COTTON, John II (1628-1703), of Botreaux Castle, 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

Family and Education

bap. Dec. 1628, 3rd s. of William Cotton, precentor of Exeter Cathedral, by Elizabeth, da. and coh. of John Hender of Botreaux Castle; bro. of William Cotton. m. Sarah (d. 6 Mar. 1677), da. and coh. of John Fuljames of Woodbrooke, Som., s.p. suc. bro. Edward 1675; kntd. 9 July 1685.1

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Cornw. 1677-80, 1689-90, j.p. 1678-?d., sheriff 1679-80; freeman, Tintagel 1685-Sept. 1688; dep. Lt. Cornw. by 1701-d.2

Biography

Cotton was returned to James II’s Parliament for Bossiney on the strong property interest that he had inherited from his maternal grandfather; but he was probably wholly inactive. In July he was knighted at Whitehall ‘in recognition of the constant and unshaken loyalty of himself and his family’. He was recommended for re-election as court candidate by the Earl of Bath in the summer of 1688, but shortly afterwards he was displaced from the corporation by order in council. He probably never stood again, though he must have accepted the Revolution, for he remained on the county bench and was appointed to the lieutenancy. He died on 2 Feb. 1703 and was buried at Minster, the last of his family.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. J. Maclean, Trigg Minor, i. 607, 652-3; Vivian, Vis. Devon, 240-1.
  • 2. Maclean, iii. 207; PC2/72/734.
  • 3. B. H. Williams, Ancient West Country Fams. 62-65.