Right of election

in burgage holders

Background Information

Number of voters: about 70

Number of seats
2
Constituency business
County
Date Candidate Votes
17 Apr. 1754 WILLIAM POWLETT
THOMAS TOWNSHEND
8 Mar. 1757 GEORGE JENNINGS vice Powlett, deceased
31 Mar. 1761 THOMAS TOWNSHEND
GEORGE JENNINGS
23 Dec. 1765 TOWNSHEND re-elected after appointment to office
4 Dec. 1767 TOWNSHEND re-elected after appointment to office
19 Mar. 1768 THOMAS TOWNSHEND
HENRY WALLOP
10 Oct. 1774 THOMAS TOWNSHEND
GEORGE BRODRICK, Visct. Midleton
9 Sept. 1780 THOMAS TOWNSHEND
GEORGE BRODRICK, Visct. Midleton
3 Apr. 1782 TOWNSHEND re-elected after appointment to office
18 July 1782 TOWNSHEND re-elected after appointment to office
17 Mar. 1783 WILLIAM SELWYN vice Townshend, called to the Upper House
2 Apr. 1784 GEORGE BRODRICK, Visct. Midleton
WILLIAM SELWYN
Main Article

Whitchurch was a proprietary borough, but its proprietors changed. About 1750 its patrons were Lord Portsmouth and John Selwyn. On Selwyn’s death in 1751 his interest passed to his son-in-law, Thomas Townshend; and from 1754 to 1774 one Member was chosen by Townshend and the other by Portsmouth. In 1774 and 1780 Thomas Townshend jun. (later Lord Sidney) and his nephew Lord Midleton were returned and Midleton held his seat after 1784, although by then he and Sidney were politically opposed.

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