Sarah (Caldwell) Roper (bef. 1736 - aft. 1800)

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: William Roper [send private message]

Biography

Some primary records seem to show that the grandchildren of Sarah (Caldwell) ROPER mistakenly believed that their grandmother's maiden name was CHADWELL. Everyone in David and Sarah (Caldwell) ROPER's family was apparently illiterate, so it is easy to see how the family heritage might have become garbled.

Although there is primary evidence which supports both CALDWELL and CHADWELL as Sarah's maiden name, the better (recently discovered) evidence seems to favor CALDWELL.

ONE THING OF WHICH WE ARE REASONABLY CERTAIN IS THAT SARAH's MAIDEN NAME WAS NOT YATES.

Sources

• Affidavit of Thomas McNIEL (b abt 1782), of Wilkes, NC (17 Apr 1861). Estate of Charles ROPER, of Rockingham, NC, Deceased. Wills, 1663-1978; estate papers, 1780-1926 (Rockingham County). "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9C6-YPM1?cc=1911121&wc=93PX-K6N%3A1066675702%2C183381101%2C1066681701 : 21 May 2014), > image 185 of 447; State Archives, Raleigh.

• Affidavit of Griffin SUMMERLIN in the Estate of Charles ROPER, of Rockingham, NC, Deceased (18 Apr 1861). Estate of Charles ROPER, of Rockingham, NC, Deceased. Wills, 1663-1978; estate papers, 1780-1926 (Rockingham County). "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9C6-B98R?cc=1911121&wc=93PX-K6N%3A1066675702%2C183381101%2C1066681701 : 21 May 2014), > image 214 of 447; State Archives, Raleigh.

• "David ROPER (b bef 1733) and Sarah ROPER, of Caswell, Rutherford, and Wilkes, NC," by William A. Roper, Jr. [18 Jan 2015 1:00 PM]. Posted Thread at the Ancestry ROPER Message Board. https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.roper/1999

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LHKF-314

• See the affidavits and depositions within the contested probate of the Estate of Charles ROPER, Deceased, of Rockingham, NC. Charles ROPER, of Rockingham, NC, was a son of Benjamin ROPER (d bef Jun 1786), of Charles City, VA. Charles ROPER died intestate and childless in Rockingham, leaving a widow Rebecca. Although this Charles ROPER was NOT related to David and Sarah (Caldwell) ROPER, the grandchildren of this couple made an heirship claim against Charles ROPER's estate. Charles ROPER's heirship proceedings pertaining to his estate lasted more than three decades and produced more than 450 pages of court records which extensively document the names and relationships of both the family of Benjamin ROPER (d bef Jun 1786), of Charles City, VA, as well as the family of David and Sarah (Caldwell) ROPER, of Caswell and Wilkes, NC.

Acknowledgements

We are much indebted to researcher Frank BATCHELOR for his tireless efforts to improve our understanding of the Caswell ROPER families.