Seven members of an extended family from Gloucestershire have together received certificates from the Lord Mayor to enrol them as hereditary freemen of Swansea.
Mrs Peggie Forrester, the matriarch of the family, organised for the younger generation of her family to claim their birthright in a ceremony at Swansea’s Civic Centre.
The family received certificates from Lord Mayor Cllr Ioan Richard at 12.30pm on Wednesday June 1.
The family members are all direct descendants by blood line or by marriage to the blood line of George Albert Guy Richards – a freeman of Swansea admitted in 1931.
The next generation moved away from Swansea decades ago to set up in business in Cheltenham but, though now Gloucestershire born and bred, the family maintains a proud connection with Swansea through their common ancestor.
The custom of the Lord Mayor handing a certificate to hereditary freemen when they are enrolled disappeared several years ago but, faced with seven applicants from one family, the Lord Mayor was happy to oblige the family and he presented them with their certificates wearing his full robes and chain of office.
Kim Collis, Swansea Council County Archivist, keeps the roll of hereditary freemen, helped the family through the process and vetted their application.
He said: “This is possibly the first time that seven sons and sons-in-law have all been enrolled together.
“It’s very generous of the Lord Mayor on this occasion to revive the practice of presenting them with their certificates personally.”
The custom of hereditary freemen derives from the ancient body of burgesses of Swansea who met from time to time in the Common Hall to deliberate the Corporation’s general policy.
In practice, they exercised little democratic control over the Portreeve and Steward who ran the town but that did not prevent them jealously guarding their membership, which was restricted to the sons and sons-in-law of existing burgesses and their apprentices.
Whenever membership was extended to someone else not related to an existing freeman, this was usually accompanied by a stiff admission fee.
By the mid-nineteenth century after Victorian reforms, the title of freeman had become purely honorary, although the 12 senior freemen were entitled to £10 per annum from the Corporation. The last freeman to receive this stipend died in 1968.
Have a look http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=406 for more information or call 01792 636589.
