The Smithsonian Museum defines a motorcycle as, "a self-propelled, engine-powered, two-wheeled vehicle."
That time-honored institution gives Sylvester H. Roper credit for creating the earliest known example. I believe them.
The first motorcycle was steam-driven (the "Roper Steam Velocipede"). Invented in 1867 by Francestown New Hampshire native, Sylvester Howard Roper, it was powered by coal. The gas-propelled version, usually credited as being the first, was not invented until 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler. In 1902 the Indian Motorcycle Company began mass-producing vehicles in Springfield MA. A year later, William Harley and Arthur and Walter Davidson founded the Harley-Davidson.
In the 1860s, Sylvester Roper began experimenting with steam-driven vehicles. He mounted steam engines on bicycles, tricycles, even "quadricycles," anything that could carry people and had wheels. One of his first creations was a two-passenger motorized carriage comprising basically a bench attached to four massive spoked wheels, with a 2-horsepower engine hanging underneath like a steel belly. According to an 1863 report in Scientific American, the car topped out at 25 miles per hour. During the next 30 years, Roper built 10 steam-driven vehicles.
According to the 1891 "History of Francestown NH," when a boy Sylvester "displayed a remarkable degree of precocity in mechanics." Reportedly at the age of 12 he built a small stationary steam engine, even though he had never seen a steam engine before. He left home early and worked as a machinist in Nashua and Manchester NH, New York and Worcester MA. In 1854 he settled in Boston MA, and lived at 299 Eustis Street in Roxbury.
Besides the motorcycle, inventions include a "Handstitch Sewing Machine," a hot-air engine, steam-carriages (the precursor of the automobile), breech loading guns, a knitting machine, a machine for manufacturing screws, hot-air furnaces and ranges, and an automatic fire escape. One of his steam-powered car, built in 1865, is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Roper was killed on June 1, 1896, while testing a new steam motorcycle at a Charles River bicycle track in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where MIT now sits. Read about his last ride.
He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.
Janice
***ROPER FAMILY GENEALOGY***
For more family genealogy also see "Roper's World"
Robert Roper (c1525-1582) & Cassandra Cooper (c1589-?)
Walter Roper (c1550-?) & Elizabeth
John Roper (1577-?) & Alice Goodale (1614-1687)
Ephraim Roper (1644-1697) & Hannah Brewer (1645-1697)
Ephraim Roper (1687-1730) & Sybilla Moore (1694-1750)
Ephraim Roper (1716-1793) & Michal Houghton (1725-1816)
Silas Roper, son of Ephraim & Michal (Houghton) Roper, was born 20 Jan 1754 Sterling MA; d 27 Oct 1827 Sterling MA; m. 31 Dec 1782 in Sterling MA to Elizabeth Burpee, dau of Nathan & Azubah (Sawyer) Burpee. She b. 12 Feb 1761 in Sterling MA and d. 2 Dec 1850 Sterling MA He was 1st Lieutenant, Capt. David Osgood's (7th) co., Col. Whitney's (2d Worcester Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers; commissioned April 12, 1780.
Children of Silas & Elizabeth (Burpee) Roper:
1. Capt. Silas Roper, b. 21 May 1783 in Sterling MA; m. Lucy Kendall, had issue.
2. Azubah Roper, b. 9 Dec 1784 in Sterling MA; m. Samuel Sawyer
3. Betsey Roper, b. 19 May 1786 in Sterling MA; d. 1874; m. 1810 Jonathan Wilder
4. Patty Roper, b. 22 May 1790 in Sterling MA; m. Samuel Sawyer
5. +Merrick Roper, b. 15 March 1792 in Sterling MA
6. Sylva Roper, b. 10 March 1797 in Sterling MA
7. Sydney Roper, b. 3 Sep 1801 in Sterling MA; m. Polly Jewett
Merrick Roper, son of Silas Elizabeth (Burpee) Roper b. 15 March 1792 in Sterling MA and d. 19 Feb 1861 in Francestown NH; He removed to Francestown NH with Mr. Joseph Willard in 1807; m. He m. 18 Nov 1817 in Francestown NH to Susan FAIRBANKS. She b. 9 May 1795 in Francestown NH and d. 22 Feb 1861. She dau of Elias & Elizabeth (Billings) Fairbanks. In 1860 census living in Francestown NH, wife Susan, b 1795). He was a cabinet maker. The house he lived in was later the residence of Daniel S. Henderson. The shop he worked in was later owned by Frank Crosby and Hiram Patch who made it into a dwelling house in 1885. It was occupied by Margaret Winn in 1895.
