Rockingham first appeared in the 1819 volume of the Register of Shipping with G. Waugh, master, J. Laing, owner, and trade Southampton–India.

[6] In the beginning of July 1822 Rockingham was east of the Cape of Good Hope, bound from Bengal for Britain, when she saw in the far distance two vessels, one dismasted and the other keeping her company.

[8] Lloyd's Register's volume for 1826 reported that Rockingham had undergone small repairs in 1826, that her master had changed from C. Beech to Fotheringham, and that her owner was Vaughn.

[10] Rockingham was one of three ships that Thomas Peel had chartered to deliver 400 settlers to the Swan River Colony.

Gilmore, the first to leave, had arrived on 15 December 1829 in the Swan River Colony with Thomas Peel and 182 settlers in all.

Hooghly had arrived at Clarence, off Garden Island, Western Australia on 13 February 1830, bringing 173 settlers to the Swan River Colony.

Her late departure was due to bad weather and to concerns about the colony as rumours about problems there were starting to circulate.

Peel wanted to land her cargo and her settlers so he had a naval officer guide her through the reefs into Cockburn Sound.