Thank you.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Oh hold
I've placed this on hold due to family commitments at this time, please contact me if you have any information on the Freeburgess of Colchester.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Internet Search
http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/colchstr.html
Colchester's first known royal charter was received in 1189 and gave the borough the foundations of self-government. The similarity between the terms of this and the 1133 charter of London liberties has led to speculation that the 1189 grant may have been only a confirmation, or modification of an earlier one, perhaps from just before the period (1178-94) when burgess representatives seem to have been answering for the borough farm; however, we should not read too much into this. Through the 1189 charter the king permitted the townsmen the right to choose, from among their number, two bailiffs to head the administration of local justice, which included authority over matters relating to commercial and real estate transactions; he recognized the pre-eminence of local customs within the borough bounds (or "liberty"), while exempting the borough from certain external authorities or obligations. Freedom from paying tolls on merchandise in other English localities was granted, and the holding of any market (other than the borough's own) within the liberty was prohibited. Fishing rights along a particular stretch of the Colne (regardless of who owned the land along the banks) were confirmed, as was the right to hunt fox, hare or polecat within the liberty.
Colchester's first known royal charter was received in 1189 and gave the borough the foundations of self-government. The similarity between the terms of this and the 1133 charter of London liberties has led to speculation that the 1189 grant may have been only a confirmation, or modification of an earlier one, perhaps from just before the period (1178-94) when burgess representatives seem to have been answering for the borough farm; however, we should not read too much into this. Through the 1189 charter the king permitted the townsmen the right to choose, from among their number, two bailiffs to head the administration of local justice, which included authority over matters relating to commercial and real estate transactions; he recognized the pre-eminence of local customs within the borough bounds (or "liberty"), while exempting the borough from certain external authorities or obligations. Freedom from paying tolls on merchandise in other English localities was granted, and the holding of any market (other than the borough's own) within the liberty was prohibited. Fishing rights along a particular stretch of the Colne (regardless of who owned the land along the banks) were confirmed, as was the right to hunt fox, hare or polecat within the liberty.
Book Mention
Understanding Popular Violence in the English Revolution By John Walter
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=58F8PnCxJqQC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=colchester+freeburgess&source=web&ots=RaLHR5YoUV&sig=kCgjVjHDlCCsRI5VeNhOFUrBquc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPP1,M1
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=58F8PnCxJqQC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=colchester+freeburgess&source=web&ots=RaLHR5YoUV&sig=kCgjVjHDlCCsRI5VeNhOFUrBquc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPP1,M1
British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21979
The composition of the freeman body, Colchester's governing class, became a matter of increasing concern to the borough officers in the 16th and 17th centuries. The medieval practice whereby all men born in the borough were entitled to enter the freedom without fee survived until c. 1550 when that right was apparently restricted to the sons of freemen. (fn. 46)
In 1565 all those claiming the freedom by birth were ordered to be sworn in the borough court at the age of 20, paying no more than 2d. to the clerk and 4d. to the serjeants. Non-resident freemen were ordered to come to elections. (fn. 47) An order of 1523, repeated c. 1550 and in 1583, allowed the admission of a freeman's former apprentice for a fine of 3s. 4d., provided that the apprenticeship of seven or more years had been registered at its start, and the order for such registration was repeated in 1660. (fn. 48)
In 1637 the fine for the admission of 'foreigners' was raised to £10, and they were required to be approved by representatives of their craft; in 1654 the consent of the borough assembly was required. (fn. 49) The number of active freemen fluctuated, but seems to have increased overall in the earlier 17th century, from perhaps c. 450 in 1619 to c. 900 in 1646. Numbers seem to have fallen in the later 17th century, but rose rapidly at its end, perhaps reaching c. 1,100 in 1704. (fn. 50) In the early 18th century freedoms were sold to raise money, and the system was also blatantly manipulated for political purposes: 234 men were admitted by birth or apprenticeship in 1700-1, and 39 bought their freedom from Ralph Creffield, mayor 1702-3. In 1705 the practice of admitting large numbers of men either by purchase or on dubious grounds was said to be 'an invasion of the rights and privileges of the honest free burgesses', but the sale of freedoms was complained of again in 1711 and 1713. (fn. 51)
From: 'Tudor and Stuart Colchester: Borough government', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 9: The Borough of Colchester (1994), pp. 110-121. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21979. Date accessed: 10 September 2008.
