1800 Election Costs

Item - BSL - 1800 Election Costs

1798-1800 - THE BILL FOR BUYING VOTES IN MERRYE OLDE ENGLAND
THE LEDGER STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR WILLIAM JARRETT, ESQ.
AS HE MOVED FROM THE OFFICE OF CHAMBERLAIN, TO SHERIFF OF HULL, TO ALDERMAN AND FINALLY TO MAYOR.

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A lovely set of Statements of Account on behalf of William Jarrett, Esq. as he bought his way into Public Office: first as Chamberlain in 1798, then as Sheriff and Alderman in 1799 and finally as Mayor in 1800. A very fine Document submitted by I & M Prickett who handled his election accounts. A fascinating insight into the costs to achieve public office in England in the late 1700's. With some eye-openers on who got paid off! Below is a detailed transcription of one of the documents.

Historical Note on Getting Elected in England

1798	£	s	d
26th September - Touching your Election to the Office of Chamberlain
To: paid Jacob Johnson what he expended amongst the Burgesses on your being elected to the office of Chamberlain	0	17	0
1799
Touching your Election to the Office of Sheriff
To: Jacob Johnson being monies he distributed amongst the Burgesses on the day of your being elected to the office of Sheriff	9	13	0
To: William Guy and sundry Burgesses by order of Mr. Coates	1	9	0
Touching your Election to the Office of Alderman
To: Cash advanced Mr. Scatchard to distribute amongst the freemen in the Ship & Rope yards	15	15	0
To: Paid 488 Votes @ 7shilling each	170	16	0
To: Mr. Johnson's bill for liquor etc.	12	16	6
To: Wallis's Ditto	7	4	0
To: Peter Watson's Ditto for Beverley votes	1	1	6
To: Peck the Printer his bill	2	2	0
To: Jacob Johnson, Sundry monies expended by him with Freemen	4	4	0
To: the High Church Ringers	3	3	0
To: the Low Church Ringers	2	2	0
To: William Guy by order of Mr. Dewes	1	1	0
To: Men carrying Colours	1	1	0
To: Volunteers	1	1	0
To: Lowgate Club Etc.	0	10	0
To: Henry Rolston & Fees Bell Runners	0	15	6
To: Coultish Messrs Egginton's Clerk at their request	0	10	6
To: ten freemen's Wives - 1 Guarantee each	10	10	0
To: the Debtors & Felons in the Gaol	1	1	0
To: the poor freemen in the Charity Hall	0	4	0
To: Issac Gerbow of Beverley for his extra trouble	0	3	6
To: Sunday Petty Expenses	1	4	6
To: Gratuity paid Mr. John Bell for his trouble of taking the Poll on the day of Election and arranging the names of the Burgesses in Alphabetical order previous to paying them which took up full three days	2	2	0
1800
30th September - Touching your Election to the Office of Mayor
To: High Church Ringers	1	1	0
To: Low Church Ringers	1	1	0
To: Paid 173 Freemen 17 each	0	13	0
To: expenses at Mrs. Johnson's on paying freemen	0	3	0
To: Dickon Assisting	0	5	0
October 10th - On being sworn into the Office of Mayor:	1	1	0
Paid the High Church Ringers	2	15	0
Low Church Ditto	1	6	0
To: the Debtors and Felons in the Gaol by your order	1	11	6
TOTAL	£260	2s	6d

"I. & M. Prickett have made no charge for their own and clerk's trouble in the foregoing Business, and in settling the different accounts, paying the Burgesses etc."

Document Specifications: There are two (2) Documents. Each one is a large folio sheet folded into four pages with writing on two pages and a docketing notation on a third page and measures (folded as shown) approx. 8" wide x 12¾" tall (200mm x 330mm). They are handwritten on batonne laid paper with a Crowned Royal Seated Britannica in Circle watermark as well as a maker's watermark "1800". Docketing notations state: "No. 1 - William Jarratt, Esq. - Touching your Election to the Offices of: Chamberlain, Sheriff, Alderman & Mayor" & "No. 2 - William Jarratt, Esq. - as Sheriff of Hull". Each in Very Fine Condition with four horizontal folds and four vertical red ruled ledger lines.

Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.

End of Item - BSL - 1800 Election Costs		Tel: 573-335-7720