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FREEMAN
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FREEMAN , primarily one who is See also:free, as opposed to a slave or serf (see See also:FEUDALISM; See also:SLAVERY). The See also:term is more specifically applied to one who possesses the freedom of a See also:city, See also:borough or See also:company. Before the passing of the Municipal Corporations See also:Act 1835, each See also:English borough admitted freemen according to its own See also:peculiar See also:custom and by-See also:laws. The rights and privileges of a freeman, though varying in different boroughs, generally included the right to See also:vote at a See also:parliamentary See also:election of the borough, and exemption from all tolls and dues. The act of 1835 respected existing usages, and every See also:person who was then an admitted freeman remained one, retaining at the same See also:time all his former rights and privileges. The See also:admission of freemen is now regulated by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882. By See also:section 201 of that act the term " freeman " includes any person of the class whose rights and interests were reserved by the act of 1835 under the name either of freemen or of burgesses. By section 202 no person can be admitted a freeman by See also:gift or by See also:purchase; that is, only See also:birth, See also:servitude or See also:marriage are qualifications. The Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885, however, makes an exception, as by that act the See also:council of every borough may from time to time admit persons of distinction to be honorary freemen of the borough. The See also:town clerk of every borough keeps a See also:list, which is called " the freeman's See also:roll," and when any person claims to be admitted a freeman in respect of birth, servitude or marriage, the See also:mayor examines the claim, and if it is established the claimant's name is enrolled by the town clerk. A person may become a freeman or freewoman of one of the See also:London See also:livery companies by (1) See also:apprenticeship or servitude; (2) patrimony; (3) redemption; (4) gift. This last is purely honorary. The most usual See also:form of acquiring freedom was by serving apprenticeship to a freeman, free both of a company and of the city of London. By an act of See also:common council of 1836 apprenticeship was permitted to freemen of the city who had not taken up the freedom of a company. By an act of common council of 1889 the term of service was reduced from seven years to four years. Freedom by patrimony is always granted to See also:children of a person who has been duly admitted to the freedom. Freedom by redemption or purchase requires the See also:payment of certain entrance fees, which vary with the See also:standing of the company. In the Grocers' Company freedom by redemption does not exist, and in such companies as still have a See also:trade, e.g. the Apothecaries and Stationers, it is limited to members of the trade. See W. C. See also:Hazlitt, The Livery Companies of the City of London (1892). Additional information and CommentsThere are no comments yet for this article.
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