Introduction
Robert Rolle (c. 1622 – 1660) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commonsat various times between 1654 and 1660.
Origins
Rolle was the son of Sir Samuel Rolle of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe, Devon,and his wife Margaret Wise daughter of Sir Thomas Wise.
Career
He was admitted for his legal training at the Inner Temple in 1640. He was appointed High Sheriff of Devon for 1649–50. In 1654 he was elected Member of Parliament for Devon in the First Protectorate Parliament and was re-elected MP for Devon in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament and in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament. In January 1660 he was appointed a member of the Rump Parliament's final Council of State but does not appear to have attended any meetings, likely due to the Council enforcing an oath abjuring the Stuart family and any Single Person or House of Lords. He was elected MP for the family's pocket borough of Callingtonin the Convention Parliament in 1660, but died in the same year.
Marriage and children
Rolle married Lady Arabella Clinton, the younger daughter of Theophilus Clinton, 4th Earl of Lincoln and 12th Baron Clinton (d.1667) and had a son and a daughter:
- Samuel Rolle (d.1719) who married Margaret Tuckfieldand had issue:
- Margaret Rolle, 15th Baroness Clinton (d.1781). Margaretinherited the title Baroness Clinton from her cousin Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Clinton, 1st Baron Fortescue and 14th Baron Clinton (d.1751). She married firstly Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (d.1751), by whom she had issue,and secondly Sewallis Shirley, son of Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers.
- Bridget Rolle (1648–1721) who married Francis Trefusis and had a son, Samuel Trefusis (1677–1722). After the death of George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford in 1791, Samuel's great-grandson Robert Trefusis (1764–1797) established his claim to the Barony of Clinton in 1794.