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A further reform put forward by Gladstone in 1884 introduced uniform qualifications for counties and boroughs and gave the vote to all male inhabitant householders, to occupiers of lands and tenements worth at least £10 and to lodgers paying at least £10 a year. The old forty-shilling freehold rights were retained for inherited land or that acquired by marriage, as were the rights of freemen in boroughs. Those who occupied a dwelling house by virtue of any office, service or employment were also given the vote. ''Whitaker's Almanack'' said that this Act "gives a vote to almost everybody who cares to possess one" and it is sometimes said that most men over the age of 21 now appeared on the electoral register but the figure was in fact not much above fifty per cent. | A further reform put forward by Gladstone in 1884 introduced uniform qualifications for counties and boroughs and gave the vote to all male inhabitant householders, to occupiers of lands and tenements worth at least £10 and to lodgers paying at least £10 a year. The old forty-shilling freehold rights were retained for inherited land or that acquired by marriage, as were the rights of freemen in boroughs. Those who occupied a dwelling house by virtue of any office, service or employment were also given the vote. ''Whitaker's Almanack'' said that this Act "gives a vote to almost everybody who cares to possess one" and it is sometimes said that most men over the age of 21 now appeared on the electoral register but the figure was in fact not much above fifty per cent. | ||
The principle of "one man, one vote" advocated by James Stansfeld was heavily defeated in the House of Commons in 1891. The right of women to vote at certain local elections was not widely exercised and led some thinking women to oppose the extension of that right to parliamentary elections. In 1889 the magazine ''The Nineteenth Century'' [not in | The principle of "one man, one vote" advocated by James Stansfeld was heavily defeated in the House of Commons in 1891. The right of women to vote at certain local elections was not widely exercised and led some thinking women to oppose the extension of that right to parliamentary elections. In 1889 the magazine ''The Nineteenth Century'' [not in FS Library] organised an appeal against female suffrage as "distasteful to the great majority of the women of the country, unnecessary and mischievous both to themselves and to the State" and published in its August issue the names of the first 1,000 women who subscribed to that view. This interesting list, not often mentioned by historians of the suffragette movement, contains several well-known names and those of many young ladies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, and Girton College, Cambridge. | ||
===== '''1918''' ===== | ===== '''1918''' ===== | ||
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However, there was a growing tendency in the 19th century to arrange the lists in the larger towns by street and house number and after 1918 this became obligatory, the electoral registers being arranged by polling district or ward, and then by street or road. This arrangement is a major drawback for the genealogist and even with a street index a search may take a great deal of time. There should, however, be a composite index showing which streets and parts of streets are in each polling district. | However, there was a growing tendency in the 19th century to arrange the lists in the larger towns by street and house number and after 1918 this became obligatory, the electoral registers being arranged by polling district or ward, and then by street or road. This arrangement is a major drawback for the genealogist and even with a street index a search may take a great deal of time. There should, however, be a composite index showing which streets and parts of streets are in each polling district. | ||
Another problem is to find which constituency covers a particular street or area of a large town and boundary changes may complicate a search over several years. These details may most easily be found from the small-scale maps in F.W.S. Craig, ''Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 ''[not in | Another problem is to find which constituency covers a particular street or area of a large town and boundary changes may complicate a search over several years. These details may most easily be found from the small-scale maps in F.W.S. Craig, ''Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972 ''[not in FS Library]. A valuable gazetteer of constituency coverage and changes is provided by Richard H.A. Cheffins, ''Parliamentary Constituencies and their Registers since 1832'' (British Library, 1998) [not in FS Library]. In London the London County Council's ''Names of Streets and Places'' shows the constituencies in which they fall: any edition to 1912 [FS Library 942 X22sp, Q book] will show those for 1885-1915, the 1929 edition those for 1918-1948 and the 1955 edition [FS Library 942.1 E5n] those for 1949-1954. | ||
