The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-26
The Freedom
of the City
The Origin of the Custom and
What it Meant in Former
Times

New York, Nov. 21.-"To one
freedom of the city beaver
SKINS"
Entries like this would have dot
ted the debit side of the expense ac-
counts of Foch, Diaz, Beatty, Jac-
ques and others Of the brilliant pro-
cession of old world figures drawn
to America in the wake of the
world war, had they come about
three centuries earlier.
And instead of riding at the
head Of triumphal professions to
the city halls of various municipali-
ties, there to receive the freedom Of
the city at the hands of respectful
mayors, to the accompaniment of
bands and cheering throngs, they
would have had to file petitions in
court for their freedom and take
oaths not to offend against the law
of the land.
Conferring of the freedom Of a
city ~on a visitor has come to mean
almost precisely the opposite Of
what II meant in the young days
of America and-earlier-in the
medieval days in Merrie England.
1.-The origin Of the custom of
granting the freedom of the city
to aliens is virtually lost in an
tiquity," said Professor Harold Nc
Balm, instructor in municipal gov
ernment at Columbia University,
commenting on the round of bril-
liant receptions that have kept the
mayors of New York and other
cities almost constantly in tall hats
and frock coats in recent months.
.'It appears, however, to have
grown directly out Of the medieval
organization Of industry on a mo-
nopolistic~basis, and was original
ly an economic measure, pure and
simple.
''In the old English borough it
amounted to license to carry on
business, and later, to vote. With
out the status of freeman, con-
ferred by the grant, a man could
not rise above the class of employe.
The early Dutch settlers Of New
Amsterdam-now New York-set
up similar status, called the
Burgher Right, in 1648, as a pro-
lection against Scotch Merchants
and Petty Traders who spoil trade
and business by underselling.' Per-
sons not holding the Burgher Right
were prohibited from conducting
business either with Christian or
Heather. The fee was six beaver
skins.
Freedom of the city was pro-
vided for in the Dongan charter of
16S6-the first Englis,. charter of
New York city, and it's dispensa-
ton was entrusted to ye mayor or
any three or more of ye aldermen.
The fee by this time was reckoned
in British pounds instead of beaver
SKINS pounds, IL shillings for
the shopkeeper class and l pound,
shillings for handicraftsmen.
Persons receiving the grant
were required to take the OATH.
.Obeysant and Obedient Shall ye
bee to the Mayor and Ministers of
this City and swore to take turns
at the watch, pay their taxes, and
warn the mayor Of Any Gatherings,
Conventicles or Conspiracies made
against the Kings Peace
1T was in the latter part Of the
eighteenth century that the practice
Of bestowing gratuitous, honorary
freedoms of the city appeared.
\ early New York records recite
the bestowal of the freedom Of the
city of New York on Captain Sir
Peter Warren for his exploits
agail.s. the Frenche and TO Gener-
ais Shirley, Monckton and Gage.
Later there is an entry showing
the honor was bestowed on three
sailors of a vessel lying in New
York harbor, in recognition of
their services in helping eXtinguish
a disastrous fire"
The formality had nearly died
out when the termination of the
war brought revival. designed to
honor noted visitors. Professor Nc
Balm said he knew of no records
showing the origin Of the practice
of delivering the keys Of the city
to persons receiving the honor.