John Rolls

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{original research|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = John Rolls | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1735|02|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Bermondsey, Southwark, London, Surrey, England | disappeared_date =  | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1801|09|08|1735|02|27|df=y}} | death_place = Bermondsey, Southwark, London, Surrey, England | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = High Sheriff of Monmouthshire Justice of the Peace | years_active = | employer = | organization = | known_for = The Grange, The Hendre | notable_works = | style = | height =  | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charge =  | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | callsign = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | website =  | footnotes = }} '''John Rolls''' (27 February 1735 – 8 September 1801) was a native of Bermondsey, Southwark, London, Surrey, England. A member of the Rolls family of The Grange in Bermondsey and The Hendre, Monmouthshire, he married heiress Sarah Coysh. That marriage was instrumental in furthering both the fortune and the social rank of the Rolls family. In addition to serving a term as High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, Rolls was a Justice of the Peace.

==Biography==

[[File:Facade of St Mary Magdalen's church, Bermondsey - London - England 2024.jpg|thumb|180px|right|St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey]] John Rolls, son of Aaron and Elizabeth Rolls, was born on 27 February 1735 in the parish of St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, now in the borough of Southwark. He was baptized on 10 March 1735 at St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, an Anglican church.<ref name=annals>{{cite book|title=Annals and antiquities of the counties and county families of Wales, Volume 2|year=1872|publisher=Longmans, Green, Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjIwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA784 |author=Thomas Nicholas|accessdate=27 June 2012|pages=784–785}}</ref><ref name="Rolls">{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=John|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> His father Aaron Rolls was a victualler and, by 1746, was at St Thomas à Watering(s)<ref name=waterings>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Elizabeth|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> on Kent Road, which was a small bridged-crossing on the Old Kent Road named after the pilgrimage route to the shrine of saint.<ref>{{cite web|title=Old Kent Road|url=http://www.southlondonguide.co.uk/oldkentroad/history.htm|work=southlondonguide.co.uk|publisher=South London Guide|accessdate=28 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas a Beckett Pub|url=http://www.visitmap2.co.uk/sites/clients/bermondsey/detailpage.php?pid=46|work=visitmap2.co.uk|publisher=Southwark Alliance|accessdate=28 June 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228221217/http://www.visitmap2.co.uk/sites/clients/bermondsey/detailpage.php?pid=46|archivedate=28 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter XIX. The Old Kent Road, &c.|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45279|work=british-history.ac.uk|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=28 June 2012}}</ref> on that site. John Rolls had at least three siblings. His sister Mary was born on 22 February 1737 in Bermondsey, and baptized on 21 March 1737 at St Mary Magdalen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Mary|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812 London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> She died when she was two years old and was buried on 3 March 1739 in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Mary|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> A second sister, Elizabeth, was born on 15 March 1742 in Bermondsey and baptized on 15 April 1742 at the parish church.<ref name="waterings"/> She apparently died as a young child. A third sister, also named Elizabeth, was born on 23 March 1746 in Bermondsey and baptized on 23 April 1746 at St Mary Magdalen.<ref name=waterings/> John's father Aaron Rolls (c. 1696–1764) was buried on 19 January 1764 in the parish churchyard.<ref name=aaronburial>{{cite web|last=Aaron|first=Rolls|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref>

While some sources suggest that John Rolls married Sarah Coysh, second daughter of Thomas Coysh of Camberwell, Southwark, on 21 October 1767,<ref name=annals/><ref name=tour>{{cite book|title=A historical tour through Monmouthshire|year=1904|publisher=Davies and co.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ofFBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR5-IA7 |author=William Coxe|edition=2|accessdate=27 June 2012|page=v-vi}}</ref> their marriage contract was signed on 19 October 1767,<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=John|title=London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1597-1921|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Marriage Bonds and Allegations. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> and the original marriage record was dated 20 October 1767, with the ceremony performed at St Mary Magdalen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=John|title=London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1921. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref><ref name=salisbury/> The heiress brought a substantial amount of property to the marriage, both in London and Monmouthshire. She succeeded her brother Richard Coysh to the family fortune. Eventually, she was the only heir to the estates of the Coysh, Allen, and James families.<ref name=gwent>{{cite web|title=Gwent Archives Documents relating to the Rolls family, barons Llangattock, of The Hendre|url=http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=36&coll_id=1190&expand=|work=archiveswales.org.uk|publisher=Archives Wales|accessdate=27 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523024948/http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=36&coll_id=1190&expand=|archive-date=23 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> She and her sister Elizabeth were heirs to the estate of their uncle Henry Allen (1691–1767); Sarah, as the surviving sister, inherited from her uncle The Hendre estate at Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, near Monmouth, Monmouthshire.<ref name=annals/><ref name=tour/><ref name=salisbury>{{cite book|title=The Salisbury memorial|year=1886|publisher=Daniel Owen and Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OhgVAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA95 |author=Charles Wilkins|accessdate=27 June 2012}}</ref> A monument commemorates Henry Allen in the chancel of St Mary's Priory Church, Monmouth.

