Freemen

Freemen of the City of Gloucester.

The Freedom of the City of Gloucester was conferred upon men who had reached a certain standing in their community, either by serving a full apprenticeship (i.e. by servitude), as the son of a former freeman (i.e. by inheritance) or by paying for the entitlement (i.e. by fine).  It gave specific rights and privileges to the man, such as the right to trade in the city, to vote in the elections and to own property.  In more recent years, women have been granted the Freedom of the City as well.

Several members of the local Gwinnett family became freemen.

From A Calendar of the Registers of the Freemen of the City of Gloucester 1641-1838

by Peter Ripley and John Jurica

  • 1687 Sep 2   Richard Gwinnett, app. of Josiah Randle, baker
  • 1694 Apr 20   George Gwinnett, app. of Thomas Niccols, plumber
  • 1727 Sep 4    Samuel Gwinnett, clerk
  • 1727 Sep 4    George Gwinnett, gent (of Shurdington)
  • 1738 Apr 28   George Gwinet, app. of George Cooke, grocer
  • 1756 Feb 9    Samuel Gwinnett, son of Samuel, clerk
  • 1757 Oct 24  Button Gwinnett, son of Samuel, clerk
  • 1775 Oct 6    Samuel Gwinnett, innholder, by fine.
  • 1784 Sep 13  Charles Gwinnett, innholder, by fine
  • 1806 Apr 14   Samuel Gwinnett, writer, son of Charles, victualler
  • 1809 Sep 4    William Gwinnett, victualler, by fine. Sworn same day.

 Freemen of the City of London

  • 1737 Sep 6  Owen Gwinnett, by redemption in the Company of Farriers

The document states Owen to be the son of the late William Gwinnett, a clothier from Stonehouse in Gloucestershire.  It records:

This day Mr Chamberlain having presented unto this court Owen Gwinnett to be made free of this city as the eleventh of the fifty granted unto him by this court ye 21st June last to be apply’d towards the discharge of the publick debts of this city; it is ordered the the said Owen Gwinnett be admitted into the Freedom of this City by Redemption in ye Company of Farriers paying unto Mr Chamberlain for this City’s use, the sum of forty-six shillings and eight pence.