Family Tree of Henry Roulstone

Henry Roulston
Born circa. 1660
Occupation was as a Labourer/Inn Keeper (Gate Inn)
Beerseller / Constable and Overseer of the Poor
Died 5th January 1710
Stanton by Bridge
Married
9th June 1695
Stanton by Bridge
Alice Wright
Baptised 23rd May 1671
Stanton by Bridge
Daughter of Thomas Wright and Elizabeth.
Occupation - Following Henry's death became Constable and Overseer of Poor.
Died 19th December 1739
Stanton by Bridge

Following Henrys Death
Re-married
John Draper
14th Febuary 1710
Stanton by Bridge


John Roulston Baptised 23rd Febuary 1695 Stanton by Bridge.	Alice Roulston Born 1698, Baptised 21st May 1698 Stanton by Bridge. Died 14th October 1749 - Buried 16th October 1749 Stanton by Bridge Married (1) 11th October 1729 Ashby de la Zouch Henry Wright Born circa. 1690 Died 22 May 1746 - Buried 25th May 1746 Stanton by Bridge Married (2) 7th October 1746 Stanton by Bridge Thomas Draper Born of Swarkestone		Mary Roulston Baptised 5th May 1700 Stanton by Bridge. Married (1) Nathaniel Sims Baptised 3rd May 1687 Stanton by Bridge Buried 10th January 1726 Stanton by Bridge Married (2) circa. 1728 John Wain Born circa. 1700 Buried 10th October 1737 Married (3) Archer	Susannah Roulston Baptised 17th August 1701 Stanton by Bridge Died circa 1731 Married circa. 1720 Theophilus Heap Born of Melbourne


Elizabeth Roulston Baptised 1st May 1703 Stanton by Bridge	Joseph Roulstone Baptised 1st September 1705 Stanton by Bridge Buried 13th Febuary 1762 Stanton by Bridge. Married 6th December 1732 Mary Somerfield Buried 16th December 1768 Stanton by Bridge	Henry Roulston Baptised 22nd May 1709 Stanton by Bridge Died in Stretton en la Field Buried 23rd July 1732 Stanton by Bridge Married 18th October 1730 Hartshorne Katherine Orton Baptised 23rd June 1700 Appleby Magna Died after 1741

Notes

So far the earliest record of the Roulstone branch is that of Henry Roulston. Henry was an Inn Keeper/Beerseller and Parish Constable and Overseer of the Poor in Stanton by Bridge, Derbyshire. Parish records show that Henry was married in Stanton by Bridge in 1695 to Alice Wright, and they had six children. It is interesting to note that upon Henry’s death, Alice then became the Parish Constable and Overseer of the Poor. Around 1600, the average age of marriage for men was around 30 years old, so we can say that Henry was born around 1660 - 1670.

The parish constable, otherwise known as Petty Constable, would enforce various orders from the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor. He would be responsible for all sorts of tasks, ale houses, beggars, bastardy payments, church and poor rate collection, maintenance of pillories and stocks and the village lock up. He was unpaid but allowed expenses.

The Overseer of the Poor, Although appointed by the vestry in Easter week, the Overseers were the only parish officer bound by civil law, except the constable after 1842. Created by statute in January 1601 they were appointed after election under the seal of two Justices of the Peace. Working closely with the Church Wardens they were responsible for setting and collecting the poor rate and distributing benefits to those requiring relief. They were required by law to keep detailed account books of income against expenditure and where possible were elected from substantial householders. The overseers would also endorse settlement certificates and bastardy bonds, present settlement queries to the justices for examination and effect removal orders. Along with the wardens they would arrange parish apprenticeships for deserving poor children.

In trying to find the ancestor of Henry Roulston, we have to look at all records in the Stanton area. It is likely that someone who held parish office was a farmer or tradesman, so there should be money in the family. Local wills are the obvious starting place in a search for his origins. However, the circumstances of the period around 1660 may mean that you never find an actual baptism. Registers were differently kept in 1653-60, and some of these were destroyed by restored clergymen after 1660, out of revenge. Many residents did not turn immediately to the newly restored Anglican church, and registers are generally defective in the next 20-30 years after 1660. Not until the attacks on people of different faiths or dogmas relaxed, in 1688, did some families come back to the church, at least as far as baptisms went. This is therefore an area of ongoing research.

Due to the concentration of Roulston’s in and around the Stanton area, it is highly probable that Henry was decsended from the local area. The thinking between researchers suggests this link would be to either the Swarkeston branch of the Rolleston family, or from the Aston branch of Rolston’s, who are most probably descended from the Swarkeston branch.

It is known that the The Swarkeston Rollestons had land holdings and long standing connections with Stanton by Bridge, which is unsurprising as Stanton is just across the bridge from Swarkeston. Richard Rolleston, cleric, held land in Stanton and apparently also had interest in land at Chelmorden, Litton Hill, Melbourne and Weston. In 1521 these lands were subject of an indenture whereby they would revert to Roger Rolleston, lord of Swarkeston and Richard's cousin, in the event of Richard's death. There were also legal agreements made, whereby Richard's neice and heir Jane would marry Roger's son & heir John, with the intent that the land holdings should be properly reunited and secured in the family. There is evidence that Richard was resident at Stanton, therefore was probably incumbent at the church. He was of course a catholic priest.

We don't know who, if any of the Swarkeston Rollestons settled at Melbourne, but by the end of the 16th century, there were a substantial number who are unaccounted for. There were also many descended through Aston and Weston, some of whom may have settled at Melbourne. We've not yet found the assumed connection between Aston and Swarkeston, it could be as far back as 1500 or earlier.

As with all genealogy research, the information presented here is constantly being updated, and will probably never be complete. However, the contents of this information will hopefully give an insight to the lives of our ancestors, and provide us with a few answers as to who our ancestors were.

Special thanks to Andy & Neil Roe, Kenneth Rolston and Basil Roulstone in helping construct this Family Tree.