[This was Israel Stoughton, deputy from Dorchester (see No. 70, below). Afterward Stoughton was an officer in Cromwell's original regiment of Ironsides. Winthrop wrote a pamphlet _in favor_ of the negative voice; but for this he was not called to account.] 70. Formal Adoption of the Ballot in Elections in the General Court Winthrop's _History of New England_. For the one earlier instance, cf. No. 67 _a_ and note. [May 6/16, 1635.] A general court was held at Newtown, where John Haynes, Esq., was chosen governour, Richard Bellingham, Esq., deputy governour, and Mr. Hough and Mr. Dummer chosen assistants to the former; and Mr. Ludlow, the late deputy, left out of the magistracy. The reason was, partly, because the people would exercise their absolute power, etc., and partly upon some speeches of the deputy, who protested against the election of the governour as void, for that the deputies of the several towns had agreed upon the election before they came, etc.[55] But this was generally discussed, and the election adjudged good. Mr. Endecott was also left out, and called into question about the defacing the cross in the ensign.... The governour and deputy were elected by papers, wherein their names were written; but the assistants were chosen by papers, without names, viz. the governour propounded one to the people; then they all went out, and came in at one door, and every man delivered a paper into a hat. Such as gave their vote for the party named, gave in a paper with some figures or scroll in it; others gave in a blank. * * * * * Apetition was preferred by many of Dorchester, etc., for releasing the sentence against Mr. Stoughton the last general court; but it was rejected, and the sentence affirmed by the country to be just.... 71. Secret Ballot in a Local Election, because of Democratic and Aristocratic Jealousies Winthrop's _History of New England_. The use of the ballot noted in No. 70 was not the first in New England. An earlier instance in the General Court of the year before has been noted (No. 67 _a_, note), and the following extract shows an instance of its use in a town election, along with other interesting political data. On the matter of the ballot, cf. _American History and Government_, # 77.