Wife:  Wife: Martha Mason (Dec. 14, 1781 - Apr. 3, 1860)

Children:  Nancy, born 1797;  Berry, born 1821;  Kindred, born 1800;  Reuben Jr., born 1821;  Mason, born 1805;  
Elias, born 1823'  Robert, born 1808;  Martha, born 1826;  Richard, born 1810;  Mary Ann, born 1829;  
James, born 1815;  Henry, born 1831

Profession(s):  LandOwner, Tobacco Farmer

Background:  Reuben Rose was the first in our line for which we have exact dates for birth and death. This record is shown on his tombstone. Edgecomb County, North Carolina records show that Reuben made his first land purchase on April 27, 1803. He bought 202 acres on the south side of Swift Creek. He paid 405 round silver dollars for the land. In 1806, just three years after the purchase, he sold his land for 252 pounds which is over $1,250, over three times what he paid. This sale resulted in the move of Rueben Rose from North Carolina to Robertson County, Tennessee. He was undoubtedly influenced to make the move by his father-in-law, Ralph Mason, Jr. whose daughter, Martha had married Rueben about 1796 when he was seventeen and Martha was fifteen. Her parents had sold their land in North Carolina in 1802. They set out for Tennessee when he was twenty-seven and she was twenty-five. Census records indicate that they had four children who made the trip. One daughter who was the oldest, Kindred, the oldest son, and Mason are known to have been on the trip.

After arriving in Tennessee Reuben engaged in a series of land transactions. He made application for state land around 1810 where he established his home. Over the years he bought parcels adjacent to his land. It’s estimated that his holdings were about 1,700 acres, but some local decedents have stated that he cultivated about 3,000 acres. His resident was near the present community of Barren Plains. His tombstone and the site of his home are on Route 4, Cedar Hill Pike, about five miles out of the town of Springfield, Tennessee. The graves of Reuben and Martha are on a circular mound about 100 yards behind a large white house which was probably built after his death. His will reflects that he had a large plantation in which he grew tobacco for the market in Nashville. His accumulation of monies amounted to about $20,000.