Reuben Tuplin was born in Tawstock, Devonshire, England in 1789. Apprenticed to a carpenter at an early age, Reuben eventually became a wheel wright. On the 27 March 1821, at the age of thirty-two, Reuben married Rebecca Folland, who had been born in 1798 in the community of St. Giles in the Wood, in Devonshire. In 1824, Reuben accepted a full time position as wheelwright at Torr House, estate of his half sister Jane Tuplin Torr, in Eastleigh Village, Devon. In 1836, Reuben and Rebecca emigrated to Prince Edward Island with nine of their twelve children: Elizabeth, 1822-1893 (Daniel Pridham), Henry, 1824-1872 (Elizabeth Parker), Reuben jr., 1825-1899 (Harriet Tuplin), William, 1827-1877, Thurza, 1828-1903 (Robert Bowness), Thomas, 1830-1920 (Ann Blaney), Grace, 1831-1870 (David Pickering), Ann, 1833-1904 (Robert Craig), James, 1834-1917 (Elizabeth MacGregor), John, 1836-1924 (Margaret Marks), Jabez, 1838-? (Rebecca Mountain), and Robert, 1840-1909 (Elizabeth Durant).

They settled first in St. Eleanors before leasing land in New Annan. It was here they established "Tapley Farm," as well as a carpenter shop and forge. Reuben, and his sons were merchants, as well as carriage and ship builders. Reuben Jr. ran a store in Margate and Thomas had an Inn at Black Horse Corner. James inherited Tapley Farm in 1855, and another farm owned by Reuben senior was divided between Robert and Jabez that same year.

Reuben senior died on the 31 August 1875, and his wife Rebecca on the 25 January 1885, and are buried in the Margate United Church Cemetery.