The Electoral system in England was administered by Parish units, developed through the years and transferring power from the Church to elected secular officers and Members of Parliament. Old Stratford was included in the parish of Cosgrove from Watling Street, eastwards, to Cosgrove village. People living on the west side of Watling Street were included in the parish of Passenham.

Also recorded are people entitled to vote because they owned property or land in the parish of Cosgrove, but they themselves lived elsewhere. It is possible that people failed to register for the electoral roll during some years, and qualified under more than one category in others - thus appearing twice. It is not clear whether they voted more than once!