Written by The Balfour Blogger #3
Thomas Balfour was elected as Conservative MP for Orkney and Shetland in 1835, thanks to a hard-fought campaign paid for by his father, Captain William Balfour RN of Elwick.
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
Most of the expense was the agents’ travel, canvassing around Orkney and Shetland, and the travel and lodging of the voters. Unfortunately, Parliament had been dissolved on 29 December 1834 and the voting, in Kirkwall and Stromness, was on 5 and 6 February so all the travel was in mid-winter. This may help to explain why only 198 of the 298 electors voted, though some were determined to have their say, as demonstrated by some of the entries in a list of expenses totalling £1412 0s 5½d Ref D2/29/3/69
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
Owner and Master & crew of the Catherine, for bringing in and putting back again the Westray voters in the worst weather (16 days) £19
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
Owner and crew of the Despatch for bringing in and carrying out Stronsay voters in very bad weather £20
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
George Harvey, Master of the Canning,
for self & crew, out five days in a perfect storm & bringing in the
Eday voters at the most desperate risk, only one hour before the final close of
the poll. £8.7s
At least they had something to cheer them on their way-
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
James Drever bill for wine and spirits
provided to the vessels sent for the voters £11 19s
South Isles voters had a slightly easier time:
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
And Deerness seems to have made an occasion
of it
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| Extract from D2/29/3/69 |
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Extracts from archive items in D2/29/3/69 from the Balfour of Balfour & Trenabie papers
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