Samuel Rolle (1669–1735) facts for kids
Samuel Rolle (1669-1735) was an important person from Devon, England. He lived at a place called Hudscott in Chittlehampton. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Barnstaple from 1705 to 1708. He belonged to a branch of the very powerful Rolle family, who were well-known in Devon.
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Family Background
Samuel Rolle was the son of Dennis Rolle (who passed away in 1671). Dennis was a lawyer from Great Torrington. Samuel's grandfather was Sir Samuel Rolle (who passed away in 1647), who was also an MP.
Sir Samuel Rolle had two famous brothers:
- Henry Rolle (who passed away in 1656), who became a very important judge called the Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
- John Rolle (who passed away in 1648), who was also an MP.
These three brothers were grandsons of Henry Rolle of Heanton Satchville. Their great-grandfather, George Rolle (who passed away in 1552), was the first of the Rolle family to become well-known in Devon. Samuel's older brother was Robert Rolle (who passed away in 1660), an MP whose wife, Lady Arabella Clinton, was an heiress to an old noble title.
Education and Career
Samuel Rolle went to Exeter College, Oxford in 1687 and earned his degree in 1691. He then studied to become a lawyer at the Middle Temple in London, starting in 1689. He officially became a lawyer in 1697.
Marriage and Family Connections
Samuel Rolle married Dorothy Lovering (who passed away in 1735). Dorothy was one of the daughters and co-heiresses of John Lovering of Hudscott. Her father was a successful merchant from Barnstaple, Devon.
Dorothy's father, John Lovering (who passed away in 1686), was also a merchant. He bought many lands, including the manors of Lynton and Countisbury. He was known for exporting fish, especially herring, to places like Spain.
Dorothy had a sister named Susanna Lovering. Susanna married Richard Acland (1679-1729), who was also an MP. Richard Acland later took over Samuel Rolle's position as MP for Barnstaple. The Acland family's home, Fremington House, shows the coats of arms of both the Acland and Lovering families.
A relative of Samuel Rolle's father was Hugh Boscawen (1625-1701). He was an MP for Cornwall and came from a very rich and powerful family in Cornwall, known for their mining businesses. Hugh Boscawen's wife, Lady Margaret Clinton, was also an heiress to the noble title of Baron Clinton, just like Samuel Rolle's aunt, Lady Arabella Clinton.
Children
Samuel and Dorothy Rolle had two daughters and two sons. One of their sons passed away before his father. Their only surviving son was Samuel Rolle (1704-1747). This son did not have any children.
When the younger Samuel Rolle passed away, he left his lands, including Hudscott and parts of Countisbury, to his much wealthier cousin, Denys Rolle (1725-1797) of Stevenstone. Denys Rolle later sold off the lands in Countisbury to different people.
Death and Burial
Samuel Rolle passed away on February 28, 1735. He was buried at Chittlehampton Church. Inside the church, there is a special monument on the wall that remembers him, his wife Dorothy, and their son Samuel.
The monument says: "To the memory of Samuel Rolle, Esq., Dorothy his wife and Samuel Rolle Esq., their son, who died: Feb. 28th 1734 aged 66; Ap. 14th 1735 aged 60; March 1st 1746 aged 43. And whose lives have left to posterity a more expressive memorial than can be perpetuated on the most durable marble".
On the monument, you can see the Rolle family's coat of arms. In the middle of it, there's a smaller shield with the Lovering family's coat of arms. This shows that Dorothy Lovering was an heiress, meaning she inherited property and wealth.
The tomb was created by a famous sculptor named Peter Scheemakers.
