Women Voters in Birmingham: … … Thirdly, it had been the common practice in Birmingham, as elsewhere, that if, for example, the overseers had in error put Mrs. Mary Jones on the list (regarding her, wrongly, as the tenant) and Mr. Wm. Jones, her husband, put in a claim and his claim was allowed, then Mrs. Jones’ name was struck out without objection. The Liberal agent contended that this could not legally be done, and the revising barrister decided in his favour. As it is a common thing for the wives’ names to be given to the overseers’ canvassers, there are now a considerable number of cases in Birmingham where the names of husband and wife both appear on the burgess roll. It was an interesting outcome of the first of these decisions that a married woman, Mrs. Pinsent, became enrolled as a burgess, and was then elected to the City Council. And it is an equally interesting result of the cumulative force of the decisions that there are probably more women burgesses in proportion to the electorate than in any other city in the kingdom. T. P. N.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949