NC)" (24 Nov 2012 4:31PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1718/mb.ashx*
Within the Pension Application of James ROPER (S 7413) we learn that this Veteran served 3 years, six months from May 1777 under Capts. Craddock and H. MURPHREE. He also served an additional 3 month and 12 month tour.
This James ROPER (d 1833 - Richmond County, NC) made his declaration for Pension at Richmond Court House on July 20, 1832. This James ROPER identified his age as 70 at that date (b abt 1762). He stated that he resided in Northampton County, NC, at his enlistment.
On page 69 of the book "Roster of soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution" there is a mention of a:
ROPER, Jas., Pt.; Brinkley's Co., [Enlisted] 7 Apr 1777], 3 years.
Similarly, there is a mention at p. 279 of that publication that a James ROPER, Privt, was granted 374 acres for 3 years' service on September 17, 1785.
Source: Ancestry.com. Roster of soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution : with an appendix containing a collection of miscellaneous r [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: Roster of soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution : with an appendix containing a collection of miscellaneous records.. unknown: The D.A.R., 1932.
There is a mention within the Pension application of Thomas LANDRUM (S 1546) that he served within the Company of a Captain James ROPER.
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My concern here is that it appears to me that within a DAR application some genealogical details have become rather MANGLED and this secondary information is now being treated as true.
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Can anyone identify any PRIMARY SUPPORT for the proposition that there ever existed a James ROPER (b 1741, d. 1800)?
Can anyone identify any primary records supporting the purported marriage of Faddy WHITTINGTON to a Rebecca ROPER?
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(I am somewhat less skeptical that Faddy WHITTINGTON married a Rebecca ROPER or ROSSER. I am just doubtful about the possibility that Rebecca was from Johnston County, if she is a ROPER, and the genealogical details concerning her father.)