SPECCOT, John II (1665-1705), of Penheale, Egloskerry, Cornw.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Feb. 1701

Family and Education

bap. 19 Apr. 1665, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of John Speccot I. educ. Exeter, Oxf. 1680. m. 9 Apr. 1689, Lady Essex Robartes (d. 30 Apr. 1689), da. of John, 1st Earl of Radnor, s.p. suc. fa. 1678.1

Offices Held

J.p. Cornw. 1685-July 1688, Oct. 1688-96, 1700-d.; stannator of Foymore 1686; commr. for assessment, Cornw. 1689-90, Devon 1690; col. of militia, Cornw. by 1690-6, dep. lt. by 1701-d.2

Biography

Speccot, unlike his father, was a strong Churchman. Returned for the family borough of Newport in 1685, still under age, he left no trace on the records of James II’s Parliament, but presumably supported the Government throughout, since he was added to the Cornish bench in December. But he came to oppose the King’s ecclesiastical policy, and was not recommended for retention in 1688. Re-elected in 1689, he voted to agree with the Lords that the throne was not vacant, according to Anthony Rowe, but he was named to no committees and made no recorded speeches. On his wedding day in April, he contracted smallpox and infected his bride, who died three weeks later. He continued to vote with the Tories under William III, refusing to sign the Association in 1696. He died of apoplexy in London on 16 June 1705, the last of the family, and was buried at Egloskerry.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Gillian Hampson

Notes

  • 1. Vivian, Vis. Devon, 707; Boase and Courtney, Bibl. Cornub. 573, 676.
  • 2. J. Tregoning, Laws of the Stannaries, 57.
  • 3. Gilbert, Paroch. Hist. Cornw. i. 323; H. Horwitz, Parl. Policy and Pols. 338; Luttrell, v. 564.