Author Topic: Freemen of York: Willoughby Brothers  (Read 384 times)

Offline David Outner

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Freemen of York: Willoughby Brothers
« on: Thursday 26 November 20 20:43 GMT (UK) »
George Rivis Willoughby (1805-1877) and John Rivis Willoughby (1807-1877)  were brothers ("Rivis" being their mother's maiden name) and both were granted freedom of the City of York in July 1837.  Both applied for freedom on the ground of servitude in that they had served from 1822 seven year apprenticeships with George Willoughby stonemason and builder, almost certainly their father, a builder of that name.

Can anyone help on the following points?

1.  Duplicate applications: George gave notice of his intention to apply for freedom in July 1830, May 1832 and September 1834.  John gave notice of his intention to apply for his freedom in June 1836 and again in March 1837.  Does this mean that the initial applications were rejected?

2. How important were real occupations and residence at the time of admission?  George in his notices described himself as a builder and stonemason; but by 1837 he was primarily an innkeeper in Louth, Lincolnshire, though he later had a established  a practice as an architect and surveyor in Louth.  John in his notices described himself as "Corporation Surveyor"; but it is clear that when he went bankrupt in 1842 he was a builder.

Offline Bee

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Re: Freemen of York: Willoughby Brothers
« Reply #1 on: Friday 27 November 20 00:47 GMT (UK) »
Hi
An article in the York Gazette in 1836 suggests that John Rivas Willoughby already works for the Corporation and is applying for the post of Corporation surveyor.

Later in 1836 in the Hull Packet in an advertisement , John is described as "Corporation surveyor, York"
Dinsdale, Ellis, Gee, Goldsmith,Green,Hawks,Holmes,  Lacey, Longhorn, Pickersgill, Quantrill,Tuthill, Tuttle & Walker,  in E & W Yorks, Lincs, Norfolk & Suffolk. Census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline David Outner

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Re: Freemen of York: Willoughby Brothers
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 28 November 20 11:34 GMT (UK) »
Thank you for this reference.  I had not previously searched the Yorkshire Gazette, evidently a very good local newspaper.