Our Roper Family Chronicle (1807-2004)
Compiled and created by Steve Roper 2004
Bygone family tales often involved the South-West part of England and the local farming community. It therefore came as no great surprise when genealogical research linked us to ‘William Roper’, a Dairyman living in ‘Cowley, Whitchurch, Dorset’. The ‘Broadwindsor Marriages Register’ recorded his marriage to Susannah Bridle on 25-03-1807. This was maybe somewhat of a hurried marriage as their first son ‘John Roper’ was baptized in Whitchurch on 30-08-1807! A little later on 31-07-1814, the ‘Thomcombe, Dorset Records’ indicate that William and Susannah are living at Marshwood where twins were baptized on that day as ‘Robert and Samuel Roper’. A family treasure is an old hand-written note with this same information but for Robert only - obviously singled out by earlier relatives as our direct family line 'our Robert'. It looks like Susannah died shortly after the birth of the twins.
On 15-07-1823 William's second marriage was to 'Martha Pomery' 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, Essex'.
We step back a little to 1849 and 'our' Robert Roper. He married Mary Major in 'Chard, Devon'. Two years on, the 1851 Broadwindsor census records: Robert(age 37), 'Dairyman at 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 William born in Beaminster and baptized as ‘William Major Roper’. The farm was 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 recorded occupation of 'Milk Dealer' was already in operation and provided the financial answer. 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. William is our direct family line but John and Robert were both actively involved, as you will read later.
A point to consider here is the variety of recorded locations for births etc. Boundary and administration changes around this time were commonplace and in this case, especially where Devon and Somerset join with West Dorset. What looks like a family move is often the relocation of the Records Office.
Time travels forward to the 1881 Census. It indicates that Robert and Mary had moved from Dorset to ‘Coped Hall, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire’. Their son John (now aged 28) lived at home and formed part of their business as a milk dealer. In the same household lived ‘John Trembling’ (aged 17), his occupation listed as ‘carter with milk cart’. We cannot be certain about this move to Wootton Bassett in the late 1860s, but a fair assumption would be, to expand the business by supplying milk, cheese and other dairy products from the rich pastures of Wiltshire, directly into London by train. Four facts compliment this theory: (1) The census shows Robert (Dad) as a Milk dealer. (2) Wootton Bassett's historic documents describe local milk deliveries from the railway station to London. (3) Their son Robert (known as George) was living in ‘Ealing, London’ with his occupation listed as Milkman, then later Shopkeeper and Dairy Owner. (4) A little later, son John had a farm close-by and specialized in quality cheeses and butter, adding to the range of products to be sold in London.
John married Elizabeth Humphries (known as Bessie) in 1883, a well-to-do and well educated local girl. Their cheese and butter business was based on a farm in the low-lying meadows of Clyffe Pypard village (near Wootton Bassett). The farm was ideal for dairy cows and they were very proud of their reputation for quality products.
Family recollections and the 1881 census indicate that William (the oldest son) was apprenticed as a carpenter, after which he owned a thriving coach-building and wheelwright business in ‘Swindon, Wiltshire’. He married ‘Susannah Pritchard’ from Monmouth. Their first child was a girl ‘Elizabeth Mary Louise Roper’ (b 11-04-1880). Two years later a boy arrived ‘Thomas George Roper’ (b 03-06-1882) and finally another girl ‘Ellen Roper’ (b: 1884). In 1885 real tragedy struck these young children when Dad 'William' suddenly died and even more so in 1889 when Mum '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 mother’s family in Monmouth, Ellen moved to Ealing to live with her Uncle Robert. Thomas (our direct family line) was taken to Clyffe Pypard to be with his Uncle John and Aunt Bessie.
Memorabilia, photographs and recollections from this time, portray a family group with financial success. They dressed well, lived in smart houses and enjoyed travel where the railways were used for business and leisure. Country sports were also enjoyed including Horse Racing, Riding, Hunting and Fishing.
On the other hand, Thomas was not entirely accepted by Aunt Bessie - a stern, childless, very house-proud person. At times he was treated as an outcast with such indignities as having to bathe in the cowshed for fear of dirtying the house facilities. John was quite different to Bessie, he disregarded fashion and had little respect for anybody in authority. Many saw a facade encompassing a kindly country 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.
In 1907 Thomas (now 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 the wrong name. A reasonable error from Thomas – considering he was only three when his father died. The couple first lived in ‘Walcot, Bath’ and followed family tradition in the dairy business, no doubt obtaining supplies from Grandfather Robert's and Uncle John’s businesses.
The couples first child was ‘Frances Ella Roper’ (b 07-01-1908) followed the next year by ‘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. As part of the 1914-18 war effort, Canadian Army troops were billeted there. In 1919 another move took them to ‘Wickstead Farm, Highworth, Wiltshire’ where two more children were born ‘Esme Pearl Roper’ (b 01-11-1921) and ‘Louis Roper’(b 1924). A healthy business growth into 1927 instigated another move to ’Little Faringdon, Oxforshire’ where 618 acres was farmed. In 1939 additional land was rented at Blunsdon. Here, some uncultivated land on the farm was cleared and reclaimed for agriculture as part of the 1939-45 war effort.
