Welsh Journals

Montgomeryshire Parliamentary Records. To THE EDITOR. 16/4/31. SIR, The work of the Committee on House of Commons Records is handicapped by the fact that, prior to 1661 the names of many M.P.'s have been lost. We have recovered a considerable number from Municipal Records and other public sources in England, but the records of Welsh Municipalities seem to have been badly preserved, and we have found none to help us. In the last session of the Reformation Parliament, 1529-36, an Act was passed giving one member to each of the 12 Welsh Counties and one to groups of Boroughs in each County. No names at all have been found for the Parliaments of 1536 and 1539-40, and it seems improbable that Wales actually sent M.P.'s to Westminster before 1542. I append a list of the 10 subsequent Parliaments showing the constituencies for which we have no names, in the hope that some of your readers may help us to fill the blanks or to tell us where Borough Records are still to be found whence information as to the M.P.'s might be obtained. In England we have sometimes got the names from the Treasurers' Accounts where the payment of the member's wage is generally recorded. Contemporary letters and papers often mention candidatures, contests or recommendations by the local magnate to elect his nominee. I am, Sir, Yours etc., JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, Chairman.