AMYCE, ROGER, sat for Windsor in the Parliament of 1553, and in that of 1558. Roger Amyce was one of the first governors of Christ's Hospital in Abingdon. ANNESLEY, FRANCIS, sat for Reading in the Parliaments of 1774-80-8490-96-1802. We gather from the preface attached to the catalogue of the manuscripts in the COTTONIAN LIBRARY, that the borough member was the lineal representative of the elder branch of the COTTON family, (being the son of Martin Annesley, D.D. by the niece of Sir John Cotton, Bart., who died, sine prole, in 1731,) in consequence of which he was one of the Cottonian Trustees of the British Museum. He was likewise, in right of his great grandmother, FRANCES, daughter of SIR GEORGE DOWNING, Bart., the representative of that distinguished family, to whom the public are indebted for the liberal foundation of a college at Cambridge, the mastership of which was conferred on Mr. Annesley, in the charter granted—after a wearisome and lengthened litigation-for carrying into execution the intentions of the testator. Educated at Reading school, under the celebrated Mr. Hiley, Mr. Annesley, owing to his great taste for the arts, sciences, and literature, and his curious and valuable antiquarian collections, was created an LL.D. and an F.A.S. Returned to Parliament for Reading in 1774, he retained that seat for upwards of thirty years, being re-chosen at every successive election free of expense. His political principles were conservative. He voted in 1780 in favour of Mr. Dunning's motion respecting the influence of the crown and the abuses in the public expenditure; in 1782 with the minority in favour of Sir John Rous's motion for withdrawing the confidence of parliament from the king's ministers; and in 1796 with the minority in favour of the abolition of slavery. He died 17 April, 1812, aged 78. ARCEDECKNE, CHALONER, sat for Wallingford in the Parliament of 1780, and in 1784 for Westbury, vacating that seat on accepting the stewardship of East Hundred, in this county, in 1786. The borough member's family is seated at Glevering Hall, co. Suffolk, and is now represented by ANDREW ARCEDECKNE, Esq., formerly M.P. for Dunwich, (for whom see SUFFOLK.) Mr. Chaloner Arcedeckne, son and heir of Andrew Arcedeckne, attorney-general of the island of Jamaica, served the office of high sheriff of Suffolk in 1797. He died the 20th December, 1809. ARCHER, WILLIAM, sat for the county in the Parliaments of 1727-34, succeeding to the first on the demise of Sir Jno. Stonhouse in 1734. He voted, in 1734, for the repeal of the septennial act. The Archers, who served the office of high sheriff of this county in 1693 and 1765, and who settled at Welford about the year 1650, obtaining that seat by marriage with the Jones', became extinct in the male line on the death of JOHN ARCHER, Esq. in 1800, and are now represented in the female line by JOHN ARCHER HOUBLON, Esq. of Hallingbury Place, co. Essex, and Calverthorpe, co. Lincoln. The borough member died 30 June, 1739. ASHFIELD, EDWARD, sat for Wallingford in the Parliaments of 1554-54. He served the office of high sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire, 1 Elizabeth, as did also his ancestor, JOHN, 2 Henry VII. The Ashfields were seated at Shipton, co. Oxford. ASHURST, SIR HENRY, Bart., sat for Windsor in the Parliament of 1715, succeeding to this seat on petition. Sir Henry dying without issue, 17 May, 1732, the baronetcy which had been conferred on his family (for particulars of which see LANCASHIRE and OXFORDSHIRE), the 21st July, 1688, became extinct. Sir Henry voted, in 1716, for the bill for repealing the triennial act and making parliament septennial: and in 1719 for the bill for strengthening the protestant interest, and for the peerage bill. AUBREY. This family being seated in BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, we shall enter more fully into its history in our account of that county. JOHN (afterwards SIR JOHN, Bt.) sat for Wallingford in the Parliaments of 1768-80. Accepting the office of a commissioner of the admiralty in 1782, he vacated this seat, but was immediately afterwards re-elected, and continued