[[File:The Hendre 1.JPG|thumb|left|The Hendre at Llangattock-Vibon-Avel]] John Rolls was a justice of the peace.<ref name=annals/> In addition, he became High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1794,<ref name=annals/><ref>{{cite news|title=The London Gazette|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/13627/pages/179|accessdate=30 June 2012|newspaper=The London Gazette|date=25 February 1794|page=179}}</ref> appointed by King George III.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of High Sheriffs|url=http://www.highsheriffs.com/History.htm|work=highsheriffs.com|publisher=The High Sheriff's Association of England & Wales|accessdate=28 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702170357/http://www.highsheriffs.com/History.htm|archive-date=2 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC History - George III (1738–1820)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_iii_king.shtml|work=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|accessdate=28 June 2012}}</ref> As a young man, his occupation was recorded as "cowkeeper" on his children's baptismal records. John and Sarah Rolls had at least four children: Sarah Allen, Elizabeth, Henry Allen (presumably named after Sarah's uncle) and John. Sarah Allen Rolls was born on 15 July 1768 in Bermondsey, and baptized on 2 August 1768.<ref name=sar>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Sarah Allen|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> She married Felix Whitmore on 3 August 1793 and was buried on 13 June 1843, both at St Mary Magdalen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Sarah Allen|title=London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1921. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref><ref name=saw>{{cite web|last=Whitmore|first=Sarah Allen|title=London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906 and Church of England Parish Registers, 1813-1906. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> On 26 May 1770, her sister Elizabeth Rolls was born in Bermondsey; she was baptized on 20 June 1770.<ref name=elizabeth>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Elizabeth|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> Henry Allen Rolls was born on 22 May 1772 in Bermondsey and baptized on 18 June 1772 at St Mary Magdalen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Henry Allen|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> He died at the age of five and was interred in a vault in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalen on 29 July 1777.<ref name=henry>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Hen (sic)|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> John Rolls was born on 20 October 1776 in Bermondsey and baptized on 17 November 1776, also at the parish church.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=John|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref>

The elder John Rolls died on 8 September 1801,<ref name=annals/> the day after his wife Sarah.<ref name=gwent/> He and his wife were buried in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalen on 15 September 1801. He was 66; she was 59. Their address was recorded as Grange Road, a reference to the family estate, The Grange.<ref name="Rolls"/> He was succeeded by his one surviving son, John Rolls (1776–1837),<ref name=annals/> who initiated the first of several expansions of The Hendre in 1830. Later enlargements of The Hendre were undertaken by his grandson John Etherington Welch Rolls, and great-grandson John Allan Rolls, before and after he became Lord Llangattock. The elder John Rolls's great-great-grandson was aviation pioneer and co-founder of Rolls-Royce, Charles Stewart Rolls. Members of the Rolls family resided at The Hendre until 1987. The Hendre estate is now The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club.<ref>{{cite news|title=A celebration of Charles Rolls|url=http://www.monmouth-today.co.uk/content/featurepages/web/MON1JUL07P015.pdf|accessdate=28 June 2012|newspaper=Monmouthshire Beacon|date=7 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116132059/http://www.monmouth-today.co.uk/content/featurepages/web/MON1JUL07P015.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Family tree==

{{tree chart/start}} {{tree chart| | | |AaR|v|Eli| | | | |AaR='''Aaron Rolls''' (d. 1764)<ref name=aaronburial/>|Eli='''Elizabeth''' }} {{tree chart| | | | | | |!| | | | | |}} {{tree chart| | | | | |JR|v|SaC| | | SaC='''Sarah Coysh''' (d. 1801)<ref name=gwent/>|JR='''John Rolls''' (1735–1801)<ref name=annals/> |boxstyle_JR=background-color: #faa }} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | |}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | |JR2|v|MMB|JR2='''John Rolls''' '''of The Hendre''' (1776–1837)<ref name=annals/>|MMB='''Martha Maria Barnet''' (d. 1858)<ref name=probateMB>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Martha|title=England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> }} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |}} {{tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}} {{tree chart|JR3| |AR| |MSR| |JR| |LER|JR3='''John Etherington Welch Rolls''' (1807–1870)<ref name=annals/><ref name=gwent/> |AR='''Alexander Rolls''' (1818–1882)<ref name=annals/><ref>{{cite book|title=The Harrow School register, 1801-1900|year=1901|publisher=Longmans, Green|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NwYCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA134 |edition=2|accessdate=29 June 2012|page=134}}</ref>|MSR='''Martha Sarah Rolls''' (1804–1887)<ref name=marthasarah>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Martha Sarah|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref><ref name=probateMSR>{{cite web|last=Macready|first=Martha Sarah|title=England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (as reprinted on Ancestry.com)}}</ref>|JR='''Jessy Rolls''' (1809–1842)<ref name=annals/><ref name=jessy>{{cite book|title=History of the Parish of Wraysbury, Ankerwycke Priory, and Magna Charta Island; with the History of Horton, and the town of Colnbrook, Bucks|year=1862|publisher=(as reprinted on Genuki)|chapter-url=http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/Wraysbury/MIs.html|author=Gordon Willoughby James Gyll|accessdate=29 June 2012|chapter=Churchyard Monumental Inscriptions from St Andrew, Wraysbury|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114211044/http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/Wraysbury/MIs.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>|LER='''Louisa Elizabeth Rolls''' (1810–1853)<ref name=annals/><ref>{{cite web|last=Rolls|first=Louisa Elizabeth|title=London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812|work=ancestry.com|publisher=Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London Metropolitan Archives (as re-printed on Ancestry.com)}}</ref> }} {{tree chart/end}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120630175027/http://www.therollsgolfclub.co.uk/history/history.php "History of The Rolls of Monmouth"]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolls, John}}  Category:1735 births Category:1801 deaths Category:People from Bermondsey Category:High sheriffs of Monmouthshire Category:Monmouth, Wales Category:History of Monmouthshire John