Looking for anyone who can help with my paternal 2x great-grandmother WINIFRED ROPER. I am having trouble finding anything on this lady. According to census records in the U. S., she was born about 1840. Also according to census records she was born in Donegal. I have no date of birth/baptism, no parents' or siblings' names, don't know when she immigrated to the U. S. The first time she appears in any record is when she married in New Orleans, Louisiana, US in 1858. No parents listed on the certificate. She had 12 children from then on.and lived, died and is buried in New Orleans. I have checked every baptism and birth certificate for every child and every death certificate. Marriage certificates of the children too. No mention (NONE) of parents' names. Nothing in census records to indicate anything other than what I have listed above. I have done a DNA test and I got NO HITS on anyone with the nam ROPER or anyone connected with that name. I have also searched Ancestry and Family Search in the U. S.I and Ireland for Winifred, Winnie, Freda ROPER to no avail. In fact, there are very few ROPERs who come up at all.
The closest I've ever gotten is a man in New Orleans whose name was GEORGE WASHINGTON ROPER who owned a millinary store in New Orleans. One of Winifred's daughter's worked for him as a clerk in his store. GWR was born in New York, and died in New Orleans. I cannot make a connection with Winifred. Also, there is a Mary ROPER who is the godmother to one of Winifred's children.
Any help to further this research would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Julie Campbell Hernandez
Julie Campbell Hernandez
Thursday 24th Feb 2022, 01:40AMMessage Board Replies
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Julie:
The surname Roper was not common in Co. Donegal. The 1857 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing shows eleven Roper records and ten of the eleven were in Kilbarron civil parish which is just south of Donegal town in the most southern part of Co. Donegal.
You don't mention a religious denomination but the RC records do not start until 1858. The Church of Ireland records go back to 1817 but when I search the subscription site Roots Ireland, I don't find a record.
Looks like she was from Kilbarron parish but if she was Roman Catholic no records would be available.
Let me know if you have questions.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