In the New Windsor Boyd research group, the term “Freeman” of New York has just come up. Where there list of “Freemen” for other US Cities in the 1700’s? If so, what do these list contain, and mihgt they give a location as to where the Boyd listed lived, etc? Thank you Mike Boyd Historical Committee, hBS

I've seen a few towns who had militia lists that marked people as "Freemen". The term was loosely held as a designation for those of age who had "paid" their community dues. Remember, moving into a town required meeting certain guidelines related to personal economics. The town was also obligated to care for said person, and he was obligated to "serve" the town/community until he had met his economic obligations. Built house, built farmland, financial independent etc. Again, you can find different meanings for different locations. However, there is no external political law or expectation that each town provide said list. Most of the time I see it in early New England (pre-1740) was in the legal papers of the day and militia lists. Colin Brooks The 1718 Project CB1718project@gmail.com

Thank you Colin. Could members advise the list what towns/cities they have found that had Freemen List of people and over what period, please? I suspect it was mainly used before the War of Independence, but it will be useful to know which towns had such lists and to make a list of the Boyds and then they were on the Freeman's list It will also help as a research tool for pre 1790 Census. The Militia List will also be useful as a means of finding your family in hte 1700's, as well. Mike Boyd -----Original Message----- From: Colin Brooks via Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 10:48 PM To: boyd Subject: Re: [BOYD] List of Freemen in 1700's US Ceties I've seen a few towns who had militia lists that marked people as "Freemen". The term was loosely held as a designation for those of age who had "paid" their community dues. Remember, moving into a town required meeting certain guidelines related to personal economics. The town was also obligated to care for said person, and he was obligated to "serve" the town/community until he had met his economic obligations. Built house, built farmland, financial independent etc. Again, you can find different meanings for different locations. However, there is no external political law or expectation that each town provide said list. Most of the time I see it in early New England (pre-1740) was in the legal papers of the day and militia lists. Colin Brooks The 1718 Project CB1718project@gmail.com ====================