York had one of the largest electorates among the English boroughs, and in Yorkshire its representatives had a standing second only to that of the knights of the shire. Usually they were of the same social class: substantial country gentlemen, drawn from all parts of the county. No merchant, and only two sons of English peers, ever sat for York in the 18th century. There was a certain hereditary element in the representation, but the city was renowned for its independence.
Thirsk was a complete pocket borough of the family of Frankland of Thirkleby, who possessed a majority of the burgages.
In 1754 Ripon was a complete pocket borough of the Aislabie family, who owned a majority of the burgages. On the death of William Aislabie in 1781 the borough was controlled by his son-in-law, William Lawrence.
At Scarborough various interests competed against each other and the electoral scene was always shifting. Government, which had considerable influence through the Customs and the Ordnance, was usually the decisive factor in Scarborough elections throughout this period. About 1754 the leading interests were in Edwin Lascelles, M.P. for Scarborough since 1744, and in William Osbaldeston of Hunmanby, 12 miles from Scarborough, who represented the borough 1736-47 and 1754-66.
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.