in the representation till 1784, when he again vacated on being made a lord of the treasury. We further find this gentleman representing Aylesbury in 1774, Buckinghamshire in 1784, Clithero in 1790, Aldeburgh in 1807, Steyning in 1812-18, and Horsham in 1820. (For further particulars of him see BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.) THOMAS sat for Wallingford in the Parliament of 1784. He was the second son of Sir Thomas, 5th baronet, and only brother of the preceding. At the period of his death, which took place the 15th January, 1814, he was one of the oldest majors in the army, having been appointed to that rank in June, 1782; he was also an inspecting field-officer for the county of Bucks. Present in most of the actions of the first American war, where he distinguished himself greatly, we find him commanding a company of the 47th Foot at the memorable battle of Bunker's Hill, and was one of the few officers present in that sanguinary conflict who escaped without a wound. In 1785 he supported Mr. Pitt's motion for reform in Parliament. BACKHOUSE, SAMUEL, sat for Windsor in the Parliaments of 1603-14. The family of this gentleman was seated at an early period at Swallowfield. The member for Windsor, son of Nicholas Backhouse, an alderman of the city of London, served the office of high sheriff of Berkshire, 42 Elizabeth, He married Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir John Borlace, Knt., of Little Marlow, co. Bucks, and died 24 June, 1626. His son, JOHN, (for whom see BUCKINGHAMSHIRE,) who was born the 29th June, 1584, was created a knight of the bath, and died the 9th October, 1649, leaving a grandson, WILLIAM, who was created a baronet the 9th November, 1660, a title which became extinct on that gentleman's demise without issue, the 22nd August, 1669. A younger son of Mr. Samuel Backhouse, WILLIAM, is mentioned by Wood, in his Athene Oxoniensis, as "a most renouned chymist, rosicrucian, and a great encourager of those that studied chymistry and astrology." BACON, ANTHONY,* sat for Wallingford in the Parliament of 1592. BALL, JOHN, sat for Abingdon in the 2nd Parliament of 1640, succeeding thereto on the resignation in 1645 of Sir George Stonhouse. The Balls were of Sulhamstead-Bannister. The member for Abingdon died in 1648. * Reading claims to be the birthplace of a gentleman of some note of this name. We refer to Mr. PHANUEL BACON, D.D., the son of Phanuel Bacon, Vicar of St. Lawrence's. He was possessed, it is said, of exquisite humour, with a strong inclination to punning, and is the author of several dramatic and other productions.-See COATE's Reading. BANCE, JOHN, sat for Wallingford in the Parliament of 1741, and was subsequently returned in 1747 for Westbury, which election however was declared void. His family was seated at Challow, and built the manor house. He was a merchant. In 1742, he voted against the celebrated motion for taking the Hanoverian troops into British pay. BARKER. The Barkers, who were of Hurst and of Sunning, (in the parish churches of which are several monuments erected to their memory), claim descent from WILLIAM BARKER, ESQ., who was steward to the Bishop of Salisbury in temp. Henry VIII. They served the office of high sheriff of the county, in 1609, 1720, and 1734. Sir Anthony Barker who was knighted, died the 16th February, 1630, in the 72nd year of his age. ANTHONY, sat for Reading in the Parliament of 1620, and was returned for Wallingford in the second Parliament of 1640, an election which was subsequently declared void. WILLIAM, sat for the county, in the Parliaments of 1661-79-80-81, succeeding to the first on the demise of Mr. Powle in 1678. This gentleman, who died in 1685, founded an hospital in the parish of Hurst for eight poor persons, to whom he gave a weekly allowance of 3s. 6d. each, and a gown every other year. SCORY, sat for Wallingford in the Parliaments of 1680-81, and for Middlesex in 1705-8, in which latter county he possessed a seat at Chiswick. SIR ROBERT, BART., sat for Wallingford in the Parliament of 1774. This gentleman, the son of Robert Barker, M.D., who died in 1645, was descended from