The Roses of Colonial Virginia - To Texas and Beyond
           

THE ROSES OF COLONIAL VIRGINIA

"According to tradition, four brothers came to America shortly after the first settlement of Jamestown. This has been generally accepted as true but, due to the fragmentary character of early colonial records, cannot be fully proven." However, Captain John Smith, founded the first English Colony at Jamestown Virginia in 1607. The following name of out of the (1,033) Early Virginia Pioneers Indexed from 1624 records appears.
1624 Virginia Colony of VA  R200  John Rose.

Also appearing in other records as early as the middle of the seventeenth century are such names as Maurice (sometimes recorded as Morris), William, Alexander, and Robert Rose. (This Robert Rose is not to be confused with the Reverend Robert Rose who later came to Virginia in 1728). The record shows that William Rose, in 1656, "witnessed the conveyance of a lease to the widow of John Cooper." And, in, "Maurice Rose secured a grant of 1400 acres of land on the south side of the James River." The Land Office reveals further grants to William, Alexander, and Robert Rose.  It is agreed that the first Roses came from the same part of Scotland and settled in Virginia about the same time. It is reasonable to assume that they came from the same family.

The first Rose to appear on record was WILLIAM (1) Born about 1622, William Rose, in 1650, was twenty eight years old and had already acquired land between the Blackwater and the Nottaway Rivers, lying in what had by then become Surry County. The other three Roses of the same generation were Maurice, who had settled in Charles City County; Alexander, who had located in Norfork County; and Robert, whose holdings were in Lower Norfolk. Evidence points strongly to William Rose as our beginning in America.
Another Rose, who became prominently associated with Virginia, was Reverend Robert Rose. Ordained by the Bishop of London, he came to America in 1728 and, during his lifetime, acquired more than 34,000 acres of land. He built "GEDDES" and "BELIVAT," (2) two of Virginia's finest colonial homes. Like the earlier Roses, Reverend Robert Rose came from Nairnshire.  F.P.R.
*Edgar Turlington.



William Rose1 of Surry County

BY 1650 WILLIAM ROSE, had established himself as a prominent figure in Surry County, his name appearing on the records in numerous transactions (see pages 15 through 17 in the research notes n/a here). These notes refer to his "New Dwelling House" in Southwark Parish. In 1666 he made a will in favor of his wife, Anne, and his children, Jane, William 2, Anne, and Mary. At the
time of his death in 1676, he was the only adult Rose in Surry County.    H.W.R.
His son:    

1. WILLIAM ROSE 1, b. 1622, d. 1676 m. Anne Bef. 1653 in England
1. Jane2        3. Anne2
2. William2    4. Mary2    

WILLIAM ROSE 2,  about 1655-1742, also appeared many times in the records. In 1684 he was listed as among the tithables in Southwark Parish. He was the only Rose among the names listed for the militia. At that time he was married to Lucy Corker, daughter of Captain William Corker and was, beyond question, the father of four sons who were to head the several branches of the Rose family later to be seen in Surry, Brunswick, and the Isle of Wight Counties. They were William Rose3, Richard3, Henry3, and JOHN3, and, in the early part of the eighteenth century, they were, with their father, the only male Roses in Surry County. The death of William Rose2 was not recorded for he apparently did not leave a will. He had, according to all obtainable evidence, outlived his wife Lucy by many years and had, long before he died, deeded to his sons and grandsons all of the land he had inherited as well as the land he had acquired. William Rose2 was a large landowner, having holdings between the Blackwater and Nottaway Rivers in Surry County, as well as other lands in Brunswick and the Isle of Wight Counties. His sons, though not on record as such, and their descendants were easily traced through the description of the lands, which were deeded to them.

WILLIAM ROSE 2, b. 1655, d. 1742 m. Lucy Corker  
1. William3     3. Henry3
2. Richard3    4. John3


1. William Rose 3, carried on the direct line of the name, "William." He first appears on the record in 1715. He married Elizabeth and there were two sons, William IV and Francis. William IV married Mary and they had the following children: Margaret, Anne, Mary, William V, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Tim Ezell, and Frederick. William V married Martha. The descendants of William III
inherited the lands on Nottaway River, Surry County.
 
