Case Name: Bromfield vers. Lovejoy
Court: Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1767-03
Citations: 1 Super. Ct. Jud. 237
Docket Number: 
Parties: Bromfield vers. Lovejoy.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, between 1761 and 1772
Volume: 1
Pages: 237–238

Head Matter:
Bromfield vers. Lovejoy.
PLEA in Abatement by Mr. Auchmuty, that the Defendant bore a Captain’s Commission, and so a Gentleman by Office, and therefore, Yeoman, was not his due Addition. Cited 2 Inst. 666, 668; 1 Inst. 66 a.
1767.
A Captain of Militia, commissioned by the Governour, is a Gentleman by Office, and if sued by the Addition of Yeoman may abate the Writ.
Mr. Otis.
Lovejoy is certainly no Gentleman by Office; for no Commission from any Governour whatever, can make a Man Gentleman by Office. Lovejoy is then a Gentleman, if any Way, by Curtesy, or Reputation, and, Gentleman, would be a good Addition, “ but if he be named Yeoman, he cannot abate the Writ.” Viner, Tit. Additions, C. pi. 29, p. 85... “Yeoman or Gentleman are Additions ad Placitum, and ad Libitum, are no Part of the Name, but Additions ad Libitum, as People please to call them.” Viner, Ibid. pi. 33, 34.

Opinion:
The Court
took a Distinction between Gentleman by Curtesy, and Reputation, and feemed to be of Opinion, that, if a Man was Gentleman by Curtesy, Yeoman was not his sue Addition; aliter if Gentleman by Reputation only. In the present Case they were of Opinion, that Lovejoy was a Gentleman, both by his Commission and by Curtefy. Therefore they ruled, that the Writ abate, though they said it was a very great Hardship upon the Bar.
Vid. 3 Bac. Abr. 618, where Brook, 44, is cited. Vid. 2 Ld. Raym'd, 849.