John Rolle (1679–1730)

Arms of Rolle: Or, on a fesse dancetté between three billets azure each charged with a lion rampant of the first three bezants

John Rolle (1679–1730) of Stevenstone and Bicton in Devon, was a British landowner and served as Tory Member of Parliament for Saltash (1703–1705), Devon (1710–1713 and 1727–1730), Exeter (1713–1715 and 1722–1727) and Barnstaple (1715–1722).^[1] He declined the offer of an earldom by Queen Anne,^[2] but 18 years after his death his eldest son was raised to the peerage in 1748 by King George II as Baron Rolle.

Origins

He was the second son of John Rolle (d.1689) (who predeceased his own father Sir John Rolle (1626–1706)) by his wife Lady Christiana Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin (c.1626–1685). His elder brother was Robert Rolle (d.1710), MP.

Inheritance

As his father had predeceased his own father Sir John Rolle (1626–1706), KBE, of Stevenstone (Sheriff of Devon in 1682 ^[3] and MP for Barnstaple (1660) and for Devon (1661–1679)), Sir John's heir was his eldest grandson Robert Rolle (d.1710), MP, of Stevenstone, who died without issue. Robert was succeeded by his younger brother John Rolle (1679–1730), the subject of this article.

Education

He attended Queen's College, Cambridge in 1696 and entered the Inner Temple in 1697 for his training as a lawyer. He was called to the bar in 1705.^[4]

Career

As a younger son he was destined for a career as a lawyer. He first entered parliament as MP for Saltash (1703–1705). At the age of 31 in 1710 he succeeded unexpectedly to the vast estates of his elder brother Robert Rolle, the patrimony of their grandfather, and became a man of great substance and influence. He was next elected MP for Devon in 1710 and arrived ostentatiously in London on 22 November 1710 with two six-horse coaches attended by 12 men in livery and was met by about 100 gentlemen on horseback.^[5] He held the seat until 1713, when he was elected MP for Exeter (1713–1715). Next he sat for Barnstaple (1715–1722), then a second time for Exeter (1722–1727) and finally a second time for Devon from 1727 until his death in 1730.^[6]

Marriage & progeny

Arms of Walter of Sarsden: Azure, a fesse indented or between three eagles displayed argent

Left: Sculpted stone heraldic achievement c.1715–1730 above central arch keystone on the surviving Palladian library (right) at Stevenstone, built by John Rolle (1679–1730), showing on an escutcheon the arms of Rolle impaling Walter, the family of his wife Isabella Walter. Above is the crest of Rolle: A cubit arm erect vested or charged with a fess indented double cotised azure in the hand a flint-stone proper

In August 1706 he married Isabella Charlotta Walter, daughter of Sir William Walter, 2nd Baronet, of Saresden, Oxfordshire. She brought with her a dowry of £1,500.^[7] His progeny was as follows:^[8]

• Henry Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1708–1750), eldest son, MP, died without progeny.
• John Rolle Walter (c.1714–1779), 2nd son, Tory MP for Exeter 1754–1776 and for Devon 1776–1779. He assumed the surname of Walter on succeeding to the estates of his maternal uncle.^[9]
• William Rolle (1720-post 1747), 3rd son, of Beam, Great Torrington, whose will was dated 1747.
• Denys III Rolle (1725–1797), 4th son and eventual heir, of Hudscott, Stevenstone and Bicton in Devon and East Tytherley in Hampshire, an independent^[10] Member of Parliament for Barnstaple, Devon, between 1761 and 1774. He was the largest landowner in Devon, with a rent-roll of £40,000 per annum.^[11] His eldest son was John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1751–1842).
• Christiana Maria Rolle, eldest daughter, who married Henry Stevens of Winscott, Peters Marland, Devon.
• Isabella Charlotte Rolle, 2nd daughter, wife of Robert Duke (d.pre-1785),^[12] the last male of the Duke family, lords of the manor of Otterton in Devon. The extensive lands of the Dukes, which adjoined the Rolle seat of Bicton in South Devon, were purchased in 1786^[13] by Isabella's brother Denys III Rolle. John's elder brother Robert Rolle (d.1726) had married Elizabeth Duke (born 1679), a daughter of Richard Duke (born 1653) of Otterton, Robert Duke's grandfather.^[14]
• Letitia Rolle, 3rd daughter
• Lucy Rolle (1715–1741)
• Lucilla Rolle (1717–1741)
• Anne Rolle (1721–1721), died an infant
• Maria Philippa (1729–1730), died an infant

Death & burial

Rolle died on 6 May 1730 and was buried at St Giles in the Wood, the parish church of Stevenstone. His obituary praised him as "a gentleman of great candour and honour".^[15]

Sources

• Cruickshanks, Eveline, biography of John Rolle (1679–1730) published in History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690–1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
• Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., The Visitations of the County of Devon, Exeter, 1895, pp. 652–656, Rolle of Stevenstone

References

1. Cruickshanks
2. Cruickshanks
3. Vivian, p.656; Risdon, Tristram, Survey of Devon, 1810 edition, list of sheriffs, p.14
4. Cruickshanks
5. Cruickshanks
6. Cruickshanks
7. Cruickshanks
8. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp. 652–656, pedigree of Rolle
9. Burke, John. Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, page 888. London: Henry Colburn, 1839.
10. Gentleman's Magazine, July 1797, p.617, Obituary of Denys Rolle
11. Gentleman's Magazine, July 1797, p.617, Obituary of Denys Rolle
12. Vivian, pp.312–3, pedigree of Duke
13. Devon Record Office 48/22/1/2 Conveyance dated 25 March 1786
14. Vivian, pp.312–3, pedigree of Duke
15. London Evening Post 12 May 1730, quoted by Cruickshanks