Family and Education

b. ?1743, s. of Andrew Arcedeckne of Gurnamone, co. Galway, attorney-gen. of Jamaica. educ. Eton 1753-9; Ch. Ch. Oxf. 7 Dec. 1760, aged 17. m. 1777, Catherine, da. and coh. of John Leigh of North Court House, I.o.W., 3s. 2da. suc. fa. 1763.

Offices Held

Sheriff, Suff. 1797-8.

Biography

The Arcedecknes were Roman Catholics, and Andrew Arcedeckne was the first to conform. From him Chaloner Arcedeckne inherited large estates in Jamaica. Robinson notes against Wallingford in his survey of 1780 an opposition by ‘Mr. Archdeacon, a Jamaica planter, supported by Lord Abingdon’; he was returned after a contest. Following Abingdon (who was his contemporary at Oxford) Arcedeckne adhered to the Opposition, voting with them in each of the six divisions for which lists are available, 12 Dec. 1781-15 Mar. 1782. He similarly followed Abingdon in adhering to Shelburne, and voted for his peace preliminaries, 18 Feb. 1783; supported Pitt on parliamentary reform, 7 May 1783; voted against Fox’s East India bill; and was classed as a follower of Pitt in all the lists of 1784. In 1784 he was returned unopposed for Abingdon’s borough of Westbury; there is nothing to show why he resigned his seat in January 1786. No speech by him in the House is recorded.

Arcedeckne died 20 Dec. 1809.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes