Francis Rolle
Encyclopedia
Francis Rolle was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1656 and 1685.
Rolle was the only son of Henry Rolle
of Shapwick who was Chief Justice of the King’s Bench
and his wife Margaret Foote, daughter of Sir Henry Foote, merchant of London. He entered Inner Temple
in 1646 and was admitted at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
on 25 January 1647. He was called to the bar in 1653.
In 1656, Rolle was elected Member of Parliament
for Somerset
in the Second Protectorate Parliament
. He succeeded his father to the estate at Shapwick in 1656 and became JP
for Somerset until July 1660, In 1657 he was commissioner for assessment for Somerset and Hampshire. He was commissioner for militia in 1659 and JP for Hampshire from 1659 to July 1660. He was commissioner for assessment for Somerset and Hampshire from January 1660 to 1680 and commissioner for militia in March 1660. In April 1660 he was elected MP for Bridgwater
in the Convention Parliament. He was commissioner for sewers for Somerset in August 1660 and was JP for Somerset from September 1660 to 1680. He was High Sheriff of Hampshire
from 1664 to 1665 and was knighted on 1 March 1665. He also became a freeman of Portsmouth in 1665. In 1669 he was briefly MP for Bridgwater again but was removed on petition. He was High Sheriff of Somerset
from 1672 to 1673 and was commissioner for inquiry for Finkley forest and for New Forest in 1672. He was commissioner for inquiry for the New Forest again in 1673. In 1675 he was elected MP for Hampshire
for the Cavalier Parliament
and was made freeman of Winchester 1675. He was commissioner for recusants for Somerset and Hampshire in 1675 and commissioner for inquiry for the New Forest in 1676 and in 1679. In May 1679 he was elected MP for Bridgwater, and in October 1679 he was elected MP for Hampshire. He was elected MP for Hampshire again in 1681. In 1685 he was committed to the Tower of London
on 26 June before he could join Monmouth who counted on his support.
Rolle died at the age of 56 and was buried at Tytherley on 6 April 1686.
Rolle married his cousin Priscilla Foote, daughter of Sir Thomas Foote, 1st Baronet of London, on 23 January 1655. They had a son and six daughters. His son John was returned as MP for Bridgwater as a Tory in 1713
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
at various times between 1656 and 1685.
Rolle was the only son of Henry Rolle
Henry Rolle
Henry Rolle was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Henry Rolle, the second son of Robert Rolle of Heanton Sachville, Devon , by Joan, daughter of Thomas Hele of Fleet in the same county, was born about 1589. John Rolle was his brother...
of Shapwick who was Chief Justice of the King’s Bench
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
and his wife Margaret Foote, daughter of Sir Henry Foote, merchant of London. He entered Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1646 and was admitted at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
on 25 January 1647. He was called to the bar in 1653.
In 1656, Rolle was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Somerset
Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)
Somerset was a parliamentary constituency in Somerset, which returned two Members of Parliament , known traditionally as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons of England until 1707, the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
in the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. He succeeded his father to the estate at Shapwick in 1656 and became JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Somerset until July 1660, In 1657 he was commissioner for assessment for Somerset and Hampshire. He was commissioner for militia in 1659 and JP for Hampshire from 1659 to July 1660. He was commissioner for assessment for Somerset and Hampshire from January 1660 to 1680 and commissioner for militia in March 1660. In April 1660 he was elected MP for Bridgwater
Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)
Bridgwater was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, until 2010 when it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency...
in the Convention Parliament. He was commissioner for sewers for Somerset in August 1660 and was JP for Somerset from September 1660 to 1680. He was High Sheriff of Hampshire
High Sheriff of Hampshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Hampshire, the title was often given as High Sheriff of the County of Southampton until 1959.-List of High Sheriffs:*1070–1096: Hugh de Port *1105: Henry de Port *1129: William de Pont de l'Arche...
from 1664 to 1665 and was knighted on 1 March 1665. He also became a freeman of Portsmouth in 1665. In 1669 he was briefly MP for Bridgwater again but was removed on petition. He was High Sheriff of Somerset
High Sheriff of Somerset
The Office of High Sheriff of Somerset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Somerset a county in South West England. In modern times the...
from 1672 to 1673 and was commissioner for inquiry for Finkley forest and for New Forest in 1672. He was commissioner for inquiry for the New Forest again in 1673. In 1675 he was elected MP for Hampshire
Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Hampshire was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832...
for the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
and was made freeman of Winchester 1675. He was commissioner for recusants for Somerset and Hampshire in 1675 and commissioner for inquiry for the New Forest in 1676 and in 1679. In May 1679 he was elected MP for Bridgwater, and in October 1679 he was elected MP for Hampshire. He was elected MP for Hampshire again in 1681. In 1685 he was committed to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
on 26 June before he could join Monmouth who counted on his support.
Rolle died at the age of 56 and was buried at Tytherley on 6 April 1686.
Rolle married his cousin Priscilla Foote, daughter of Sir Thomas Foote, 1st Baronet of London, on 23 January 1655. They had a son and six daughters. His son John was returned as MP for Bridgwater as a Tory in 1713