Freemen of Gloucester (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, September 07, 2008, 12:13 (5932 days ago) @ Jean Herbert

The freedom of the city of Gloucester was controlled by the city corporation and was obtained in one of four ways: by patrimony, apprenticeship, fine or gift.

Most entrants qualified by patrimony (because his father was a freeman) or by apprenticeship (because he had completed his 7 year apprenticeship to
a freeman in the city). This entitlement was usually automatic, originally without payment but later incurring a fee of 4s (in 1534).

However, there were times when the freedom was granted with the council's permission. A man could be granted freedom by fine (by purchase), if, for instance, he had served the city loyally (e.g. during the siege of Gloucester) and the council were happy for him to become a freeman, or perhaps he had married into the family of a freeman. Many of these were innkeepers. By the 17th century, the council had the power to make freemen by gift. It used its power to create a number of honorary freemen from outside the city, many for political purposes.

The above information is taken from the introduction to 'A Calendar of the Registers of the Freemen of the City of Gloucester, 1641-1838' transcribed by Peter Ripley and revised and edited by John Jurica, published by the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society in 1991.

http://www.bgas.org.uk/

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>