Robert Rockhould (1605-1666)

Robert was born about 1605, either in the Netherlands or in England.  He was English as evidenced by his being granted land in the English Colonies of both Virginia and Maryland.  He seems to have immigrated to the Americas from Delft, Holland, Netherlands.  In 1647, Robert was living on a 250 acre plantation in Nansemond County, Virginia. In 1649, he moved to Anne Arundel County, Maryland and settled on a large plantation called 'Towne Neck'. In 1651, he and another settler, John Scotcher, 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. For some reason, they called themselves 'Rockhould's for a while after moving to Maryland. Later, they changed their name to Rockhold and eventually to Rockholt.

Robert was a pioneer and the armorer for the Trained Band, which protected the young settlement at Providence (near Annapolis) and was among the dissenters who came up from Lower Norfork, Virginia.

From the "Rockwell Family Foundation, Inc." August 1994 Newsletter: "Robert Rockwell owned land in Virginia in 1637 and was there with his wife, Sarah, and children. In 1647 they lived in Nanesmund, VA and had 250 acres in their plantation. While there are descendents of Robert that use both Rockwell and Rockhold, it is generally accepted today that there is a separate named line of genealogy, “Rockwell” that is not associated with our Robert Rockhould, and that line contains “the Norman Rockwell” the artist.

In 1649 Robert and family moved to Anne Arundel County, Maryland where they settled on a plantation called "Towne Neck". For some unknown reason their name was changed to "Rockhold and sometimes Rockhould". In 1651 Robert was granted 100 acres in Calvert County, MD. This land was located "on top of the Cliffs on the west side of Chesapeake Bay". Their two sons were Robert, Jr. and Thomas. Robert, Sr. died (?) before 1666. On that date 90 acres of land was laid out for John Rockhold, an orphan. In other records it shows that the land was surveyed by Robert, Jr. and his brother, John. John's son was another Thomas and he was assigned this same land about 1706 and it was called "Rich Neck".

Children -
i. Robert, Jr. had a child, Edward Rockhold, that married Mary, widow of John Nelson of Charles County, MD.
ii. Thomas, who was of age in 1651, came to MD with his family. Nothing more is known of him.
iii. John b. before 1628, died February 17, 1698, also lived in Anne Arundal County. It is thought that he married Mary Richardson, daughter of Lawrence Richardson.
-- 1659 - He surveyed with his brother, Charles, his father's land.
-- It is surveyed again in 1672 because some of the boundary trees had fallen.
-- 1684 - He was assigned land called "Rockhold Range" located on the north side of the Patapsco River and on Rich Creek.
-- His will was dated February 17, 1698 and his wife, Mary received his estate.
-- Mary, his wife, had a will dated March 2, 1703 and it was probated May 15, 1704.
-- Children of John and Mary: Elizabeth, John, Susannah, Thomas, Sarah, Sebrah, Charles, and Jacob. Mary's will indicates that Charles and Jacob should live with Lancelott Todd (husband of Elizabeth) until they reach age 18. Lancelott was named as her sole executor. She called him Lance in her will."

And thus begins the saga of our ancestors in America.