Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevthe said town of Rotherham, must prepare a Burgess Roll, etc.
After describing how to exhibit this and to deal with objections, it gave instructions for the lists to be submitted to our trusty and well-beloved Vernon Blackburn or our trusty and well-beloved John Edward Barker, who were appointed revising barristers.
It further stated that our trusty and well- beloved Joseph Badger, or in case of his death, inability, incapacity or default, then our trusty and well-beloved John Oxley is appointed returning officer at the elections.
FIRST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
All the necessary formalities having been prepared, the elections followed, when it was found the aspirants for municipal honours were not so numerous as anticipated. With three exceptions, all the members of the lefunct Local Board of Health offered them selves for election to the new governing bodyFour of them were defeated at the polls, namely Messrs. Searle, Bibbs, Mycock, and Brown, whilst Messrs. Habershon, Guest, Morgan, Bamford, and Marsh were successful. The six wards were fought with great determination, and excitement amongst the burgesses was greater than expected. The South Ward, which for many years has had fewer contests than any of the other wards, put up the most spirited contest, six candidates being nominated, whilst in the East Ward, owing to the candidature of Mr. Geo. Neill, an exciting and interesting fight took place. In the North Ward there was no contest. The West Ward produced six candidates for the three seats, and the Masbro’ and Kimberworth Wards each had four aspirants.
If The Rotherham and Masbro’ Advertiser’s comments at that period truly represented public opinion, it is to be regretted that the nine old members of the Local Board who sought election were not returned.
Mr. Charles Searle (who took the initiative in the Charter of Incorporation, and who was also the first to moot the question of purchasing the gas works), failed to secure a seat on the new body - surely another illustration of the proverb that a prophet is unhonoured in his own country.
FIRST COUNCILLORS
The first members of the Town Council were:SOUTH WARD : John Guest, J. C. Morgan, and Frederick Fell.
EAST WARD : Henry Wigfleld, Robert Marsh, and Hugh Hoyland.
WEST WARD : Jervis Harris, James Bennett, and Joseph Bamforth.
MASBRO’ WARD : J. M, Habershon, Henry Bray, and W. H. Gummer.
KIMBERWORTH WARD : B. E. C. Chambers, James Ellis, and Wm. Gillott.
NORTH WARD : Wm. Moorhouse, John Reed, and Geo. Wragg.
There were many good men disappointed, candidates with every qualification for public service, such as Thomas Wigfleld, J. Kitchingman, F. Wheatley, Joseph Wells, Charles Searle, and Geo. Neill (who later became one of Rotherham’s foremost men), being amongst the unsuccessful aspirants.
FIRST MAYOR
On November 9th, 1871, Mr. J. M. Habershon (grandfather of the present Alderman Alfred Habershon) was elected first Mayor of Rotherham.The proceedings were commendably brief,the speeches of the proposer (Mr. John Guest)and the seconder (Mr. James Clifford Morgan) being short and to the point.
On Mr. William Whitfield, clerk to the old Local Board of Health, fell the honour of being appointed Town Clerk of the new borough. Six aldermen were selected from the eighteen elected councillors, the honour falling upon Messrs. J. M. Habershon, John Guest, B. E. C. Chambers, William Moorhouse, Joseph Bamforth, and James Clifford Morgan. » next
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