The later middle ages: Admissions to freedom

A History of the County of York: the City of York. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1961.

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'The later middle ages: Admissions to freedom', in A History of the County of York: the City of York, ed. P M Tillott (London, 1961), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp114-116 [accessed 30 April 2025].

'The later middle ages: Admissions to freedom', in A History of the County of York: the City of York. Edited by P M Tillott (London, 1961), British History Online, accessed April 30, 2025, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp114-116.

"The later middle ages: Admissions to freedom". A History of the County of York: the City of York. Ed. P M Tillott (London, 1961), British History Online. Web. 30 April 2025. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp114-116.

APPENDIX

ANALYSIS OF ADMISSIONS TO FREEDOM 1272-1509
Craft 1272-1306 a 1307-1349 1350-1399 1400-1449 1450-1509
Total Per year Total Per year Total Per year Total Per year Total Per year
1. Textile Crafts
Capmaker 1 12 0.2 12 0.2 40 0.7
Chaloner 2 b 7 0.2 27 0.5
Coverletweaver 16 0.3 3 3
Draper, clothseller 2 21 0.5 110 2.2 59 1.2 23 0.4
Dubber 12 0.3 1
Dyer 31 0.7 135 2.7 101 2.0 84 1.4
Embroiderer 4 5 0.1
Fuller 3 0.1 6 0.1 86 1.7 80 1.6 81 1.4
Haberdasher 2 1 2 42 0.7
Hosier 3 0.1 15 0.3 7 0.1 6 0.1 10 0.2
Linendraper 1 2 1
Linenweaver 6 0.1 9 0.2 15 0.3
Sempstress 8 0.2 4
Shearman 14 0.3 60 1.2 45 0.9 49 0.8
Tailor 15 0.5 110 2.6 374 7.5 280 5.6 234 3.9
Tapiter, Arrasmaker 53 1.0 60 1.2 64 1.0
Weaver 32 0.7 273 5.5 194 3.9 131 2.2
Woad-dealer 6 0.2 10 0.2 4 2
Woolman 1 4 24 0.5 8 0.1
Wool packer 13 0.3 2
Vestment maker 1 3 6 0.1
Miscellaneous 2 1 6 0.1 4
Total 32 1.0c 264 6.4 1,190 23.8 901 18.0 799 13.3
2. Provision Crafts
Baker 41 1.4 78 1.8 97 2.0 128 2.6 106 1.8
Brewer 4 8 0.2 28 0.6 23 0.4
Butcher 27 0.9 96 2.2 109 2.2 138 2.8 102 1.7
Cook 13 0.4 52 1.2 53 1.1 59 1.2 52 0.9
Cornmonger, &c 2 16 0.3
Fisher, fishmonger 13 0.4 73 1.7 75 1.5 106 2.1 152 2.5
Grocer 2 21 0.4
Maltster, Maltgrinder 3 2 2 4
Miller, Meal grinder 3 0.1 8 0.2 31 0.6 35 0.7 79 1.3
Poulterer, fowler 4 0.1 14 0.3 2 12 0.2 3
Salter 7 0.2 7 0.2 1
Saucemaker 3 0.1 11 0.3 17 0.3 14 0.3 2
Spicer 7 0.2 34 0.8 48 1.0 29 0.6 18 0.3
Taverner, hosteler, innholder 12 0.4 59 1.4 28 0.6 10 0.2 26 0.4
Vintner 3 7 0.1 33 0.7 15 0.3
Miscellaneous 6 0.1 4 1 1
Total 130 4.3 448 10.4 481 9.6 599 12.0 621 10.3
3. Mercantile Crafts
Chapman 23 0.5 79 1.6 92 1.8 61 1.0
Huckster 1 2 1
Mariner, shipman 11 0.4 76 1.8 97 2.0 92 1.8 63 1.1
Mercer 30 1.0 142 3.3 319 6.4 180 3.6 48 0.8
Merchant 2 68 1.6 193 3.9 307 6.1 255 4.3
Total 44 1.5 309 7.2 688 13.8 673 13.5 428 7.2
4. Leather Crafts
Cobbler 20 0.7 5 0.1 1 7 0.1 17 0.3
Cordwainer, shoemaker 13 0.4 164 3.8 191 3.8 170 3.4 172 2.9
Currier 3 0.1 8 0.2 29 0.6 30 0.6 19 0.3
Glover 10 0.3 26 0.6 53 1.1 44 0.9 66 1.1
Parchment maker 4 0.1 8 0.2 18 0.4 11 0.2 16 0.3
Patener 8 0.2 9 0.2 7 0.1
Pursemaker, pouchmaker 3 21 0.4 2
Saddler 3 0.1 33 0.8 68 1.4 37 0.7 33 0.6
