Nathaniel Rochester

Nathaniel Rochester (February 21, 1752 - May 17, 1831) was an American Revolutionary War soldier and land speculator, most noted for founding the settlement which would become Rochester, New York.

Rochester was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father, who owned Rochester House, died when he was two years old and five years later his mother remarried. In 1763, Rochester moved with all but his eldest brother to Granville County, North Carolina.

He found a job with a local Hillsborough merchant at age 16, and became partner in the business within five years. In his early working years, Rochester also served as clerk for the local vestry, as a committee member for a civic organization, and, most notably, as a delegate to North Carolina's first Provincial Congress.

Hailed as a leader in local political circles, Rochester was appointed a Major in the North Carolina militia and served as a paymaster. He suffered a physical breakdown (likely exhaustion), however, and was forced to resign from the service.

Once recovered, Rochester returned to Hillsborough and was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly of 1777, where he served as county clerk. Also that year, Rochester was appointed Colonel of the North Carolina militia, and Commissioner in charge of building and managing an arms factory in Hillsborough. Once again, Rochester resigned from most of his duties (including vacating his Assembly seat) and entered into a business partnership with Thomas Hart, a notable and wealthy merchant and land speculator.

Rochester and Hart relocated to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1780, taking up an estate on the southern edge of the town. He served on the vestry of Saint John's Church. Here he married Sophia Beatty in 1788, and they had twelve children, among them Judge and Congressman William B. Rochester and Mayor Thomas H. Rochester.

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