Freemen of Haverfordwest

[BECA]

Several years ago I was given a Family Tree with most of the male ancestors marked as Freemen of Haverfordwest.  I am aware that this title is passed down from father to son but was it that easy?  I would like to know where I can  find more information on the Freemen dating back to mid 1700's? Many thanks.
BECA

[cati]

There's some information here:

http://rklucas.co.uk/freemen.php

including contact details for the clerks to the Gild (sic) of Freemen of Haverford West

Cati

[Orielbenfro]

Contact Roy Folland at ;
http://www.royfolland-funeral-directors.com/

He is the Chair of Freeman of Haverfordwest.

Beware if he trys to sell you a CD of Burgess & Freeman of Pembroke Borough, this CD comes from my own original research, the CD has a number of errors and is far from complete, unlike my upto date database.

Let me have the surnames of your interest and I will check and supply from my Database of Burgess/Freeman of Pembroke Borough 1678 to 2008 of some 15,000 names, pre 1850's information is extremely limited.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

[BECA]

Thank you both for your replies. The family I am tracing are Hughes from the St. Issells area. My g.g.f James b1846, his father George b1811, his father William b c 1788. Thanks BECA

[Cymro36]

Until my retirement in 1996 I maintained the register of Freemen of Haverfordwest at Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council, as the Chairman of the Council was responsible for admitting new Freemen.  Following local government reorganisation in that year the register will now be in the custody of Pembrokeshire County Council.  At one time I arranged for the old register to be professionally restored as it was deteriorating badly, but I can't remember the date of the earliest entries.  I suggest you contact the County Council.

[Orielbenfro]

Since P.C.C. hold no where near the amount of information I have, and Tenby area came under the old Pembroke Borough Council and not H'west, I can see no point in going to them.
For H’west your best bet is still Roy Folland who has all H’west Freeman to hand and is most certainly the most knowledgeable on Freeman of that area.
I presume your George Hughes mrd Mary Evans at St Issells 01 Mar 1834. Would I be correct in thinking William Hughs mrd Mary Cragg in 1809 at St Issells.
Of all the Hugh, or Hughes in my database only the following are listed near to the area or name of your interest.
James Hughes a shoemaker of Pembroke made burgess 11 Feb 1861 Admin Bk 18 Page 79 was an apprentice to William Hopla who was admitted burgess in 1832
George Hughes a Gentleman of Tenby made burgess 09 Nov 1812 Admin Bk 15 Page 132, Minute Bk page 396
William Hughes a Clerk was made burgess 27 July 1772 Admin Bk 4 Page 59 Minute Bk page 40
(Note Clerk is a member of Holy Orders)
There is one only listed for H’west under the Pembroke Borough and that is
Thomas Hughes of H’west St Mary made burgess 10 Feb 1795 Admin Bk 7 Page 101 Minute Bk page 174
(Note the Admin Books and Borough Minute Books here mentioned hold no further information that shown above)
Pre 1763 no residence or parish is noted for Burgess/Freeman, however in many cases their trade is e.g. anything from Labourer to Mayor.
It should also be noted very few people actually wanted to be Burgess (or Mayor for that matter) the Borough minutes are full of people being fined for none attendance to be made Burgess. For Mayors see my article in the Pembroke & Pembroke Dock Observer dated 8th Aug 2011 entitled “Who wants to be Mayor ~ Not I”.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

[BECA]

Thanks for your detailed reply. You do have the correct George Hughes mrd Mary Evans and William Hughes mrd Mary Cragg. None of the other Hughes' you mention are on the Family Tree I am referring to.
I am confused by the Freeman set up. Although they come under the Pembroke Borough does that mean they are Freemen of H'west. 
BECA

[Cymro36]

I'm afraid reference to Pembroke Borough is a bit of a red herring as you say that the male members of the family are shown as Freemen of Haverfordwest, not of Pembroke.  The fact that they lived in St. Issells is irrelevant so far as eligibility for admission as Freemen is concerned - the criterion was having a father who was a Freeman, regardless of residence.  For example, many of the Freemen admitted in past years have in fact been resident overseas at the time of their admission.  Incidentally, you may be interested to know that the Freemen of Haverfordwest have now, I understand, amended the criteria to facilitate the admission of women.  I agree with the suggestion that Roy Folland, Master of the Gild, will have a great deal of information, as probably will Messrs. R.K. Lucas, Clerks to the Gild, but I still believe that the afore-mentioned register, which contains details of the names, addresses and dates of admission of all Freemen, provides a comprehensive list and a convenient, easy-to-use source of information.

[BECA]

Thanks Cymro36 - that all makes sense now. I should have realized that as I know the Freeman admission is hereditary. I've re-read the site cati suggested and that too NOW makes sense. I'll get in touch with Roy Folland in the New Year.
BECA