Right of election
in the freeholders
Background Information
Number of voters: about 200
Number of seats
2
Constituency business
County
| Date | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr. 1754 | CHARLES YORKE | |
| CHARLES COCKS | ||
| 8 Dec. 1756 | YORKE re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 24 June 1758 | COCKS re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 27 Mar. 1761 | CHARLES YORKE | |
| CHARLES COCKS | ||
| 1 Feb. 1762 | YORKE re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 23 Dec. 1765 | YORKE re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 16 Mar. 1768 | JOHN YORKE | |
| CHARLES COCKS | ||
| 4 Dec. 1772 | COCKS re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 10 Oct. 1774 | JOHN YORKE | |
| SIR CHARLES COCKS | ||
| 11 Sept. 1780 | JOHN YORKE | |
| SIR CHARLES COCKS | ||
| 31 Mar. 1784 | WILLIAM BELLINGHAM | |
| EDWARD LEEDS | ||
| 4 June 1787 | REGINALD POLE CAREW vice Leeds, vacated his seat | |
| 18 Aug. 1789 | SAMUEL HOOD, Baron Hood, vice Bellingham, appointed to office |
Main Article
The Yorke and Cocks families between them owned most of the freeholds in the borough, and each recommended to one seat. Though there was a good deal of rivalry and jealousy between their respective agents, there was a gentleman’s agreement ‘that each shall continue to bring in one Member for Reigate without contest or dispute from the other’;1Philip Yorke to Ld. Sommers, 10 Apr. 1786, Add. 35641, f. 128. and there was no serious dispute or attempt at outside interference during this period.
Volume
Notes
- 1. Philip Yorke to Ld. Sommers, 10 Apr. 1786, Add. 35641, f. 128.