He granduated from Harvard College in 1684, orgained a minster at Haverhill Jan 1694; Chaplain to the colonial troops at Falmouth 1689.31

On the 29th of August, 1708, the unfortunate village of Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts then consisting of about thirty houses, was attacked by a party of French and Indians. The Indians struck at daybreak “The foremost part attacked the house of Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, which was then garrisoned by three soldiers, and he, and a part of his beloved family, were suddenly awakened from their slumbers … Mr Rolfe leaped from his bed, place himself against the door, which they were endeavering to beat in.” [He called for the soldiers to help - they didn’t - they panicked]. The Indians fired two balls through the door and one wounded Mr. Rolfe in the elbow.] “Mr. Rolfe, finding it impossible to resist them any longer, fled through the house, and out at the back door. The Indians followed, overtook him at the well, and despatched him with their homahawks.” [They also killed Mrs Rolfe and their youngest child, Mehitable.] Two of Mr Rolfe’s children, about six and eight years of age, were providentially saved by the sagacity and courage of Hagar, a negro slave. Upon the first alarm, she leaped from her bed, carried them into the cellar, covered them with two tubs, and then concealed herself. The enemy entered the celar and plundered it or everything vaulable. They repeatedly passed the tubs that cover the two children, and [ate meat from the barrel that Hagar hid behind] without discovering them.” The cowardly soldiers begged for mercy, but when massacre was over they were found among the dead.2003

Vital records of Haverhill, MA list her as Mrs. Mehitable Atwater. It doesn’t list her “widow” and there is some confusion online with her and another Mehitable Wainwright.