As others have mentioned, you did not have to be a member of a company to be free of the City (and vice-versa). However most were both. The earliest Platts was the son of a Martin Platts of St James Westminster baptised there in Nov 1738, and later of St Botolph Aldersgate. He was buried at St Faith under St Paul's in 1807 aged 70 and left a PCC Will. This Martin was a member of the Musicians' company, but had been apprenticed to a member of the Blacksmiths' Company 3 Oct 1751 but is also recorded in the Musicians. This was quite common (i.e. to be apprenticed in one company and join another either instead of or as well). This Martin's two sons James (baptised 1770 died 1832) and Martin (born about 1761 died 1817, also leaving PCC Will) were free of the Musicians' Company as well. The SoG have printed nearly 50 booklets listing apprenticeships in various companies under my editorship, the latest three (Butchers, Skinners, Turners) having just appeared. However, all the entries are available on FMP. Cliff Webb