The image of the ‘Eatanswill Election’ is another reminder of political corruption in Sudbury. Two of the freemen on this page were involved in the poll taken on June 29th, 1841 when Villiers and Dyce-Sombre were elected by a small majority, after spending about £3,000 above the ordinary election expenses. The unsuccessful candidates lodged a petition and, as so much bribery, corruption and voter intimidation was discovered by an enquiry, a special Parliamentary Commission was appointed. This led to Sudbury being disenfranchised as a named seat.

William Dowman senior and William Dowman junior both gave statements to the Parliamentary Commission, as it sat in Sudbury Town Hall from September to November 1843. Father and son were solicitors who lived at 35 Friars Street. Dowman senior was admitted to the Freedom of Sudbury on September 2nd, 1811, whilst Dowman junior became a freeman on July 28th, 1838.

Admissions to the Freedom of the Borough of Sudbury in the early 19th century

The Daking family

Daking, Abraham, schoolmaster, admitted May 14th 1801, borough and commons by purchase (Master of the Free Grammar School at Sudbury)

Daking, Robert, tanner, admitted September 6th, 1830, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

Daking, Thomas, tanner, admitted June 11th, 1817, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

The Damant family

Damant, William, linen draper, admitted June 24th, 1822, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

The Daniel family

Daniel, Joseph, fishmonger, admitted May 11th, 1820, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

The Dansie family

Dansie, Jacob, travelling bookseller, son of Jacob, shopkeeper, admitted June 17th, 1818, borough and commons, by birth

Dansie, Thomas Wilkinson, straw plait dealer, admitted July 25th, 1836, borough only, by birth

The Davies family

Davies, William, hawker and pedlar, admitted June 12th, 1801, borough and commons, by purchase

Davies, William, labourer, son of John, labourer, admitted June 10th, 1826, borough only, by birth

Davies, Walter, gardener, son of George, gardener, admitted May 26th, 1857

The Davis family

Davis, Alfred, gardener, son of George, gardener, admitted May 1st, 1857

Davis, David, gardener, son of George, gardener, admitted May 1st, 1857

Davis, George, gardener, admitted June 18th, 1829, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

Davis, Jonathan, a Private in the West Suffolk Militia, admitted October 28th, 1806, borough only, by birth

Davis, William, hawker and pedlar, admitted June 12th, 1801, borough and commons, by purchase

The Dawson family

Dawson, Edward Thomas, of Ballingdon, watchmaker, son of George, dec’d, watchmaker, admitted August 5th, 1859

Dawson, George, watchmaker, admitted January 2nd, 1811, borough and commons, by purchase

The Day family

Day, John, blacksmith, apprentice to Robert Shelly, admitted July 30th, 1842

Day, William, bricklayer, apprentice to Thomas Ginn, admitted June 18th, 1818, borough only, by servitude

Day, William, jun., bricklayer, admitted July 25th, 1836, borough only, by birth

The Daynes family

Daynes, John, blacksmith, admitted February 16th, 1803, borough and commons, by purchase

Daynes, John, jun., blacksmith, son of John, senior, blacksmith, admitted July 29th, 1830, borough and commons, by birth

The Debenham family

Debenham, William, watchmaker, admitted September 3rd, 1827, borough and commons, by purchase, 30 guineas

The Deeks family

Deeks, Daniel, baker, admitted June 1st, 1802, borough and commons, by purchase

Deeks, Henry, blacksmith, son of Daniel, dec’d, admitted July 28th, 1841

The Disney family

Disney, William, of Woolwich, Kent, rope-maker, admitted October 28th 1806, borough only, by birth

The Dixey family

Dixey, Thomas, victualler, admitted September 7th, 1801, borough and commons, by purchase

Dixey, Thomas, wheelwright, apprentice to Thomas Dixey, wheelwright, admitted June 17th, 1818, borough only, by servitude

Dixey, Thomas, wheelwright, admitted August 25th, 1837, borough only, by birth

Dixey, William, wheelwright, son of Thomas, admitted July 28th, 1841

The Dor family

Dor, Charles, breches-maker, admitted June 1st, 1804, borough and commons, by purchase

The Dowman family

Dowman, William, attorney at law, admitted September 2nd, 1811, borough and commons, by purchase

Dowman, William, gentleman, son of William, admitted July 28th, 1838

The Downs family

Downs, Daniel, cordwainer, son of James, admitted October 2nd, 1812, borough and commons, by birth

Downs, James, tailor, son of Daniel, admitted July 28th, 1841

The Duce family

Duce, Isaac, the younger, of Colchester, weaver, admitted July 3rd, 1802, borough only, by birth

Duce, Isaac, labourer, son of Thomas, labourer, admitted August 7th, 1857

Duce, John, of London, silkweaver, son of Isaac, of London, silkweaver, admitted June 18th, 1818, borough only, by birth

Duce, Thomas, labourer, son of Isaac, of London, silkweaver, admitted June 18th, 1818, borough only, by birth

The Duff family

Duff, Alexander, of 15 South St. , Finsbury Market, London, silk manufacturer, admitted March 17th 1830, borough and commons by purchase, 30 guineas

Duff, Alexander, silk manufacturer, admitted February 1st, 1825, honorary freedom, in consideration of the many public services that gentleman has rendered to the borough.

The Dupont family

Dupont, Gainsborough, admitted May 23rd, 1811, borough and commons, by birth

The Dye family

Dye, Thomas, of the India House, London, admitted October 28th, 1806, borough only, by birth