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1850 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Francestown
Mirick Roper 58 M Painter 500 Mass
Susan Roper 55 F NH
Lucy A Roper 22 F NH
Edward F. Roper 18 M machinist NH
Susan E. Roper 13 F NH
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Children of Merrick & Susan (Fairbanks) Roper:
1. Charles Roper, b. 7 Feb 1819; m. 25 Dec 1851 to Amelia Nesbaum of Zanesville Ohio. He serve in an Ohio regiment in the War of the Rebellion (Civil War) and was in Gen. Lew Wallace's brigade at the battle of Shiloh; He was a house painter residing in Zanesville Ohio; Had children Eli Sylvester Roper, b. 28 March 1872, d. 27 Aug 1952 CA.
2. +Sylvester Howard Roper, b. 24 Nov 1823 Francestown NH; d. June 1896 Cambridge Middlesex Co MA; m1) 23 Apr 1845 in Providence RI to Almira D. [Elmira] Hill of Peterborough NH; m2) 25 Oct 1873 in Wakefield MA to Frances Ellen Robinson of Lynn MA. She b. abt 1833 in Lynn MA, dau of Christopher & Eliza Robinson. By first wife, had son Charles F/T, b. abt 1848
3. Lucy Ann Roper, b. 5 Feb 1828; m. George C. Patten of Deering, 11 Nov 1851; resided Deering NH
4. Edward F. Roper, b. 17 Dec 1831; m1st, Henrietta M. Green of Revere MA, 16 Sep 1857; m2nd, 7 June 1867, Eliza Beals of Cohasset MA; m3rd, 14 Dec 1893 to Mary D. Bailey of Francestown. He followed in the machinist trade in early life and was for a time employed in the famous Singer Sewing Machine Manufactory at Boston, Mass, his present vocation is that of a jeweler, resides in Francestown NH.
5. Susan Elizabeth Roper, b. 25 Sep 1836; m. Ephraim W. Colburn of New Boston NH, 4 June 1857; resided Francestown NH.
SYLVESTER ROPER, son of Merrick & Susan (Fairbanks) Roper...
When a boy he displayed a remarkable degree of precocity in mechanics and his career as an inventor has proved him to be without a rival in mechanical genius among those who have gone out from Francestown. At twelve years of age, although he had not seen a steam engine, he constructed a small stationary engine which is now preserved in the laboratory at Francestown Academy. Two years later he made a locomotive engine and shortly afterward saw for the first time a locomotive in Nashua [NH]. He left home early in life and persued his trade as a machinist in Nashua, Manchester [NH], New York and Worcester [MA], and in 1854, became a resident of Boston, MA. About this time he invented the Handstitch Sewing Machine which was in many respect superior to the sewing machines of earlier invention. In the year 1861, he invented a hot-air engine which was superceded by gas engines which were found to give better results. He also experimented with steam-carriages, and invented breech loading guns of different patterns. Among his later inventions may be mentioned a machine for manufacturing screws in the construction of which his son Charles participated, a furnace of superior design and an automatic fire-escape. The last two he especially values as being of possible service in the preservation of human life. Indeed Mr. Roper's heart is with his inventions, and he, with reason, asserts that the inventor as well as the artist and the literary genius should find unselfish pleasure in the products of his hand and brain. He last resided in Boston MA.
He married 1st) 23 Apr 1845 to Almira D. Hill. He m2nd 25 Oct 1873 in Wakefield MA to Frances Ellen Robinson, dau of Christopher & Eliza Robinson. She b. abt 1834 in Lynn MA and d. 28 Oct 1873. He died 1 June 1896.
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1860 > MASSACHUSETTS > NORFOLK > 1-WD ROXBURY > Series: M653 Roll: 517 Page: 554
Sylvester H. Roper 57 M Machinist 3000 300 NH [b 1803]
Elmira D. Roper 31 F Mass
Charles F/T Roper 12 M Mass [b abt 1848]
Cornelia A. Richardson 22 F Domestic NH
[neighbors Lewis Wright / Wm J. Sprague]
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > California > Mendocino > Arena Twp > District 56
Roper, Charles H Head M W 68 married at age 40 MA MA MA farmer
Roper, Emma R. wife F W 58 m1x 40 yrs 2 ch 2 living NY NY NY
Roper, Ina dau F W 14 single California MA NY
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Child of Sylvester & Almira D. (Hill) Roper:
1. Charles Roper, b. abt 1848 in MA; He married about 1870 to Emma R. --. They had at least one child, Ina, b. abt 1896 in California.
SOURCES:
1) History of Francestown, N.H. : from its earliest settlement April, 1758, to January 1, 1891 : with a brief genealogical record of all the Francestown
families, by W.R. Cochrane; Francestown, N.H.: The town, 1895
2) NEHGS Online Database
3) Newpapers Online
4) Smithsonian Institute web site
5) Ancestry.com family trees and online resources
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- EARLY MOTORCYCLE PHOTOGRAPHS -
Roper World -- multiple links to photographs and information about Sylvester H. Roper and his inventions
Roper steam velocipede (America on the Move)
