Talk

Tring

W. Brown Account Book

William Brown's account book includes several references to his providing services at general elections and the first involved work done for the Committee for conducting the election of W. B. Ferrand, Esq, in April 1851.

Payments were made of £1 5s to Mrs Sarah Northwood, the Inn Keeper at the Rose and Crown, Tring, and 15s to Mr William Griffin, builder, of the High Street, Tring, for the hire of carriages.  He attended the election and his expenses of £2 19 3d included payment to William Kirby, innkeeper at the Angel Inn, Aylesbury, for refreshment to voters.

What was undoubtedly happening was that the Aylesbury electorate at the time consisted of people who owned property worth £10 in the area - and undoubtedly the aim was to convey voters who lived in Tring to Aylesbury to cast their votes - and treat them to a meal when they were there.

Interestingly the bill was never submitted - possibly because of why the by-election had been held, At the previous election a Frederick Calvert had been elected and then unseated as a result of a parliamentary enquiry into corruption and the following press report from the Aylesbury News, reprinted in the Buck Herald of 11th January 1851 describes the event during Mr Calvert's election.

We are now removed just one week from the contest for the borough representation. All the excitement is over. Mr. Calvert is an M.P., for which the Government is truly thankful. Many hundreds of pounds have been paid for the said honour, we should think as much as £2,000. This money did not come out of the Queen's Council's purse. We happen to know that it came from other quarters.

Public-houses were opened as usual. Dinners, suppers, toddy, and tea as plentiful as ever. People were drunk on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning, gloriously drunk. We saw them in public-houses drunk, rolling through the streets drunk, carried home by their wives drunk. And they were drunk not at their own expense. Publicans boast it was the best election they ever saw, for, say they, the money was paid down beforehand. We must also add that persons wearing the cloth of gentlemen were drunk — not drunk as pigs are drunk, for pigs have more sense; but as far gone as ever men were who degrade themselves to a position lower than the lowest brute.

In the general election on 1852 there were more expenses - again involving transport, plus some unspecified items) and this time a bill for £10 19s 3d was prepared and paid for by W Lowdnes and Mr Hatten. Thomas Barnes was probably responsible for transporting London-based voters who came to vote by train.

Norris was paid for conveyances in 1859, and Gomm for conveyances in 1868, the bill being settled by Mr Shugar in 1968.

For more information about the Aylesbury elections see Political Change and Uncertainty, 1760-1885: A Buckinghamshire Survey, by Richard W. Davis (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1972).

Identities of people mentioned.

Thomas Barnes - Hotel Keep, Royal Hotel, Tring Station

Richard Bethell - Elected MP in 1851and following elections (Liberal)

Job Brackley - farmer, pot kiln, Buckland, Bucks

Frederick Calvert - elected M.P. and then unseated for Aylesbuty 1850/1

Joseph Dunton -  farmer and beerhouse keeper in Cholesbury Lane, Buckland, Bucks

W. B. Ferrand - unsuccessful Conservative candidate in 1851 election

George Gomme - painter, of Water Lane, Berkhamsted

Fred Gotto - Surveyor, West End, Tring

William Griffin - builder, Water Lane, Berkhamsted   

Henry Hatten - Solicitor, Aylesbury - supported of the Conservative party

William Kirkby - innkeeper, Angel Inn, Aylesbury

William Lowdnes of Chesham - a leading member of the Aylesbury Conservatives

Sarah Northwood - inn keeper, Rose & Crown, Tring

Norris (identity uncertain)

John M Shugar, solicitor, East Park Street, Tring