Our Roper Family Chronicle
1600s To 1960s
By
Steve Roper (c) 2010
We start back in the 1700s and 1800s in ‘West Dorset, England’ where the county borders with Devon and Somerset. Our Ropers were a farming family right here, rural conditions were difficult with short life expectancy due to disease, poor nutrition, childbirth and fatigue. Modern Y-DNA profiling indicates the family previously had better times than this. It shows a close match with descendants from the Roper/Rooper family once residing in ‘Abbotts Ripton, Hall and Rectory, Huntingdon’. Interestingly, their ancestral lineage (no Y-DNA profile yet) also links us to the ‘Teynham, Kent’ Ropers including William Roper who married ‘Margaret’ the daughter of Thomas More (Henry VIII et-al). Y-DNA profiling provided other pleasant surprises by matching us to several previously unfamiliar Roper/Rooper families in England, USA and Canada. We are now in contact with many of these families either meeting personally or by email.
Even with the difficult rural conditions and the restrictions imposed on Catholics by Henry VIII in 1534, our Roper ancestors managed to keep the family line intact and found a pathway to better times into the 1900s. This document is a chronological account of this pathway.
Notes
· Where I have placed ‘our’ before a Christian name, indicates ‘our direct family line’.
· Where alternative names are shown i.e. Susana/Susannah, both spellings were seen in different research documents.
· It may look like the Ropers moved often. Not so, most lived in a relatively small area and changes in boundaries/administration centres caused this effect.
The small village of ‘Blackdown, Dorset’ had its share of hardship in the 1700s, but still a comparatively pleasant place to live with rolling hills and beautiful vistas. Certainly pleasant enough for poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy to take up residence in ‘Racedown Manor’ at the foot of ‘Pilsdon Pen’ (1795-1798). A little south of Blackdown and close to the manor was ‘Crockers/Crocken Farm’, a small dairy unit where ‘our’ Robert Roper and family lived in the mid-1800s. Robert’s parents came from ‘Whitchurch Canonicorum’ about five miles south. ‘Tithe Appointment’ documents from that time show the Ropers owning about 120-acres of land that once belonged to the Church. Some of the land farmed by themselves but most rented or leased to other people. There were several other Roper families in the Blackdown area, some related (identified by record details or descendants Y-DNA), some wealthy, some poor, a few with questionable morals (unsure paternity, bastardly orders etc.) and a light scattering with criminal records mainly for non-violent but considered serious acts such as smuggling brandy, poaching and petty theft.
Altogether, a mixed scene that leaves us unsure where ‘our’ Ropers really fitted into the community. It becomes even more of a puzzle when considering a few facts about their religion and the Church at Blackdown:
· In the 1700s, our Ropers were probably still Catholics but ‘how devout’ can be debated. The ‘Catholic Relief Act 1778’ (and later Acts) did go some way to relax the Catholic suppression of Henry VIII, but simmering discontent within Protestant congregations was elevated and riots followed. Was this a problem here?
· We have in our Roper family, a small leather bound booklet recording the burials at Blackdown between 1712 and 1817. The leather binding has stiffened and the pages discoloured with age. The records were individually numbered, dated and scripted in old English. These have now been transcribed and are freely available on the Dorset OPC website. There are also a few casual notes, rhymes, pen-tests and signatures on other pages. The booklet’s initial author is signed as John Roper, later William Stevenson and then another John Roper. Why was this booklet compiled and retained by ‘our’ Ropers?
· The early Ropers chose a Church five miles from their home at ‘Whitchurch Canonicorum’. Why did they do that?
· A wide range of surnames exist in the 245 listed burials. Many of these tie into birth and wedding records for the area, but not with death records or gravestones except for the very last few in the 1800s. Why?
· One of the last listed in the burial booklet was John Roper ‘senor’ in 1817. Not buried in the Churchyard but in the Mitteryard (meeting yard). Why buried in the Mitteryard?
· One of the first ministers (no name found) for Blackdown Church followed the locally unpopular sect called the ‘Arians’, as a result the congregation dwindled to almost nothing. How did this happen?
· The Church became dilapidated, was rebuilt in 1840 and named ‘Holy Trinity’. The Arians belief is ‘Only One God’ and contradicts this. A good choice of name?
· A communal gravestone exists stating: “The Human Remains... 1729-1799”. What is this all about?
· Many other Trinitarian Churches were destroyed with fire by the Arians. Blackdown Church had serious fires. Accidental or arson?
