For many settlers of early Virginia it will never be possible to trace their English origin to a parish register entry, such as Thomas Pittman are the exception to this rule, and what is left is the recourse t0 the most reasonable conjecture; such as may be applied to William Rose, who was a headright of William Knott in Surry Co. in 1653 (p. 256).

Central points are:

On April 11, 1649 John Jennings assigned him land; he the husband of a dau. of Edward Bennett, of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, and Virginia. The Jennings family were connected to Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

The Rosse/Rose family of Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, were familially connected to:

1. Various branches of the Hodges family of Somerset, and they to such as the Pitts of Virginia.
2. The Sydenhams, of Somerset and Dorset; following that link leads to: Sydenham v Pratt. Plaintiffs: Richard Sydenham and Grace Sydenham his wife. Defendants: John Pratt, William Tooker, Jacob Browne, Robert Whore, John Davy and William Knott. Subject: property in Stockland, Dorset. 1679. (C 8/287/66).
3. The Harvey, Hull, and Stocker families – the links to Somerset and Virginia seem obvious.

1. Nicholas Rosse, born c. 1535, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset.
1.1 John Rosse, born circa 1560, m. Elizabeth Dawbney, of Wayford, Somerset. Survey of lands, rents, etc., enjoyed by John Rose and Henry Sydenham as tenants in common, and by John Rose solely, taken at Merriott by John Wyllys, steward, on 5 July 1609, and covering the following places: Dommett in Buckland St. Mary, Buckland St. Mary, Chilworthy in Ilminster, Merriott, Combe St. Nicholas, Ely in Ilminster, Crewkerne, Mudgley in Theale, Stoughton in Wedmore, Peasmarsh in Ilminster, South Bradon, Hilcombe in Ilminster, Ilminster, Shepton Beauchamp, Stocklinch, Langport Eastover and Langport Westover. Survey of lands, rents, etc., late the inheritance of James Hodges of Somerton, gent., decd., and given by him to Mary his daughter the wife of John Rose, gent., taken by John Wyllys, steward, on 20 Dec. 1602, covering the demesnes of St. Clare’s and Highbrook and other properties in Somerton, the demesne of Copley in Charlton Adam, the demesne of Stert in Babcary, tenancies in Upton and Knole in Long Sutton with the commons belonging, and demesnes in Shepton Beauchamp. 1609. (Somerset Heritage Centre, T\PH\vch/11).
1.1.1. James Rosse, born c. 1585, m. Mary, dau. of James Hodges, of Somerton, Somerset, gent. Will dated May 27, 1601, proved July 2, 1601 (47 Woodhall). To be buried at Somerton. My son in law Peter Hoskyns. My son in law John Rosse. My daughter Ann Hoskyns. To Frances Hodges, daughter of my son William Hodges, decd, £100, at 21. James Rosse, son of my son in law, John Rosse. My kinswoman Alice Barnard. Pardon of alienation: by fine in the Common Pleas levied in Michaelmas term, 16 Eliz., and granted and recorded in the octave of St. Hilary, 17 Eliz., Thomas Wisse and Anne his wife conveyed lands in Somerton, co. Somerset, to James Hodges and Richard Cowpper and the heirs of Hodges, who by the same fine conveyed them back to Thomas and Anne and the heirs of Thomas. the manor of Somerton St. Cleers, which was acquired by Thomas Cary of Cockington (Devon) in 1560, and probably passed from him directly to James Hodges, who died in 1601, leaving a daughter Mary, wife of John Rosse. Their son James, of Shepton Beauchamp, sold it in 1638 to Sir John Strangways of Melbury Sampford (Dors.) .
