Middlesex Business and Occupations
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Livery Companies[edit | edit source]
108 livery companies have operated in London. Wikipedia maintains a list of The City Livery Companies, along with links to company websites.
- The Livery Companies Database is a helpful resource that supplies contact details for each active company.
Histories[edit | edit source]
Histories have been written on many Middlesex livery companies. The British Library has compiled a detailed list. Most of those published before 1923 are available for free online at Google Books or Internet Archive.
Sources[edit | edit source]
A bibliography of surviving records from each company was published in 1985.[1] The list is available online.
Apprenticeship records are one of the most valuable genealogical sources created by London livery companies. They often name the following information about an apprentice's father: name, residence, and occupation. Cliff Webb has abstracted the records of many companies:
- London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850, courtesy: British Origins (£); also available in book form (48 vols.): FS Library Books 942.1/L1 U25w v. 1-48.
The website Records of London's Livery Companies Online: Apprentices and Freemen 1400-1900 offers free indexes to The Bowyer's Company (1680-1900), The Clothworkers' Company (1545-1900), The Drapers' Company (c.1400-1900), The Girdlers' Company (1654-1900), The Goldsmith's Company (1600-1700), The Mercers' Company (1339-1900), and The Salters' Company (1599/1600, 1678-1900).[3]
In 1641, a list of members of City Companies was compiled:
- The Members of the City Companies in 1641, As Set Forth in the Return for the Poll Tax. FS Library Film 454036 Item 1
In 1651, signatures of members of 22 City Companies were taken:
- London Citizens in 1651, Being a Transcript of Harleian MS. 4778. 1910. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
In 1696, oaths from livery company members were recorded. This source acts as a census of liverymen:
- Association Oath Rolls for City of London Livery Companies, 1696, courtesy: British Origins (£)
Abstracts of apprenticeship entry books for the Carpenter's Company (1654-1694) have been published online.
Walcot, Cynthia. 'Artists - 1823. A List of names and addresses of Artists in London,' The Hampshire Family Historian, vol. VIII, no.4 (Feb. 1982), 148-149, FamilySearch Library Ref. 942.27 B27h
Guildhall Library[edit | edit source]
The original records of most London livery companies are deposited at the Guildhall Library. A guide to their collection is available online:
Manuscripts on Microfilm[edit | edit source]
| Apprenticeship and Freedom Records Microfilmed by FamilySearch | ||
| Company | Apprentice Years | Freedom Years |
| Apothecaries | 1694-1837 | 1694-1890 |
| Armourers and Brasiers | 1535-1826, 1835-1878 | 1535-1876 |
| Bakers | 1721-1730 | |
| Barber Surgeons | 1672-1861 | 1522-1757 |
| Basketmakers | 1639-1844 | 1694-1766, 1808-1927 |
| Blacksmiths | 1631-1781 | 1728-1855 |
| Bowyers | 1723-1759, 1788-1865 | 1704-1722, 1760-1814 |
| Brewers | 1685-1906 | 1685-1824 |
| Broderers | 1694-1713, 1763-1878 | 1694-1728 |
| Butchers | 1654-1893 | 1658-1844 |
| Carmens | 1678-1853 | 1680-1942 |
| Carpenters | 1654-1892 | 1694-1856 |
| Clockmakers | 1686-1890 | 1712-1878 |
| Coach and Coach Harness Makers | 1722-1822 (1803-1893 index) | 1803-1893 |
| Cordwainers | 1647-1965 | 1678-1961 |
| Curriers | 1658-1856 | 1678-1840 |
