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