[21
FEB 99] FAMILY HISTORY NEWS
'A Collection From Coventry's Past 1833/5'Local
family historian John Russell has just published a new collection of genealogical records
covering the period 1833 to 1835. The book, entitled 'A Collection From Coventry's Past
1833/5', lists all the entries for the Freemen, Court Leet Suitors and Precepts from the
period.
Here is small sample of the 9,000 records in the book:
| SURNAME |
CHRISTIAN NAME |
QUALIFICATION |
ABODE |
DATE |
WARD |
| ABBOT |
ROBERT |
COURT LEET SUITOR |
|
1834 |
CROSS CHEAPING WARD |
| ABBOTT |
ROBERT |
£10.00 |
PRIORY ROW |
1834 |
JORDAN WELL WARD |
| ABELL |
THOMAS |
FREEMAN |
BAYLEY LANE |
1834 |
BAYLEY LANE WARD |
| ABELL |
THOMAS |
FREEMAN |
BAYLEY LANE |
1834 |
BAYLEY LANE WARD |
| ABLE |
THOMAS |
COURT LEET SUITOR |
|
1834 |
BAYLEY LANE WARD |
| ACKINS |
JAMES |
COURT LEET SUITOR |
|
1834 |
MUCH PARK STREET WARD |
| ACKROYD |
JAMES LLOYD |
£10.00 |
WHITE FRIARS LANE |
1834 |
MUCH PARK STREET WARD |
The book is available from:
John Russell
5 Chepstow Close
Willenhall
Coventry CV3 3HG
E-mail: covkid@lineone.net
The full printed book in A4 format costs £5.00 + postage.
A 'zipped' version of the book sent on disk with pictures sent loose is £3.50 + postage.
A 'zipped' version without pictures via email is £3.00.
[POSTAGE FOR THE BOOK: UK = £1.00, USA =
£3.00, Australia = £3.50]
Payment to be made in sterling only.
The book is published by John Russell, 1999. ISBN 1 902898
00 1.
Also included in the book is a historical background to the
period:
PERIOD OF CHANGE 1830 TO 1835
Despite much opposition, Coventry in 1835 had changed quite
dramatically due to the reforms started in the early 1830s - culminating in the
Parliamentary Reform Act passed in June 1832.
This Act brought to an end the Leet and replaced the closed
corporation with an elected city council of 12 aldermen and 36 councillors. These reforms
were celebrated within the city with a triumphant procession and the striking of a medal.
This medal recorded the names of the new council members and carried the inscription:
"To commemorate the termination of the close
Corporation and the triumph of reform in the first municipal election by the people."
This Act introduced the right of the £10 household
franchise to vote. This led to large numbers of burgesses voting alongside the freemen of
the city.
This for the first time meant that the rising manufacturing
class of wealthy Coventry citizens had the opportunity to push out the old guard of
professional men and gentry from the running of the city council.
Commissioners divided the old city into five 'wards':
- Bishop Street
- Cross Cheaping
- Earl Street
- Gosford Street
- Spon Street
with one further ward - the Northern Ward - which covered
Ansty, Exhall, Foleshill, Wyken and the hamlet of Keresley.
Each ward had six councillors and elections took place on
the 29 December 1835.
The newly elected Council, in trying to remove all the
trappings of the old one, even sold by auction most of the contents of St Mary's Hall
including plates, glasses, dining equipment and the side saddle, whip and bridle used in
the Lady Godiva processions. The prayer books from St Michael's and Holy Trinity were also
sold.
Sources used in the book include:
- 1834 Voters List [Coventry Central Library Local
Studies section]
- 1834 Court Leet Suitors [Coventry Archives, film
number 1072/4]
- Precepts files (warrants and jury lists)
[Coventry Archives BA/E/K/13/5768 downwards]
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