Please decide for yourself but my conclusion is:
Many facts are lost to history but we know religion was very important to most. As was the case for many Catholics, I think the Ropers kept to their faith in secret gatherings, plus attended Blackdown Church as part of the ‘normal congregation’. A select few including the Ropers promoted the ‘Arians’ doctrine (probably ‘Arian Catholicism’ fronted as ‘The True Christian Church’). Blackdown was small and therefore provided little opposition to this movement, just the dwindling congregation. I can picture John Roper, quite stern, tough in business and emitting self-importance in his Church role – whatever that was! The same applies to the other authors of the Burial Booklet. The seeming rejection of John by burying him in the mitteryard, was probably nothing more than the unidentified recorder (different script style) using the old name for the Churchyard, the Church was originally known as the ‘Meeting House’. When the Church became dilapidated, its records including burials were likely destroyed by leaking rain water or the fires. The gravestones were probably removed as part of a tidying process and the communal gravestone created then. Renaming the Church to ‘Holy Trinity’, probably a good choice by going against any thoughts of an Arians revival. I hold an ‘open verdict’ on how the fires started and any possible riot action. I note the burial booklet is not scorched or smoke damaged, but has been affected by damp where the brown leather binding has leached onto the page edges!
If the earlier entries in the burial booklet were proven to be ‘our’ Ropers, the family tree would reach back to ‘Mary Roper – wife of Abraham Roper’ born in the mid-1600s (buried 1722). This is quite likely as later entries for the 1800s fit other records exactly and many of the Christian names are still used in our family. We need a few more clues for the earlier names, so research continues...
The Broadwindsor Register for 25-03-1807, shows ‘our’ William Roper - Dairyman from ‘Cowley/Cowleaze, Whitchurch, Dorset’ married Susannah Bridle. The ‘Tithe Appointment’ document mentioned above confirms his ownership of the farm and other land. This marriage was maybe somewhat hurried as their first son ‘John Roper’ was baptized in Whitchurch Canonicorum on 30-08-1807! Next to arrive was ‘William Roper’ baptized in Hawkchurch 05-02-1809. A little later twins arrived ‘Robert and Samuel Roper baptized 31-07-1814 in Thorncombe. A family treasure is an old hand-written note with this same information but for Robert only - obviously singled out by earlier researchers as 'our’ Robert. On 05-08-1816 a daughter of William Roper was recorded in the burial booklet with no name or age, her mother ‘our’ Susannah was also buried five days later.
On 15-07-1823 William’s second marriage was to 'Martha Pomery/Pomeroy' at 'Whitchurch Cannonicorum, Dorset'. William and Martha had four sons starting with Amos (b 18-04-1824), Charles (b Abt 1828), Arthur (b Abt 1829) and Mathew (b Abt 1833). Amos is mentioned in the next paragraph. Mathew married 'Anna Maria Conway' at Beaminster on 09-05-1854, daughter of 'William Conway' a butcher in Beaminster. Later in 1881, Mathew and Anna were publicans at 'White Hart, Wix Green, North Essex'.
We step back a little to 1849 and 'our' Robert Roper. He married Mary Major close-by in 'Chard, Devon'. Two years on, the 1851 Broadwindsor census shows: Robert(age 37), 'Dairyman at Crockers/Crocken Farm', wife Mary(age 39) and son William(age 1). Robert's half-brother Amos was working for him as an Agricultural Labourer. The ‘Dorset Archives’ for 19-01-1851 show ‘our’ William born in Beaminster and baptized as ‘William Major Roper’. The farm is now listed as only 9-acres and not large enough to support two families (Robert's and Amos's). Considering this, it seems likely Robert's later occupation of 'Milk Dealer' was already in operation. Probably collecting milk from the farms and delivering to the railway station at Chard or a local creamery. Robert and Mary had two more sons: ‘John Roper’ (bapt 13-05-1852) in Broadwindsor and ‘Robert George Roper’(bapt 23-12-1855) in Bettiscombe.
We next hear of Robert Roper in the 1871 census for Blackdown. He and his family are now living in the end section of a large farmhouse at Causeway Farm (just a short distance from Crockers Farm). The main part of the farmhouse was occupied by ’Elizabeth Anna Freeman’ the tenant farmer of 240 acres. Again, this is a puzzle with possibilities:
· Financial difficulties had forced Robert out of business and he now worked for Elizabeth Freeman as a dairyman. Unlikely scenario as Robert had sufficient funds to setup in business at Coped Hall a couple of years later.
· Freeman and Roper do appear together as one name in the Roper family at Forde Abbey being located just a few fields away at Thorncombe. Elizabeth was a widow and maybe Robert was helping out a relative in ‘her hour of need’ on the large farm. Whatever, Elizabeth Freeman and Robert Roper both moved away to different areas shortly afterwards.
· Robert got a good offer and sold the whole business, banked the money and found temporary work before moving on when a pre-planned opportunity unfolded. This short period just happened to coincide with the 1871 census. This seems the most likely scenario.