| Cutlers | 1575-1627, 1703-1848 | 1613-1863 |
| Distillers | 1765-1862 | 1638-1708, 1721-1899 |
| Dyers | 1706-1900 | 1650-1826 |
| Farriers | 1619-1862 | 1694-1739 |
| Feltmakers | 1694-1858 | 1755-1898 |
| Fishmongers | 1614-1860 | 1593-1870 |
| Fletchers | 1519-1602, 1732-1898 | |
| Founders | 1643-1781 | 1681-1801 |
| Framework Knitters | 1694-1873 | 1713-1889 |
| Fruiterers | 1749-1903 | 1749-1938 |
| Gardeners | 1607-1658 | |
| Glass Sellers | 1665-1853 | 1664-1913 |
| Glaziers | 1694-1854 | 1729-1794 |
| Glovers | 1694-1794 | 1735-1851 |
| Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers | 1731-1837 | 1693-1938 |
| Grocers | 1629-1896 | 1345-1652, 1686-1907 |
| Gunmakers | 1694-1902 | 1720-1745 |
| Haberdashers | 1583-1833 | 1526-1725 |
| Horners | 1694-1849 | 1847-1889 |
| Innholders | 1808-1919 | 1673-1921 |
| Joiners | 1641-1793, 1806-1866 | 1651-1804 |
| Longbowstringmakers | 1700-1785, 1794-1797 | |
| Loriners | 1838-1909 | |
| Masons | 1694-1856 | 1694-1795 |
| Merchant Taylors | 1583-1861 | 1530-1909 (index) |
| Musicians | 1765-1877 | 1776-1881 |
| Painter Stainers | 1666-1950 | |
| Parish Clerks | 1668-1943 | |
| Pattenmakers | 1673-1883 | 1674-1899 |
| Paviours | 1565-1853, 1694-1862 | 1563-1853, 1694-1706, 1734-1822 |
| Plaisterers | 1763-1874 | |
| Plumbers | 1696-1794 | |
| Poulters | 1694-1860, 1872-1899 | 1694-1822 |
| Saddlers | 1800-1962 | 1697-1994 |
| Scriveners | 1392-1678, 1688-1704 | |
| Shipwrights | 1727-1794, 1825-1875 | 1694-1894 |
| Skinners | 1496-1888 | 1496-1888 |
| Spectaclemakers | 1694-1860 | 1699-1873 |
| Stationers | 1555-1900 | 1555-1900 |
| Tin Plate Workers | 1824-1906 | |
| Turners | 1604-1935 | 1604-1694, 1789 |
| Tylers and Bricklayers | 1612-1894 | 1676-1877 |
| Upholderers | 1698-1947 | |
| Vintners | 1563-1861 | 1428-1908 |
| Watermen and Lightermens | 1688-1908 | 1765-1904 |
| Wax Chandlers | 1596- | 1694-1857 |
| Weavers | ?Beg. 1681 | ?Beg. 1681 |
| White Bakers | 1565-1860 | 1631-1935 |
| Woolmens | 1665-1892 | 1666-1898 |
Other Web Pages[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
- City Freedom Archives, Research Guide 14 at the London Metropolitan Archives
- Livery Company Records and Furthering Your Ancestry, free online lesson at FamilySearch Help and Learning Center
- The Membership Records of the Merchant Taylors' Company, Research Guide 17 at the London Metropolitan Archives
- Records of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen, Research Guide 18 at the London Metropolitan Archives
- Searching for Members or Those Apprenticed to Members of City of London Livery Companies, Research Guide 16 at the London Metropolitan Archives
- Sources for Tracing Medical Practitioners, Research Guide 37 at the London Metropolitan Archives
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 'Sources: London Livery Companies', A Survey of Documentary Sources for Property Holding in London before the Great Fire: London Record Society, 22 (1985), pp. 12-36. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64577 Date accessed: 03 January 2012.
- ↑ About London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850, British Origins, accessed 31 December 2011.
- ↑ Belinda Griffin, 'Records of London's Livery Companies Online,' Family Tree Magazine, 21 June 2012, http://family-tree.co.uk/2012/06/records-of-londons-livery-companies-online/, accessed 22 June 2012.
- ↑ Cliff Webb, "Association Oath Rolls - Background to the Documents", British Origins, accessed 3 January 2012.