2. Richard Rose', married to Elizabeth, lived in Surry County
along the Micry Branch on lands inherited from William Rose2. There were two sons, Richard Jr., and Thomas, and a daughter, Jane.

3. Henry Rose 3, married Mary and lived in Brunswick County. He acquired land in Brunswick and the Isle of Wight Counties, part by grant and part deeded to him by his father. There is no record of his children other than a deed made by him to his "son-in-law"

4. JOHN ROSE3, the fourth son of William Rose 2 is 'our direct in line of descent. The fact that William Rose2 did not make a will naming his sons leaves us with the burden of proving the connection. It has been earlier established that William and these four young men were the only adult Roses in Surry County, therefore it must be concluded that they were father and sons. All four of these men were deeded land once belonging to William Rose2 proving beyond doubt the relationship. Further proof in the case of John Rose, who is our only concern, comes from the records of the D. A. R. in Washington. In establishing to the descendants of William Pinckney Rose their right to membership, the D.A.R. records show that William Rose and Lucy Corker
were the parents of John Rose.
The lands held by John Rose came from both grant and deed from William Rose2. in 1726 he acquired 300 acres of land from his father. Two years later, in 1728, he was deeded 400 additional acres. This land was in Brunswick County between Great Creek and Rose's Creek. John Rose3 and his wife, Abegail, were then living in York County. They had the following children:
1. John, Jr.4        2. William4

1. John Rose, Jr.4 was deeded part of his father's land in Brunswick County and had a son John', who married Betsy. Their son William", had the following children: William Meredith', Edward', Robert7, Alfred7, Fielding7, Solon7, and Daniel7. The records show that William moved to Tennessee in 1810, but does not say whether or not he was accompanied by any of his children.

2. WILLIAM ROSE  4 (b. . . .  d. 1795) is our next in line of descent. He was deeded 400 acres of land in Brunswick County, part of the land originally deeded to his father by his grandfather, William Rose2. William's wife was named Frances, and appears on the record with him in the sale of this land lie had received by deed from his father in 1754. In 1763 they left Brunswick County and bought a tract of land in Surry County described as being on the south side of Johnchehawkins swamp. William and Frances had four sons. Their names appear both in his will, and in the recording of the property deeded to each of them. In his will be mentions his minor children without naming them.

William Rose, on September 3, 1775, deeded to his oldest son, William5, 100 acres of land. William Jr. was born about 1752 and died in 1777, in all probability a casualty of the Revolutionary War. William Jr. had made his brother Samuel his heir and the land was left to him. In August, 1786 John, the next oldest son, was deeded 60 acres, being a part of the plantation of the said William Rose1, lying on the south side of the Great Branch, and to Benjamin, his third son, 60 acres lying on the north side. In September of that year John and Benjamin gave bond to William Rose not to disturb him during his natural life in the possession of the lands he had deeded to them. He also reserved to his wife, Elizabeth, peaceful occupation during her lifetime. The death of Frances was not recorded and Elizabeth was apparently his second wife. She was a widow with a young daughter, Susannah Harrison.

In 1785, Samuel sold his land and moved to the Fairfax District of Warren County, N. C * The records there show many Roses named William, John, Thomas and other traditional names. The ages of the children of William Rose4 were not recorded. Their approximate ages were arrived at through deduction based on two reasonable assumptions:

1. Land is usually deeded to a son when he becomes of age, hence William Jr. must have been born about 1752.
2. Based on the usual interval between children during those times plus the tradition that both John and Benjamin served in the Revolutionary War, they were born about 1754 and 1756 respectively, with Samuel in 1758.

At the time of their migration to North Carolina in 1784, James was fourteen. His age was established when he registered in the census of North Carolina. The long interval between the birth of Samuel in 1758 and that of James in 1770 probably represents the years that elapsed between the death of Frances and William's second marriage to Elizabeth. Based on the evidence above, we must conclude that:
1. James 5, was the son of William Rose4 and Elizabeth. He was a minor child and was not named specifically in his father's will. Benjamin and James were brothers, and Benjamin was most certainly a son of William Rose4. The interval between Samuel and James on the one hand, and the fact that James named one of his daughters Elizabeth helps to confirm this conclusion.
2. John5 was twice married. His first wife was named Celia, and William was their son, with John Jr. and John Henry as their other known children. His second wife was Sarah Daughtry, and Mary Ann was their only child recorded. Arthur Daughtry, in his will of 1826 (North Carolina Roses) provides only for Mary Ann. William married in 1805, and his list of nine children would indicate that he was reasonably young when he married. His oldest son, Ransom Rose, stated at the polls that his father was born in North Carolina (Wayne Co. Census, Virginia notes). The records show that William lived with John. It is significant that William named one of his daughters Celia and none Elizabeth.

