Susan:

I would encourage you to go back and read ALL of the various posts within this thread from the beginning in sequence. I am doing this once again, refreshing my memory.

You will find my suggestion of caution from the outset ("Which Jesse ROPER Was Married To an ASHMORE?") as to a conclusion that the records cited by abstract pertained in any way to the ELDER Jesse ROPER and his wife. While it is TRUE that each reference to Jesse ROPER within the body of the administrator's bond referred to Jesse ROPER, rather than Jesse ROPER, Jr., Jesse ROPER SIGNED this bond as Jesse ROPER, Jr.

Jesse ROPER resided in York County. Jesse ROPER, Jr., was seeking to be named administrator in Court in Mecklenburg, where his father was NOT well known. Jesse Jr. was accustomed to being confused with his father and signed as "Jr." The references therein reflect merely Jesse ROPER.

You need to bear in mind that there is NO PRIMARY RECORD which would PROVE or would even IMPLY that there was a Hannah ASHMORE who was a DAUGHTER of Walter ASHMORE. YOU made this inference from your original reading of the data and I cautioned against this interpretation at the time.

You have since found deed records which rather conclusively PROVE that Jesse ROPER, Jr., was married to a Hannah.

The court records do NOT show that Jesse ROPER, Jr., was a legatee or heir in right of his wife. Rather, they seemingly show that he was named ADMINISTRATOR in right of his wife.

One other legal distinction is important to understand. One can ONLY be named as as executor or executrix in respect of an APPOINTMENT appearing in a Will. If those named in the Will decline or are unable to serve, then NO EXECUTOR or EXECUTRIX can be appointed. Instead, ONLY an administrator can be appointed when the personal representative is NOT expressly named in the Will.

My very strong suspicion based upon the facts presented is that Walter's Will was probated (in York) and that Letters Testamentary were issued to Cleranah ASHMORE. What remained was for Cleranah to file an Inventory and then to make distributions to the children as they each reached majority. The Court would probably have done nothing at all in respect of her default in filing the inventory unless and until one of the children complained.

Most likely, after the eldest daughter married, her husband had in mind to receive the daughter's share. Tension over tardy distribution would have increased over time and possibly reached a boil over point when Cleranah ASHMORE remarried and became Hannah ROPER.

If there is ANY indication within ANY of the primary records that Hannah ROPER predeceased Jesse ROPER, Jr., I seem to have overlooked it. Can you call my attention to any such record?

I have seen quite a few secondary trees which declare that Walter and Cleranah ASHMORE DIED THE VERY SAME DAY. The posted secondary information is utter garbage. You have done a really TERRIFIC JOB of finding the truthful underlying primary records which show the correct path forward.

You need to remain open minded to possibilities contrary to your initial impression! And you certainly do not want your views to be clouded by the muddied thinking of the masses who continue to repost and republish the completely specious!