John, There is a notation in "Black's Law Dictionary" which refers to colonial Pennsylvania so I will send it along to you. the definition of "freeman". FREEMAN. A person in the possession and enjoyment of all the civil and political rights accorded to a people under a free government. In the Roman law, it denoted one who was either born free or emancipated, and was the opposite of "slave." In feudal law, it designated an allodial proprietor, as distinguished from a vassal or feudal tenant. (And so in Pennsylvania colonial law. Fry's election case, 71 Pa. 308,10AM.Rep. 698) .................................................................... So much for clarity! ALLODIAL (again Black's) Free: not holden of any lord or superior; owned without obligation of vassalage or fealty: the opposite of feudal. George Lowe John Wm Sloniker wrote: > Good day, > > I don't think this subject comes up in Washington history but is more > likely found in eastern state records which are older. > > A cousin has just checked the 1810-1838 tax assessment records of Penn. > He found some records of potential g-grand-uncles, listed for the first > time as a "single freeman". His thought is that they just turned 21 yrs > old and was now subject to taxation. > > I seem to recall there was another "condition" that might preceed that > time in life which wasn't based on age. Problem is, I haven't been able > to find the term in my books for that condition. Can someone help me? > > The term I can think of is "bound-man", one that has had training given > and is now "bound" to service for payment of that training. > > What would be the term for that condition in 1830 Pennsylvania? > > John > > *====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====* > # John Wm Sloniker <johnwms@serv.net> Seattle, WA # > # (206) 789-6663 7323 - 19th Ave NW 98117-5612 # > *====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*