As an incorporated borough, Wallingford was summoned to send two members to parliament, in the 22 Edward I. In the 11 Henry IV., (1410), these were elected by the mayor and all the common burgesses of the town, upon scrutiny; in the 5 Henry V., they were chosen with the consent and assent of all the burgesses; in the 7 Edward IV., the return was made by the bailiffs, with the unanimous consent and assent of all the burgesses; in the 1 Mary, the mayor and commonalty made the return. By the charter of Charles II., the right of election was vested in the mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, and their assistants called the eighteen. In 1688, the right to elect was declared by a committee of the House of Commons to be "in the inhabitants of the borough, paying scot and lot to the church and poor, and no others;" and in 1709 it was again declared to be "in the mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, and eighteen burgesses or assistants, together with the inhabitants of the said borough, paying scot and lot and not receiving alms." By the Reform Act, the representation of Wallingford has been reduced to one member, and several additional parishes have been included in its boundaries. Its present constituency comprehends the renters of 404 houses of £10., and such of the electors under the whole system who have continued to pay scot and lot. The greatest number of electors polled for thirty years prior to the Reform Act, was 212. The mayor is the returning officer. The boundaries of the borough as settled by the Reform Act, include the old borough of Wallingford; the several parishes of Brightwell, Sotwell, North Moreton, South Moreton, Bensington, Crowmarsh, and Newnham-Murren; the liberty of Clapcot, and the extra-parochial precinct of the castle; and also certain parts of the parishes of Cholsey, Aston-Tirrel, and Aston-Upthorpe. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MEMBERS FROM 1 Edw. III., TO 10 VICTORIA. * Mr. Payne being called to the bar of the House for an offensive speech, and suspended, the question arose touching his sitting in the House, being mayor of this borough, when it was resolved and ordered, 25th June, 1604, "That from and after this present Parliament, no mayor of any city, borough, or town corporate, shall be elected, returned, or allowed to serve as a member of this House; and, if it did appear that any mayor were returned a burgess, that a new writ should be awarded for the choice of another in the room and place of the said mayor; and this to continue an act and order of the House for ever."-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 1. VOL. I. I * The election of these members declared to be void.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 2. † A petition was presented against this election by John Stone, Esq. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 9. The return of these members was petitioned against by several inhabitants of the borough. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 9. § At this election there was a double return, Mr. Tipping and Mr. Jennings, and Mr. Tipping and Mr. Dormer. The difference being, therefore, between Mr. Dormer and Mr. Jennings; these two gentlemen petitioned the House, the former complaining of an undue return, the latter of a double return. In the investigation of the matter it was proved that, several soldiers entered the town at the time of the election, and threatened the mayor to cut off his ears if he did not return Mr. Dormer. The conclusion arrived at was, "That the right of election is in the inhabitants of the said borough paying scot and lot and no others, and that Mr. Jennings was duly elected."— Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 10 The return of these members was petitioned against by William Dunch, Esq. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 13. The return of these members was petitioned against by Thomas Renda, Esq. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 15. ** On the petition of Edward Leigh, Esq., praying that the return of this election should be amended in his favour, and complaining that Mr. Blackall, an attorney, had got into possession of the office of mayor, contrary to the charter, and returned Thomas Renda, Esq., the House resolved, "that the right of election for this borough is in the mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, and eighteen assistants, together with the inhabitants of the said borough, paying scot and lot, and not receiving alms or charity." Consequently, the election of Mr. Renda was declared valid.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 16. The return of Mr. Renda was petitioned against by Henry Grey, Esq., an unsuccessful candidate at this election. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 18. At this contested election, the two unsuccessful candidates were, Richard Bigg, Esq., and Thomas Renda, Esq., the former of whom petitioned against the return of Mr. Hucks on the grounds of bribery, &c. Petition withdrawn.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 18. §§ Gilbert Douglass, Esq., who, unsuccessfully contested this election with Mr. Neville, petitioned against the return of the latter, which petition he subsequently withdrew.Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 19. 1761 Jno. Harvey. Rich. N. Ald- 1806 Rich. Benyon. W. L. Hughes. 1807 Sir John Gibbons, Bart. Jno. 1812 Eben. Fuller Maitland. worth. ††1826 Robt. Knight, v. Robarts, (resigned). Rob. Knight. W. L. Hughes. 1831 Thomas Chas. Leigh, 1833 SSW. S. Blackstone. 1841 *** 1847 ttt ,, *The unsuccessful candidates at this election were, John Dormer, Esq., and Thomas Renda, Esq. The former of whom sent in a petition against the above returns, which he subsequently withdrew.-Journ of H. of C., Vol. 20. + This was a contested election. Lewen, 95; Hucks, 93; Isaac Lcheup, 55; Richard Bigg, 55. Mr. Bigg and several inhabitants petitioned against this return. No determination appears.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 21. George Lewen, Esq., who was an unsuccessful candidate at this election, sent in his petition against this return, which was discharged.—Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 22. § A contested election. Aubrey, 69; Pigot, 67; Sir John Gibbons, Bart., 38. A contested election. George James Robarts the unsuccessful candidate. ¶ Ebenezer Fuller Maitland, Esq., an unsuccessful candidate. On this occasion several electors petitioned against the return of Mr. Robarts, on the grounds that that gentleman was not pecuniarily qualified to sit. Petition discharged.-Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 75. ** A contested election. Hughes, 151; Robarts, 125; John Dodson, 80. A contested election. Leigh, 119; W. S. Blackstone, 68. The unsuccessful candidate petitioned to have the return amended in his favour, on the ground of bribery practised by Mr. Leigh. Petition discharged —Journ. of H. of C., Vol. 86-87. SS A contested election, Blackstone, 202; Charles Eyston, 165. Number of registered electors, 453; number voted, 367. Number of registered electors, 344. A contested election. Blackstone, 159: Thomas Teed, 118. Number of registered electors, 322; number voted, 277, *** Number of registered electors, 368. A contested election. Blackstone, 166; Alfred Morrison, 154; number of registered electors, 386. WINDSOR BOROUGH, 30 EDWARD I. WINDSOR, properly called NEW WINDSOR, is on the navigable Thames, 22 miles from London, and 19 from Reading, 14 from Hampton Court, 6 from Maidenhead, 4 from Colnbrook, and 2 miles from Slough station, on the Great Western Railway, by which also it has a telegraphic communication with London. The area of the borough is 2890 acres, and the population 10,362 persons, of whom 5399 are males, and 4963 females. The population of the parliamentary borough amounted in 1841, to 9062. The number of houses at that period was stated to be 1072 inhabited, 68 uninhabited, and 5 building. The borough of New Windsor does not now claim any privileges by prescription; but as a mayor and bailiffs are mentioned in very early documents, it is probable that there were more ancient charters of incorporation than any of those at present in existence. The first charter of which any traces are now to be found was granted by Edw. I., who in the 5th year of his reign (1277) gave the inhabitants of New Windsor a merchant guild, and several liberties and immunities. The same king in 1281 gave the whole borough to the burgesses, to be holden by them for ever of the crown, at a rent of £17. Henry VI., by a charter granted in 1439, reduced the amount of this rent, and confirmed the 5 Edw. I., adding thereto a grant of freedom from tolls throughout England, all fines and forfeitures within the borough, the exclusive cognizance of real and personal pleas, the return of writs, and a jurisdiction to try all offences committed within the borough except felony. In the 23rd year of his reign (1444) the same king, in consideration of the surrender of the charter of 9 Edw. I., regranted the borough to the burgesses at a diminished rent. Edward IV. by an inspeximus charter granted in 1462, confirmed that of 1439, and by another charter, dated in the 6th year of his reign (1466) after reciting that the inhabitants were reduced to great want and distress, and that part of 200 acres of land adjoining the town, upon which they had immemorial rights of common, had been lately enclosed by the king "to make a park thereof," incorporated the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and inhabitants, remitted to them a part of their rent for the borough, and granted them a licence to hold an annual fair. These two charters of Edward IV. were confirmed by inspeximus charters of 15 Hen. VII., 6 Hen. VIII., 3 Edw. VI., 1 James I., 16 Chas. II., and 1 James II.; this last charter has been replaced by the 16 Chas. II. which is the governing one. It names as the officers of the corporation, a mayor, a high steward, an under-steward, a town-clerk, a justice, and two bailiffs. Under the Municipal Reform Act (which has divided the borough into 2 wards) the corporation consists of a high steward, a mayor, a recorder, 6 aldermen, 18 councillors, a town clerk, a treasurer, and subordinate officers. A commission of the peace has been granted, and a court of quarter sessions appointed. Ale is made in large quantities. There are corn and well supplied general markets connected with the town. Windsor has no manufacture of importance; and being out of any principal line of road, its trade is merely one of retail, being confined to the supply of goods to the inhabitants and visitors. The annual value of real property assessed to the property and income tax in 1842 was £39,998; of which £1678 was on lands, £35,050 on houses, £198 on tithes, and £93 on fines. The borough exercised the privilege of returning members to parliament in the 30 Edw. I., and has continued to do so ever since, with some exceptions. This privilege was originally vested in the mayor and commonalty of the burgesses; in 1640 it was determined to be in the inhabitants generally; in 1661 in the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, not exceeding 30 in number; in 1679 in all the inhabitants generally; in 1680 in the inhabitants paying scot and lot; in 1689 in the mayor, bailiffs, and select number of burgesses only; and finally, in 1715, in the inhabitants paying scot and lot. The present constituency comprehends the inhabitants paying scot and lot, including the renters of 1193 houses of £10. The greatest number of electors polled for 30 years prior to the Reform Act was 363. The mayor is the returning officer. The limits of the parliamentary and municipal borough are identical, and comprise the whole of the parish of Windsor, with the exception of the small hamlet of Dedworth, which is separated from the town by an intervening agricultural district. To this is added a part of the parish of Clewer, and the Lower Ward of the Castle. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MEMBERS FROM 1 EDW. VI. TO 10 VICTORIA. Par Members. Par. Members. Edw. Weldon. 1597 Julius Cæsar, L.L.D. Jno. 1553 Norreys. Sir John Norreys, Knt. dent. 1555 Rich. Hoord. 1557 Thos. Stanley. Thos. Butler. 1603 Sam. Backhouse. Thos. Dur- Sir Fras. Howard, v. Durdent (deceased). Sir Chas. Howard, Knt. Sam. Backhouse. 1620 Sir John Bennet, Knt. 1623 Edw. Sayer. Thos. Woodward. 1558 Thos. Weldon. Roger Amyce. || 1614 Sir Wm. Hewett, Knt., v. Woodward (deceased.) 1625 Sir Wm. Russell, Knt. Humph. Newbury. 1626 |