The composition of the freeman body, Colchester's governing class, became a matter of increasing concern to the borough officers in the 16th and 17th centuries. The medieval practice whereby all men born in the borough were entitled to enter the freedom without fee survived until c. 1550 when that right was apparently restricted to the sons of freemen. (fn. 46)
In 1565 all those claiming the freedom by birth were ordered to be sworn in the borough court at the age of 20, paying no more than 2d. to the clerk and 4d. to the serjeants. Non-resident freemen were ordered to come to elections. (fn. 47) An order of 1523, repeated c. 1550 and in 1583, allowed the admission of a freeman's former apprentice for a fine of 3s. 4d., provided that the apprenticeship of seven or more years had been registered at its start, and the order for such registration was repeated in 1660. (fn. 48)
In 1637 the fine for the admission of 'foreigners' was raised to £10, and they were required to be approved by representatives of their craft; in 1654 the consent of the borough assembly was required. (fn. 49) The number of active freemen fluctuated, but seems to have increased overall in the earlier 17th century, from perhaps c. 450 in 1619 to c. 900 in 1646. Numbers seem to have fallen in the later 17th century, but rose rapidly at its end, perhaps reaching c. 1,100 in 1704. (fn. 50) In the early 18th century freedoms were sold to raise money, and the system was also blatantly manipulated for political purposes: 234 men were admitted by birth or apprenticeship in 1700-1, and 39 bought their freedom from Ralph Creffield, mayor 1702-3. In 1705 the practice of admitting large numbers of men either by purchase or on dubious grounds was said to be 'an invasion of the rights and privileges of the honest free burgesses', but the sale of freedoms was complained of again in 1711 and 1713. (fn. 51)
From: 'Tudor and Stuart Colchester: Borough government', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 9: The Borough of Colchester (1994), pp. 110-121. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21979. Date accessed: 10 September 2008.
Colchester Town Hall
From a conversation with my Father and mother, they said that a Mr Peter Evans 01206 282320 at the Colchester Town Hall was recently featured in the Colchester Evening Gazette asking for Freeman to come forward to claim the yearly sum that they are entitled to? Sounds like the ideal place to start.
Why are they entitled to a sum of money each year? I know that it can only be claimed if the Freeman lived within the Colchester Borough walls, but thats about all. Oh yes and its about £6.00p.
I contacted the Mayors Secetary who printed off the current Freeman log sheets that she found with the Downes name. I was informed that the older sheets are kept in the Chelmsford Records office. So theres one for my visit list.
I then called Mr Evans and was informed after a delay that he would be in a meeting for the rest of the day and would call me back, so lets see what will happen and what knowledge I can gain.....
Let the day Begin
Hello
My names Andrew Downes (Andy) I was born (1974) and bred in Colchester Essex UK. I now live away from Colchester but still have a thirst to understand my families history, and a little it more of Colchesters surrounding them at the time.
I like my father and my fathers father and his father are all Freemen or Freeburgess of The Borough of Colchester, but although I wear the title I really am not sure why!
It has been a conversation that I have had with my father many of times but never persued.
I have a little more time now so lets see what I can learn.
I have heard the title can be earned or brought, so where does mine come from and why?
Whats a Freeman title all about?
What was it for and why would I want one?
Obviously its not anything important but it must have been once. Otherwise whats the point?
My names Andrew Downes (Andy) I was born (1974) and bred in Colchester Essex UK. I now live away from Colchester but still have a thirst to understand my families history, and a little it more of Colchesters surrounding them at the time.
I like my father and my fathers father and his father are all Freemen or Freeburgess of The Borough of Colchester, but although I wear the title I really am not sure why!
It has been a conversation that I have had with my father many of times but never persued.
I have a little more time now so lets see what I can learn.
I have heard the title can be earned or brought, so where does mine come from and why?
Whats a Freeman title all about?
What was it for and why would I want one?
Obviously its not anything important but it must have been once. Otherwise whats the point?
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