Family and Education

b. c.1671, 1st s. of Thomas Rolt of Milton Ernest, Beds. by Mary, da. of Dr Thomas Cox of Christ Church, London, physician in ordinary to Charles II; half-bro. of Edward Rolt*.  educ. Emmanuel, Camb. 1687; travelled abroad (Holland) 1690–1, (Holland and Italy) 1697–8.  m. Susanna, da. of Richard Poulter, merchant, of London, at least 1s.  suc. fa. 1672.1

Offices Held

Capt. Duke of Norfolk’s (22nd) Ft. Mar.–c.Oct. 1689.

Burgess, Bedford 1695.2

Commr. taking subscriptions to S. Sea Co. 1711.3

Biography

Left an orphan at the age of one, Rolt was brought up by his kinsman and stepfather Sir Thomas Rolt of Sacombe. Soon after coming of age he leased his family manor of Milton Ernest to Samuel Barnardiston* and thereafter resided out of the county. Returned for Bedford, where his family had a longstanding interest, in the 1701 Parliament, Rolt did not stand in the next two elections. He was defeated in 1705 and petitioned without result. Successful with the support of Lord Bruce (Charles*), the recorder, in 1713, when his property qualification was questioned by his defeated opponent William Farrer*, he was classed as a Tory in the Worsley list. His half-brother Edward also sat in this Parliament, but although the Journals do not distinguish them, it is clear that neither was notably active. In 1715 he insisted that the £227 he had spent at the last election be paid back to him before he would join with Lord Bruce (Charles*) in agreeing on candidates for the borough and the county, writing to Bruce that if he were not consulted it would break ‘the present interest and let in the Whigs’. He did not stand, but Bedford fell to the Whigs nevertheless. He died on 4 Oct. 1717 aged 46.4

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Beds. N. and Q. iii. 58, 69, 365; VCH Beds. iii. 146; London Mar. Lic. ed. Foster, 1155; CSP Dom. 1690–1, p. 234; 1698, p. 202.
• 2. Bedford Bor. Council, Bedford bor. recs. B2/3, corp. act bk. 1688–1718, f. 44.
• 3. Pittis, Present Parl. 352.
• 4. HMC 15th Rep. VII, 220; Wilts. RO, Ailesbury mss 1300/1437, Rolt to Ld. Bruce, 27 Aug. 1714.