Centre of Rolleston Village, 1931, showing enclosed ground previously forming Village Green
The following are a few interesting incidents of local history collected from various sources other than the Church Registers:
"The General Sessions each quarter were held at the three towns of Nottingham, Newark, & East Retford ...................................... Special or adjourned Sessions were also held from time to time, at other places, viz .... at Rolston, in 1604 (evidently on account of the Plague at Newark)" (Notts county Records, 17th. cent).
Petty or Parish Constables. On April 11th, 1605, Edward Caley of Rolston was bound over to appear next Sessions "for letten one comitted to his custoyde at large and to bringe proof that Mr. Sutton's man toulde him that the said partye was sett at liberty." At the next sessions on the 10th. July, 1605, Caley was fined 10/- for bad conduct in Sessions, saying these words in the presence of the Justices: "I will fynde another knave to execute my busynesse as Constable." (Notts. Co. Records.)
On the 13th. July, 1642, the inhabitants of Rolleston, Upton and Southwell were indicted for not scouring the River of Greete. (Notts. Co. Records.)
"Inquest taken at Neuwerk before the coroner of the King's household and in the presence of John Rosell coroner of the county of Nottingham on the death of Robert Jolyvet of Neuwerk feloniously killed who say upon their oath that it happened at Neuwerk that when the said Robert Jolyvet and William son of Ralph of Roldeston had met in the town Neuwerk in (the street called) Milnegate and "a strife was moved" between them the said William struck the said Robert with a certain long knife in the chest to the heart whereof he died there without confession." (1334).
"Simon son of Geoffrey Coupere of Horspole taken for this that he..................... stole by night in the fields of Roldeston a certain draught horse belonging to Robert Blaunch of Upton value 12 shillings, and for this that he.......................... stole two draught cattle belonging to Hugh Lumbard and Hugh Panne value xxxs. .................. " (1362).
"Richard Gundy of Farndon taken for this that he feloniously stole two horses of the value of xxx shillings from William Nevill, Knight............................ at Rolleston and 18 oxen and cows value 10 marcs from William parson of the church of Houton.................... at Houton." (1380).
"They present that John Moge of Rolleston at Rolleston took and abducted Walter servant of William Anot of Rolleston from the service of the said William against the peace of the lord King ..." (1395).
"The jurors say that John Anot of Rolleston feloniously stole at Wynthorpe the Tuesday next after the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross.............................. a horse from John Smyth of Wynthorpe " (1395) (Holy Cross Day, Sept. 14th., was the supposed anniversary of the recovery of a large piece of the Cross after it had been carried away from Jerusalem by the Persians).
"Thomas Sturbull husbandman of Rolleston was indicted before the Guardians of the peace of this that he .................................. at Rolleston feloniously stole a black cow of the value of ix s. IIII d. of the goods and chattels of Agnes Helweys of Southwell.............. " (1415).
"Reginald Hopton of Newark yeoman of thage of 59 vears knoweth that above fortie years agone in the lifetime of Anthonie Forster diverse carriers of corne and loade horses as namelie the millers of Upton. Rolleston and Fiskerton came to the towne of Newarke for corne and were theare staied bv the said Anthonie Forster his comaundement and theire horses carried to the castell and theire loades of corne carried to his majesties said milles and theare grounde and tolle paied for the same and theire horses impounded in the castell fold and theare detained until by intreatie they were delivered. And he further deposeth that about XIIII yeares agoe in the lifetime of the right Ho: Edward Earle of Rutland hir Majesties then farmer of the saide milles hee hath knowne that the miller of Rolleston coming for corne to the said towne of Newark was likewise staied by the commaundement of the said Earle and the corne sent to her Majestie's said milles which was there ground and paied tolle and the Loades man upon his submission and promise to fetch no more corne from the said Towne of Newark was suffered to passe with his horse without impounding." (1598).
"George Bromiche of Rolliston laboror of thage of 86 yeares says he knows that the occupiers of Rolleston Mill have kept load horses to fetch corn to theire said mill from the town of Newarke and from other places and that the inhabitants and tenants of the town of Newarke have voluntarily used to carry their corne to the mill of Rolleston there to be grounde without intreatie or procurement of the farmers there to his knowledge. John Page of Newark says that 40 years ago he carried corn for the master whom he then served to Rolleston Mill and he saith that at one time carrying his corn to Fiskerton Mill Anthony Foster's men had the corn brought to his mill at which time upon speech had hee was suffred to carrie his corn to Fiskerton Mill. John Poole of Rolleston yeoman says that the inhabitants of Newark voluntarily carried their corn to Rolliston water-mill to be ground." (1598).