FREEMAN, the term specifically applied to one who pos sesses the freedom of a city, borough or company. Before the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, each English borough admitted freemen according to its own peculiar custom and by-laws. The rights and privileges of a freeman, though vary ing in different boroughs, generally included the right to vote at a parliamentary election of the borough, and exemption from all tolls and dues. The act of 1835 respected existing usages, and every person who was then an admitted freeman remained one, retaining all his former rights and privileges. The admission of freemen is now regulated by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882, whereby the term "freeman" includes any person of the class whose rights and interests are reserved by the act of 1835 under the name either of freemen or of burgesses. No person can be admitted a freeman by gift or by purchase; that is, only birth, servitude or marriage are qualifications. By the Honorary Free dom of Boroughs Act 1885, however, the council of every borough may admit persons of distinction to be honorary freemen.
A person may become a freeman or freewoman of one of the London livery companies by (1) apprenticeship or servitude; (2) patrimony; (3) redemption; (4) gift.
See W. C. Hazlitt, The Livery Companies of the City of London (1892).