Family and Education

bap. 13 Aug. 1609, 2nd s. of Thomas Kendall of Lostwithiel, Cornw. by Elizabeth, da. of Arthur Arscott of Tetcott, Devon. m. (with £500) Grace, da. of John Modyford, merchant, of Exeter, Devon, 4s. (1 d.v.p.).1

Offices Held

Commr. for arbitration of Dutch and English shipping losses 1654; committee, E.I. Co. 1659-63, 1665-d., dep. gov. 1663-5; commr. for trade Nov. 1660-d., plantations Dec. 1660-d.2

Commr. for assessment, Mdx. 1664-d.

Biography

Kendall was a younger son of a cadet branch of the Kendalls of Treworgey, of whom nothing is known before the Protectorate, when he appeared as head of a company engaged in the East India trade. His West Indian interests became even more important, and by his death he had acquired half-shares in plantations in Barbados and Jamaica.3

Kendall first stood for Lostwithiel at the general election of 1660, but although his brother was returning officer he finished at the bottom of the poll. He was elected, not without opposition, at Dartmouth at a by-election in 1664, no doubt largely on the strength of his position on the board of trade, though he may also have enjoyed the support of the Duke of Albemarle (George Monck) to whom he was related through his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Modyford. In four sessions, he was named to only nine committees, the most important being that set up at Oxford for the preservation of prize goods; but if he was only moderately active in Parliament, he was energetic enough elsewhere in forwarding the interests of his business associates and political supporters: ‘Mr Kendall ... would never get protection or convoy for any ship but for those that stuck by him and opposed all those that [?sought] any of the contrary party’. Kendall died rather suddenly about Christmas 1666; he presented a report to the court of the East India Company on 21 Dec., but within a week canvassing had begun for his Dartmouth seat.4

Kendall’s will reveals associations with two figures of the radical opposition. Thomas Papillon was named as a trustee, and it was apparently drawn up and witnessed by Edward Nosworthy I.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Vivian, Vis. Cornw. 262; PCC 23 Carr; V. L. Oliver, Caribbeana, iv. 337.
• 2. Cal. Ct. Mins. E.I. Co. ed. Sainsbury, v. 333; vi. 305; vii. 30, 141, 218.
• 3. Scott, Jt. Stock Cos. i. 247; APC Col. i. 304.
• 4. HMC Var. i. 336; SP29/266/129C; Cal. Ct. Mins. E.I. Co. vii. 101, 269; CSP Dom. 1666-7, p. 374; SP29/266/129C.
• 5. PCC 23 Carr.