In the mid-1870s Robert Roper and family had moved from Dorset to ‘Coped Hall, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire’. The 1881 census indicates they were now established as milk dealers. Their son John (aged 28) lived at home and formed part of their business. Listed as a servant in the same household was John Trembling (aged 17), his occupation ‘carter with milk cart’. Robert’s move to Wootton Bassett was probably an astute business opportunity to expand the business by supplying milk, cheese and other dairy products from the rich pastures of Wiltshire, directly into the growing cities by train. Four facts compliment this theory:
· The 1881 census shows Robert (dad) as an established Milk dealer.
· Wootton Bassett's historic documents describe local milk deliveries from the railway station to London and other cities.
· Their son Robert (known as George) was living in ‘Ealing, London’ with his occupation listed as Milkman. By 1891 he is shown as ‘Shopkeeper and Dairy Owner’, married to Emma the daughter of Thomas G Hay a Journeyman Miller (Corn) from ‘Harston, Cambridgeshire’. Note: the word Journeyman translates to ‘served apprenticeship/ fully skilled’ and nothing to do with being mobile!
· In 1883 son John married Elizabeth Humphries (known as Bessie), an educated well-to-do local girl. John farmed at ‘Breach Lane Farm, Clyffe Pypard, Wiltshire’. This was a dairy business specialising in cheeses and butter, ideally situated in the rich meadows of the village and just a short distance from Robert at Wootton Bassett. Family members recall that high quality was important and they were proud of their reputation for just that. This business obviously added to the range of products being marketed by Robert and George.
Family recollections and the 1881 census indicate that ‘our’ William was
apprenticed as a carpenter, after which he owned a large coach-building and
wheelwright business at ‘Eastcott Hill, Swindon, Wiltshire’. He married Susannah
Pritchard from Monmouth. Their first child was Elizabeth Mary Louise Roper (b
11-04-1880). Two years later ’our’ Thomas George Roper (b 03-06-1882) and
finally Ellen Frances Roper (b: 1884). In 1885 real tragedy struck these young
children when their father William suddenly died and even more so in 1889 when their
mother Susannah also died. The children’s destiny was either the orphanage or
fostered. The family rallied to their needs:
· Elizabeth went to live with her uncle and aunt Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Pritchard) Penson in ‘Caldicot, Monmouth/Newport’. In 1908 Elizabeth married John Jones and they settled down with a family.
· Ellen went to live with her uncle and aunt George and Emma Roper in ‘Ealing, London’. Later, Ellen married Robert Henry Henderson, they emigrated to ‘Brisbane, Australia’. Family memories recall a thriving retail business in Brisbane and they visited back in England a few times. Contact was lost, then a ‘Brisbane Courier’ newspaper article announcing the death of Ellen in 1933. Fading memories recall three children, possibly named: Rose, Ethel and Harold.
· ‘Our’ Thomas went to live with his uncle and aunt John and Bessie Roper at ‘Clyffe Pypard’. More in the next paragraph.
‘Our’ Thomas was not entirely accepted by Aunt Bessie - a stern, fashion conscious and house proud person. At times he was treated as an outcast with such indignities as having to bathe in the cowshed fearing retribution for dirtying the house facilities. John was quite different to Bessie, he completely disregarded fashion and had little respect for anybody in authority. Many saw a rustic figure encompassing a warm, kindly gentleman, others considered him quite off-hand and a ‘bit of a rogue’. Tales from that time said the local children were scared to enter John Roper’s land as he set man-traps. True or false we cannot be certain but, upon his death some old rusty mantraps were discovered in his attic! Regardless of these oddities, the couple nurtured Thomas into a well educated, strong businessman, with good morals and religious beliefs. John and Bessie had no children of their own.
Memorabilia, photographs and recollections from this time, portray a family
group with financial success. The photographs show they mostly dressed well,
lived comfortably and enjoyed travel using the railways for both business and
leisure. The local town ‘Market Day’ was important as a weekly meeting event
for business, news and general gossip. In one photograph, John Roper is seen
smartly dressed (not his usual rustic attire) and in conversation at a street
cattle market. Country sports were also popular including horse racing, riding,
hunting and fishing.
Our Roper 1907- 1960s
In 1907 ‘our’ Thomas (aged 25) married Fanny Eliza Gearing (aged 26) from Lechlade. We double checked his father’s middle name ‘Major’ as their marriage certificate has it as ‘Maurice’ which proved to be wrong. A reasonable error from Thomas, considering he was only three when his father died. The couple first lived in ‘Walcot, Bath’ and Thomas followed family tradition by owning a dairy business with household deliveries. No doubt he obtained supplies from Grandfather Robert and Uncle John. The first child to arrive was Frances Ella Roper (b 07-01-1908) followed the next year by ‘our’ William John Roper (b 23-03-1909).
