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== '''Guilds and Companies''' == | == '''Guilds and Companies''' == | ||
The old craft and trade guilds in the city originated from groups organised | The old craft and trade guilds in the city originated from groups organised for religious and social purposes that, in the Middle Ages, "adopted" a number of key trades and eventually came to monopolise and regulate them. Nearly all the older guilds obtained royal charters granting incorporation, allowing them to have a common hall and to own land. Their ordinances or by-laws were recognised by the city authorities and allowed them to regulate apprenticeships, prices and wages, to set standards for products and to enforce those standards by carrying out searches for inferior goods, to settle disputes among their members and to maintain a trade monopoly. | ||
However, with economic and social changes between the 16th and 18th centuries the majority of guilds or companies lost the links with the trades from which they took their names. However, the Watermen and Lightermen still control the apprenticeship of those working on the River Thames and, in more recent years, many companies have attempted to re-connect themselves with their original trades. They have retained an importance in the city because of their involvement in its government and their charitable work. The last "ancient" company was formed in 1709 but at least a | However, with economic and social changes between the 16th and 18th centuries the majority of guilds or companies lost the links with the trades from which they took their names. However, the Watermen and Lightermen still control the apprenticeship of those working on the River Thames and, in more recent years, many companies have attempted to re-connect themselves with their original trades. They have retained an importance in the city because of their involvement in its government and their charitable work. The last "ancient" company was formed in 1709 but at least a further 25 have been founded since 1940. Many smaller ones disappeared or were amalgamated with others over the years. | ||
== '''Freedom of the Company''' == | == '''Freedom of the Company''' == | ||
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Some companies, indeed, had a national role: the Goldsmiths (in assaying and marking gold and silver wares), the Stationers (in the registration of printed books from 1554 to 1911), the Gunmakers (in proof of small arms since 1617), the Barber Surgeons (in examining surgeons in the Royal Navy from 1606 to 1745) and the Society of Apothecaries (through its Licenciateship after 1815). In very recent years national roles have also been given to the farriers, plumbers and spectacle makers to examine and register practitioners in some aspects of their crafts. | Some companies, indeed, had a national role: the Goldsmiths (in assaying and marking gold and silver wares), the Stationers (in the registration of printed books from 1554 to 1911), the Gunmakers (in proof of small arms since 1617), the Barber Surgeons (in examining surgeons in the Royal Navy from 1606 to 1745) and the Society of Apothecaries (through its Licenciateship after 1815). In very recent years national roles have also been given to the farriers, plumbers and spectacle makers to examine and register practitioners in some aspects of their crafts. | ||
== '''Residence and | == '''Residence and variety of Freemen''' == | ||
In the Armourers and Brasiers' Company in 1535, 10 of its 47 members lived outside the city. In the Coopers' Company in 1700, 69 of the 154 admitted to freedom lived outside the city. Many lived in the East and West ends and south of the Thames and, from the late 18th century, in the Home Counties and further afield. Of course, some smaller traders, who were not freemen, lived outside the city because they did not wish to incur the expense of becoming freemen and paying annual fees. | In the Armourers and Brasiers' Company in 1535, 10 of its 47 members lived outside the city. In the Coopers' Company in 1700, 69 of the 154 admitted to freedom lived outside the city. Many lived in the East and West ends and south of the Thames and, from the late 18th century, in the Home Counties and further afield. Of course, some smaller traders, who were not freemen, lived outside the city because they did not wish to incur the expense of becoming freemen and paying annual fees. | ||
The freedom was not limited to professionals or craftsmen either. The records include many | The freedom was not limited to professionals or craftsmen either. The records include many small shopkeepers, street hawkers, mariners, and even some labourers. Unmarried women and widows sometimes appear, particularly milliners with their own businesses and widows carrying on their husbands' trades. In London single women and widows could be free of a company and of the city. Married women became admissible in 1923 but no woman was elected to the livery of a company until 1933; the first woman Master was elected by the Chartered Secretaries' Company in 1983. | ||
Some boys left London on the completion of their apprenticeship and returned to their places of origin. Others remained in London and took apprentices from their home area. The hereditary nature of company membership strengthens in the course of the centuries and is particularly noticeable in the 19th century. | Some boys left London on the completion of their apprenticeship and returned to their places of origin. Others remained in London and took apprentices from their home area. The hereditary nature of company membership strengthens in the course of the centuries and is particularly noticeable in the 19th century. | ||
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== '''Other records''' == | == '''Other records''' == | ||
The apprentice's indenture was supposed to be enrolled with the Chamberlain of London within one year of their signing and a series of Enrolment Books | The apprentice's indenture was supposed to be enrolled with the Chamberlain of London within one year of their signing and a series of Enrolment Books survives from 1686 to 1974 which is indexed in alphabets similar to those for the Freemen. Some apprentices who did not complete their terms or become freemen will also be found here. | ||
From 1750 freemen were allowed to employ non-freemen "strangers" in the City and their licences to do so are also at the Guildhall Library, 1750-1845, indexed for masters and journeymen to 1761 and then only for masters to 1810. "Alien brothers" and "stranger brothers" were from overseas (and could not be apprenticed or freemen), "foreign brothers" came from the provinces. | From 1750 freemen were allowed to employ non-freemen "strangers" in the City and their licences to do so are also at the Guildhall Library, 1750-1845, indexed for masters and journeymen to 1761 and then only for masters to 1810. "Alien brothers" and "stranger brothers" were from overseas (and could not be apprenticed or freemen), "foreign brothers" came from the provinces. | ||
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== Acknowledgment == | == Acknowledgment == | ||
This article has been adapted with permission of ''Family Tree Magazine'' (UK; [http://www.family-tree.co.uk http://www.family-tree.co.uk]) from Anthony Camp's article 'Apprenticeship: Part 3: Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns' in ''Practical Family History'', no. 66 (May 2003) pages | This article has been adapted with permission of ''Family Tree Magazine'' (UK; [http://www.family-tree.co.uk http://www.family-tree.co.uk]) from Anthony Camp's article 'Apprenticeship: Part 3: Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns' in ''Practical Family History'', no. 66 (May 2003) pages 5-7. | ||
[[category:London, England]] | [[category:London, England]] | ||
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