It is rather remarkable that after all these years of ROPER genealogy, no one seems to have taken an interest in Judge William P. ROPER (b 1776-80 - VA, d 18 Aug 1833 - Fleming, KY), son of Shadrach ROPER (d aft 17 Sep 1784 - Powhatan, VA). Judge William P. ROPER was perhaps the most prominent of ancient Kentucky ROPER ancestors.

There almost seems to be more misinformation than information about William P. ROPER. Although he is a son expressly named within the Will of Shadrach ROPER, those who have created fictional facts and a fictional lineage for Shadrach ROPER have distorted his family information so much that this fraud also colors the historical record as to Shadrach ROPER's several children who are given fantastic and specious dates of birth in support of the fraudulent lineage of their father. Most online secondary accounts include fraudulent and INVENTED dates and places of birth for Shadrach ROPER, an invented marriage date, and invented dates of birth for Shadrach's children three decades earlier than they were actually born.

The first mention of William P. ROPER is within Shadrach ROPER's Will dated 17 Sep 1784 and proved 16 Dec 1784. William is shown to be one of Shadrach's three minor children. William had an older brother Samuel ROPER, who seems not to have been a minor, and who may have been a half brother, given the gap in the children's ages.

See:

"Will of Shadrach ROPER (d aft 17 Sep 1784 - Powhatan, VA)" (5 Mar 2006 7:12PM GMT)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/808/mb.ashx

"Shadrach ROPER -- A Reassessment and Some New Ways of Looking at the Data" (12 Sep 2010 7:10PM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/808.1/mb.ashx

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William P. ROPER is next mentioned within the Powhatan marriage records, marrying Peggy FORSEE on 16 Dec 1801 in Powhatan, VA.

See:

"Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRWF-F8Q : accessed 20 Mar 2014), William Roper and Peggy Forsee, 16 Dec 1801; citing Powhatan, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 33067.

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THE CENSUS DATA

It should be noted that William P. ROPER was almsot surely already in Kentucky by 1805 when he is electd to the Kentucky State House, as further related below. However, William's absence from the legislature between 1805 and 1811 introduces at least the bare possibility that he might have resided somewhere else during this interval.

The two best candidates in Kentucky seem to be these two Williams:

William ROPER: 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 1 [Jessamine, KY 1810]
William RAPIER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 2 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 4 [Nelson, KY 1810]

William ROPER, of Jessamine, KY, is shown to be age 26 to 44 (1766-84) in 1810. William RAPIER is also shown to be in this age range.

See:

"United States Census, 1810," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH2P-7XV : accessed 20 Mar 2014), William Roper, Not Stated, Jessamine, Kentucky; citing "1810 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 56, line 2230, NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 7, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0181352.

"United States Census, 1810," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH29-QCP : accessed 20 Mar 2014), William Rapier, Bardstown, Nelson, Kentucky; citing "1810 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 29, line 156, NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 8, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0181353.

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The Jessamine William ROPER record seems MOST LIKELY, particularly given the proximty there of William ROPER's younger brother Jesse ROPER (b 26 Aug 1781 - Powhatan, VA, d 03 Sep 1861 - Howard, MO).

Jesse ROPER: 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 1 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 2 [Jessamine, KY 1810]

See: "United States Census, 1810," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH2P-7FQ : accessed 20 Mar 2014), Jesse Roper, Not Stated, Jessamine, Kentucky; citing "1810 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 56, line 2260, NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 7, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0181352.

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These records would seem also to be bare possibilities, if William returned to Virginia, perhaps at the death of his mother.

Wm. ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 6 - 0 [Henrico, VA 1810]
William ROPER: 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0 - 1 [New Kent, VA 1810]

Henrico is near to Powhatan. However, this William ROPER seems to head a free black family.

William ROPER, of New Kent, seems to be age 18 to 25 (b abt 1785-92), a bit too young to be William P. ROPER. Moreover, William P. ROPER is from Powhatan and there is no reason to expect him to have backtracked to Virginia or to be in New Kent in 1810.

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There are these additional William ROPER households shown in other places in the United States the 1810 Census:

Wm. ROPER [Robeson, NC 1810]
William ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 2 - 3 - 0 - 1 - 1 -- 0 - 0 [Charleston, SC 1810]
William ROPER: 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 0 -- 4 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 0 - 2 [Kershaw, SC 1810]
William ROPER [Kershaw, SC 1810]

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I have NOT yet looked closely at these Census records.

No one seems to have ever bothered to look for the early Fleming deed or tax records which might show William's date of arrival.

