In 1637, Robert Rockhold/Rockwell was living on a 250 acre plantation in Nansemond County, Virginia with his wife Sarah (or Hanah), daughter Mary, son Thomas, and servant Mary Hayes. This puritan colony was populated by immigrants from The Netherlands who were of english origin.
In 1649 he moved to Anne Arundel County, Maryland and settled on a large plantation called Towne Neck, now Greenbury Point. Robert was one of seven original settlers of Anne Arundel County. In 1651, Robert Rockhould, gunsmith and, John Scotcher, cooper, were granted 400 acres in Calvert County, Maryland. This tract was located "on top of the cliffs on the west side of Chesapeake Bay." Robert, Sarah, and their sons Robert, Jr., John and Thomas settled on this plantation.
Robert Rockhould was seated upon 250 acres of land in Nansemond County,Virginia, before the 3rd of November, 1647. He came to Maryland about 1649. (Nugent, Cavaliers & Pioneer, folios 134,203,268)
On August 26, 1651, Robert Rockhould and John Scotcher were granted 400 acres of land in Calvert County, Maryland, on top of the Cliffs, the former having transported himself, his wife Sarah, and his two sons, Robert and Thomas, into the province to inhabit. This land was laid out for Robert Rockhould, gunsmith, and John Scotcher, cooper. They are also named as being of Ann Arundell County October 23, 1651. (Patents 4, f. 94) (Patents 5, f. 53)
*Source: The Dorsey Family, Descendants of Edward Darcy-Dorsey of VA & MD & ALLIED FAMILIES by Maxwell J. Dorsey & Jean Muir Dorsey & Nannie Ball Dorsey 1949, pg 200.
Note
Robert Rockwell received 250 acres of land in Virginia on August 19, 1637, page 460,Patent Book 1, Part 1. This same Robert went to Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, and there his name was listed as "Rockhold".
DNA haplotype analysis shows that Robert Rockwell/Rockhold/Rockhould of VA/MD is unrelated to the colonial Connecticut Rockwell lines.
In his discussion, Ken Rockwell suggests that Robert Rockhold/Rockwell b. abt 1605 was named Rockhold or a cognate thereof and the early Virginia documents giving his name as Rockwell were clerical errors.
From Bourland.GED: 1. He was the pioneer and the armorer for the Trained Band, which protected the young settlement at Providnece and was among the dissenters who came up from Lower Norfork, Virginia.
C.R. Bourland, 2237 Croydon Walk, St. Louis, MO. 63131
The Rockholds of Early Maryland Publication: Maryland Historical Magazine, The Maryland Historical Society. Vol. 32 No. 4 December, 1937.
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1645 Virginia Land Patent (M86)
Note: Which Standeth on the westward Side Nigh the head
of the Said Majors Creeke and soo runing down by the west ward Side of the Said Creeke unto the first Mentiond Marked tree, the Said two hundred and fifty Acres of Land being formerly granted unto him the Said Robert Rockwell by Patent bearing Date the 16th of November 1638 and due unto him by and for the personall Adventure of his Brother Rockwell and the Transportation of four persons into the Collony all whose Names are in the records under his Pantent first granted, To have and to hold and to be held the Yeilding and paying unto our Sovereign Lord the King his heires and Sucessors for Every fifty Acres of Land herein By These presents given and granted legally at the Feast of St. Michaele the Archangell the fee roul of one Shilling to his Majesties the which payment is to be made Seven yeares after the Date of the first patent of ye16th of November 1635 @ and not before and Dated the 14th of 7ber 1645
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1645 Virginia Land Patent (M85)
Note: To all etc Whereas etc Now Know yee that the Said Sir William
Berkeley Knt doo with the Advice and Consent of the Council of State accordingly give and grant unto Robert Rockwell two hundred and fifty Acres of Land Scituate lying and being in the County of Upper Norfolk and being on the Northward side of Nansimond river and begining at the mouth of a Creek Called Majors Creeks, at a Marked pyne and runing by by or nigh to the Mayne river side one hundred thirty three poles unto a Marked Mulberry Standing by a Drybody and soo runing Northwest five hundred and Sixty poles unto a marked pokiekerry, and soo NorthEast Eighteen poles unto a Marked Spanish oake, and soo East fifty four poles unto a Marked red oake and soo North North East fifty four poles Crossing the swamp unto a a Marked Dogge Wood, and soo Nort East by East one hundred twenty Six poles on the Lands of Robert Baosfioy Crossing a Swamp unto a Marked Post (Which)
