Rose

William Rose

To set the stage for the arrival of William Rose into this country, it is necessary to learn of the conditions that existed at that time. Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in America. In 1606, an expedition was sent by the London company. The business of the company was the settlement of the Virginia colony using as the labor force volunteers under the customary indenture system whereby in exchange for seven years of labor for the company, the company provided passage, food, protection and land ownership.

In December 1606, the London Company's three ships, containing 144 men and boys, set sail. On May 13, 1607, these first settlers selected the site of Jamestown Island as the place to build their fort.

Within the three-sided fort erected on the banks of the James, the settlers quickly discovered that they were, first and foremost, employees of the London Company, following instructions of the men appointed by the Company to rule them. In exchange, the laborers were armed and received clothes and food from the common store.

By the end of 1607 only 38 men still survived. But, reinforcements soon arrived, and the colony slowly began to grow. There were setbacks, but life in the colony had improved by the time of William's first documented appearance in 1650.

William Rose was born about 1622. He married, probably around 1650, to Anne (maiden name unknown). She may  have accompanied him to Virginia. William died about 1671-1672 at approximately the age of 49. Anne was now a widow with children to raise, some of whom were still very young. She probably remarried soon after since there was  shortage of women in the colony.

In two transactions dated July 3, 1666, a man named Owen Barth transferred ownership of  a grey mare, 4 years old, called Liddey for the use and benefit of William and Anne's children. The children are named in this document: Jane, William, Anne and Mary (The son Richard was not yet born). In the next transaction, William and Anne transferred ownership of some stock in exchange for the grey mare.

Her deed of gift (a deed of gift is where the widow makes a gift of the deceased husband's property to their children before a remarriage) was recorded in 1672. This gift included some stock and personal property to her son William Rose, to daughter Anne Rose, to daughter Mary Rose and to son Richard Rose.

           Jane, born probably about 1651; married 1st Richard Avery, 2nd Edward Booky

          Anne, born probably about 1653; married Thomas Flood Jr.

          William, born probably about 1655; married Lucy (Corker) Jordan

          Mary, born 1656-1666

          Richard, born about 1669; married Elizabeth Sowerby

Richard Rose Sr.

Richard Rose was born in Virginia about 1669.  He was only about two years old when his father died. He had at least 2 guardians before he came of age in 1690 - his brother, William and his brother-in-law, Richard Avery.

He married Elizabeth Sowerby, daughter of Francis and Katherine Sowerby. Francis died in the 1670's and Katherine remarried to John Vincent.

Richard only made one land purchase. He bought 100 acres in 1690. This land adjoined the Sowerby's.  In the documentation, he is called "planter". He transferred this land in 1731, about 5 years before his death.

Richard Rose died in 1736. His will is dated October 20, 1736 - Surry County, Virginia. Richard and Katherine's children were:

          Thomas, born before May 1692 married possibly Elizabeth Gray

          Richard, born between 1692 - 1700 married Anne Horton

          Anne, born between 1692 - 1700 married John Watkins

          Jane, born between 1692 - 1700 married unknown Rose

Richard Rose Jr.

Richard Rose was born between 1692 - 1700.