Norfolk: Kings Lynn Voting Registers

King's Lynn elected 2 people to represent the Borough in Parliament from at least 1298 until 1885 after which only one person was elected. Before the secret ballot of 1872 Poll Books were published for many contested elections indicating how the voters (only Freemen of the Borough until 1832) voted.

Entries are followed by the description & publishing information where known.

• 1747
  • The poll taken at the election for two Members of Parliament on 29th June 1747
    • [Original Poll Clerks Books Nos 2, 3 & 4 - 1747]
              (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
    • [Original full copy of Poll - 1747]
              (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1768
  • The poll taken at the election for Members of Parliament on 21st March 1768
    • [Lynn Regis: J.Garratt, 1768]
              (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
    • [Original Poll Clerks Books - 1768]
              (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1784
  • The poll taken at the election for two Burgesses to serve in Parliament on Fri. 2nd April 1784
    [Lynn Regis: J.Garratt, 1784]
            (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1822
  • A correct copy of the Poll taken at the election for a Burgess to serve in Parliament on June 27 1822.
    • [Lynn Regis: E.Mugridge, 1822]
              (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
    • [Original Poll Clerks Books (inc. some non-voters) - 1822]
              (Transcription - Voters full names, Occupations, Residences, Street names)
    • Online image at books.google.com
• 1824 By-election
  • A correct copy of the Poll taken at the election for a Burgess to serve in Parliament on Friday the 19th March 1824.
    [Lynn Regis: E.Mugridge, 1824]
            (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1826
  • A copy of the Poll, as taken at the election for Burgesses, to serve in Parliament taken on the 9th June 1826
    [Lynn Regis: E.Mugridge, 1826]
            (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1832 - First Reform Act expanded the number of voters (see votehistory).
  • Voter numbers increased in King's Lynn to 800+ consisting of 250+ freemen and 550+ £10 voters.
• 1835
  • A correct copy of the Poll taken at the election for Burgesses to serve in Parliament taken on the 7th & 8th Jan 1835
    [Lynn: T.Garland, 1835]
            (Transcription - Voters names, Occupations, Residences)
• 1837
  • A copy of the lists of Voters and of the poll taken at the election for two Burgesses to serve in Parliament on the 26th July 1837.
    [Lynn Regis: J.W.Aikin, 1837]
• 1852
• 1865
  • The poll taken at the election for two members of Parliament on the 13th July 1865.
    [Lynn Regis: Thew & Son, 1865]
• 1868
  • The poll taken at the election for two members of Parliament on the 18th November 1868.
    [Lynn Regis: Thew & Son, 1868]
• 1869
  • The poll taken at the election for a member of Parliament on the 8th December 1869.
    [King's Lynn: Thew & Son, 1869]
• 1885
  • Members of Parliament reduced to 1.
• 1920-21
  • Electoral Registers

Notes

1. 1747 - Candidates and Votes polled were:-
   • Mr. Walpole (199), Sir John Turner (184) and M. Folkes (131)
2. 1768 - Candidates and Votes polled were:-
   • The Hon. Thomas Walpole (200), Sir John Turner (174) and Crisp Molineaux, Esq. (159)
   • The number of voters was 312.
3. 1784 - Candidates and Votes polled were:-
   • The Hon. H. Walpole (151), Crisp Molineaux, Esq. (136) and B. P. Fountaine, Esq. (72)
   • The number of voters was 207.
4. Freemen were the only people who could vote in the elections (until 1832) and larger numbers than usual were created by the Corporation just before certain elections. The number of freemen declined in the late 19th century.
5. Search for "Kings Lynn Borough Archives" at Norfolk Record Office .
6. People from "King's Lynn" also voted in the county elections.

Books

(No author)

A Calendar of the freemen of Lynn 1292-1836.
[Norwich, Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society, 1913]

See also the main Voting page, County elections page and the Kings Lynn pages.

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Copyright © Mike Bristow.
August 2012