Poll Books 1790 - 1859 Last updated 21.8.2011

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The idea of a secret ballot was only introduced in 1872, until then the few voters of Hartley had to vote in public.  This would be noted down and later published for all to see in "Poll Books", some of which are available to view in Gravesend Library.

1790
The winner Edward Knatchbull (1758-1819) was MP for Kent 1790-1802 and 1806-1819.  He was Tory (Conservative), the other candidate elected was Filmer Honywood was Whig (LIberal)

Living in Kent - voted 2nd day

Freeholders

Freehold

Consisting

Occupiers

Marsham

Knatchbull

Honywood

Francis Glover

Hartley

house & land

self

X

X

 

Richard Treadwell

Hartley

house & land

self

 

X

 

William Goldsmith

Hartley

house & land

self

X

X

 

Living in Surrey - voted 1st day

Freeholders

Freehold

Consisting

Occupiers

Marsham

Knatchbull

Honywood

George Charrington of Beddington

Hartley

house & land

Goldsmith

 

 

X

Result

Candidate

Result by poll list

Declared at close of poll

Marsham

2,724

2,663

Knatchbull

4,285

4,196

Honywood

3,101

2,957

1802
Quite a swing away from Mr Knatchbull can be seen in Hartley and the rest of Kent, in the preceding election (1796) he had succeeded in getting Honywood voted out by getting the second votes to go to William Geary, an independent (1756-1825) MP 1796-1806, 1812-1818), however the same tactic was to backfire for this election.  But in the next election of 1806 it was Mr Geary's turn to be rejected at the polls, prompting this poem:

Some ten years ago, three men of great fame
Filmer Honywood, Knatchbull, and Geary by name
To the County of Kent did their service propose
As Parliament men, with a view to be chose.
The Freeholders then did most wisely decree
That Knatchbull and Geary were the best of the three.
Six years had elapsed when the very same men
To the County did offer their service again;
The Freeholders then did as wisely decide
To take t'other two and set Knatchbull aside;
Four years after this came another election
When Geary in turn underwent his rejection.
Let no one from hence most rashly insist on't
That the County of Kent is not truly consistent --
Most consistent to all she appears, without doubt
By putting
all "in" and by turning all "out"!

Day Polled

Freeholder

Knatchbull

Geary

Honywood

4

Richard Treadwell

 

X

X

 

Thomas Cl Bradley

 

X

X

7

William Goldsmith

 

X

X

Total:
Knatchbull 3,933
Geary 4,085
Honywood 4,761

1835 - Western Division Poll - Gravesend Division
In this election the winner was William Richard Powlett Geary (1810-1877, MP 1835-1838), son of the William Geary above.  Thomas Law Hodges (1776-1857, MP 1832-1841) was the other winner.  Thomas Rider (1765-1847, MP 1832-1835) lost his seat at the election.

Name

Residence

Hodges

Rider

Geary

William Bensted, sen

Hartley

 

 

X

William Bensted, jun

Hartley Court

 

 

X

Edward Best

Hartley

 

 

X

Total:
Hodges 2,096
Rider 2,007
Geary 2,565

1852 - West Kent Poll
The winners were Sir Edmund Filmer and William Masters Smith (of Camer)

Name

Address

Filmer

Smith

Hodges

Edmund Aldersley jun

Bridge Wharf, Strood
(Qualified to vote at Rochester)

 

 

 

Edward Allen

Sutton at Hone

X

X

 

William Bensted

Hartley Court

X

X

 

George Best

Road from Hartley to Longfield

X

X

 

Thomas Bradley

Swanscombe

X

X

 

Result (15 July 1852)
Sir Edmund Filmer baronet 3,247
William Masters Smith esq 3,193
Thomas Law Hodges esq 2,652

1857 - Western Division Poll - Gravesend Division
There were 2 elections this year, a bye-election on 18 Feb 1857 and the general election of 3 April 1857.  In the bye-election Charles Wykeham Martin (1801-1870, MP 1857-1859) was victorious over Sir Walter B Riddell, and successfully defended his seat in the general election.  However at the general election, the sitting MP William Masters Smith of Camer, Meopham (MP 1852-1857) was defeated by James Whatman (1813-1887).  Hartley's voters backed the loser on both occasions, although it is not surprising that they voted for Smith, the local man.  George Best would have had a double reason to vote for him - Mr Smith was his landlord!

Name

Abode

Riddell

Martin

Smith

Martin

Whatman

Rev E Allen

Rectory House, Hartley

X

 

X

 

 

James Armstrong

North End, Southfleet

X

 

X

 

 

William Bensted

Hartley Court

X

 

X

 

 

George Best

Road from Hartley to Longfield

X

 

X

 

 

Thomas Bradley

Swanscombe

X

 

X

 

 

J T Smith

Sun Cottage, St Pauls, Deptford

 

 

 

 

 

William Treadwell

New House Farm

X

 

X

 

 

James Treadwell

Fairby Farm

X

 

X

 

 

Result (bye-election)
C Wykeham Martin 3,557
Sir Walter B Riddell 3,149

Result (general election)
C Wykeham Martin (Liberal) 3,896
James Whatman (Liberal) 3,578
William Masters Smith (Conservative) 3,171

1859 - West Kent Poll - Gravesend
Two Hartley based people were qualified to vote in other parishes, viz Thomas Deane in Ash and William Young in Fawkham.  They voted the same way as all the Hartley voters.  Both sitting MPs were defeated by Viscount Holmesdale (1836-1910, MP 1859-1868) and Sir Edward Filmer (1835-1886, MP 1859-1865).  The Daily News of 9 May 1859 reported on an election riot at Dartford.  Interestingly then the Conservatives colours were orange and purple, while the Liberals campaign colours were blue (Daily News 4 May 1859)

Name

Address

Holmesdale

Filmer

Martin

Whatman

Rev Edward Allen

Rectory House, Hartley

X

X

 

 

William Allen

Court Farm, Hartley

X

X

 

 

James Armstrong

North End, Southfleet

X

X

 

 

William Bensted

Fairseat, Stansted

X

X

 

 

George Best

Middle Farm

X

X

 

 

Thomas Bradley

Swanscombe

X

X

 

 

James Treadwell

Fairby Farm

X

X

 

 

William Treadwell

New House Farm

X

X

 

 

Result (6 May 1859)
Viscount Holmesdale (Conservative) 3,769
Sir Edward Filmer (Conservative) 3,684
Charles Wykeham Martin (Liberal) 3,584
James Whatman (Liberal) 3,460

1865 - West Kent Poll - Gravesend
Thomas Deane of Hartley was qualified to vote in Ash; he voted the same way as all the Hartley voters.  George Palmer Evelyn of Hartley Manor and 8 Onslow Street, Brompton, Middx, voted elsewhere.  The two Conservative candidates, Viscount Holmesdale and W H Dyke were elected, but once again a close run thing between the Conservatives and Liberals.

Name

Address

Holmesdale

Dyke

Augerstein

Lubbock

Rev Edward Allen

Rectory House, Hartley

X

X

 

 

William Allen

Court Farm, Hartley

X

X

 

 

George Best

Middle Farm

X

X

 

 

William Treadwell

New House Farm

X

X

 

 

Result (6 May 1859)
Viscount Holmesdale (Conservative) 4,442
W H Dyke (Conservative) 4,062
Mr Lubbock (Liberal) 3,888
Mr Augerstein (Liberal) 3,849