Thomas often expressed a dislike for cows. Even so, in 1912 they moved to ‘Buckleaze Farm, Pewsey, Wiltshire’ and concentrated on milk production. The large farmhouse looked impressive with its three stories but turned out to be very uncomfortable. As part of the 1914-18 war effort, they had the excitement and drama of having to billet Canadian Army troops there. Fanny was never happy here, describing the house as cold, draughty, damp and isolated. Unsurprisingly, in 1919 they moved to ‘Wickstead Farm, Highworth, Wiltshire’ where they were much more comfortable. Two more children were born here Esme Pearl Roper (b 01-11-1921) and Louis George Roper (b 1924).
A little later in 1924 an opportunity arose to greatly expand their farming business by moving to ’Church Farm, Little Farringdon, Oxfordshire’. The small village setting was ideal, the farmhouse and gardens very impressive and the mixed farming land extended to over 600 acres. I can imagine Thomas leaning over a farm gate on a tranquil spring evening and thinking as we do: “Not too bad an achievement for an orphan child”.
The motor car was becoming popular and a status symbol for those that could afford them. Thomas enjoyed ‘motoring’ and favoured Citroen cars. Photographs show the family proudly beside two of their cars, a large open tourer and a limousine. William’s first car was a small Morris and was apparently driven at frightening speed most of the time!
In
1939 additional land was rented just over the Oxfordshire border into Wiltshire
at Blunsdon. Here, uncultivated land was cleared and reclaimed for food
production. This undertaking was featured in national newspapers as part of the
1939-45 war effort.
Both Frances (known as Ella) and Esme (known as Pearl) were homely spinsters
who enjoyed life and leisure in their rural surroundings. In the early 1930s ‘our’
William had established himself as a farmer at ‘Manor Farm, Bladon,
Oxfordshire’. His housekeeper was formally known as ‘Mrs Walker’ – “best to
keep on her good side” apparently! In 1934 William married Marion Watts a
daughter of farming neighbours Edwin and Jane (nee Allen) Watts from ‘Home Farm,
Bladon’. Shortly after, a move to ‘Round Robin Farm, Highworth’, then in 1942 a
bigger leap to ‘Hill House Farm, Croxton, Norfolk’. Louis married Marion
Matthews in ‘Swindon, Wiltshire’. Louis enjoys being active in his engineering
business after spending his younger working years in the R.A.F. Five boys and
three girls were parented between the two couples. From these eight children,
ever-expanding generations currently follow. Interestingly, two lines of the
family are still involved with Dairy Farming - not myself thankfully!
I was born fifth out of the six children of William and Marion. The line-up of
my siblings: Thomas (known as John), Henry (know as Teddy), Robert (known as
Bobby), Marion, Stephen (myself/Bisto) and Audrey. Just to add to the confusion
of names, Dad (William) was called John or Jack, with Mum, my older sister and
auntie - all Marion Roper!
As children, it was natural (and expected) for us to help-out on the farm, more
so for the older children than us younger ones. In return we were rewarded with
the benefits and freedom of the farm and living in the countryside - not always
appreciated by us at the time but looking back, not so bad!
Many thanks to all who assisted with facts and advice including:
· Louis Roper (my uncle): For supplying so much information from memory and family recollections. Also, supplying family photos and a range of documents and cards.
· Martin Roper: For researching and correcting William Roper’s middle name to ‘Major’ rather than ‘Maurice’, thereby leading to the marriage details of his mother Mary Major to Robert Roper. Also, checking gravestone and record details.
· Dr. Leon David Roper: Instigator and financial supporter of the Roper Y-DNA testing program. Also the organisation of a number of Roper unions/reunions in England.
· Peter Ferreira: Dedicated Research and compilation of family trees for other Ropers around the same area of Dorset including his own ancestors and those related to Gillian Roper Bennett.
· Gillian Roper Bennett: Massive amount of help sorting relatives in this area of Dorset. Gill’s Roper family Y-DNA is almost identical to my own and her farming ancestors come from the same area of Dorset. Hope to soon find the magic link between our two families!
· Helen Doble: Provided a conducted tour and historic details for the ‘Church Of The Holy Trinity’ at Blackdown, checking gravestones and records. Also details of Robert Roper living in her Causeway farmhouse in 1871.
· Jennifer Dando from Dorset OPC (Online Parish Clerk) website: Transcribing the Blackdown Burial Booklet and publishing in the Broadwindsor section.
· Dorset OPC: Lookup source for Broadwindsor and surrounding areas.
· The Faulkner/Stoodley Family Internet Files: Reference ‘Roper_PR_&_Census Document’.
· LDS (Church Of Latter Day Saints) website: Lookup source for relatives and locations.
· Ancestry UK Website: Lookup source for relatives and locations.
Copyright(c) Steve Roper 2010