ROCKWOOD The surnames Rockwood and Rocket, Rockett or Rockitt were formerly identical, the latter being a corruption of the former. In England the Rockwood family has been numerous from ancient times. The family was founded in America by John and Richard Rockwood (or Rockett). John was enrolled as a planter in Dorchester in 1636. His land was transferred to another in 1634, and it is presumed that he returned to England.

Descendants of Richard Rockwood

Generation No. 1

1.  RICHARD1 ROCKWOOD1 was of Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts1. Richard Rockwood, the immigrant ancestor, was a planter in Dorchester in 1636. He and his wife sold land at Weymouth in 1636, and he probably lived there for a time. He had a grant of land at Braintree for five persons, February 24, 1639-40. He married (first) Agnes, who died at Braintree, July 9, 1643, (second) Ann, who died in 1664. He died in 1660, intestate, and his widow Ann and Elder Kingsley presented the inventory of his estate. The estate of his widow was administered by John Taylor, appointed April 29, 1664. Her
inventory was dated March 1, 1664. Children: Nicholas, mentioned below; John, born December 1, 1641; Lydia; Phebe, married John Taylor; perhaps other daughters.

Child of RICHARD ROCKWOOD is:
2. i. NICHOLAS2 ROCKWOOD, d. 1680.
 

Generation No. 2

2.  NICHOLAS2 ROCKWOOD (RICHARD1)1 Born as early as 1628. He became one of the first settlers of Medfield, Massachusetts. Most of his land was in that part afterward set off as Medway. He was one of those who planned to remove to Mendon, but he finally located in the northeast part of what is now Medway, a quarter of a mile southwest of Richardson's Mills, and was with most of his family in the stone fort at Bogistow in 1676, when King Philip and his warriors were repulsed. He joined the church in Medfield and was admitted a freeman, May 23, 1666. Died January 26, 16802.  He married (1) JANE ADAMS2.  He married (2) MARGARET HOLBROOK July 16, 16562.  He married (3) SILENCE DUNTLING2 16752.

Children of NICHOLAS ROCKWOOD and JANE are:
 i. SAMUEL3 ROCKWOOD3, Deacon. Married HANNAH ELLIS.
 ii. JOSIAH ROCKWOOD3. A soldier in King Philip's war.  1677; Josiah Rockwood settled on the farm which soon came into the possession of the Lovell family, and was owned by them for the next 100 years. Of the original 48 founders of the town of Medway, MA 1693;  Tax list from w side of Charles river at Medway. (History of Norfolk Co., Massachusetts - D. Hamilton Hurd)
 iii. BENJAMIN ROCKWOOD3, born September 8, 1651, at Medfield.

Children of NICHOLAS ROCKWOOD and MARGARET HOLBROOK are:
3. iv. ELIZABETH3 ROCKET, b. April 03, 1657; d. July 22, 1688.
 v. ISAAC ROCKWOOD3, born July 22, 1677, died October 11, 1677, at Medfield.
 vi. JOHN ROCKWOOD3, b. February 12, 1662; died at Medway, December 16, 1746. Reverend. 1693; Tax list from w side of Charles river at Medway.  Of the original 48 founders of the town of Medway, MA.  (History of Norfolk Co., Massachusetts - D. Hamilton Hurd)
4. vii. JOSEPH ROCKWOOD, b. 1659, Medfield, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts; d. July 21, 1693, Swansea, Massachusetts.
5. viii. NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD, b. February 23, 1664/65, Medfield, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts; d. September 24, 1721, of Wrentham, Massachusetts.
 

Generation No. 3

3.  ELIZABETH3 ROCKET (NICHOLAS2 ROCKWOOD, RICHARD1)5 was born April 03, 16576, and died July 22, 16886.  She married JOHN PARTRIDGE7,8 December 24, 16788, son of JOHN PARTRIDGE and MAGDALEN BULLARD.

