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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: fisherj on Friday 30 January 15 22:16 GMT (UK)

Title: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: fisherj on Friday 30 January 15 22:16 GMT (UK)
Can someone please explain what it means if someone was admitted (or made) burgess.

I have looked this up in a dictionary but have to admit I still  don't understand what it would have meant for my ancestors - blacksmiths and colliers - who were "made burgess" in the nineteenth centuries. 

If you can explain what they would have had to do and what they would have got out of doing this it would be really helpful,

Thank you
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: Jed59 on Friday 30 January 15 22:57 GMT (UK)
 wiki
Burgess is a word in English that originally meant a freeman of a borough (England) or burgh (Scotland). It later came to mean an elected or unelected official of a municipality, or the representative of a borough in the English House of Commons.[1]

so they must have been well respected members of the community. quite what they had to do Im not sure  .Documents refer  to "..the mayor, aldermen and burgesses"  so they were  quite honoured.
hope that helps
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: fisherj on Friday 30 January 15 23:30 GMT (UK)
Yes - but - your reply only makes me curious to find out more!

They seem to be of lowly trades - collier and blacksmith in the early and mid nineteenth century in Pembrokeshire.  Three generations in one family (- Grandfather, father, son). 

I didn't think working classes would have any honours bestowed on them back then!!

Why or how they should be deemed as honoured or given some particular responsibility I can't imagine. 

Interesting.... many thanks....

Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: stanmapstone on Saturday 31 January 15 08:42 GMT (UK)
A burgess was a citizen of a borough, having full municipal rights e.g. being able to vote.
It was probably to do with the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 See Section V at  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01enl/
Stan
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: Koromo on Saturday 31 January 15 09:10 GMT (UK)
The Bristol and Avon Family History Society website had a good explanation, from which the following bits are taken:


One of my 2x gr-grandfathers is recorded as taking his burgess oath in Nottingham in 1858.

Koromo

Added: Found the link at last for the article on the bafhs website:
http://www.bafhs.org.uk/research-room/sources/bristol-burgesses (http://www.bafhs.org.uk/research-room/sources/bristol-burgesses)
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: stanmapstone on Saturday 31 January 15 09:17 GMT (UK)
This article explains who had the right to vote in Counties and Boroughs
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Poll_Books_in_England_and_Wales
See my post about Burgesses in Nottingham.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=688353.msg5324449#msg5324449

Stan
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: fisherj on Wednesday 04 February 15 20:03 GMT (UK)
Thank you Stan and Koromo for your very helpful replies.  I've gone from wondering why/how my ancestor, a collier/ag lab, should be admitted as a burgess to wondering why more people did not do so!  I find it hard to believe that he was one of only 3% of the population who was entitled to vote - if I have understood these articles correctly.
Again - many thanks.
Regards
Title: Re: Explanation please - "admitted burgess"
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 04 February 15 20:28 GMT (UK)
Are you familiar with Welsh newspapers online -
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/home

Might find mention of your "rellies" there?

(Search tip - if you use a search key of more than one word wrap the search key in "    ")