I strongly suspect that the Jessamine, KY, 1810 record is the correct one. But anyone interested in this ROEPR ancestor really ought to get a close look at the Fleming and Jessamine deed and tax records before ascribing this record to William P. ROPER.

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In 1820, William P. ROPER is enumerated within the U.S. Census in Fleming. He is shown to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1776-94).

William P. ROPER: 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 -- 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 [Fleming, KY 1820]

See: "United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VJ1F-YNG : accessed 20 Mar 2014), Wm P Roper, Not Stated, Fleming, Kentucky; citing "1820 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 81, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 21, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm .

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In 1830, William P. ROPER is enumerated (as "W.P. ROPER") in the Census for the last time before his death. He is shown to be age 50 to 59 (b abt 1771-80).

W. P. ROPER: 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 [Fleming, KY 1830]

See: "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHPB-JV4 : accessed 20 Mar 2014), W P Roper, Eastern Division, Fleming, Kentucky; citing "1830 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com; p. 37, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 36, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 0007815.

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From the extant Census information, we can infer that William P. ROPER was born between 1776-80 and probably towards the upper end of that range 1778-80. This is consistent with William being a minor at his father's death in 1784. This is also very precisely consistent with the KNOWN date of birth of William P. ROPER's younger brother Jesse ROPER (b 26 Aug 1781 - Powhatan, VA, d 03 Sep 1861 - Howard, MO).

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WILLIAM P. ROPER's MARRIAGES

Judge ROPER married four times. His first marriage, as mentioned above, was to Peggy FORSEE in Powhattan. His subsequent marriages were to:

(i) Peggy FORSEE on 16 Dec 1801 in Powhatan, VA
(ii) Mary METCALFE on 17 Oct 1804 in Fleming Co., KY
(iii) Elizabeth PRICE on 08 Aug 1809 in Fleming Co., KY*
(iv) Lucy Price WEISIGER on 01 Jun 1824 in Franklin Co., KY

See:

"Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWBL-74D : accessed 20 Mar 2014), William P. Roper and Polly Metcalfe, 17 Oct 1804; citing Fleming, Kentucky, reference p82 l10; FHL microfilm 344015.

"Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FW5C-8Y2 : accessed 20 Mar 2014), William P. Roper and Lucy P. Weisiger, 01 Jun 1824; citing Franklin County, Kentucky, reference p 76; FHL microfilm 266192.

* I am aware of NO SUPPORT for this asserted marriage, but the information is sufficiently specific that is seems plausible.

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JUDGE WILLIAM P. ROPER's PUBLIC LIFE

Judge William P. ROPER is hardly an obscure figure. He served in the Kentucky legislature (House) representing Fleming County in 1805, 1811, 1814, 1816, 1817, and 1819. He also served in the Kentucky State Senate in 1818 and from 1827 until his death in 1833. He was serving in the State Senate at the time of Henry CLAY's second election to the United States Senate by a vote of the Kentucky legislature (well before direct election of Senators).

See: Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Vol. 2, by Lewis Collins, Richard H. Collin (Covington,KY: Collins & Co., 1882), pp. 230-1.
http://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22Will...

Of course, there are numerous mentions of William P. ROPER in the Kentucky Senate Journal. This online Senate Journal is exemplary:

http://books.google.com/books?id=BXFaAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Will...

There seems to be some extant correspondence between William P. ROPER and Henry CLAY amongst the Henry CLAY papers, but I haven't seen this.

Concurrent with his terms in the Senate, William P. ROPER also served as a Judge of the Circuit Court.

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WILLIAM P. ROPER's MILITARY SERVICE

William P. ROPER is most like the otherwise UNNAMED Major ROPER shown to have served in Johnson's Reg't, Mounted, Kentucky Volunteers during the War of 1812 / Creek War.

See my posts:

"ROPER Veterans of the War of 1812 / Creek War" (18 Mar 2014 12:57AM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1870/mb.ashx

"Further Evidence, Discussion and Analysis Regarding Kentucky ROPERs in the Militia During War of 1812" (5 Apr 2014 11:56AM)
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.roper/1870.4/mb.ashx

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Judge ROPER is shown to have died on 18 Aug 1833 during a cholera epidemic.

See: "Observer and Reporter," newspaper of Lexington, KY, 21 Aug 1833.

Judge ROPER's widow Lucy Price Weisiger ROPER died on 04 Jun 1838.

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I have never seen a posted abstract of William P. ROPER's probate information. No one seems to be much interested in William, possibly because CORRECTING his information rather conclusively demonstrates the FRAUD associated with various other lineages which have been crafted by altering Shadrach ROPER's genealogical information.