ROLLE, John (1679-1730), of Stevenstone, nr. Barnstaple, Devon.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

25 Jan. 1703 - 1705
1710 - 1713
1713 - 1715
1715 - 1722
1722 - 1727
1727 - 6 May 1730

Family and Education

bap. 8 Dec. 1679, 2nd s. of John Rolle by Lady Christiana Bruce, da. of Robert Bruce, M.P., 1st Earl of Ailesbury, and gd.-s. of Sir John Rolle, K.B., M.P. for Barnstaple. educ. Queens’, Camb. 1696; ?I.Temple Feb. 1697, called June 1705. m. Isabella Charlotte, da. of Sir William Walter, 2nd Bt., of Sarsden, Oxon., 4s. 7da. suc. e. bro. Robert Rolle, M.P., 1726.

Offices Held

Biography

The Rolles, originally wealthy London merchants, purchased Stevenstone in the reign of Henry VIII, becoming one of the richest families in Devonshire, where they owned more than forty manors in 1706.1 A Tory and a member of the October Club, John Rolle was returned for Barnstaple unopposed on his family’s interest in 1715, subsequently sitting for Exeter and the county. He was one of the west country gentlemen in touch with Atterbury’s agents during the plot of 1722.2 His only recorded vote after George I’s accession was against the Government on the Hessian troops, shortly before his death, 6 May 1730.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Shirley Matthews

Notes

  • 1. T. Moore, Devonshire, 538-9.
  • 2. Report of the Committee of the House of Commons to examine Christopher Layer and others (1723), App. F. 11.