(Changed "Rating" to "Content".) |
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This was the most common form of local administration until well into the 19th century and could be either: | This was the most common form of local administration until well into the 19th century and could be either: | ||
{{Block indent|*'''An open vestry''' at which all male ratepayers could speak and vote. From 1818 each ratepayer had between one and six votes depending on the amount he paid in poor rates. From 1819 it was possible for a small ''representative vestry'' or ''poor law committee'' to be appointed which generally consisted of the incumbent, churchwardens, overseers and some of the wealthier parishioners.}} | |||
or; | or; | ||
{{Block indent|*'''A select vestry''' whose members were few and nominated by Parliamentary Act or co-opted, with no participation of ratepayers. By an Act of 1831 the ''select vestry'' could be chosen by the ratepayers, each one who had paid rates for one year having one vote for each vacancy. One third of this kind of select vestry retired each year.}} | |||
*Municipal Corporations<br>Most boroughs had, until 1835, obtained their status by charter, which gave them various rights such as: | *Municipal Corporations<br>Most boroughs had, until 1835, obtained their status by charter, which gave them various rights such as: | ||
{{Block indent|*To levy a toll at the town market. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*To send a representative to the House of Commons. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*To hold a court dealing with civil and some lesser criminal matters.}} | |||
The administering body, which may have been called by various names, perpetuated itself without public elections. Shelagh Bond describes the records, called ''hall books'', of the borough of New Windsor 1653-1725 which are typical of any small borough. | The administering body, which may have been called by various names, perpetuated itself without public elections. Shelagh Bond describes the records, called ''hall books'', of the borough of New Windsor 1653-1725 which are typical of any small borough. | ||
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The reform of the franchise for municipal elections came in 1835 and was similar to that of the 1832 Reform Act for Parliamentary elections (see below). Now, any man could vote who had: | The reform of the franchise for municipal elections came in 1835 and was similar to that of the 1832 Reform Act for Parliamentary elections (see below). Now, any man could vote who had: | ||
{{Block indent|*Occupied a property in the parish as owner or tenant for 21/2 years, or }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Had paid poor rates, or }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Lived within seven miles of the borough for the previous six months.<br>}} | |||
{{Block indent|*Town councillors in the 178 boroughs affected were now to be elected for a maximum three-year term, although aldermen could serve for six years. Women with the necessary property qualifications and who paid rates could vote in local elections from 1869.}} | |||
*Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) | *Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) | ||
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In 1888 elected county councils, as well as councils for towns with a population over 50,000 (''County Boroughs'') were organized. These took over the administrative responsibilities of the ''county quarter sessions'' and appointed their own medical officers. County councils were given further powers: | In 1888 elected county councils, as well as councils for towns with a population over 50,000 (''County Boroughs'') were organized. These took over the administrative responsibilities of the ''county quarter sessions'' and appointed their own medical officers. County councils were given further powers: | ||
{{Block indent|*Housing and planning from 1890. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Elementary and secondary education from 1902.}} | |||
However, outside the county boroughs public health was administered by urban and rural sanitary authorities. The records of these bodies are in local record offices, and county councils and county borough councils were abolished in 1974. | However, outside the county boroughs public health was administered by urban and rural sanitary authorities. The records of these bodies are in local record offices, and county councils and county borough councils were abolished in 1974. | ||
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*Representatives elected by Oxford and Cambridge and, from 1867, London universities.<br> | *Representatives elected by Oxford and Cambridge and, from 1867, London universities.<br> | ||
{{Block indent|A research enquiry concerning ''election bobbins'' led me to find that both Northampton and Bedford, centres of lace-making, were ''potwalloper boroughs'' where all adult men (approximately 60%) not receiving alms or poor relief had the vote before 1832. Many would have been husbands of lace-makers and distribution of free bobbins, with suitable slogans of-course, was a popular way of gaining publicity. There is a bone bobbin inscribed ''Vote for Althorp'' in the Abington Museum, Northampton—John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp held the seat for Northampton from 1806-1832.}} | |||
