Description

Admin History:

Becoming a freeman and burgess of Kingston upon Hull, like many other towns, was particularly important as it carried some considerable privileges within the borough. The charters of 1299 and 1440 granted the burgesses the right to participate in the election of aldermen as well as the coroner and mayor. These rights and privileges were abolished under the reforms of the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act.

The general definitions of the terms of burgess and freeman are:-

Freeman:

a) A tenant who holds land of the Lord at a fixed rent without the obligation of feudal service.

b) Before the Municipal Corporations Act, they could claim a share of the profits of the city or borough and claim exemptions from tolls.

c) Now an honorary title conferred by a city of corporation.

Burgess:

a) A citizen of a borough having municipal rights

b) A member of parliament for a borough or corporate town

c) They hold office for life, unless they resign or had to be removed for some notable reason. A burgesses-ship conferred other privileges as well as a share in the government of the town; above all it carried the right to set up in a craft or trade, for which non-burgesses were required to pay an annual licence.

Description:

Includes roll of honorary freemen, claims made by freemen and burgesses for eligibility to vote in elections, and finance claims relating to elections. Records were primarily created between the years of 1835 to 1889, except for the roll of honorary freemen which covers the years 1885-1996.