Poll Book for the 1722 Parliamentary Election¹

The Local History Committee hope to publish in future issues of this magazine original manuscripts relating to Carmarthenshire. Here, printed for the first time, is a Poll Book for the election of the Member of Parliament for the county seat in April 1722.

The candidates were Edward Rice of Newton² and Sir Nicholas Williams of Edwinsford.³ The election was held at Llandeilo on Thursday, 19 April and ended on Tuesday of the following week. The total votes cast numbered 1176, 592 for Rice and 584 for Williams.⁴ Sir Nicholas Williams repeatedly petitioned the House of Commons against this result, alleging malpractice on the part of the sheriff and his under-sheriff. He was finally successful on 18 December 1724, when the Committee of Privileges and Elections resolved that the name of Edward Rice be erased and that of Sir Nicholas Williams be substituted.⁵ He held the seat until his death in 1745.

This document records the names of voters, the parish in which they were domiciled, and the parish of their freehold qualification. These details are listed under the name of the candidate of their choice, the day on which they voted and at which session of the court. All but two of the voters are recorded as having sworn their oaths. The spelling of the various personal and place names has been retained and all abbreviations extended, except for the names of counties.

Carmarthenshire

At the County Court held at the Hall of Llandilo Vawr in and for the aforesaid county on 19 April 1722 before the sheriff and the inspectors at the aforesaid court.

Candidates:

• Sir Nicholas Williams, Baronet
• Edward Rice, Esquire

For Sir Nicholas Williams, Baronet

For Edward Rice, Esquire