Both Frances (known as Ella) and Esme (known as Pearl) were homely spinster ladies who enjoyed life, occupations and leisure in their rural surroundings. In 1934 William married ‘Marion Edith Watts’ a daughter of another farmer in ‘Bladon, Oxfordshire’. They initially farmed at ‘Manor Farm, Bladon’, then at ‘Round Robin, Highworth’ and finally in 1939 moved to ‘Hill House Farm, Thetford, Norfolk. Louis married ‘Marion Matthews’ in ‘Swindon, Wiltshire’. He still enjoys an active engineering career after serving in the RAF in his younger days. 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 me thankfully!
I was born fifth out of the six children of William and Marion.The line-up of my siblings was: Thomas - known as John, Henry – know as Teddy, Robert - known as Bobby, Marion, Stephen (myself) 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!
Like Grandfather Thomas, I have always held a dislike for cows including their smelly environment. It was obvious that I was never going to be a farmer and much preferred engineering in all forms. In my childhood years, hard earned pocket money was often spent on electronic components and engineering books. Any mechanical breakdowns on farm equipment and I was first there! My working life started in the Motor Trade, then after Teacher Training and a Higher-Education study period, qualified as a Lecturer with main subjects of Computer Systems/Programming, Engineering Technology, CAD and Design.
In 1974 I married 'Margaret' a local farmer’s daughter. Margaret was the Catering Manager of a large school and I was then a Vehicle Tester in a large garage. Our farming background decreed that we would both attend our local 'Young Farmers Club'. This is where we first met, as did many of our friends that formed the major part of a very enjoyable social group.
Married life for us started near 'Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk' where we had a small bungalow. Our children Sarah and Mark were born there. In 1988 we moved to a larger house and our children completed their formal education and then on to university.
Sarah read History at Durham followed by Teacher training. She is now a Teacher here in England after extensive worldwide travels with her partner Martin.
Mark read Computer Science at Loughborough and is now a Team Leader/Manager with a multi-national company supplying metering products to a worldwide market.
More written information is available in the 'Photos' section of this website.
Sources:
1851+1881+1901 Census. Dorset Records Office. Wiltshire Records Office. LDS Genealogy Research. Family documents and recollections.
Bygone family tales often involved the South-West part of England and the local farming community. It therefore came as no great surprise when genealogical research linked us to ‘William Roper’, a Dairyman living in ‘Cowley, Whitchurch, Dorset’. The ‘Broadwindsor Marriages Register’ recorded his marriage to Susannah Bridle on 25-03-1807. This was maybe somewhat of a hurried marriage as their first son ‘John Roper’ was baptized in Whitchurch on 30-08-1807! A little later on 31-07-1814, the ‘Thomcombe, Dorset Records’ indicate that William and Susannah are living at Marshwood where twins were baptized on that day as ‘Robert and Samuel Roper’. A family treasure is an old hand-written note with this same information but for Robert only - obviously singled out by earlier relatives as our direct family line 'our Robert'. It looks like Susannah died shortly after the birth of the twins.
On 15-07-1823 William's second marriage was to 'Martha Pomery' 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, Essex'.
We step back a little to 1849 and 'our' Robert Roper. He married Mary Major in 'Chard, Devon'. Two years on, the 1851 Broadwindsor census records: Robert(age 37), 'Dairyman at 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 William born in Beaminster and baptized as ‘William Major Roper’. The farm was 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 recorded occupation of 'Milk Dealer' was already in operation and provided the financial answer. 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. William is our direct family line but John and Robert were both actively involved, as you will read later.
A point to consider here is the variety of recorded locations for births etc. Boundary and administration changes around this time were commonplace and in this case, especially where Devon and Somerset join with West Dorset. What looks like a family move is often the relocation of the Records Office.
Time travels forward to the 1881 Census. It indicates that Robert and Mary had moved from Dorset to ‘Coped Hall, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire’. Their son John (now aged 28) lived at home and formed part of their business as a milk dealer. In the same household lived ‘John Trembling’ (aged 17), his occupation listed as ‘carter with milk cart’. We cannot be certain about this move to Wootton Bassett in the late 1860s, but a fair assumption would be, to expand the business by supplying milk, cheese and other dairy products from the rich pastures of Wiltshire, directly into London by train. Four facts compliment this theory: (1) The census shows Robert (Dad) as a Milk dealer. (2) Wootton Bassett's historic documents describe local milk deliveries from the railway station to London. (3) Their son Robert (known as George) was living in ‘Ealing, London’ with his occupation listed as Milkman, then later Shopkeeper and Dairy Owner. (4) A little later, son John had a farm close-by and specialized in quality cheeses and butter, adding to the range of products to be sold in London.