Children of ELIZABETH ROCKET and JOHN PARTRIDGE are:
 i. ELIZABETH4 PARTRIDGE8, b. September 13, 16798; d. April 25, 17068; m. EBENEZER DANIELS9, December 22, 170110.
 ii. MARY PARTRIDGE10, b. February 26, 1680/8110; d. February 14, 1754; m. EBENEZER LAWRENCE10, November 25, 170610.
 iii. JOHN PARTRIDGE10, b. Abt. 168310; d. September 06, 175610.
iv. BENONI PARTRIDGE10, b. May 25, 168710; d. December 26, 176910.
 

4.  JOSEPH3 ROCKWOOD (NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1)11 was born 1659 in Medfield, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts12, and died July 21, 1693 in Swansea, Massachusetts12.  He married HANNAH PARTRIDGE13 April 02, 167914, daughter of JOHN PARTRIDGE and MAGDALEN BULLARD.
 

5.  NATHANIEL3 ROCKWOOD (NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1)15 was born February 23, 1664/65 in Medfield, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts16, and died September 24, 1721 of Wrentham, Massachusetts17.  He married JOANNA ELLIS December 07, 1698 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts18, daughter of THOMAS ELLIS and MARY WIGHT. Deacon.

Children of NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD and JOANNA ELLIS are:
6. i. NATHANIEL4 ROCKWOOD, b. December 09, 1700, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts; d. Aft. 1733, of Winchester, New Hampshire.
 ii. MARGARET ROCKWOOD, b. September 04, 1699, Medfield, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts18.
 iii. BENJAMIN ROCKWOOD19, b. March 28, 1702, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.20; m. MELETA TOMSON21, December 19, 1727, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts by Mr. Henry Messenger22.
 iv. ABIGAIL ROCKWOOD, b. January 02, 1703/04, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.23; d. young.
 v. EBENEZER ROCKWOOD, b. November 02, 1705, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.23.
 vi. HANNAH ROCKWOOD, b. October 09, 1707, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.23.
 vii. MARY ROCKWOOD, b. October 17, 1709, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.23.
 viii. THOMAS ROCKWOOD24, b. February 25, 1711/12, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts25; d. Aft. 1747, of Oxford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts26; m. ABIGAIL.
At Oxford, MA.  Jason Collier place, house stood near the railroad crossing going from the common.  April 14, 1747, Jacob Wilson of Oxford, cordwainer to Thomas Rockwood of Wrentham; October 13, 1751, Thomas Rockwood of Oxford to Simon Mellen of Framingham  - David his son, then sold it.   (History of Oxford page 346)
 ix. ABIGAIL ROCKET/ROCKWOOD, b. June 08, 1714, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass.27.
7. x. ELISHA ROCKWOOD, b. January 11, 1715/16, Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts; d. December 05, 1788, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 

Generation No. 4

6.  NATHANIEL4 ROCKWOOD (NATHANIEL3, NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1) was born December 09, 1700 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts27, and died Aft. 1733 of Winchester, New Hampshire27.  He married (1) ? SARAH.  He married (2) MARGARET PHIPPS December 19, 1727 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts by Mr. Henry Messenger28,29,30,31, daughter of JOHN PHIPPS and MARY UNDERWOOD. See Phipps pages for more on descendants.

Children of NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD and MARGARET PHIPPS are:
 i. NATHANIEL5 ROCKWOOD, b. November 16, 1728, of Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts32.
 ii. AMOS ROCKWOOD, b. August 09, 173032.
iii. EBENEZER ROCKWOOD, b. April 05, 1732.
 iv. ASA ROCKWOOD, b. February 05, 1733/3432.
v. RHODA ROCKWOOD, b. June 08, 1736.
vi. REUBEN ROCKWOOD, b. September 05, 1737.
vii. MARGARET ROCKWOOD, b. July 13, 1739.
viii. RHODA ROCKWOOD, b. August 19, 1740.
ix. ELIZABETH ROCKWOOD, b. October 22, 1742.
x. ASA ROCKWOOD, b. April 08, 1745.
xi. MARY ROCKWOOD, m. NOAH COOK, September 03, 1747, Winchester, New Hampshire32.
xii. WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, b. October 20, 1749.

