Ripon

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:

about 180

Elections

DateCandidateVotes
4 Feb. 1715JOHN AISLABIE132
 CHRISTOPHER WANDESFORD, Visct. Castlecomer108
 John Sharpe64
4 Apr. 1718AISLABIE re-elected after appointment to office 
5 Dec. 1719WILLIAM AISLABIE, vice Castlecomer, deceased 
1 Apr. 1721WILLIAM AISLABIE vice John Aislabie, expelled the House 
28 Mar. 1722WILLIAM AISLABIE 
 JOHN SCROPE 
16 Aug. 1727WILLIAM AISLABIE 
 WILLIAM AISLABIE 
29 Apr. 1734WILLIAM AISLABIE 
 THOMAS DUNCOMBE 
1 Feb. 1738AISLABIE re-elected after appointment to office 
8 May 1741WILLIAM AISLABIE 
 HENRY VANE 
28 July 1742VANE re-elected after appointment to office 
1 July 1747SIR CHARLES VERNON 
 WILLIAM AISLABIE 

Main Article

At George I’s accession the sitting Members for Ripon were John Aislabie of Studley Royal, Whig, and his relation by marriage, John Sharpe, son of the Archbishop of York, a Tory, who had shared the representation without opposition since 1705. In 1715 Aislabie owned about 40 burgages, having spent over £5000 on purchases, while Sharpe owned 11 out of some 180. At the general election that year Sharpe was defeated by Lord Castlecomer, a neighbouring Whig landowner, supported by Aislabie, who headed the poll. By 1720 Aislabie, whose brother had succeeded to the second seat on Castlecomer’s death in 1719, had purchased 36½ more burgages, including all Sharpe’s, thenceforth nominating both Members. By 1744 he owned 91 out of a total of 177 burgages, giving him absolute control of the borough.1

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. Vyner mss in Leeds Public Library, ex inf. J. A. Woods.