Rose BERRYMAN was born in the historic County of Westmoreland, Virginia, probably in the year 1708. She came of distinguished ancestry, her father, Major Benjamin BERRYMAN, being a man of prominence in the Colony....

Rose BERRYMAN was one among a family of seventeen children, and she spent her girlhood days on the BERRYMAN estate in Westmoreland County.

On June 10, 1726, she was united in marriage to Captain Richard TALIAFERRO of Caroline County. Their home was blest with thirteen children, one of whom died in infancy. This family resided in Caroline County and probably belonged to St. Thomas' Parish, the records of which have been destroyed. Captain Richard TALIAFERRO was a large landholder and patented 10,000 acres in the present counties of Amherst and Nelson.

 He passed away on September 27, 1748. The cause of his death is unknown; although traditional accounts in the family of his granddaughter, Anna TALIAFERRO McCRARY state that he was killed while crossing the Potomac on a flatboat, and only a few of his men escaped death.

The sad loss of her husband left Rose BERRYMAN TALIAFERRO with entire responsibility of her home and the rearing of twelve children. She reared and educated them according to the standards of the old Virginia Colony; breathing into their lives love in its truest form; love for one another; love for their fellowman; love for their country; and love for their God.

Several of her sons and grandsons served with honor and distinction in the Revolution; one son, Dr. John TALIAFERRO, being not only a soldier, but a prominent physician and a Baptist Minister. In her declining years she could have pointed to these boys with pride and said, 'These are my Jewels.' Her parents could not have chosen a more fitting name for her than Rose. In the garden of life she lived and grew and bloomed, not for herself, but for the pleasure of others.... Though she sleeps today in an unmarked grave, she is not forgotten....

The children born to this marriage include:

Sarah TALIAFERRO, born June 7, 1727, died 1769; married John LEWIS in 1750;Benjamin TALIAFERRO, born 1728, died 1751, without issue;Zachariah TALIAFERRO, born August 29, 1730, died 1811; married Mary BOUTWELL in 1749; children include Benjamin TALIAFERRO [1750 - 1821, Captain in the American Revolution]; Zachariah TALIAFERRO [1759 - 1831]; Sarah TALIAFERRO HARVEY [married Daniel HARVEY]; Richard TALIAFERRO [moved to Georgia and died unmarried]; Warren TALIAFERRO; Burton TALIAFERRO; Nancy TALIAFERRO WATKINS; Frances TALIAFERRO PENN; Charles TALIAFERRO; and Boutwell TALIAFERRO;Richard TALIAFERRO, born February 15, 1731, Caroline County; died in infancy.Dr. John TALIAFERRO, born April 7, 1733, Caroline County, Virginia; died April 7, 1821; Captain in the Revolutionary War. Married, about 1755, Mary HARDIN, and he may have married, after her death, a second wife, Lydia HOWARD, in 1814. Children include: Richard TALIAFERRO [1756 - 1781, a Revolutionary Soldier who was killed at the Battle of Guilford Court House]; Rose TALIAFERRO PORTER [married Joseph PORTER]; Elizabeth TALIAFERRO PRUITTE [married Levi PRUITTE on October 22, 1778]; Anne TALIAFERRO McCRARY [1768 - 1864; married Jonathan McCRARY]; Charles TALIAFERRO [died 1838; married (1) Sallie BURROUGHS; (2) Dicie TUCKER]; Benjamin TALIAFERRO [married Ada SNOW]; Judith TALIAFERRO FRANKLIN [married Shadrack FRANKLIN]; Mary TALIAFERRO MERCER; Behethland TALIAFERRO; and Lucy TALIAFERRO JONES [1780 - 1842; married John Lawrence JONES in 1797];Charles TALIAFERRO, who married Isabella McCULLOUGH, is the subject of the next section (J);Beheathland TALIAFERRO, a daughter born August 20, 1738, Caroline County, Virginia;Peter TALIAFERRO born February 12, 1740, Caroline County, Virginia; married Anne HACKLEY;Elizabeth TALIAFERRO born November 2, 1741, Caroline County,Virginia; twin to Rose; married Zachary HAWKINS;Rose TALIAFERRO, born November 2, 1741; twin to Elizabeth;Mary Berryman TALIAFERRO, born October 6, 1745, Caroline County, Virginia; married ____ WORTHAM;Francis TALIAFERRO born October 9, 1745, Caroline County, Virginia; andRichard TALIAFERRO, born September 2, 1747, Amherst County, Virginia; a Revolutionary Soldier.

