1727

Transcription completed and kindly shared by James Collett-White, in How Bedfordshire Voted, 1685-1735: The Evidence of Local Poll Books (2 vols., Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2006-2008), II, 102-65.

Date: Friday 1 Sept. 1727.

Poll book reference: Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service, OR1828 / CH15/1.

This transcription is a combination of two manuscript poll books for the same election: one in the hand of John Orlebar, and found amongst his family papers, and the other from the papers of the Chester family of Chicheley. There are numerous variations between the two copies. Collett-White has differentiated between them by placing any data unique to the Orlebar document in parentheses ( ), and any data unique to the Chester document in square brackets [ ]. Both copies appear to have been used as canvassing lists for the 1734 general election, and contain marginal notes about voters (James Collett-White, How Bedfordshire Voted, 1685-1735, II, 100-1).

Theophilus Dillingham Esq. served as High Sheriff and returning officer.

The 1727 general election was triggered by the death of George I.

Candidates: Pattee Byng (Whig); Sir Rowland Alston (Whig); Sir John Chester (Tory); and Sir Humphrey Monoux (Tory).

Pattee Byng, son of 1st Viscount Torrington, had previously served as MP for Plymouth (1721-1727).

Sir Humphrey Monoux had served as the MP for Tavistock from 1728 to 1734, where he represented the 3rd duke of Bedford's interests. Sir John Chester was similarly supported by the duke.

Sir Rowland Alston was the nephew of the duke of Kent, who managed Whig interests in Bedfordshire in the early eighteenth century. He served as Knight of the Shire from 1722 to 1741.

Lord Trevor wrote to his son, 'The duke of Bedford refuses to come into a compromise which hath been offered of having Mr. Leigh and Sir Rowland Alston chosen again and resolves to set up two new ones by his own power and without asking the consent of any body, who are Sir John Chester and Sir Humphrey Monoux. This way of proceeding, which tends to make my prestige in the county wholly insignificant, hath determined me to assist Mr. Byng, the Lord Torrington's son, and Sir Rowland Alston with my interest'.

Byng and Alston were elected as Knights of the Shire.