In 1754 the families of Yorke and Darcy returned one Member each, but the Darcys, having purchased the burgages of the Wharton family, obtained the predominant interest, and in 1761 returned both Members. Sir Conyers Darcy bequeathed the manor of Aske and his burgages at Richmond to his nephew, the last Earl of Holdernesse, who, in 1762, sold them to Sir Lawrence Dundas.
The majority of the burgages were owned by the Lascelles family of Harewood and the Peirse family of Bedale; and normally they each recommended one Member. But from 1754 to 1774, while Henry Peirse was under age, both seats were held by the Lascelles.
In 1754 Pontefract was controlled by Lord Galway and George Morton Pitt. Galway owned about 80 burgages, Pitt about 75, and 22 were in their joint possession. By an agreement made in 1743 and renewed in 1747, each party contracted not to sell his burgages without first giving the other the option to buy.
Oldfield wrote about Malton in 1792;Boroughs, iii. 273.
There is no resolution respecting the right of election, but it is exercised by the burgage holders ... these are mostly the property of Earl Fitzwilliam, who has the sole disposal of its political favours.
Fitzwilliam had inherited Malton from his uncle Lord Rockingham, and it was always treated as a complete pocket borough of the Wentworth Woodhouse family. Even so, there were real voters at Malton and attention was necessary.
Hull had a large and unruly electorate, and was difficult to classify or control; political questions did not count for much. Government had some influence which, combined with that of the corporation and Trinity House, could usually ensure the return of one Member. Lord Robert Manners, originally a stranger at Hull, held his seat with Government backing for 35 years. A number of local families had an interest: the Crowles, the Thorntons, William Wilberforce, and Sir Henry Etherington.
About 1750 Knaresborough was controlled by Lord Burlington and Sir Henry Slingsby. Burlington died on 3 Dec. 1753, and his interest in the borough passed to his widow. Their daughter and heir, Charlotte, had married William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire; who wrote to Lady Burlington on 13 Mar. 1756, soon after succeeding to the title:Devonshire mss.
Aldborough and Boroughbridge were neighbouring boroughs, under the same owner and under joint management. The Duke of Newcastle used to refer to them as ‘my own two boroughs’. He owned most of the houses in Aldborough and a majority of the burgages at Boroughbridge. The Wilkinson family also owned property in both boroughs; they managed them on Newcastle’s behalf and were able to assert a claim to one seat. Still Newcastle, when offering a seat at Boroughbridge to Sir Cecil Bisshopp in 1755, could write:Add. 32852, f.
In 1754 the dominant interest at Hedon was in Lord Anson, first lord of the Admiralty, M.P. for Hedon 1744-7. On Anson’s death in 1762, his place as patron of the borough was taken by his friend, Sir Charles Saunders, Member since 1754. Saunders strengthened his interest by acquiring property in Hedon, and in 1768 and 1774 carried both seats without a contest.
See BOROUGHBRIDGE (1754-90 Section)
There was no predominant interest at Beverley, and contests were frequent. In the second half of the eighteenth century its Members were invariably country gentlemen.
