Genealogy Chat

Hi Malcolm, what a great story, one never thinks or hears of Lairds or Aristocracy being so generous. The elderly storyteller sounded like you said, a true gentleman.
If you could put some of these stories on paper, would make a very interesting read.

Sadly my Chauffeur was fond of the Ladies and left an awful lot of children and women with troubled lives, this would have in the 1920's.

Thanks again Malcolm, All the best, GinaS

Slightly off topic but when I was single and 22 (about 1970) I bought a tiny cottage in the town of Cupar, Fife. The solicitor told me there was an allotment as part of the property but he didn't know exactly where. He sent me to a very elderly gentleman who he said would know. This old man was about ninety and welcomed me in. He was glad of the company and showed me the overgrown allotment after which he invited me in for a drink.

He told me he'd been chaffeur to the local laird and that his father had been coach driver for many years prior to that..well back into the 19th century. It was a treat to listen to his stories, but the best bit was when he took me into the big garage at the back of his house and pulled a sheet off a 1903 Panhard in gleaming condition. His boss hd given it to him in about 1920 and he'd kept it ever since.

I went to see him regularly after that and got a lot of his tales of driving in the early days. Then I got married and moved away but I still remember that first day and a marvellous revelation of a bit of local history by a true gent.

Hi Shirley and George,

I thought because was an employee of the house and living in the servants quarters this would not entitle him to vote - seems he could,

Many thanks Shirley and George for your help and data.

Regards, GinaS

you might be thinking about women, who were not allowed to vote until they were 30, unless they were married to a proerty owner or owned propert, then it was over 21


In 1918 women over 30 were allowed to vote. Women over 21 who owned a house or were married to a house owner were allowed to vote. Meanwhile in 1907 a new law allowed women to stand for election in borough, district and council elections. From 1919 women were allowed to sit on juries and become lawyers and magistrates.

In 1928 universal suffrage was introduced. Afterwards anyone over the age of 21 could vote.

There is loads of info if you "Google"


George

Seems so !

1918 Representation of the
People Act (7 & 8 Geo V c.64)
This Act enabled all men over 21 to
vote. Women were allowed to qualify
if they were local government voters,
or the wives of local government
voters provided that they were over 30.

because he is down as a resident in a house.

I thought only Property Owners could vote!!!