Sheather 1 3 14 0.3 4 1
Skinner, Tawyer 15 0.5 69 1.6 123 2.5 109 2.2 33 0.6
Tanner 65 2.2 100 2.3 120 2.4 112 2.2 107 1.8
Miscellaneous 2 4 3 2
Total 134 4.5 421 10.0 650 13.0 536 10.7 475 79
5. Building Crafts
Alabasterer, marbler 1 6 0.1
Carpenter, joiner 1 23 0.5 62 1.2 42 0.8 48 0.8
Carver 4 19 0.4 10 0.2
Fuster 4 0.1 4 0.1 7 0.1 1 1
Glazier 4 0.1 16 0.3 20 0.4 26 0.5
Mason, cementer 3 0.1 17 0.4 49 1.0 49 1.0 23 0.4
Pavier 4 6 0.1 11 0.2
Plasterer 2 15 0.3 25 0.5 4
Sawyer 1 2 24 0.5 37 0.7 31 0.5
Tiler, tile-maker 5 0.1 44 0.9 49 1.0 56 0.9
Wright 1 49 1.0 86 1.7 19 0.3
Miscellaneous 1 10 0.2 7 0.1 8 0.1
Total 9 0.3 59 1.4 284 5.7 342 6.8 243 4.0
6. Metal Crafts
Armourer, helmetmaker, &c. 17 0.4 16 0.3 31 0.6 17 0.3
Arrowsmith
Bell-maker 1 2 3
Bladesmith 8 0.2 11 0.2 15 0.3
Cardmaker, combsmith 2 21 0.4 25 0.5 15 0.3
Cutler 3 0.1 59 1.4 32 0.6 28 0.6 15 0.3
Founder 1 14 0.3 17 0.3 25 0.4
Furbour 5 0.2 14 0.3 17 0.3 1
Girdler. 41 1.4 46 1.0 57 1.1 47 0.9 29 0.5
Goldsmith, goldbeater 4 0.1 23 0.5 56 1.1 61 1.2 44 0.7
Ironmonger, hardwareman 2 7 0.1 7 0.1 3
Latoner 9 0.2 2 1 2
Locksmith 1 1 9 0.2 11 0.2 10 0.2
Lorimer 9 0.3 10 0.2 10 0.2 8 0.2 3
Marshal, smith, ferrour 7 0.2 43 1.0 62 1.2 84 1.7 82 1.4
Moneyer 4 3 7 0.1
Pewterer 2 5 0.1 26 0.5 43 0.7
Pinner, nailer, needler, riveter 4 0.1 11 0.3 42 0.8 33 0.7 10 0.2
Plumber 1 11 0.3 13 0.3 21 0.4 17 0.3
Spurrier 1 5 0.1 33 0.7 24 0.5 20 0.3
Tinker 1 2 7 0.1 6 0.1
Wiredrawer 1 4 16 0.3 5 0.1 10 0.2
Miscellaneous 4 16 0.3 6 0.1 4
Total 79 2.6 263 6.0 443 8.9 459 9.2 380 6.3
7. Miscellaneous
Attorney, lawyer, &c. 5 0.1 8 0.2 11 0.2
Barber 4 0.1 12 0.3 58 1.2 59 1.2 58 1.0
Boller 3 7 0.1
Bookbinder, stationer 2 1 3 3
Bowyer 1 15 0.3 54 1.1 53 1.1 26 0.4
Carrier, carter, &c. 1 2 13 0.3 4
Cartwright 3 12 0.2 8 0.2 13 0.2
Chandler, waxchandler, &c. 7 0.2 9 0.2 13 0.3 12 0.2
Civic officers, &c. 3 14 0.2
Clerk, chaplain, &c. 4 0.1 26 0.6 79 1.6 196 3.9 137 2.3
Collier 2 2 2
Cooper 2 14 0.3 28 0.6 27 0.5 19 0.3
Coucher, upholsterer 11 0.2 17 0.3 5
Doctor, surgeon, &c. 2 8 0.2 16 0.3 6 0.1
Esquire 1 19 0.4 5
Fletcher 1 2 28 0.6 28 0.6 18 0.3
Gentleman 38 0.8 51 0.9
Hairster, roper, stringer 1 3 12 0.2 14 0.3 17 0.3
Hatter 2 8 0.2 7 0.1 3 20 0.3
Horner 8 0.2 7 0.1 4 8 0.1
Husbandman 25 0.5 18 0.3
Jeweller 6 0.1 1
Labourer, &c. 6 0.1 25 0.5 27 0.5
Minstrel, players of musical instruments 6 0.1 0.1 5 0.1 12 0.2
Organ maker 5 2 4
Painter, stainer 11 0.3 18 0.4 29 0.6 31 0.5
Pardoner 5 0.1 13 0.3 21 0.3
Porter 1 8 0.2 41 0.8 49 1.0 57 1.0
Potter 3 0.1 21 0.5 39 0.8 23 0.5 21 0.3
Scrivener, illuminer, &c. 3 19 0.4 18 0.4 27 0.5
Serjeant 2 8 0.2 15 0.3 1
Shipwright 3 11 0.2 11 0.2 13 0.2
Turner 1 1 13 0.3 5 0.1 6 0.1
Water-leader 2 14 0.3 13 0.3 6 0.1
Wheelwright 1 1 1
Yeoman 53 1.1 91 1.5
Others 3 0.1 20 0.5 36 0.7 31 0.6 31 0.5
Total 24 0.8 183 4.2 547 11.0 847 17.0 787 13.2
a Records are available for only 30 of these years.
b Admissions per year of less than 0.1 are omitted.
c The total per year is calculated from the total admissions.
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