Preface

PREFACE

This volume carries the list of the Freemen of the City of York from the 1st of Queen Elizabeth to the end of the reign of George II., a period of 200 years, and, as stated in the previous volume, to the date of Mr. Davies' list, which covers the years from 1760 to 1835. It adds the names and occupations of 16,600 Freemen to those published in Vol. I. Perhaps the principal interest it contains is genealogical, for it will be found that there is a very notable increase in the number of those claiming their freedom by patrimony; and as, in each instance, the name of the father is given it will be found a great help to searchers in tracing their descent from the citizens of York. The most notable admissions to the freedom 'by order' are, perhaps, the names of William, Duke of Cumberland, in 1745, and William Pitt in 1757. It is interesting also to note the very marked addition to the number of trades, arising from the prosperity of the country and the increase in the wealth of the inhabitants of the city, bringing with them the greater demand for the comforts as well as, what were then considered, the luxuries of life.