Poll book [manuscript].
1698
Items
Details
Title
Poll book [manuscript].
Created/published
England, circa 1698.
Description
1 volume ; 33 x 42 cm
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- London.
Item Details
Call number
FAST ACC 271852 (flat)
Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "English 17th century electoral manuscript. [Cornwall, Liskeard. Circa 1698]. Bifolium (sheet size 333 mm x 420 mm). 4 pages. A few small holes at folds, margins slightly browned. This is a nice early example of an English poll book. The development of poll books remains obscure, as they were created piecemeal, and although an Act of 1696 did give them official recognition recording remained patchy. Contested elections were an exception in early modern England as it was customary in such cases for details to be recorded, and indeed Liskeard's only recorded contested election is 1698, which likely accounts for the existence of this manuscript. These are interesting artefacts because occurring as they do in the days before the secret ballot, they provide otherwise unrecorded details. The voter's names (all freemen) are recorded, followed by "whome they vote for", and the names of the candidates, in this case four. The freemen each vote for two candidates and the running totals are recorded in the columns." Ordered from Dean Cooke, Manuscripts & Rare Books D9371 2019-11-27, Cat. "Boston Bibliotheca Being a selection of unusual MANUSCRIPTS & RARE BOOKS IN TWO PARTS PART I: FEATURED WORKS PART II: FURTHER WORKS", item #25.