Order for Admission and Current Qualifications

In October 1551 the Council drew up The Order for the Admission of Freemen which set out in detail the regulations governing admissions. Admission to the Gild Merchant and therefore. to the freedom of the City, was not restricted to patrimony and servitude and often, when it was felt they would do honour to the town, gentlemen of note were given honorary freedoms. Such admissions included Frederick, King of Prussia in 1814, & several members of the aristocracy. Until the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, admission to the freedom of the City was obtained principally in four ways: 1. By servitude (apprenticeship to a Freeman carrying out his trade in Oxford). 2. By patrimony (being the son of a Freeman). 3. By purchase. 4. By gift. In addition, it was the custom of the Mayor to make his son, or another man, free upon the payment of a ‘gilt penny’, although on more than one occasion three pence was accepted in lieu. As a ‘gilt’ penny was never minted, it was probably a coin specially prepared for the occasion. Generally the admission was made during the Mayor’s term of office but sometimes it was brought into effect years later when, for instance, his son had attained the age of twenty-one. There are many instances when consideration was given to men who had married the daughters or the widows of Freemen although, in these cases, larger fees were sometimes charged. For example, it was agreed on 9 December 1583 that Henrye Gardner, sadler, in consideracion that he shall marrye the wiffe of one Thomas Pare, sadler, havinge manye smale childrene, and will be bounde to bringe them honestlie uppe, shalbe frome henceforthe free of this Guilde. for the somme of 20s to the use of this Cytie and 4s 6d for the officers’ fees’. Soldiers Soldiers who had been in the service of the Crown could, under the terms of an Act of Parliament, claim admission to the freedom of the City. On 15 June 1705 ‘... after a vote had been taken it was decided that Salmon, the baker, be admitted free for £10, and eight shillings towards the Council Chamber seals, provided, he produces a certificate to prove he has been a soldier and thereby has right to trade ...’. And on 8 February 1712, ‘William Allen, late apprentice to John Dobbs, tailor, who served his master for five years and then went into the Queen’s service for the rest of his term, is to be admitted free, paying officers’ fees only’. Similar instances were recorded earlier in 1589 and 1689. Today, the essential qualifications for admission to the freedom of the City of Oxford are: 1. Patrimony (being the son of a hereditary Freeman of the City), or 2. Servitude (having served at least a two year apprenticeship to a Freeman of the City within the boundaries of the City. It is also necessary for the indentures to have been registered with the City Secretary and Solicitor within one year of their commencement), or 3. Marriage (having married the daughter or the widow of an Oxford Freeman), or 4. Nomination by the Lord Mayor as his ‘childe’. (The Lord Mayor may nominate someone for admission during his or her term of office and this nomination must have been approved by the Freemen’s General Committee). In all cases the candidate must not be an alien and must have reached the age of 21 years. It is also possible for candidates living overseas and, in special circumstances, those living in this country, to be admitted ‘in absence’ (by proxy) with a Notary Public acting on behalf of the Lord Mayor. All applications for admission must be made to the Secretary, Members' Services, St. Aldate’s Chambers, St. Aldate’s, Oxford. Picture: Cattle cooling off during 2006 Inspection