7.  ELISHA4 ROCKWOOD (NATHANIEL3, NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1)33 was born January 11, 1715/16 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts34, and died December 05, 1788 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts35.  He married (1) ABIGAIL STONE36, daughter of BENJAMIN STONE and EMMA PARKER.  He married (2) ELIZABETH ADAMS36 August 17, 173837, daughter of JAMES ADAMS and ABIGAIL HILL.  His mother was appointed his guardian, November 13, 1723. He learned the trade of clothier and settled in Groton, Massachusetts, where he died.  Epitaph Old Burial Ground, Groton, MA "In memory of Lieut. Elisha Rockwood who departed this life Dec ye 5th 1788 Aged 72 years and 6 months.  The sweet remembrance of the Just shall flourish while they sleep in dust"
ELIZABETH ADAMS: Epitaph Old Burial Ground, Groton, MA; "In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Rockwood the widow of Lieut Elisha Rockwood who departed this life May 16 A D 1799 in the 80th year of her age."

Children of ELISHA ROCKWOOD and ELIZABETH ADAMS are:
8. i. ELIZABETH5 ROCKWOOD, b. April 17, 1757, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; d. December 1847, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
9. ii. ELISHA ROCKWOOD, b. November 09, 1740, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 iii. SAMUEL ROCKWOOD38, b. August 11, 174238; d. September 02, 175338.
 iv. MOSES ROCKWOOD38, b. July 11, 175338; d. September 17, 175338.
 v. ELIZABETH ROCKWOOD38, b. May 6, 173938; d. September 17, 175338.
 vi. LYDIA ROCKWOOD38, b. May 27, 174838; d. September 17, 175338.
 vii. SAMUEL ROCKWOOD38, b. December 06, 1754, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38; d. May 29, 180438.
 viii. JOSEPH ROCKWOOD38, b. June 13, 1744, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38; d. June 09, 1816, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38; m. SARAH RICHARDSON38, January 30, 176638.
ix. EBENEZER ROCKWOOD, b. August 13, 1746, died February 10, 1830. Dr.
x. ABIGAIL ROCKWOOD, b. August 13, 1751.
xi. LYDIA ROCKWOOD, b. August 23, 1759.
x. SYBIL ROCKWOOD, b. August 11, 1761.
xi. SARAH ROCKWOOD, b. July 3, 1763.
 
 

Generation No. 5

8.  ELIZABETH5 ROCKWOOD (ELISHA4, NATHANIEL3, NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1)38 was born April 17, 1757 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38, and died December 1847 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.  She married AMOS FARNSWORTH38 May 07, 178238, son of AMOS FARNSWORTH and LYDIA LONGLEY.   10children38 AMOS FARNSWORTH: Military Service: Rev. War - minuteman at Groton, MA under Capt. Henry Farwell38

Children of ELIZABETH ROCKWOOD and AMOS FARNSWORTH are:
 i. LUKE6 FARNSWORTH38, b. 1785, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.
 ii. AMOS FARNSWORTH38, b. 1788, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.  Abolitionist38
 iii. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH38, b. 1792, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.
 iv. RALPH FARNSWORTH38, b. 1795, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.
 v. WALTER FARNSWORTH38, b. 1798, Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38; of Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts38. Occupation: merchant38
 

9.  ELISHA5 ROCKWOOD (ELISHA4, NATHANIEL3, NICHOLAS2, RICHARD1)38 was born November 09, 1740 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts38.  He married MARY FARNSWORTH38 April 29, 176238, daughter of DAVID FARNSWORTH and HANNAH HASTINGS.

Children of ELISHA ROCKWOOD and MARY FARNSWORTH are:
 i. HANNAH6 ROCKWOOD38, b. February 10, 176338.
 ii. MOLLY ROCKWOOD38, b. October 29, 176438.