Horsham

Borough

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Background Information

Right of Election:

in burgage holders

Number of voters:

65

Elections

DateCandidateVotes
29 Jan. 1715CHARLES EVERSFIELD36
 SIR HENRY GORING33
 Hon. Arthur Ingram33
 Arthur Ingram28
 INGRAM and INGRAM vice Goring and Eversfield, on petition, 16 June 1715 
12 June 1721CHARLES EVERSFIELD vice Hon. Arthur Ingram, called to the the Upper House 
21 Mar. 1722HENRY INGRAM 
 CHARLES EVERSFIELD 
17 May 1727INGRAM re-elected after appointment to office 
15 Aug. 1727HENRY INGRAM 
 CHARLES EVERSFIELD 
23 Apr. 1734HENRY INGRAM 
 CHARLES EVERSFIELD 
20 May 1735INGRAM re-elected after appointment to office 
7 Feb. 1737CHARLES INGRAM vice Henry Ingram, called to the Upper House 
4 May 1741CHARLES INGRAM 
 SIR RICHARD MILL 
30 June 1747COL. CHARLES INGRAM 
 CHARLES INGRAM jun. 
17 Dec. 1748SIR LIONEL PILKINGTON vice Col. Charles Ingram, deceased 

Main Article

The chief interests in Horsham at George I’s accession were those of Charles Eversfield, a Tory, and of the Ingrams, Viscounts Irwin, Whigs. As neither owned a majority of burgages each relied on the independent burgage holders for votes. In 1715 there was a contest at which two Eversfield candidates were returned but the seats were awarded to the Ingrams on a petition alleging partiality by the returning officers, as well as malpractices by the sitting Members’ agent, who was committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms.1 In 1722 Eversfield and the Ingrams shared the seats to avoid the expense of a contest. Next year Eversfield contracted for £6,000 to convey 20 burgages in the borough to Arthur, 6th Viscount Irwin, and to give up his interest. The contract, however, was not completed at the time, because Irwin could not raise the purchase price and Eversfield owned insufficient burgages. After the death of Lord Irwin in 1736, his successor Henry, the 7th Viscount, called on Eversfield to complete the contract, giving the Ingrams complete control of the borough. Between 1736 and 1743 Lord Irwin acquired some 20 further burgages to make his position unassailable.2

Author: J. B. Lawson

Notes

  • 1. CJ, xviii. 24, 172-5.
  • 2. W.T. Albery, Parl. Hist. Horsham, 74-75, 80.