Poll and Voting records
Voting was considerably different at the time. Not only did women not get to vote, but nor did most of the population. There was a wealth requirement for men to be allowed to vote.
In this 1857 General Election, F denotes Freehold Qualification; L Leasehold; C Copyhold; Occupier.
Another deviation from today is the publication of who voted for whom. Transparency instead of secrecy.
The Votes given appear under the initials of the Candidates.
Se. = Mr Henry Ker Seymer, a Conservative
F. = Mr Floyer
St. = Mr Henry G. Sturt
P. = The Hon. William H. Berkeley Portman, a Liberal
Below, and extract from the same Poll Book with a quotation from the Illustrated London News about the three winning candidates for Dorset in the 1857 General Election.
The Poll Book is split into what I presume to have been the Parliamentary Divisions of the day. Strangely the Residence column indicated that some people had addresses as far away as London, but still had a vote in a Division of Dorset.
I am hoping that the children of John Bowditch who died in 1820, 37 years before this election, will still be in Dorset, and be eligible to vote.
The first potential find is;
Booth 1 - Richard Bowditch of Beaminster, C - - - P.
