New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
TIE POTWILLOPER.
AN ANCIENT HISTORICAL FIGURE NOW EXTINCT
IN ENGLAND.

AN ANCIENT HISTORICAL FIGURE NOW EXTINCT
IN ENGLAND.
From Leisure Hour.
All through the present century rdcule. X
not odium. has attached to the word potwal-
lopcr: but it must rot be forgotten that the OLD
potwalloper was significant Of much that was
important in English history. The potwalloper
was an inhahitant OF town who provided ana
dressed his own meals. In other words ne was
freeman and owned no lord b"fore the
Reformation. when there were public kitchens
attached - many Of the parish churches. the
p0twalloIcr took his food 10 the church kitchen
to dress II and eat it th'r" in order 20 snow ms
n"i.hbors that h. provided his own food. ana
vas not compelled "a go - the table Of any !ord
or master for his meals Later on IN the SIN
tcrnth ard seventeenth centuries wh'h the POS
session If the Parliamentary franch!S" was pc
ginning to add to a mans social ana economic
importance in a town. those electors who voted
on the potwailopcr franchise established me
custom Of eating their meals OccaslpnaIIy III 'iic
street To make it known that they were pot
wallpapers ana as such were entitled To vote at
the Parliamentary elections.
Tn. existence Of this old custom Is welr de-
scrih.i in several of the local histories If raun-
ton In the Yorkshire boroughs the people fol-
lowed the same custom. and when the pot
wallppcr moved from one hous" I" another ne
st out a inbl. in the street and took "A meal
ihrr.. To- mark the taking possession ~ ms new
abode Some u the early local historians or
n" YORKSHIRE" LoroEGhs We're in doubt AZ 10 now
tins custom originated and what 1t II. ant one
OF them sugG .strd thai il was Intended ny inc
n..y corners As means II making friends
among their n"ighoDrs. There -. however now
no luuit that this eating II meal in tn" street
IN IN" Yorkshire horoughs was FOR IN" same
purpose rs the similar custom IN Taunton
There as stated hy DrfOe Il was solely Tor me
purius.. II asserting the right 10 vote.
Tn. present generation knows OF the p''>
Nall,;rr as "A ycnal voter. who was alwas
ready - sell his vote. But in THIS respect he
"a. 40 worse tnan Al large PROPORTION 81 IN"
borough electors If TIL eighteenth century. III
towns whore thrr" were no pOiwa"i"rS. Wh"rf
the right - vote was not 80 generally enJ"N't
and whcr. The frarchis" was In ui" hands
brgase holders. ~ thos" II frc"ri"n. or IN IN $50
~ m" aldermen The Only difference was 'hh
n usually cost much loss - buy IN" vote oi I
p1iNalinptr than that Il huigaG" holder "r
an alderman. when the Reform At vas
passed the potWaliurers w'T" rot deprived ~
their votes No additional p"twalloper voters
Ncr. - be- made but IN" right t. vote was con
iinurd - iho'r alr' ady in "Nisterc", an' III
mary horoughs for generation or moro aitr
ISL the p,twaliopers went regularly - W"
polls Firs; they went in contrary with m" tIV
hpus.hnlicre then after 1871, with IN" h'ua'-
hold sufraeists ard IA" lrlsrr VOTERS
Gradually. however. IN or" 'pf""gh hii'i ~
other the potwallnpcrs died Of. f'hte'Irt
unti a year or two since had or on lS register
bat now IN" race Is extinct