Biography of Captain Edward Rolt 1629-1698

In 1629 Captain Edward Rolt was born to Edward Rolt of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire and Mary Cromwell.

In 1634 [his mother] Mary Cromwell died.

In 1652 [his father] Edward Rolt of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire died.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th December 1667. Thence to Westminster Hall [Map], and there walked most of the morning, and among others did there meet my cozen Roger Pepys (age 50), who intends to go to Impington on this day s'ennight, the Parliament break up the night before. Here I met Rolt (age 38) and Sir John Chichly (age 27), and Harris (age 33), the player, and there we talked of many things, and particularly of "Catiline", which is to be suddenly acted at the King's house; and there all agree that it cannot be well done at that house, there not being good actors enow: and Burt' acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not be able to do well. The King (age 37) gives them £500 for robes, there being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlett robes.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 26th April 1668. Lord's Day. Lay long, and then up and to Church, and so home, where there come and dined with me Harris (age 34), Rolt (age 39), and Bannister, and one Bland, that sings well also, and very merry at dinner, and, after dinner, to sing all the afternoon. But when all was done, I did begin to think that the pleasure of these people was not worth so often charge and cost to me, as it hath occasioned me. They being gone I and Balty (age 28) walked as far as Charing Cross [Map], and there got a coach and to Hales's (age 68) the painter, thinking to have found Harris sitting there for his picture, which is drawing for me. But he, and all this day's company, and Hales, were got to the Crown tavern, at next door, and thither I to them and stayed a minute, leaving Captain Grant (age 48) telling pretty stories of people that have killed themselves, or been accessory to it, in revenge to other people, and to mischief other people, and thence with Hales to his house, and there did see his beginning of Harris's picture, which I think will be pretty like, and he promises a very good picture.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th May 1668. Thence to my tailor's, and there did find Mercer come with Mrs. Horsfield and Gayet according to my desire, and there I took them up, it being almost twelve o'clock, or a little more, and carried them to the King's playhouse, where the doors were not then open; but presently they did open; and we in, and find many people already come in, by private ways, into the pit, it being the first day of Sir Charles Sidly's (age 29) new play, so long expected, "The Mullberry Guarden", of whom, being so reputed a wit, all the world do expect great matters. I having sat here awhile, and eat nothing to-day, did slip out, getting a boy to keep my place; and to the Rose Tavern, and there got half a breast of mutton, off of the spit, and dined all alone. And so to the play again, where the King (age 37) and Queen (age 29), by and by, come, and all the Court; and the house infinitely full. But the play, when it come, though there was, here and there, a pretty saying, and that not very many neither, yet the whole of the play had nothing extraordinary in it, at all, neither of language nor design; insomuch that the King I did not see laugh, nor pleased the whole play from the beginning to the end, nor the company; insomuch that I have not been less pleased at a new play in my life, I think. And which made it the worse was, that there never was worse musick played-that is, worse things composed, which made me and Captain Rolt (age 39), who happened to sit near me, mad. So away thence, very little satisfied with the play, but pleased with my company. I carried them to Kensington, to the Grotto, and there we sang, to my great content, only vexed, in going in, to see a son of Sir Heneage Finch's (age 40) beating of a poor little dog to death, letting it lie in so much pain that made me mad to see it, till, by and by, the servants of the house chiding of their young master, one of them come with a thong, and killed the dog outright presently.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st June 1668. Up and with Sir J. Minnes (age 69) to Westminster, and in the Hall there I met with Harris (age 34) and Rolt (age 39), and carried them to the Rhenish wine-house, where I have not been in a morning-nor any tavern, I think, these seven years and more. Here I did get the words of a song of Harris that I wanted. Here also Mr. Young and Whistler by chance met us, and drank with us.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th September 1668. Up, and to the office, and thence to the Duke of Richmond's (age 29) lodgings by his desire, by letter, yesterday. I find him at his lodgings in the little building in the bowling-green, at White Hall, that was begun to be built by Captain Rolt (age 39). They are fine rooms. I did hope to see his lady, the beautiful Mrs. Stuart (age 21), but she, I hear, is in the country. His business was about his yacht, and he seems a mighty good-natured man, and did presently write me a warrant for a doe from Cobham, when the season comes, bucks season being past. I shall make much of this acquaintance, that I may live to see his lady near.

In 1698 Captain Edward Rolt (age 69) died.

[his father] Edward Rolt of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire and [his mother] Mary Cromwell were married.