an ancient family in Derbyshire. Entering the East India Company's military service, he distinguished himself on various occasions, especially when in command of the artillery at the capture of Manilla, (in October, 1762), as a reward for which he was knighted in 1764. He was subsequently appointed commander-in-chief of the company's forces at Bengal, and on the 14th of September, 1789, was elevated to the baronetage. Purchasing the estate of Bushbridge in Surrey, he was thence designated. On the threatened invasion of this country by the combined fleets of France and Spain, he volunteered his services as an engineer. Sir Robert married in 1779, Anne, daughter and heiress of Brabazon Hallowes, Esq., of Dethick, co. Derby, and dying the 14th September, 1789, without issue, the baronetcy became extinct. The borough member was no less distinguished as a philosopher, than as a warrior. He communicated to the Royal Society, of which he was a member, Thermometrical Observations at Allahabad in the East Indies, 1767, and in a voyage from Madras to England, 1774, (PHIL. TRANS. vol. lxv. p. 202), the process of making ice in the East Indies, (IBID. 252), accounts of the observatory of the Brahmins at Benares, (vol. lxvii. p. 598,) &c. BARRINGTON, VISCOUNT, has sat for the county since 1837. His lordship's family, of Norman extraction, originally bore the name of SHUTE, when JOHN SHUTE, a barrister-at-law, inheriting the estates of Francis Barrington, Esq., of Tofts, co. Essex, assumed by act of Parliament that gentleman's name, having previously become possessed of the manor of Becket in this county, owing to his casual adoption by John Wildman, Esq. of that place. He served in Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed, (for further particulars of him, see NORTHUMBERLAND,) and was advanced, 1 July, 1720, to the peerage of Ireland, by the title of BARON BARRINGTON of Newcastle, co. Dublin, and VISCOUNT BARRINGTON of Ardglass, co. Down. Of his immediate offspring-WILLIAM, his successor in the viscounty, sat in Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Plymouth, (for particulars of him, see also NORTHUMBERLAND)-JOHN was a major-general in the army-DAINES, a barrister-at-law, was the author of several ingenious treatises on antiqua. rian and other subjects-SHUTE, in holy orders, was Bishop of DurhamSAMUEL, an admiral of the white, was a distinguished officer. The principal naval actions in which he appears to have been engaged were, the capture of the Duc de Chartres East Indiaman in 1747; the unsuccessful expedition against Rochfort, in 1757; the capture of the Raisonable in 1758, of the French 60 gun ship (403 men) Count de St. Florentine, in 1759, after a very close engagement of two hours' continuance; in the expedition against Belleisle in 1761; in the attack on St. Lucia in 1778, &c. In 1768, while in command of the VENUS, 36, he had the honour of having as a volunteer under him, his late Majesty William IV. He died the 16th August 1800.* The second viscount, dying without issue in 1793, was succeeded in the family titles by his nephew, WILLIAM WILDMAN (eldest son of the Hon. Col. John Barrington above mentioned), on whose death in 1801, sine prole, the viscounty successively devolved upon his lordship's brothers, RICHARD and GEORGE. The latter nobleman, who was prebendary of Durham and rector of Sedgfield, dying the 5th March, 1829, was succeeded by the member for Berkshire, the present WILLIAM KEPPELL BARRINGTON, VISCOUNT BARRINGTON, who was born 1 Oct., 1793, married 21 April, 1823, the Hon. Jane Elizabeth Liddell, 4th daughter of Thomas, Lord Ravensworth, and has issue. His lordship, who is a conservative, has given no pledges. In presenting himself as a candidate for the county on the retirement of Mr. Walter, he observed in a letter to his constituents. My political principles are conservative, determined to preserve our institutions in church and state as by law established. I need perhaps hardly say to you that I would not for a moment listen to those wild theories, that have been put forward under the name of reform, but which mean in fact nothing less than