Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rollo, William
ROLLO, sometimes called ROLLOCK, Sir WILLIAM (d. 1645), royalist, was the fifth son of Andrew Rollo of Duncruib, Perthshire, created 10 Jan. 1651 by Charles II while in Scotland Lord Rollo of Duncruib, by Catherine Drummond, fourth daughter of James, first lord Maderty. The family trace their descent from Richard de Rollo, an Anglo-Norman, who settled in Scotland in the reign of David I. The lands of Duncruib were obtained by charter on 13 Feb. 1380 from David, earl of Strathearn, by John de Rollo, who was notary public to the act of settlement of the crown of Scotland by Robert II on 27 March 1371, and was afterwards secretary to Robert III; the lands were erected into a free barony on 21 May 1540.
Although his elder brother, James, second lord Rollo, was a follower of Argyll, whom he accompanied on board his galley previous to the battle of Inverlochy, Sir William Rollo continued a staunch royalist. He suffered from a congenital lameness, but enjoyed a high reputation as a soldier. While serving in England as captain in General King's lifeguards in 1644, he, at Montrose's request, transferred his services to Montrose, whom he accompanied into Scotland. When they reached Carlisle, Rollo and Lord Ogilvie were sent forward in disguise to report on the state of the country (Wishart, Memoirs of Montrose, ed. 1893, p. 47). Their report was of such a despondent character that Montrose deemed special precautions necessary, and, in company with Rollo and Colonel William Sibbald, journeyed north to the highlands disguised as a groom (ib. p. 50). Rollo held under Montrose the rank of major, and commanded the left wing at the attack on Aberdeen (ib. p. 66). After the action he was sent from Kintore with despatches to the king at Oxford, but fell into the hands of Argyll. According to Wishart, he would have been immediately executed but for the interposition of Argyll, who gave him his life and liberty on condition that he would undertake the assassination of Montrose. This, Wishart asserts, Rollo promised to do, and being sent back to Montrose immediately disclosed to him the whole matter (ib. p. 158); but such a strange story requires corroboration before it can be accepted. Rollo was present at the battle of Alford on 2 July 1645, sharing the command of the left wing with the Viscount of Aboyne. He accompanied Montrose on his march southwards, and is credited with putting to flight two hundred covenanting horse with only ten men during the march through Fife. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Philiphaugh on 13 Sept. 1645, and executed at the market cross of Glasgow on 24 Oct.
[Wishart's Memoirs of Montrose; Gordon's Britanes Distemper and Spalding's Memorialls (Spalding Club); Napier's Montrose; Douglas's Scottish Peerage (Wood), ii. 398.]