Thread: Thomas Roper c1791 Ireland - where to next?

Hi, I would love some advice on where to go next with tracing a Thomas Roper, born c1791, Ireland. I'm never sure what to do when I hit an Irish line of ancestry.

Here's what I have so far:

Thomas Roper married Susannah/Susan Walsh sometime around the birth of their first child Catherine Roper, c1825, Ireland.

1841: Living at South Side, New Bird St, Manchester, occupation shoemaker. Also there, Susannah Roper (b. Ireland), Mary Ann Roper (b. Ireland), Matilda Roper (b. Scotland - in a later census birthplace is Glasgow), William Henry Roper (b. Lancashire). One of these girls may not be his daughter, as an account (below) I came across online only has 2 daughters (or one may have died). I haven't found Matilda's baptism on scotlandspeople.

1851: Does not appear on any subsequent census (and there are 4 possible death records for the 1841-51 period). Susannah Roper possibly appears on 1861 England census as a widow (incorrect birthplace but I'm confident it is her).

About his son William Henry Roper:
"He sailed out of Liverpool, said to be about ten years of age and it's said that he sailed on his uncle's ship, bound for Rio de Janiero. He returned to England, sailed repeatedly and finally jumped ship at Adelaide, off the "Derwent" in 1853 and ten years later married Agnes Margaret Shortridge. W H Roper is said to have had two older sisters; one is said to have married Robert Boyle, the first Governor of India and the other is said to have had some connection with a Lieutenant Hobson, who settled in Canada and who sank a ship to blockade a harbour during the Spanish-American wars. Hobson may have been a blood relative of W H Roper."

I haven't been successful in finding marriages for Thomas and Susannah's daughters, which may give me a birthplace in Ireland for them if I can find them on later censuses under their married names. Family oral history is that no-one else, other than William Henry Roper, emigrated to Australia.

I've had it suggested to me that the Ropers were from Clones, Co Monaghan (and originally from Kent from what I've found online). But I would prefer to trace backwards and link Thomas Roper in for certain.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might look next?

Originally Posted by VicNZ

is said to have had some connection with a Lieutenant Hobson, who settled in Canada and who sank a ship to blockade a harbour during the Spanish-American wars. Hobson may have been a blood relative of W H Roper."

Link below re above.

hobson

Hi, thanks to you all.
I also came across that website with Richmond Pearson Hobson but was unable to make any connection to the name Roper thus far. That is, unless the reference that Hobson 'kissed all the ladies' has a potential line of enquiry!

Welshlady, can you please let me know where you came across a Thomas Roper and Susanna Walsh, married in Chatham 1818?
I found Mary Ann Roper on the new Beta FamilySearch site, thank you. This has confirmed the Clones, Co Monaghan connection.

Their first daughter Jane has a birthplace of c1825 on the 1841 England Census, but of course this could be a few years out. 1837 would have made her a young bride but possible if 1820 was a closer year of birth (although I see above that c1823 was her birth on the 1861 England census?). It is also helpful that her sister Matilda is in the household in 1861, so that provides some confirmation that this is the right Jane. I wonder where husband William is?
I wonder if later censuses have Jane's birthplace in Ireland. I don't have access to the censuses at the moment - would someone mind having a quick look for me?

many thanks to you for your help.

Hi again Welshlady,
Sorry to be a pain, but where did you find Jane Roper's christening record? I'm having a look now and can't seem to locate her with her parents.
thanks

Hello

not sure if this is your tree or some relatives of yours??
but on A******* there is a tree which is where some of your ideas may have come from??

a few items which may be of interest to you ( not proven of course)
thomas and susanna walsh married 11 april 1818 chatham kent
their third daughter mary ann born 1826 clones. monaghan, ireland
their first daughter was jane born ireland 1820 who married william hobson in manchester 10 sep 1837 and are in liverpool on 1861 census

I have checked and this information appears to be UNSOURCED in a 'tree'on A*******!

as i said this is from a tree on anc***** and is not proven. however it might be worth you contacting the person to see where they got this info from, do they know anything else about them and what there relationship to the roper family is etc

thanks for that.
I've found another tree as well that has Thomas Roper c1791 (who I thought was born in Ireland and died in England) with a birthplace of Lancashire and death place of Australia. No wonder he's been hard to trace if we're all drawing different conclusions!