|
|
The Register of the Freemen of York
|
|
The Freedom of
the City of York can be obtained in three different ways:
·
by servitude; that is when the applicant has served his full
time as an apprentice in his trade before he can be enrolled;
·
by patrimony; that is when the
children of a Freeman claim their freedom as their heritage;
·
by redemption; that is by the order of the Mayor and Court of
Aldermen, which means that the Freedom is given without payment and as a reward
for services rendered to the City.
Fees have
varied from time to time. In the very earliest Chamberlains account books the charge for those who had served their
apprenticeship was 3s 4d or 6s 8d but there are cases when only 20d was
charged. In cases of poverty no charge was made. Each Freeman had to take the
‘Oath of Fealty.’
No person could
carry on a trade in the City without first obtaining his Freedom.
The Register of
the Freemen of York can be searched at Find my Past.
We find three
relevant records:
·
FAR00030
- Johannis de Farnedale, a saddler, made Freeman of
York in 1363
·
FAR00035
- Johannes de Farndall by Patrimony Admission
Register of Freemen of the City of York in 1397; and
·
FAR00048A
- Johannes Fernedill, boucher,
made Freeman of York in 1408.