GUILDS & FREEMEN
Else Churchill explains how to research craftsmen and tradesmen in guilds and livery companies
The records relating to those who became freemen of guilds and livery companies in the City of London and the provincial (‘outwith’) guilds in other towns and cities around the UK provide a remarkable opportunity to research ancestors’ lives through the 17th and 18th centuries – and earlier in some instances. They show the trades and crafts they practised, the networks of colleagues and employers they associated with, and often their parentage and even spouses. Also freedom of a guild might lead to freedom of the city, whereby one gained the right to vote and to trade in addition to the responsibilities to pay rates and taxes.
The guilds provided for their members in sickness or old age, and for members’ widows and children. Some large towns had many guilds for different crafts. For example Newcastle had 46 guilds, including butchers, shipwrights, tanners and weavers. However, smaller towns dependent on only one or two crafts might have only one or two guilds.
Gradually the guilds’ powers and authorities declined, and most of them had ceased to operate by the late 18th century. London was the main exception. The most famous guilds were those of London, and these companies retained influence and regulation of trade until the 19th century.
As the guilds declined, the trade that was undertaken by a member became less important. So a son might follow his father into a particular guild or livery company even though he practised a different trade.
Most of the London records are held at the Guildhall Library in the City of London (cityoflondon.gov. uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/guildhall-library). They record how freedom or admissions into the company were obtained – by serving an apprenticeship; by patrimony (being the son of a freeman of the company); by matrimony (by marrying the daughter of a freeman of the company); by redemption (paying a fee); or by gift (an honorary membership gifted by committee).
Records relating to apprentices, members and officers contain records of entry, registers of declarations or oaths of loyalty as well as quarterage (subscription) books, recording the membership fees that were paid or due.
The most useful records for family historians are those concerning apprenticeships or admissions to the freedom of a company. The registers of apprenticeships or bindi
