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Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns: Difference between revisions
Apprenticeship in London and Borough Towns (view source)
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'''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. | '''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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
Records. All companies kept a careful record of their apprentice bindings, the boy usually being at that time phyiscally "presented" to the wardens of the company and occasionally writing or signing the entry. A large number have been transcribed by Cliff Webb and published by the Society of Genealogists (being collectively indexed on the pay per view website of English Origins). Where the books recording bindings have not survived there is often a list of apprentices admitted to the freedom of the company which may include some if not all of the details in the apprenticeship register. Most companies aalso have lists of apprentices paying the orphans' tax 1694-1861 and yet another series recording the payment of stamp duty 1694-1949, but these show only their names. | Records. All companies kept a careful record of their apprentice bindings, the boy usually being at that time phyiscally "presented" to the wardens of the company and occasionally writing or signing the entry. A large number have been transcribed by Cliff Webb and published by the Society of Genealogists (being collectively indexed on the pay per view website of English Origins). Where the books recording bindings have not survived there is often a list of apprentices admitted to the freedom of the company which may include some if not all of the details in the apprenticeship register. Most companies aalso have lists of apprentices paying the orphans' tax 1694-1861 and yet another series recording the payment of stamp duty 1694-1949, but these show only their names. | ||
Many companies have lists of those admitted to the livery and elected to company offices. From 1839 these may be in the form of Declaration Books, recording their oaths of allegiance to the Crown and obedience to the rules of the Company. The elections took place during court meetings and may also be recorded in court minute books, the fees paid being recorded in the wardens' accounts. There may be other lists of members prepared for administrative purposes and the useful Quarterage Books will show the mmembers' quarterly subscription payments. These may provide their likely dates of death. | Many companies have lists of those admitted to the livery and elected to company offices. From 1839 these may be in the form of Declaration Books, recording their oaths of allegiance to the Crown and obedience to the rules of the Company. The elections took place during court meetings and may also be recorded in court minute books, the fees paid being recorded in the wardens' accounts. There may be other lists of members prepared for administrative purposes and the useful Quarterage Books will show the mmembers' quarterly subscription payments. These may provide their likely dates of death. | ||
It will be seen that the records of these companies are sometimes very expensive. All but eight of the larger ones have deposited their records in the Guildhall Library and they are fully described in ''Guide to the archives of the City Livery Companies and related organisations in Guildhall Library'' (1989). | It will be seen that the records of these companies are sometimes very expensive. All but eight of the larger ones have deposited their records in the Guildhall Library and they are fully described in ''Guide to the archives of the City Livery Companies and related organisations in Guildhall Library'' (1989). | ||
'''Identifying the Company'''. It is clear from the above account that it may not be easy to identify the particular company to which an ancestor belonged. This may sometimes, however, be most conveniently done through a printed Poll Book, like that for 1796, which shows both the trade practised and the company to which the voter belonged. | '''Identifying the Company'''. It is clear from the above account that it may not be easy to identify the particular company to which an ancestor belonged. This may sometimes, however, be most conveniently done through a printed Poll Book, like that for 1796, which shows both the trade practised and the company to which the voter belonged. | ||
However, a form of centralised index of great importance is provided by the "alphabets" to the Freedom Admission Papers and (from 1784) Books presently at the London Metropolitan Archives. The alphabets, 1681-2 and 1688-1940, are arranged chronologically by the initial letter of the surname. Not all apprentices who became free of their companies proceeded to the freedom of the city but the companies and further records of the two-thirds that did may be found here. | However, a form of centralised index of great importance is provided by the "alphabets" to the Freedom Admission Papers and (from 1784) Books presently at the London Metropolitan Archives. The alphabets, 1681-2 and 1688-1940, are arranged chronologically by the initial letter of the surname. Not all apprentices who became free of their companies proceeded to the freedom of the city but the companies and further records of the two-thirds that did may be found here. | ||
'''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 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. | '''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 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. | |||
'''Honorary Freemen'''. The Freedom of the City could also be given as an honour and full details of those who were made Honorary Freemen are given in two volumes London's Roll of Fame 1757-1959 (1884 & 1959) published by the Corporation of London. They are also listed 1674-1998 in Vivienne Aldous, My ancestors were freemen of the City of London (Society of Genealogists, 1999). These honorary freemen should not be confused with those who purchase freedom by redemption. | |||
Honorary Freedom was also given in 1900 to members of the City Imperial Volunteer Force who were about to fight in the Boer War, in 1915 to any former pupils of the Corporation of London schools who served in the First World War, in 1918 to the sons of members of the court of common council who had fought in the War, in 1920 to constables who had served in the city police reserve from 1914, and in 1945 to the sector or block commanders of the city fire guard during the Second World War. | |||
'''King's Freemen'''. In 1784 discharged servicemen, their wives and children, were given the right to trade in any town in the British Isles. Although not technically freemen they are usually referred to as "King's Freemen". In don certificates were issued from 1784 to 1873 when the right was abolished, but those for 1815-54 are missing. The papers contain discharge certificates and, in the case of wives and children, marriage and baptismal certificates. The numbers are not great but there is a card index at the Guildhall Library which may repay investigation. | |||
''' Borough Towns''' | |||
to be continued | to be continued | ||