John married Elizabeth Humphries (known as Bessie) in 1883, a well-to-do and well educated local girl. Their cheese and butter business was based on a farm in the low-lying meadows of Clyffe Pypard village (near Wootton Bassett). The farm was ideal for dairy cows and they were very proud of their reputation for quality products.
Family recollections and the 1881 census indicate that William (the oldest son) was apprenticed as a carpenter, after which he owned a thriving coach-building and wheelwright business in ‘Swindon, Wiltshire’. He married ‘Susannah Pritchard’ from Monmouth. Their first child was a girl ‘Elizabeth Mary Louise Roper’ (b 11-04-1880). Two years later a boy arrived ‘Thomas George Roper’ (b 03-06-1882) and finally another girl ‘Ellen Roper’ (b: 1884). In 1885 real tragedy struck these young children when Dad 'William' suddenly died and even more so in 1889 when Mum '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 mother’s family in Monmouth, Ellen moved to Ealing to live with her Uncle Robert. Thomas (our direct family line) was taken to Clyffe Pypard to be with his Uncle John and Aunt Bessie.
Memorabilia, photographs and recollections from this time, portray a family group with financial success. They dressed well, lived in smart houses and enjoyed travel where the railways were used for business and leisure. Country sports were also enjoyed including Horse Racing, Riding, Hunting and Fishing.
On the other hand, Thomas was not entirely accepted by Aunt Bessie - a stern, childless, very house-proud person. At times he was treated as an outcast with such indignities as having to bathe in the cowshed for fear of dirtying the house facilities. John was quite different to Bessie, he disregarded fashion and had little respect for anybody in authority. Many saw a facade encompassing a kindly country 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.
In 1907 Thomas (now 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 the wrong name. A reasonable error from Thomas – considering he was only three when his father died. The couple first lived in ‘Walcot, Bath’ and followed family tradition in the dairy business, no doubt obtaining supplies from Grandfather Robert's and Uncle John’s businesses.
The couples first child was ‘Frances Ella Roper’ (b 07-01-1908) followed the next year by ‘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. As part of the 1914-18 war effort, Canadian Army troops were billeted there. In 1919 another move took them to ‘Wickstead Farm, Highworth, Wiltshire’ where two more children were born ‘Esme Pearl Roper’ (b 01-11-1921) and ‘Louis Roper’(b 1924). A healthy business growth into 1927 instigated another move to ’Little Faringdon, Oxforshire’ where 618 acres was farmed. In 1939 additional land was rented at Blunsdon. Here, some uncultivated land on the farm was cleared and reclaimed for agriculture as part of the 1939-45 war effort.
Both Frances (known as Ella) and Esme (known as Pearl) were homely spinster ladies who enjoyed life, occupations and leisure in their rural surroundings. In 1934 William married ‘Marion Edith Watts’ a daughter of another farmer in ‘Bladon, Oxfordshire’. They initially farmed at ‘Manor Farm, Bladon’, then at ‘Round Robin, Highworth’ and finally in 1939 moved to ‘Hill House Farm, Thetford, Norfolk. Louis married ‘Marion Matthews’ in ‘Swindon, Wiltshire’. He still enjoys an active engineering career after serving in the RAF in his younger days. 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 me thankfully!
I was born fifth out of the six children of William and Marion.The line-up of my siblings was: Thomas - known as John, Henry – know as Teddy, Robert - known as Bobby, Marion, Stephen (myself) 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!
Like Grandfather Thomas, I have always held a dislike for cows including their smelly environment. It was obvious that I was never going to be a farmer and much preferred engineering in all forms. In my childhood years, hard earned pocket money was often spent on electronic components and engineering books. Any mechanical breakdowns on farm equipment and I was first there! My working life started in the Motor Trade, then after Teacher Training and a Higher-Education study period, qualified as a Lecturer with main subjects of Computer Systems/Programming, Engineering Technology, CAD and Design.
In 1974 I married 'Margaret' a local farmer’s daughter. Margaret was the Catering Manager of a large school and I was then a Vehicle Tester in a large garage. Our farming background decreed that we would both attend our local 'Young Farmers Club'. This is where we first met, as did many of our friends that formed the major part of a very enjoyable social group.
Married life for us started near 'Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk' where we had a small bungalow. Our children Sarah and Mark were born there. In 1988 we moved to a larger house and our children completed their formal education and then on to university.
Sarah read History at Durham followed by Teacher training. She is now a Teacher here in England after extensive worldwide travels with her partner Martin.
Mark read Computer Science at Loughborough and is now a Team Leader/Manager with a multi-national company supplying metering products to a worldwide market.
More written information is available in the 'Photos' section of this website.
Sources:
1851+1881+1901 Census. Dorset Records Office. Wiltshire Records Office. LDS Genealogy Research. Family documents and recollections.