28/08/2021
The freedom of the borough of Northampton could be acquired
in five ways : by birth, by marriage, by apprenticeship, by purchase,
and by gift.
All sons of freemen born within the liberties after the enfranchisement of their father, were entitled to the freedom on coming of age. Freedom by apprenticeship was acquired by servitude to a freeman for seven years within the borough. Marriage with the daughter of a freeman, born after her father's enfranchisement, conferred the freedom on the husband. Any person dwelling in the town could be enfranchised on payment of a sum to be fixed by the corporation ; this sum varied much at different periods.
Occasionally the freedom was conferred gratuitously, as an honour,
or as an equivalent for some service rendered. At certain times in the late history of the town, it was also the practise to admit, as freewomen, widows or daughters of late freemen; not that the degree of freedom conferred any voting power, but it entitled them to participate in municipal charities.
The first references in the extant orders of assembly as to
freemen are for the year 1553. The first list of freemen is bound up with the first series of apprentice indentures, which began in 1561.The list of freemen, however, does not begin till 1606, during
the mayoralty of Roger Higham, when twenty-one were admitted
Image: Freemen Minute books Aug 1882