1.1.1.1. Elenor Rose m . George Hodges of Wedmore, Somerset, son of Thomas Hodges and Agatha Rodney. William Pitt m. Mary Owen: Robert Owen, of Bristol, Merchant. Will pr. Feb. 16, 1615. (8 Cope). My cousin Rice Davies, esq. My brother in law William Pitt, overseer. Rice Davies, Esq., of Tickenham, married ist, Dorothy, dau. of Maurice Rodney, Esq., and niece of Agatha Rodney William Pitt’s son, Col. Robert Pitt, d. bef. Jan. 9, 1674, in IOW.
1.1.1.2. Joan Rose, m. John Harvey, of Curry Mallet, Somerset, at Shepton Beauchamp, Feb. 6, 1616 . Ann Wombwell was transported to Virginia by a John Harvey before Sept. 25, 1663. Thomas Wombwell was co-owner of 1100 ac. in IOW, with Peter Hull and George Hardy. 400 ac. were Peter Hull’s, and George Hardy assigned his portion to Thomas Wombwell (p. 509). (George Hardy processed the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677).
1.1.1.3. Ann Rose, m. George Style, of Maypowder, Dorset,, at Shepton Beauchamp, Jan. 11, 1615. Will of “George Style, Gentleman of Mappowder, Dorset”, probated February 28, 1640; his son shown here: Exemplification of a common recovery by John Hardy, Esq., and George Style, esq., against George Parry, gent. and Thomas Abington, gent., of a messuage or fulling water-mill, etc. in Cole, Pittcombe and Bruton, Nov. 29, 1645. (Somerset Heritage Centre, DD\WHh/650).
1.1.1.4. John Rose, m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Stocker, of Chellcompton, Somerset (and Margaret, dau. of Anthony Scott, of Stanton, Somerset); son of his namesake and Elizabeth Hales (dau. of Christopher), who m. (2) Sir George Sydenham. Their dau., Elizabeth, born c. 1560, became the second wife of Sir Francis Drake. John Rose was the br.-in-law of Anthony Stocker, who m. Margaret, dau. of Sir Arthur Capell; their son and heir, John Stocker, was born in 1615, per Vis. Som. His aunt, Gertrude, m. Christopher Morgan Esq., May 7, 1607. Alice Bennett was residing near Lawne’s Creek, June 10, 1642, when George Hardy received a patent “upon the eastermost side of Lawne’s Creek adjoining Alice Bennett”; and on June 19, John Stocker patented land adjoining Mr. Hardy’s and “the Widdow Bennett.”
George Harding, 300 ac. June 10, 1642. Upon eastern most side of Lawne’s Creek adj. Mr. Tuke and Alice Bennett for trans. of himself and 5 persons. George Hardy, Thomas Wombell, and Peter Hull, 1000 ac. called Timber Neck. (no date) Bet. the 2 S.W. branches of the Blackwater. 650 acres in an absolute neck belonging to Hardy and Wombell, and 400 acres without the neck belonging to Peter Hull, orphan. For trans. of 22 pers. Mr. Hardy 2nd time, his wife 2ne and 3r.
1.1.1.4.1. James Rose, born 1610.
1.1.1.4.2. Phillip Rose.
1.1.1.4.3. Robert Rose.
1.1.1.4.4. John Rose.
1.1.1.4.5. Mary Rose.
1.1.2. William Rose, born c. 1586-8. Crane v Rose. Plaintiffs: William Crane. Defendants: William Rose. Subject: money, Somerse. 1633. (C 8/42/114). Trevillian v Rose. Plaintiffs: Thomas Trevillian and others. Defendants: … Smyth, William Rose and others. Subject: property in Somerton, and Compton Dundon, Somerset. 1648 (C 6/5/149). Crane v Trevillian. Plaintiffs: William Crane, John Crane and George Crane. Defendants: Thomas Trevillian, William Grimsteed and William Rose. Subject: money matters, Somerset. 1650. (C 6/113/24). Trevillian v Gray. Plaintiffs: Thomas Trevillian and others. Defendants: Richard Gray and others. Subject: personal estate of the deceased William Gray, of Ilchester, Somerset. 1655. (C 6/10/247).
1.1.2.1. William Rose of Virginia, conjecturally.
1.1.3. Joan Rose, m. William Hull, Nov. 27, 1606, Somerton.

Rosse.  Arms. — Argent, a wivern rampant sable.

copyright m stanhope 2018