Back in Surry County, Virginia, William Rose4 makes his will:
a. To his son, John, all his lands lying on the south side of a small branch running through his platitation.
b. To his son Benjamin, all his lands lying north of said small branch, after the death of his wife.
c. To his wife, Elizabeth, during her natural life, possession of the lands bequeathed to Benjamin.
d. To his son, Samuel, five shillings; desires that he have no more. (Samuel had already been given the land inherited from William Jr.).
e. To Susannah Hardson, the daughter of his wife, Elizabeth, all the furniture that came to him by his wife.
f. The rest of his property to be sold, and the proceeds equally divided among all his children except Samuel, John, and Benjamin.
g. Appoints James Key and his son, John, as executors.

William Rose4 died in 1795. His wife, Elizabeth, must have died some years earlier. John Rose and his wife, Celia, and Benjamin and his wife, Lucy, deeded to William Ellis 120 acres of land, said land being the same that John and Benjamin had received by deed from their father. It is worthy of note that Benjamin's first purchase of land in North Carolina was also in 1795. From then on he bought a great deal of land. (See North Carolina)

2. WILLIAM ROSE4  (b        d. 1795)
1.m. Frances                                          2. m. Elizabeth                          
1. William5     3. Benjamin5                  1. James5
2. John5         4. SAMUEL 5

F.P.R.

The following descendants are taken from a report prepared for me by Christine Rose of the Rose Family Association. It is a copyright, and cannot be re-created here in full. http://ourworld.cs.com/Christine4Rose/
*Note The below history was researched and submitted to the
Rose Family Association by my cousin Don Rose. Ref: Family documents, Bibles and county records.

SAMUEL ROSE 5 b. 1755-1758 d. 1837 Macon County, North Carolina. Samuel served in the War of 1812
         m. 1 Rhoda                                    m. 2 Priscilla (Hall)
Living in: Wilkes Co., N.C.                   Pittsylvania Co., VA
          Buncombe Co., N.C.                    and Pendleton Dist.
          Pendleton Dist.
          Buncombe/Haywood Cos. N.C.
          Macon Co., N.C.

FRANCIS ROSE 1 (Family Records) b. 1775- 18--d. 1822-1830 McMinn Co., Hiwassee Dict. m. Elizabeth Ford b.---- Was living in Monroe Co., TN in 1837.

*Note.   In 1825, "another register...to be denominated the 'Register of the Hiwassee District', who shall keep his office at Athens, in the county of McMinn, the register of the Hiwassee District was to copy any Hiwassee District record that was in the land office at Knoxville. There is no extant original extant map of the Hiwassee District, however there is a TVA redrawing of an 1851 map. TSLA map #408

Son of Francis and Elizabeth:
WILLIAM HARLAND ROSE b. 1806 d. 1858 Mississippi River. Killed by Indians. m. Elizabeth of N.C.

Son of William H. Rose and Elizabeth:
JAMES ROSE  b. May 1836, Benton Co., Arkansas  d. 20 January 1864
m. Alaphair (Allefaua) Davis (Shaffet) 02 September 1860, Van Zandt Co., Texas.

Son of James and Alaphair:
WILLIAM H. ROSE b. 02 October 1860 d. May 1931 Ranger, Texas
m. Ella Richardson b. 10 February 1863 d. 1919

Son of William and Ella:
JAMES BYRON ROSE b. 07 November 1887 d. 31 August 1926 Van Zandt Co., Texas
m. 1 Clemmie Price 19 January 1909     m. 2 Myrtie Lenora Morris 29 September, 1917

Daughter of James and Clemmie:
RUBY LOUISE ROSE B. 04 March 1912  d. 06 March 1996
m. Claude E. Johnson  27 November 1932

I am the youngest daughter of that union.
Ruby Louise Johnson
m. Carey Allen Kohl  13 December 1998