Lincolnshire

In 1715 the representation of Stamford was shared between two Tory families, each returning one Member: the Berties of Uffington, two miles from the borough; and the Cecils, earls of Exeter, ‘of Burghley House by Stamford town’. By 1727 the Earl of Exeter had increased his interest sufficiently to capture both seats, ousting the Berties in the person of Charles Bertie. In 1734 the Exeter interest was challenged by Savile Cust, the uncle of Sir John Cust, whose family formerly had considerable influence in Stamford.J.

Lincoln was an open borough, returning neighbouring country gentlemen. The most important Whig interests were those of the Monsons of Burton, two miles away, who held one seat almost continuously 1722-68, and of Sir Thomas Lumley Saunderson, who in 1723 inherited estates in the county. In 1727 Sir John Monson, who was standing for re-election, told Newcastle that

Grimsby was a venal borough, the resort of shady business men, including a strong South Sea contingent— Arthur Moore, expelled from his South Sea directorship in 1714; Sir Robert Chaplin, expelled from the House of Commons for his complicity in the South Sea scandal; John Gore, another guilty but less seriously implicated director, and his brother-in-law, Charles Pelham; Robert Knight, John Page, and Benjamin Collyer, respectively the son, son-in-law, and brother-in-law of Robert Knight, the absconding cashier of the Company.

The chief interests at Grantham were in two neighbouring Whig families, the dukes of Rutland, seated at Belvoir, seven miles from the borough, and the Brownlows of Belton and Humby, also not far away. The 3rd Earl of Cardigan, whose estate at Hougham was six miles from Grantham, supported the local Tories till his death in 1732. Most of the corporation were Tories.J. Garner to John Heathcote, 18 Mar. 1722, I Ancaster mss 13/B/2, Lincs. Archives Office.

At George I’s accession the chief interests at Boston were in the 1st Duke of Ancaster, recorder of the borough,P. Thompson, Hist. Boston, 458. and the Tory dominated corporation. Under the Tory ministry at the end of Anne’s reign the corporation had been able to return two Tories, Richard Wynn and Henry Heron, who were re-elected in 1715 unopposed.

The principal interest at Stamford lay with the Cecil earls of Exeter, whose vast Elizabethan mansion at Burleigh dominated the town. They owned much property in the borough, including the feefarm rent and the advowsons of five parish churches. Their tenure of the recordership was interrupted by the Interregnum, but normally gave them considerable influence over the corporation, which in turn controlled the freeman roll.

Under a charter of 1628 the corporation of Lincoln consisted of the mayor, 12 aldermen, two sheriffs (who acted as returning officers) and between 25 and 30 common councilmen. The freedom of the city appears to have been liberally granted at times of political excitement, and was doubtless a factor in the long domination of Sir Thomas Meres and the Monson family from the Restoration to the Revolution.

Grimsby, formerly a flourishing port, had by the Civil War ‘but one poor coal-ship and scarce mariners to man her’, according to one of her representatives. The corporation were usually happy to sell the freedom of the borough, which carried with it the franchise, at £10 a time, though a parliamentary candidate might have to pay four times as much and the constituency was beginning to acquire a reputation for venality. Nevertheless all the Members were Lincolnshire men by birth, residence, or property; but they were drawn from no less than ten different gentry families.

Under the charter of 1631 the corporation of Grantham consisted of an alderman, who acted as returning officer, 12 ‘comburgesses’, and 12 ‘second burgesses’. It controlled the freeman roll, and hence the franchise. The medieval Thorold family was resident in several of its branches in and near the borough, but their interest did not predominate in this period owing to widespread recusancy and to financial difficulties in the senior branch. More persistent interests were exercised by two families of comparatively recent origin.

During this period the dominant interest at Boston passed from the Puritan Irby family, which had regularly represented the borough since 1554, to the Anglican Berties. Not only was Sir Anthony Irby returned at every election from 1628 till his death, except that for the first Protectorate Parliament, but he frequently secured the other seat for a kinsman or a friend. He was doubtless assisted by his fellow Presbyterian, William Ellys, who was recorder from 1639 to 1662.