Poll books were introduced in 1696 to prevent irregularities in parliamentary elections. County sheriffs were required to compile records of the poll in county elections. They are usually divided by parish and list the name of each voter and the candidate(s) for whom he voted and sometimes who occupied the freehold (see Northbourne polls for 1754 and 1790). Until 1832, only those who had freehold property or land worth 40 shillings per annum could vote in parliamentary and local elections, less than 3% of the adult population. The payment of land tax was generally regarded as a voting qualification.
The 1832 Reform Act, which was passed on 4 June of that year, increased the number of voters, nationally, from around 478,000 to 814,000, about 5% of the adult population. In the boroughs by enfranchising owners and occupiers of property worth £10 in annual value. In the counties the franchise was given to £10 copyholders and £50 leaseholders as well as the 40 shillings freeholders.
The Representation of the People Act 1867 was to increase the number of voters from about 1,359,000 to 2,456,000, about 13% of the adult population. In the boroughs, the property qualification was reduced to rentpayers in lodgings worth £10 per annum, and to any man over twenty-one who had lived in a separate property for the previous 12 months, irrespective of value. In the counties, it was reduced to £5 leaseholders and copyholders and £12 householders. Until 1918 you only had to own property in a parish to qualify for a vote. You did not necessarily have to live there, so if you owned property in three parishes, you were entitled to vote in all three. However about 50% of the male voters were excluded as the act stipulated that in cases of joint ownership or joint tenantship only one could register to vote. This also excluded adult sons still living at home.
Poll Books were effectively abolished by the 1872 Ballot Act that introduced the secret ballot.
NAME FREEHOLD CANDIDATE
CASTLE Stephen Northborne V D
FINIS William Northborne V D
FRIEND Roger Northborne V D
FRIEND Thomas Mongeham M O
GOLDER Daniel Walmer V D
GOLDER William Northborne V D
HILE John Northborne V D
HUDSON John Ash O V
HYDE Valentine Northborne V D
JORDAN Thomas Northborne M O
LAMBARD Richard Northborne V D
LARKIN Francis Wickham M O
NETHERSOLE Robert Northborne M O
NEWEN William Willesbrough M O
PILCHER William Northborne V D
ROBINSON James Northborne M O
SHOCLEDGE Cl. George Northborne M O [SHOCKLIDGE,vicar]
SIMMONDS William Northborne V D
SLAUGHTER Isaac Northborne M O
SOMES Samuel Northborne M O
TERRY Richard Northborne M O
TERRY William Northborne V D
WYBORNE John Deal V D
Freeholders from other Parishes
NAME ABODE FREEHOLD CANDIDATE
BEAR Brickett Alkham Northborne M O
BOYS William Betshanger Eyethorne M O
GURNEY William Deal Northborn M D
MORRISS William Betshanger Tilnestone M O
PYOTT Charles Canterbury Northborn M O
WYBORNE Daniel Folkstone Northborne V D
CANDIDATES: Lord Middlesex, Sir George Oxenden, Lord Viscount Vane and
Sir Edward Dering
| Place name |
Modern spelling |
| Betshanger |
Betteshanger |
| Eyethorne |
Eythorne |
| Folkstone |
Folkestone |
| Northborne |
Northborn Northbourne |
| Tilnestone |
Tilmanstone |
| Willesbrough |
Willesborough, nr. Ashford |