Logo: Crest of the Leicester Freemen's Deputies
By now every Freeman of Leicester up and down the country must be aware that there have been changes in the criteria for admission into the freedom, changes that have been met with varying degrees of approval and disapproval. Regardless of our individual feelings about the changes, they are here to stay, brought about by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. The consequences of the new legislation for both Leicester City Council and for the Leicester Freemen’s Charity have been the subject of discussion between the two parties and joint agreement has been reached about the criteria for admission as Freemen of Leicester.
Before the legislation was passed into the law books the routes into the freedom were three fold;
1. All sons of a freeman could inherit the freedom from their father provided that the father was a freeman before the birth of the applicant.
2. Legal opinion was sought to overcome the limitations of route 1 and it was deemed that all males could successfully apply for freedom providing that there was a continuous direct male line back to an ancestral freeman.
3. Freedom could be achieved through an apprenticeship providing that the indenture was with an individual freeman, not a company.
The new legislation has made it illegal for daughters of freemen to be treated any differently to sons and Leicester City Council approved a motion in full council on 25th June 2009 allowing for the admission of daughters.
The agreement reached between the City Council and representatives of the Board of Deputies clarified who is eligible to become a freeman and who is not eligible.
1. All sons can inherit the freedom through their father regardless of when the father took his freedom.
2. All sons can inherit the freedom through their mother providing that the mother is a freeman.
3. All daughters can inherit the freedom through their father regardless of when the father took his freedom.
4. All daughters can inherit the freedom through their mother providing that the mother is a freeman.
5. Both sons and daughters can inherit the freedom from a male ancestor providing that there has been a direct and continuous line of males all of whom would have been eligible to take their freedom during their lifetime. (see diagram 1)
6. Both sons and daughters can inherit the freedom from a female ancestor providing that there has been a direct and continuous line of males or females all of whom would have been eligible to take their freedom during their lifetime. (see diagrams 2 and 3)
It is inevitable that cases will arise in the future that do not satisfy the above criteria and each situation will be considered by the City Council at that time.
Diagram 1
Male ancestor (Freeman)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
Son or daughter eligible to become a freeman
Note; The number of generations between the ancestral freeman and the applicant can be any number providing that the line can be proven by documents.
Diagram 2
Male ancestor (Freeman)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
daughter (did not take her freedom but not deceased before the date the City Council approved the admission of daughters)
*
Son or daughter eligible to become a freeman
Diagram 3
Male ancestor (Freeman)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
Son (did not take his freedom)
*
daughter (deceased before the date the City Council approved the admission of daughters)
*
Son or daughter not eligible to become a freeman
Any application to become a Freeman of Leicester should be made to:-
The Town Clerk
Leicester City Council
New Walk Centre,
Welford Place,
Leicester
LE1 6ZG.
You will need to provide the following information:
Full name and address
Full birth certificate
Full birth certificate of the person that you are claiming the Freedom from.
Freedom certificate (of the relative from whom you are claiming the Freedom)
Description of your trade or profession
If any of the above information cannot be found then please contact Marie Hall who is also at the above address.
Marie will advise regarding what action should be taken.
Image: Making Free Ceremony for a Canadian Freeman
This was a special making Free ceremony arranged for Chris Johnson during his visit to England from Canada during 2005.
From the left Chairman of the Board Ian Tebbutt, The Town Clerk Tom Stephenson, Lord Mayor Councillor Mary Draycott, New Freeman Chris Johnson, Master of the Gild Michael Ayres and Deputy Master John Tolton.
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