Baldwin Rockett has eluded me all of my life. His lineage, once he is in England, is not proven. The last time I was researching him, I found a Baldwin Rocket with a wife Dorothy at son James’ christening Feb 1714 at St. Mary’s, Leyton, East London, (ancient county of Essex), England. This is where I need to pick up my research.
It is known that Baldwin’s sons, Francis and John, kept their ties with London open even when they were living in Virginia. It is said that they, along with Baldwin Jr., were “seafaring men”. Francis’ will in London leaves all of his Virginia property to William Fettiplace, owner of The Ship Tavern. Fettiplace’s estate accounts show that Francis and John Rockets’ accounts were paid in full. I have been unable to figure out how Francis and John could have owned or captained trans-atlantic ships with there being no paper trail. Ships owners, ship and cargo insurance from Lloyd’s of London, naval service records - nothing. Were they pirates or privateers or?
Francis died from small pox in London in 1749. Capt. John sailed for New York in 1753. The only mention of him after that was when Halifax, Nova Scotia, issued a warrant for his arrest if he was spotted in Halifax Bay for not paying taxing on the rum he brought in. So, was he a rum runner?
The Ship Tavern, established 1549, is still in operation as of October 2023.
Back in Richmond, Baldwin was a ship’s chandler running what amounts to a modern-day general store. It was located at Rocketts Landing on the James River. He would have received incoming goods, mail, and supplies. He also would have been responsible for providing supplies, goods, and other provisions to large boats arriving at Rocketts Landing.
12) Tristram Rockett (unproven) b. bef 1654 England d. aft 1682. He was at the christening
11) Baldwin Rockett chr. 10 Apr 1681 St. David’s Parish, Exeter, Devon, England d. bef Mar 1731 Henrico Co., VA m. Anne Ware chr. 5 Jan 1695 New Kent Co., VA d. aft 27 Sep 1780
10) Richard Rockett I b. abt 1721 Henrico Co., VA d. 1784 Edgefield, Edgefield, SC m. Mary Abernathy b. 16 Apr 1721 Prince George Co., VA d. aft 1770 in NC or SC
9) Richard Rockett Sr. or II b. abt 1765 Tryon Co., NC d. 2 Sep 1843 Oxford, Lafayette, MS m. Eleanor Abernathy b. abt 1772 Tryon Co., NC d. bef 1803 Lincoln, Co., NC
8) Richard Rockett Jr. or III b. 11 Jun 1794 Raleigh, Wake, NC d. 26 May 1882 Brighton, Jefferson, AL m. Martha Giffin McClure b. 14 Jun 1807 Rutherford Co., NC d. 4 Jul 1876 Brighton, Jefferson, AL
7) Pvt. Rufus Carson Rockett b. 25 Nov 1825 Jefferson Co., AL d. 13 Jan 1898 Brighton, Jefferson, AL m. Eliza Martha Downey b. 22 Jan 1829 Abbeville, Abbeville, SC d. 15 Aug 1904 Sloss Mines, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL
6) Richard James Rockett b. 12 Jan 1852 Jefferson Co., AL d. 21 Feb 1919 Bessemer, Jefferson, AL m. Mary Missouria Morris b. 16 Jul 1855 Coosa Co., AL d. 9 Jan 1912 Bessemer, Jefferson, AL
5) Newbern Webster Rockett b. 4 Jul 1878 Bessemer, Jefferson, AL d. 7 Sep 1954 Jackson, Hinds, MS m. Emma Louise Cooper b. 1 Sep 1884 Argo, Jefferson, AL d. 20 Mar 1949 Hattiesburg, Forrest, MS
4) Louis Newbern Rockett b. 21 Sep 1912 Hattiesburg, Forrest, MS d. 25 Dec 1984 Jackson, Hinds, MS m. Rita Hall b. 13 Mar 1910 Tunica, Tunica, MS d. 7 Oct 1983 Jackson, Hinds, MS
3) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)
2) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)
1) HRB, daughter (living - information withheld)
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