From 1832 (in boroughs from 1842) to 1939 the lists usefully contain both home address and the qualifying address when these are different, and may lead to the home address when only the business address is known (perhaps from a trade directory). | From 1832 (in boroughs from 1842) to 1939 the lists usefully contain both home address and the qualifying address when these are different, and may lead to the home address when only the business address is known (perhaps from a trade directory). | ||
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By Act of 1843 copies of all county electoral registers were to be deposited with the Clerk of the Peace of the county concerned. The Local Government Act of 1888 continued that requirement, copies being sent to the Clerk to the County Council. Apparently no provision was made for the permanent retention of the electoral registers of the borough towns. By Act of 1868 copies of both were sent to the Home Office but these were destroyed after two years "because of their enormous bulk". | By Act of 1843 copies of all county electoral registers were to be deposited with the Clerk of the Peace of the county concerned. The Local Government Act of 1888 continued that requirement, copies being sent to the Clerk to the County Council. Apparently no provision was made for the permanent retention of the electoral registers of the borough towns. By Act of 1868 copies of both were sent to the Home Office but these were destroyed after two years "because of their enormous bulk". | ||
As a result, not all early electoral registers survive. As already mentioned, none were compiled in the years 1916-17 and 1940-44. Most searches should start in the main local studies library or county record office. Their holdings are detailed in Jeremy Gibson, ''Electoral Registers 1832-1948; and Burgess Rolls ''(The Family History Partnership, 2008) [ | As a result, not all early electoral registers survive. As already mentioned, none were compiled in the years 1916-17 and 1940-44. Most searches should start in the main local studies library or county record office. Their holdings are detailed in Jeremy Gibson, ''Electoral Registers 1832-1948; and Burgess Rolls ''(The Family History Partnership, 2008) [FS Library 942 A3gje] that covers England, Wales and Scotland. It includes lists for borough elections (the 'Burgess Rolls'), sometimes preceding 1832, and, from 1888, for local government elections. | ||
The national collection in the Official Publications Department of the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, provides the only complete run of electoral registers for 1937 and 1938 and from 1947 onwards. Holdings are modest before 1885, good from then to 1915, modest again from 1918 to 1932 and very poor for the mid-1930s. A British Library reader's ticket is needed, and 48 hours' notice is required to see registers before 1984. A very helpful leaflet, ''Finding Electoral Registers in the British Library'', is available. No searches can be made by post. The collection is listed in the books by Jeremy Gibson and Richard Cheffins mentioned above. | The national collection in the Official Publications Department of the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, provides the only complete run of electoral registers for 1937 and 1938 and from 1947 onwards. Holdings are modest before 1885, good from then to 1915, modest again from 1918 to 1932 and very poor for the mid-1930s. A British Library reader's ticket is needed, and 48 hours' notice is required to see registers before 1984. A very helpful leaflet, ''Finding Electoral Registers in the British Library'', is available. No searches can be made by post. The collection is listed in the books by Jeremy Gibson and Richard Cheffins mentioned above. | ||
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==== '''Bibliography''' ==== | ==== '''Bibliography''' ==== | ||
Jeremy Gibson,''Electoral Registers 1832-1948; and Burgess Rolls ''(The Family History Partnership, 2008) [ | Jeremy Gibson,''Electoral Registers 1832-1948; and Burgess Rolls ''(The Family History Partnership, 2008) [FS Library 942 A3gje].<br>Richard H.A. Cheffins, ''Parliamentary Constituencies and their Registers since 1832 ''(British Library, 1998; new edition in preparation) [not in FS Library]. | ||
[Adapted from an article by Anthony Camp on 'The history and value of genealogical records: electoral rolls or registers' in ''Practical Family History'' (UK), no. 62 (February 2003), pages 18-20, incorporating comments by Richard Cheffins in ''Practical Family History ''(UK), no. 67 (July 2003), page 47, where greater detail of the complicated legislative changes since 1945 is provided]. | [Adapted from an article by Anthony Camp on 'The history and value of genealogical records: electoral rolls or registers' in ''Practical Family History'' (UK), no. 62 (February 2003), pages 18-20, incorporating comments by Richard Cheffins in ''Practical Family History ''(UK), no. 67 (July 2003), page 47, where greater detail of the complicated legislative changes since 1945 is provided]. | ||
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