Rose, an African American woman residing in Halifax County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Matthew Rabun. In about 1765, Rose was accused of arson. During the ensuing trial, Rose confessed that she had burned John Bradford's barn after Bradford had encouraged Rabun to whip Rose as punishment for misbehaving. When speaking to other enslaved people prior to the act, Rose had stated that she saw the barn burning as retaliation for how Rabun had previously burned her clothes. Additionally, Rose disclosed that she had intended to burn other enslavers' homes down before either running away or killing herself. If she did attempt to escape after the crime, she was captured and found guilty of arson. The court ordered her execution by hanging.