Free Miner (General)

by Shirleyanne , Solihull, Tuesday, November 27, 2007, 07:54 (6212 days ago) @ slowhands

My grandfather, Joseph John Allaway, was employed at East Slade colliery from March 1887 to April 1889. He moved to Birmingham where he was employed as a 'letters carrier', but applied to be registered as a freeminer in 1907.
Does anyone know why he would have done this? My father thinks that Joe used to get a payment for being a registered freeminer - is this true?