[1] The University of Southampton, which houses the Wellesley family papers, estimates Roland's birth year to be 1760.

[5][6] The 1976 edition of Burke's Irish Family Records listed Roland as a natural born daughter of Varis and Fagan.

Richard Wellesley, the son of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, met Roland at the Palais-Royal where she was an actress known as Gabrielle Fagan.

In 1797, the Marquess Wellesley was obliged to travel to India in his capacity as Governor-General, Roland did not accompany him although he attempted to persuade her on many occasions.

[12] In 1801, Roland's letters detailed accusations of her husband's infidelity with another woman, known only as Madame de Cocrement, and of severe neglect of his family.

[13] Roland died on 5 November 1816 at Teddesley Hall, Staffordshire, a house belonging to Edward Littleton, the husband to her daughter Hyacinthe-Marie.