southern residential section of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Prior to becoming part of the city of Boston in 1868, it was a town (township) of Norfolk county, located between Boston and Dorchester. Early spellings include Rocksbury, Roxburie, and Rocsbury; the town was named probably in reference to its rocky site. The town was founded in 1639 by Puritan immigrants who came with Governor John Winthrop. Past residents include the Christian missionary John Eliot (Eliot, John), who died there in 1690, and the 19th-century statesman William Eustis. West Roxbury was the site of the Brook Farm experiment in communal living (1841–47).