Now that a Committee is gathering materials for a complete
record of the membership of Parliament from 1295, it is most desirable that local antiquaries should do what they can to help. A useful example is set by Sir Frederick Black in his Outline Sketch of the Parliamentary History of the Isle of Wight (Newport : Isle of Wight County Press: 5s.), which gives much ,biographical detail with some good portraits in addition to the lists of members. The island returned two members to Edward I's Parliament, and then was merged in Hampshire. Elizabeth, who enfranchised so many small boroughs, sum- moned two burgesses apiece from Newtown, Newport and Yarmouth. In 1832 the island received a member, while Newtown and Yarmouth were disfranchised. Newport re- tained its two members till 1868, and had one member from 1868 till 1885. Palmerston, Wellington and Percival sat for Newport, Canning for Newtown. The editor shows how, for generation after generation, a few leading local families controlled the representation of the little boroughs.
Previous page
