What is the Freedom of the City of London Award?
Written and researched by Dame Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska, B.F.A.
Former
Polish President-in-exile, Juliusz Sokolnicki
receiving the Freedom of the City of London for his
tireless fight against Communism during the Cold War.
This photograph was taken in Guildhall, London, on July 22, 1993.
The City of London Freedom Archives are dated from 1681, and they hold personal details of most of London's award winners.
Historically, the City Freeman could:
- vote in Parliamentary elections
- vote in Civic elections
- be exempt from all tolls payable anywhere in the city.
- be exempt from market tolls payable anywhere in the country
- be exempt from naval impressment
- enjoy certain legal privileges with respect to being tried and imprisoned.
TODAY ALL THESE PRIVILEGES ARE DEFUNCT, even though it might be something needed for certain civic offices.
The Numbers:
Over the last 300 years, about 300,000 people have been made Free of the city of London, England.
Qualifications:
- Be over 21 years of age.
- Be a British or Commonwealth subject. This qualification was dropped for citizens of the European Union in 1996, and for other non Britons in 1999. Historically, dignitaries were sometimes voted the honorary freedom, and given an address of welcome in the Guildhall.
How to Be Admitted to the Freedom of the city of London:
- By Honorary Freedom - the highest honor which is granted by special Resolution of the Court of Common Council to distinguished and worthy people (such as Winston Churchill or Florence Nightengale), either as individuals or as members of a particular group (such as City Imperial Volunteers in the Boar Wars or Fire Watchers in WWII. However, this honarary award is granted rarely.
- By Servitude - by apprenticeship of at least 7 years (or since 1889 4 years) duration to the City Freeman.
- By Patrimony - open to legitimate and natural children of a male (or, since 1976, a female) Freeman who were born after their parent's own Freedom admission.
- By Redempion (purchase), by presentation - by a Corporation officer or other person who had been granted the right of presenting a limited number of candidates in lieu of salary or as a reward for services. The intending Freeman usually had to pay the officer for presenting him or her, in addition to the usual Freedom fees, althought the City Freedom archives do not nopte this personal fee. This right was abolished in the mid-19th century.
- By Redemption, directly petitioning the Court of Alderman, if becoming Free through the invervention of a City Livery Company.
- By Redemption, directly pertaining to the Court of the Common Council, if no Livery Company were involved (possible after 1835 only).
- By Redemption, on being on the City Parliamentary Register of Electors (possible after 1856) only).
BOOKS THAT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE THAT EARNED THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON:
From My Ancestors Were Freeman of the City of London by Vivienne E. Aldous (Society of Genealogists, 1999).
(This website lists this and other books on this subject)
Calendar of Letter Book D by R.R. Sharpe. Corporation of London, 1902 (1309-1312 records).
Register of Freeman of the City of London by Charles Welch. (LAMAS, 1908) (1551-1553 records).
"A London Manuscript" by Bower March in Genealogist, XXXII (April 1916) (1551-1553 records).
Sheep Over the London Bridge: The Freedom of the City of London by Caroline Arnold, Coprporation of London, 1995.
The Chamberlain of the City of London 1237-1987 by Betty R. Masters, Corporation of London, 1988.
WHERE TO WRITE FOR THESE RECORDS FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES:
The Chamberlain Court has records after 1940. Write to:
Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court
P.O. Box 270
Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ
*** replacement certificates are granted by the Chamberlain Court ONLY to living Freeman on proof of loss or destruction of their own certificates. These are not available (as certified copies) for the deceased.
The Archives of Mast City Livery Companies are held by the Manuscripts Section of:
Guildhall Library
Aldermanbury, London, EC2P 2EJ
telephone: 020 7332 1863 OR 020 7332 1251.
FAX: 020 7660 3384
e-mail: manuscripts-guildhall@corofLondon.gov.uk
Website: sas.ac This Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section website has information about the archives.
These documents carry quite a few facts that might be useful for the genealogist.
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