William Rose, of Surry County

Not the son of William Rose

It is not known exactly when William and Ann Rose came to this country, but on February 3, 1650 William Rose and George Jordan were witnesses to a document on record in Surry County, Virginia. This puts William and Ann in Virginia in 1650 or before. It is possible that William was here even earlier in that he had made the trip from England to the colonies more than once.

When William came to the colonies to settle there was no Surry County. Surry County was formed from James City County in 1652 and all records earlier than 1652 would have been in James City County, these records were destroyed by fire. This is unfortunate because these records may have given a closer date to when he arrived and from where. William was probably a native of England or Scotland.

William Rose married Anne (Ann), most likely in England or Scotland, and she came to Virginia with her husband. Her maiden name is not known nor is her place of birth. She outlived her husband by some years, he died at the age forty nine or so. Anne very likely remarried very soon after William's death as there was a shortage of women in the colonies at this time and it would have been hard for an unmarried woman to survive. Some of Anne's children were still very young when her husband, William, died. There are no records of her remarrying or of her date of death.

William Rose made his first and only purchase of land in Virginia in 1652, and sold it in 1654. Later Francis Sower acquired this land in two parcels of 105 1/2 acres each and many years in the future William Rose's son Richard would marry Francis Sowerby's daughter Elizabeth. That William continued to live near his old neighbors is indicating various records showing his name among theirs. George Rose comments, "Since the Roses continued to reside in the same area it is concluded that the description of the 211 acres the fork of Gray's Creek indicates fairly accurately where William Rose was seated. He was therefore within two or three miles of the JOHN ROLFE(*) house and perhaps four miles in direct line south and west of Swann Point. These landmarks are well identified even now. This is a pleasant land of fertile soil and splendid trees. The feel of the area is definitely rural to this day."

• JOHN ROLFE was an American Colonist, Baptized at Heacha England, 6 May 1585. He was educated in England and sailed with his wife for Virginia in May 1610 and settled in Jamestown, Rolfe's wife died soon afterwards.

In 1613, when the Indian girl, Pocahontas, was brought to Jamestown as a captive and held as a hostage for the good behavior of the Indians, Rolfe met her, fell in love, and with the permission of Thomas Dale, the Governor, and of her father, Powhatan, married her in April 1614.

In 1616, Rolfe went to England, where he was joined by Pocahontas and their child. He was secretary and recorder of the colony from 1614 to 1619 and in 1621 was appointed to the Council of State. In 1622, Bermuda Hundred, near Richmond, where Rolfe had his home, was destroyed in an Indian attack. Rolfe may have died then or in the following year (1623). The date and place are uncertain.

It is a matter of interest that William Rose could write and sign his name, and that at least one document is known to exist in his own hand. George Rose, who as mentioned has made two trips to Virginia in search of details on the early Rose's says: "The glimpse I got of William Rose of Surry reminds me of a colonial merchant I once researched. William bought sale, bought a servant maid, had an indentured man servant collected on a debt, paid his obligations to an estate, was handy when court was in session, appeared as a claimant against an estate, sent Joseph Sulway a letter asking how to appear in court for him, and then appears in an enigmated pledge of certain goods in 1671. He showed no disposition to hold and cultivate land though he did acquire and hold 200 acres for about two years and surely could acquired additional land if he could afford a man servant or a maid or farm animals. His son William, was adjudged a man of sufficient resources to be in the mounted militia which designations fe upon one in fifteen. The fact that William Rose, the immigrant, could write a rather well composed letter suggests that he came from a background of some attainment. I suspect that he was either a merchant or a tradesman who also cultivated a small amount of land and whose original holding of 211 acres probably earned him the designation - planter."

William Rose and his wife Anne had five children:

1. Jane born before 1655, probably ca. 1651 (called the eldest in 1677); married ca. 1672 1st Richard Avery; married after 1685 2nd Edward Booky. 2. William born ca. 1655 (he declares in 1689 that he is a 34); married Lucy (Corker) Jordan b. 1658 d. 1685. Lucy was first married to Capt. Thomas Jordan. 3. Anne born ca. 1657 (of age in 1677); married Thomas Flo Jr. Anne Rose Flood died before March 1728/1729 in Surr County. 4. Mary born ca.1656-1669 (still a minor in 1677 for she had guardian, but named in a 1666 document); further on her unknown, perhaps died before marrying. 5. Richard born ca. 1669 (not named in a 1666 document of his parents, but born by 1669 for he purchased land in 1690 a had to of age. He had a guardian as late as 1686. There a several records proving he was son of William and Anne Rose, most notably a gift recorded in 1672 by his mother in which he is named); married Elizabeth Sowerby.

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The birthplace of this first immigrant to America is still undocumented, but is thought to be in England or Scotland/England.

William Rose came to America in 1653 as a headright of William Knott.William Rose was born ca 1622 in England and died in Surry County, VA ca 1671-1672.

He married Anne before 1653. They were headrights for William Knott, who claimed 200 acres in Surry Co. on the south side of the James River. Five children were born to the couple of which four reached maturity. Their descendants moved to NC, GA,MS, LA and TX.

William Rose was born in 1622 in England.1 He married Ann ? before 1650 in England.1 William died on 3 January 1671/72 in Surry Co., Virginia.1,2William came to America as a headright of William Knott about 1653.3

Source: http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/rose-o/g1/p1064.htm#i26600

More children to be added and filled out....

Children

1. Jane Rose b. c 1653
2. William Rose b. c 1655, d. c 1729
3. Ann Rose b. 1657
4. Mary Rose b. c 1660, d. a 1677

References

• https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/rose/about/results Group A1 (English Rose family, not Scottish)