Person:Nathaniel Rockwood (6)

"Nathaniel Rockwood resided in Wrentham until about 1733 when he joined a party, who in response to the call of Gov. Belcher and in accordance with an act of the legislative body of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, met at Concord, Mass., for the purpose of entering upon and organizing several new townships of land, then a part of the public domain. Mr. Rockwood here became associated with a party of sixty persons who determined to enter upon and settle the upper township lying on the Ashuelot River, supposed then to be within the domain of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, but later found to lie within the bounds of New Hampshire, it included what is now the flourishing city of Keene. The party organized, plans were made, the fee of 5 pounds from each of the party was paid, lots were cast and each one of the party had his own place, Lot No. 39 falling to Mr. Rockwood.

It was agreed that in the month of September, 1734, the proprietors should take possession and on Sept. 12, 1734, pilotted by Dea. Ebenezer Alexander of Northfield, the first installment of the party loft Concord to accomplish their object. This advance party consisted, besides their pilot of Jeremiah Hall, Daniel Hoar, Seth Heaton, Elisha Root, Nathaniel Rockwood, Jonah Fisher (who was later slain by Indians), and William Puffer. These eight persons, following an old Indian trail, pushed themselves through and were the first white men to reach this frontier; others followed, the land was surveyed, houses were built, the town was organized, officers were chosen, Mr. Rockwood was chosen Assessor, "to lay the rate." Preparations were being made for a permanent settlement, when without warning, the Indians began to show signs of hostility; the timid ones soon fled to the settlements and finally all were compelled to abandon, temporarily, their project and seek safety elsewhere. This settlement was again occupied by white people in 1750-53 when it was incorporated under New Hampshire authorities with the name of Keene.

Mr. Rockwood, with others of the party, including Dea. Alexander, concluded to join their fortunes with a party under the leadership of Colonel Josiah Willard of Lunnenburg, who had been granted a township at a place farther down the river, which he called Arlington, now the town of Winchester. Mr. Rockwood united with this party in 1735, in time to be rated as one of the original proprietors; he was there with his family when the town was organized and was chosen one of the board of Selectmen. This settlement also had its frontier troubles, by the incursions of hostile Indians and through the change in sovereignty, from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. Mr. Rockwood, however, appears to have remained there, although he probably did not surrender his allotments at Keene, as he or members of his family are known to have lived at Keene later. He was a man who was highly respected and was frequently called upon to hold office."

1. ↑ Baldwin, Thomas W. Vital records of Wrentham, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. (Boston: Stanhope Press, 1910)
   181.

   ROCKET, Nathaniell, s. of Nathaniell and Joanna, [born] Dec. 9, 1700.