In the beginning of the nineteenth century, William H. Roles, the namesake of the town, purchased land in the area and settled there. The town was chartered under his leadership in 1837 and became a stagecoach stop. About the same time, Rolesville Baptist Church was founded with Roles also playing a role. [1] Rolesville was incorporated on January 18, 1837, by the North Carolina Legislature.[5]
Rolesville is the namesake of the Rolesville diorite Batholith, also known as the Rolesville Pluton. While the batholith extends into regions north and south of Wake County, the bedrock formation is particularly visible in the form of rocky outcrops within the town limits and the immediate vicinity.