Various compilations and accounts differ on Thomas Roses ancestry, and most present problems. There is little documentary evidence presented by the various accounts, and what evidence there is is not easily confirmed. This is compounded by the repeated use of the same given names -- Robert, Thomas, Nathan, Jonathan, John, etc. -- through several generations and descendant lines, making it easy to confuse parentage and siblings.
Conventional wisdom of earlier local historians was that the present Thomas was the first permanent European settler on Fire Place Neck (now Brookhaven Hamlet, NY), and that he had at least two brothers -- Jonathan who was said to be the first permanent settler of nearby Occumbomock (now Bellport, NY), and John who also settled nearby. (This is to be distinguished from land owners, the mostly north Brookhaven proprietors who acquired meadow shares and lots as a result of the divisions that took place following the original 1664 Old Purchase at South.) This view has been shown to be unlikely.
The present Thomas was not the brother of Jonathan Rose, the first settler of Bellport, but his son. Thomas is not known to have had a brother John, although he did have an uncle John, his father's brother; he and his family are thought to have only resided on the south fork of Long Island -- in Southampton and East Hampton Towns.
Town of Brookhaven records support the arrival of a Jonathan Rose in Occumbomock around 1680, when he began to purchase lots and "meadow shares" from the original Setauket, NY, owners. They do not support the proposition that Thomas Rose was already established in Fireplace when his brother began the Occumbomock purchases. The earliest documented purchase by a Thomas Rose so far found is 1704. No purchases by a Thomas Rose "at South" in the17th century in the Records of the Town of Brookhaven.
Osborn Shaw, the well respected official Town of Brookhaven Historian of the early 20th century, himself alludes to not being able to find a historical record of land purchases by Thomas Rose earlier than 1704. However, he seems to have accepted the proposition that Thomas Rose had two brothers, Jonathan and John, and that brother Jonathan was the first settler in Occumbomock. Shaw was well acquainted with the early Town records, and was himself an editor of one of the early published versions (1930, a version of Book C).
Bigelow indicates that Jonathan (Sr.) and family removed to Orange County, NY around 1720. Those who have investigated the Rose family indicate that various members of the family did emigrate -- son Jonathan Jr. is believed to have removed to Orange County, NY, other sons to various locales in New Jersey. Sons Thomas and Daniel apparently were the only members of the family to remain in the Bellport/Fireplace area.
Thomas Rose and his family are well represented in the town records throughout the 18th century, both with land records and public offices.
This note is under construction and revised: 29 Aug 2008
1683 - 1750 (67 years)
