Description:A political song set to the tune or 'air' The Cock of the Staffordshire Parson.
The song describes an election campaign by a candidate the songwriter refers to as a Cock for a Tithing Parson.
At this time the church was entitled to a tithe from the people of the parish, which was a tax taken in the form of produce. It was a very galling system to some parishioners.
This situation tended to be supported by the aristocracy and was associated with the Tory Crew described in the song.
Broadside ballads
Broadsides or broadsheets were a popular way of distributing and publishing songs.
It was a practice that had been growing in popularity since the birth of the printing press in the 1500s and carried on until the early 1900s.
These ballads covered many different subjects including romance, nationalism, famous individuals, current affairs and, in this case, politics.
Ballad singing was not only used as a form of entertainment. In this period there was a high level of illiteracy amongst the working classes. Ballad singing became a good way to spread news, ideas or propaganda.
Broadsides were often sold by street hawkers who would also sing the songs.
About this document
This document was collected by Burslem pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood and is now among the collections of Stoke-on-Trent Museums.