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1647 VA Land Patent (M84) Type: Document
Note: To all etc Whereas etc Now Know yee that the Said Sir William
Berkeley doo with the advice and consent of the Council of State accordingly give and grant unto John Slaughter fifty acres of Land lying and being in the County of Nansimund. on the Northward of Nansimund river and between two pcells of Land the one a devident of two hundred and fifty acres of Robert Rockhole to the Eastward and the other pcell a devidend of seven hundred acres of the said John Slaughter bounding on the westward this Said Land being due unto the Said John Slaughter by the transportation of one person into the Colony whose name is in records Maintained under this patent, To have and to hold the to be held the yielding the which payment is to be made Seven years after the Date hereof and not before dated the 3d of November 1647
Va Land Patents, Book 1, p. 134
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1638 Virginia Land Patent (M83) Type: Document
Note: To all whom these presents shall come, I, Sir John Harvey,
Knight Governor Esq. send gr. whereas. Now Know yee that I, the said Sir John Harvey doe with the consent of the Council of State accordingly, give and grant unto Robert Rockwell two hundred fiftie acres of land scituate lying and being within the Countie of the Upper Norfolk in Nansemond river begning next unto the lands of Edward Major Northwest into the (river?) Southerly upon the river and lying behieend the land of the said Major and John Slaughter his Lord. The said two hundred and fiftie acres being deed unto him the said Robert Rockwell by and for the transpor= tation of five psons into this Colony whose names are in the Records mentioned under this pattent to have and to hold. Dated the six and twentieth day of October 1638. Hinalys: Thomas Rockwell Mary Roo Martin Housend James Bagly John Chambers
Va Land Patents, Book 1, p. 677
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1650 Virginia Land Patent pg 2 (M82)
Note: Quantity of Marsh Land with a little Island or two facing
to the River, the Said Land being due unto those the Said Francis Bright and James Arrends by and for the Transportation of one Person into this Colony and to have and to hold etc. which payment is to be made Seven yeares after the first grant or Loating thereof etc Dated the first of November 1650
James Mawgory, Craig Hoaward Land transfer Wm Beadle _
Va Land Patents, Book 1, p. 269
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1650 Virginia Land Patent (M81) Type: Document
Note: To all etc Whereas etc Now Know yee that the Said Sir William Berkeley
give and grant unto Francis Spight and James Arron the fifty acres of Marsh Land Scituate or Being on the Northward Side of Nansimond river and bounded on the one Side with Nansimond River on the other side by a Patent of Land of two hundred and fifty acres taken up by Robert Rockhold and on the other side by Major Creeks the Said Bounds Including the said Quantity
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1637 Virginia Land Patent (M80) Type: Document
Note: To all whom these presents shall come, I, Sir John Harvey,
Knight Governor Esq. sends gr. whereas. Now Know yee that I, the said Sir John Harvey Kt dos with the consent of the Council of State accordingly, give and grant unto Robert Rockwell two hundred and fiftie acres of land scituate lying and being in the Upper Countie of the New Norfolk in Nansamund river butting upon the land of Edward Major and bounded by the salers Creeke that land of the said Edward Major is bounded by, the said two hundred and fiftie acres of land being deed unto him the said Robert Rockwell as followeth (bist) fiftie acres for his own psonall Asnonssnus and two hundred acres by and for the transportation of his wife Hanah two Children and one servant into the Colony whose names are mentioned under this pattent to have and to hold etc Dated the 19th of August 1637 Btanalys
Robert Rockwell Hanah Rockwell,ux Mary Rockwell Thomasin Rockwell Mary Hayes