rockwell had assisted the reverend simeon colton when he had been in charge of the donaldson academy. he left this position in 1837 to pursue theological studies,—spending one year at princeton theological seminary and a second year at the columbia theological seminary in columbia, s. c. he supplied the presbyterian church in fayetteville from june, 1839, to december, 1840, in which month he removed to the presbyterian church in statesville, iredell county, over which he was ordained and installed as pastor in the following spring.