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This letter written Aug 14, 1998 by Mr. F.A. Clark of Derby in response to a letter Brian Henry Victor Barlow had published in the Derby Evening Telegraph requesting information concerning Freeman of Derby.
Dear Mr. Barlow,
I am writing to you in resonse to your letter published in the Derby Evening Telegraph newspaper on the 12th June 1998 requesting information concerning the Freeman of Derby.
Unfortunately, the data given by the above newspaper, which accompanied your letter, was misleading and a follow-up letter on
the subject by Mr. N.S. Fisher published on the 18th June gives an
incomplete story.
At this point, please allow me to introduce
myself - I am the Chairman of the Trustees of the Freeman of Derby. Both myself and the Secretary of the Freeman of Derby have delayed writing
to you, as we have been expecting to see in the above newspaper, an official
response from the Mayor's Office. As this has either not been forthcoming
or more than likely, just not published, I have decided to write
to you care of the newspaper to answer your queries as an authorative source.
The following will, I am sure, be of interest to you and your family.
The exact origins of the Freemen of Derby are
not known unfortunately, as almost all the Royal Charters, Rolls, and Registers
and early Records of the Freeman were destroyed by fire when the Guild
Hall of Derby burned down on the 21st October 1841. It is believed
however, that the Freeman of England date back to Anglo-Saxon times and
Freeman of Derby must be among the earliest.
In the ancient times the Freemen were the only
citizens entitled to vote for the election of members of Parliament and
had a number of privileges exclusive to themselves, such as the right to
graze a number of cattle, without fee on Common Land in Derby and were
free from paying certain tolls and taxes. They had duties to perform
however, such as caring for town walls and gates, raising troops for the
army when required and generally running the town. This was all altered
by the Municipal Corporations Act of Parliament in 1835 when towns were
organized in a more professional manner and the right to vote was extended
to other citizens.
The Freeman of Derby certainly exist today, with
the last two members being sworn-in last year. I enclose herewith
a copy of the rules of admission
for your information.
You, yourself, are still a Freeman of Derby and
should any of your sons come to live in Derby within the city boundry,
then they would be entitled to apply to become Freemen. This is a
privilege available to all your sons born after you were sworn a Freeman,
not just the eldest son.
We no longer own land in Derby and our assets
are invested, the proceeds being paid out as a divident to qualifying Freeman,
which means entitlement is dependent on residence within the city boundry.
I have been researching the Freemen of Derby
for over ten years now, to find out who they were, their professions/trades,
dates
of being sworn a Freeman, etc. and so far have worked back to the year
1698, although the list earlier than about 1750 is known to be incomplete.
Frome these records I can trace your family
back to 1798 and I enclose details of my findings which should help
your family history somewhat.
I hope this letter answers your queries and is of interest to you.
My best wishes to you on behalf of the Freeman of Derby,
Yours Sincerely,
signed F.A. Clark
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