UK Parliamentary Archives

• Held At: Parliamentary Archives: GB-061
• Catalogue Reference: HL/PO/RO/1/162
• Accession Number: 3660
• Ref No: HL/PO/RO/1/162
• Date: 6 -25 June 1685
• Level: File
• Extent: 1 folio
• Creator Name: Weedon; Carew (fl. 17th Century) of Inner Temple, London.
• Administrative or Biographical History: Thomas Hackett (1627-1689) was Justice of the Peace for Buckinghamshire and made at least two attempts to become an MP. He stood for Buckinghamshire in 1679 with the support of the Duke of Buckingham but was unsuccessful. He was again candidate in 1685 but was defeated by Thomas Warton, who had spent heavily to obtain his victory. Hackett was told that many who had voted against him were not 40s freeholders and decided to petition against Wharton. The voting qualification for men in this period was a freehold property of a minimum value of 40s. It was proposed to hear the petition at the bar, but the motion was rejected by 268 votes against 55. The case was referred to the committee of elections, but no report was made. For details of the petition and its dismissal, see the Journals of the House of Commons, HC/CL/JO/2/11, pp 717 and 760.
• Acquisition: This manuscript was purchased from JLM & HG Gulley, Document and Manuscript Dealers of Upper Norwood, London SE19, in August 1999. Accession No. 3660.
• Description: Weedon informs Hackett that his petition is to be read in the Commons on the '26th instant'. Advises Hackett to obtain a copy of the polls from the Sheriff, Mr Hart, as precedents have been set by other 'wronged' candidates, such as the Duke of Albermale, obtaining justice in this manner in other counties such as Kent and Essex. He further adds that many in his neighbourhood of Olney who voted against him, were not 40s freeholders, as can be testified by Sir Anthony Chester. Weldon warns Hackett that should the Sheriff deny his request, then a further petition against him will have to be brought forward in the House of Commons, rendering the whole process costly. He also asks for more money to further Hackett's cause as 'you cannot but imagine proceedings of this kind chargeable' and awaits further instructions. A postscript mentions that if Hackett could find at least two electors who have been bribed by Wharton, this might be enough to prove 'fowle practice from him'.
  
  Hackett himself made use of the back of the letter to draft a document, unrelated to the case above. This draft is a pass for a poor woman, Mary Howker or Hawker with two children, en route from Devonshire to Norwich, and requires towns to give her relief on the way. It is mentioned that she was shipwrecked on her way back from New England in the parish of Absome and rescued by the Mayor of this parish. (dated 25 June).
  
  Also featured is a list of figures, some appearing to be in Hackett's hand and some in another, with a main calculation 'in totto' and a sum of over £235.
• Terms:
  • Elections,
  • Politicians,
  • Corruption,
• Related Material: A letter of Thomas Hackett is held in the British Library Manuscripts in BL Add MS 29597 f. 24b.
• Access Status: Open
• Physical Description: Manuscript on paper
• Publication Notes: 'Records of Buckinghamshire' by H A Hanley (1974) contains a chapter on Thomas Hackett, 'A Buckinghamshire Tory'.

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