The chief interests at Wigan in 1715 were in Sir Roger Bradshaigh, Member for the borough since 1695, whose estate was one mile away, and in Lord Barrymore, who had inherited the interest of his father-in-law, Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers, M.P. Wigan 1681, and bought that of George Kenyon, M.P. Wigan 1713-15, for £300.2 Elections depended on the mayor, who not only was the returning officer but could create new freemen ex officio. Bradshaigh and Barrymore both made large creations of freemen during their mayoralties.3

In 1715 Bradshaigh, a Tory who soon went over to the Government, recommended Barrymore, a Jacobite, to the corporation,4 both being returned unopposed. Except in 1727, when Barrymore stood down in favour of another Tory, Peter Bold, at the instance of the mayor, on the understanding that he would resume his seat at the next election,5 they shared the representation unopposed, standing jointly, till Bradshaigh died and Barrymore retired in 1747. At the ensuing election, Barrymore’s son was returned with another Tory, the recorder of the borough, Richard Clayton, against two Whigs. An attempt to wrest control from the Tories by the creation of new freemen without the consent of the mayor led to litigation, in which the Tories were successful.6