Title: Electors of the Borough of Belfast
Date: 1865
Description: This database comprises a register of those qualified to vote in Belfast in the general election of 1865. The candidates were Sir Hugh McCalmont Cairns, Samuel Gibson Getty and Lord John Hay. The first two were elected (at this time Belfast returned two MPs to the House of Commons and each voter had two votes).
The register lists electors alphabetically by ward (Dock, St Anne's, St George's, Smithfield and Cromac), giving street and indicating the candidates that each person voted for.
There is also a list of those who did not vote along with the reason for not doing so. The reasons varied with some electors recorded as deceased and others 'out of town' or overseas in America, Australia, New Zealand, or even India.
Source: PRONI, D2966/5/4
Compiled by: UHF volunteers