revolution, reducing the House of Lords to a mere register office for the edicts of the Commons, and making the sovereign a puppet in the hands of demagogues." In 1838, he voted against the ballot, in 1842, with the majority in favour of the third reading of the income tax bill; in 1844, in favour of Mr. Hawes' amendment to the second reading of the Bank of England charter bill; in 1845, with the majority in favour of the grant to Maynooth College; in 1846, with the minority against the corn importation bill, and in 1847 with the minority against the Roman Catholic relief bill. *His character is thus given on the monument erected to his memory in the family vault at Shrivenham. The lines are from the pen of the celebrated Mrs. Hannah More. "Here rests the hero, who, in glory's page, BAYLEY, NATHANIEL, sat for Abingdon in the Parliament of 1768* succeeding on petition in 1770. He is described as of Shipton House, co. Oxford. He voted in 1774, for perpetuating the Grenville Act. BEAKE, RICHARD, sat for Abingdon in the Parliament of 1572, succeeding thereto on the demise of Mr. Forster in the same year. The Beakes held the manor of Hartley Court, under the family of Vachell. parish church of that place, there are several memorials of them. In the BEAUCLERK. This family claims alliance with royalty, its founder CHARLES BEAUCLERK, being the illegitimate son of CHARLES II., by the famous NELL GWYNN. Owing to that connection, Mr. Beauclerk was created BARON of Hedington and EARL OF BURFORD, both in the county of Oxford, 27th December, 1676, and elevated to the DUKEDOM OF ST. ALBANS, 10th January, 1683-4. He was also appointed register of the high Court of Chancery and hereditary grand falconer of England. His grace was invested with these honours prior to his entrance into public life. In the reign of James II., he was in command of a regiment of horse, and was among the first to desert the cause of his own uncle for that of the Prince of Orange on the landing of the latter in the west. In 1688, he served gallantly at the siege of Belgrade; in 1693 and 1695, he made the campaign under King William, and was sworn (30th Nov. 1693), captain of the band of pensioners. In 1694, he married the Lady Diana de Vere, daughter and eventually sole heir of Aubrey de Vere, 20th and last Earl of Oxford of that noble family. As a reward for giving the first intelligence of the Duke of Burgundy's marriage, in 1697, he was made a lord of the bedchamber. In 1704, at the head of the band of pensioners, he closed the procession (September 7), of Queen Anne to St. Paul's, ordered in thanksgiving for the famous battle of Blenheim. On the accession of George I., he was constituted lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of Berkshire, and in 1718 was made a K.G.B. At the period of his death on 11th May, 1726, his grace enjoyed in addition to the offices abovementioned, those of high steward of Windsor and Oakingham, both in this county. Of the character of this nobleman, but little can be gleaned from history. We cannot, however, shut our eyes to two great facts,-1st, his origin; 2ndly, his conduct towards his uncle James II. While common sense, will exonerate him from any blame that may be attached to the illegitimacy of his birth, it cannot but condemn the principle which empowers any man, though he be a monarch, to exalt into the first ranks of the nobility the bastard offspring of his unlawful passions. His conduct towards James II. proves him to have been a renegade and a time-server. CHARLES, the 2nd Duke of St. Albans, as member for Windsor, will be mentioned hereafter as Earl of Burford. GEORGE, his son and successor in the dukedom, was constituted lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of Berkshire, and enjoyed the hereditary honours of his family, already mentioned. His grace died 1 February, 1786, and was succeeded by his cousin GEORGE, grandson of Lord William Beauclerk as 4th DUKE. Dying unmarried, 16th Feb., 1787, he was replaced by his cousin AUBREY LORD VERE, son of Lord Vere Beauclerk, as 5th DUKE, (for particulars of his grace, who sat in * See note on this election, page 85. |