The ''Representation of the People Act (RPA,'' but usually called the ''Reform Act'') ''of 1832'' largely corrected the geographical imbalance of seats but the majority of voters were still forty-shilling freeholders. Of the rotten boroughs 56 were disenfranchised and 30 reduced to one member only, whilst 22 new boroughs were created to send two members and 20 to send one member. Gibson and Rogers ''Poll Books'' (1990) has a map of pre- and post-1832 parliamentary representation as well as a list of general elections from 1715-1874, and there is interesting discussion by them and Herber (''Ancestral Trails'', 2003). The ''rotten borough'' of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis was reduced to two MPs in 1832 and in 1885 the town was merged into a county constituency (White). | The ''Representation of the People Act (RPA,'' but usually called the ''Reform Act'') ''of 1832'' largely corrected the geographical imbalance of seats but the majority of voters were still forty-shilling freeholders. Of the rotten boroughs 56 were disenfranchised and 30 reduced to one member only, whilst 22 new boroughs were created to send two members and 20 to send one member. Gibson and Rogers ''Poll Books'' (1990) has a map of pre- and post-1832 parliamentary representation as well as a list of general elections from 1715-1874, and there is interesting discussion by them and Herber (''Ancestral Trails'', 2003). The ''rotten borough'' of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis was reduced to two MPs in 1832 and in 1885 the town was merged into a county constituency (White). | ||
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From 1696 rural vestries and urban corporations had to send to their county ''clerk of the peace'' lists of those eligible for jury service. These were men aged 21-70 who owned freehold land worth at least 40 shillings, (£2, but always expressed as 40s) per annum. The lists were called ''Freeholder'' or ''Jury Lists'' and these qualifications were also used as the basis for local and parliamentary enfranchisement. The upper age of eligibility was lowered to 60 in 1825 and the qualification revised to include: | From 1696 rural vestries and urban corporations had to send to their county ''clerk of the peace'' lists of those eligible for jury service. These were men aged 21-70 who owned freehold land worth at least 40 shillings, (£2, but always expressed as 40s) per annum. The lists were called ''Freeholder'' or ''Jury Lists'' and these qualifications were also used as the basis for local and parliamentary enfranchisement. The upper age of eligibility was lowered to 60 in 1825 and the qualification revised to include: | ||
{{Block indent|*Freeholds worth over £10 per annum. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Leaseholds for 21 years or more worth £20 or more per annum. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Rateability as a householder at £20 (£30 in Middlesex) or more. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Occupation of a house with 15 or more windows.}} | |||
There have always been occupations that were exempt from jury duty, and these were extended in 1825. | There have always been occupations that were exempt from jury duty, and these were extended in 1825. | ||
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Aldous (''The Archives of the Freedom of the City of London 1681-1915''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 23 #4, page 128-133, 1989, and My Ancestors were Freemen of the City of London, 1999) and Medlycott (''The City of London Freedom Registers''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 19 #2, page 45-47, 1977) give more details, and Aldous’ 2003 article (''Records of King’s Freemen in the City of London in the 18th and 19th Centuries''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 27 #9, page 415-421) describes another group called ''King’s Freemen'' who were discharged soldiers and sailors. Many freeman lists are filmed for example: | Aldous (''The Archives of the Freedom of the City of London 1681-1915''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 23 #4, page 128-133, 1989, and My Ancestors were Freemen of the City of London, 1999) and Medlycott (''The City of London Freedom Registers''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 19 #2, page 45-47, 1977) give more details, and Aldous’ 2003 article (''Records of King’s Freemen in the City of London in the 18th and 19th Centuries''. Genealogists’ Magazine Vol. 27 #9, page 415-421) describes another group called ''King’s Freemen'' who were discharged soldiers and sailors. Many freeman lists are filmed for example: | ||
{{Block indent|1=*In the FamilySearch Catalog under ENGLAND - KENT - MAIDSTONE - VOTING REGISTERS The ''Freeman Lists for Maidstone 1551-1842'' can be found on {{FSC|586178|item|disp=FS Library films 1656613-4}}. |2=1}} | |||
{{Block indent|*On the Thomson-Gale website of old documents City of London liverymen were listed by company and then letter of the alphabet in a ''Canvassing Book'', that is a list of eligible men (see chart below) with their address, trade and company name. Note that even in 1776 not all men were members of the company indicated by their trade.}} | |||
'''Chart: City of London Canvassing Book for Elections by the Livery 1776''' | '''Chart: City of London Canvassing Book for Elections by the Livery 1776''' | ||
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