General Chat

What does it mean when someone is a 'freeman'? I have an ancestor who is said to have become a freeman on 17th July 1832. Would it mean the end of a jail term is there another meaning?

HI,
As far as far as i'm aware this is person who is not bonded to labour.

Thanks. This term has bothered me for ages and I've come up with all sort of reasonings in my little head.
Just thought I'd get other views on the subject.

Gosh how very very interesting. Had never known about this. I dont suppose this is where the surname Freeman comes from?


Tina x

In Coventry the only way one can become a Freeman is by servitude. This is rather unique since other cities mostly introduce their candidates by redemption or by patrimony.

RULE FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE FREEDOM

Qualifying Period of Service

The trades and professions concerned are recognised as the appropriate bodies to determine periods of apprenticeship for their own purposes but it does not necessarily follow that these periods should be the sole qualification for admission to the Freedom of the City. Accordingly the qualifying period is defined as follows:-

(a) The service of not less than 5 years full-time apprenticeship; or

(b)The service of such lesser period of apprenticeship as is required to be served in a particular trade or profession (as prescribed from time to time by National or Local Agreements or Professions' requirements relating to that trade or profession) supplemented after apprenticeship (but not necessarily consecutively) by an appropriate period of employment (but not necessarily with the same employer) in the same trade or profession and within the qualifying area (or elsewhere in the employment of a firm with a principal or major place of business in the qualifying area) so as to complete in total a period of 5 years service.


It follows from the above that pre-apprenticeship periods at school or college with continue not to count for Freedom purposes and only that time served after the date of the Agreement signed or sealed between the apprentice and the master will count.

It should be noted that the supplementary period of employment after apprenticeship referred to in (b) above does not need to be continuous (e.g if a supplementary period of two years was required, two separate years could be worked with a break in between.)

Qualifying Area of Service

The area has been extended to that covered by a circle drawn with a radius of four and a half miles from St. Mary's Hall or boundary of the City, which ever is the larger.

The Qualifying Age of 21 years

The age qualification has been removed since five years will need to be served under (1) above. This age will take all school leavers up to 21 years of age or over by the time they take the Freemen's Oath.

After fulfilling the above requirements, Freemen are eligible to join the Guild.

As well as this, I believe you are also entitled to put your pigs on the common to eat the acorns, but I don't think anyone's taken that up for a while!

When Clarissa Dickson-Wright (fat lady) was made a Freeman of the City of London she did exercise her right to drive sheep across one of the bridges.

S

I know of a person who long ago came originally from Russia. On landing in England he said his name was Freeman because he became one. Tracing his family history was lost.

I am a hereditary Freeman of Berwick upon Tweed. Until 2011, daughters were not admitted. My brother was 'made free' when he was 21 in 1972, I waited until 2014, then my children also became eligible and were made free in 2015. Grandaughter will be eligible in 2032.

No animals involved in Berwick....