Freedom registers for 1700s

[wurding]

I hope to knock through a longstanding wall https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=793495.msg6499000#msg6499000 with the help of freedom registers although I cannot access them myself.

The Rowsells, were admitted freedom of the city by the skinners company for at least four generations from the late 18th century. The earliest I am aware of was John Rowsell, lawyer, who died in 1793. I do not have his parchment certificate but I do have evidence of this due to two of John's sons entering the company apprenticeship by right of patrimony; Thomas Rowsell III who was apprenticed by Evan Pugh, alderman of the City and later Sheriff of Tower ward, and Samuel Rowsell whose apprenticeship began in 1791 under Evan Pugh citizen and skinner of London. John's mother was Eleanor Pugh, so no doubt Evan Pugh is a relative.

However John's brother Thomas II was apprenticed into the Company of Butchers on 7th May 1748 and I suspect their father Thomas 1 may have also been a member of the Butchers' company (or the Skinners?).

I am told that I should consult the Freedom Registers for the period 1658-1753 [MS 6446/1] and 1694-1754 [Ms 6446/2].

The eldest Thomas Rowsell who I call Thomas Rowsell 1 was born either in London or Somerset (I think) in about 1702. He lived most of his life in Wimbledon and married a Sarah Fuller at some point. He first shows up in a record of the baptism of his son Thomas II in Wimbledon in 1734 and later remarries also in Wimbledon on 07 Sep 1755 to Mary Laws. He was buried in Wimbledon on 5 Sep 1773. I hope to find his origins through the freedom registers as other avenues of research have proved fruitless.

His descendants in the 19th century believed themselves to originate in Dunkerton, Somerset but I cannot connect this man to Somerset with existing evidence. Any assistance greatly appreciated. 

[goldie61]

You don't actually say where these Freedom Records are.
London Metropolitan Archives?
Are they on Ancestry? (I don't have a sub).
Otherwise have you tried contacting the LMA to get copies?

The will of Thomas Rowsell date of probate 15th Sept 1773 of Wimbledon, was at the PCC.
Do you have it?
It's only a very short will.
It is free at the moment on The National Archives, or you can get it on Ancestry if you have a sub.
I suspect this is the same man you have as dying 5th Sept 1773.
He doesn't mention his wife, so I presume she has already died.
He mentions sons William and John, and three daughters, two of whom are married. One is called Betty Fuller, married to a Thomas Fuller, who looks as if he must have been a relation to the Thomas's wife Sarah Fuller you mention.
But this Thomas Rowsell states he is a 'farmer' in this will, so presumably no admission to the city of London via a butcher's apprenticeship.

Have you looked for any Land Tax records for him? (These are on Ancestry).

These's an interesting item that comes up on a Google search for "Thomas Rowsell" Wimbledon.
On Ancestry someone has posted an 'obituary' for him.
The introductory snippet for a Thomas Rowsell born in 1702 says:
"Thomas Rowsell was a tenant farmer on the Duchess of Marlborough's Wimbledon estate......."
As I said, I don't have an Ancestry sub to get to the rest of it.
(This may be something you have put on there for all I know!)
There must be some records for these estates somewhere. Have you tried to track them down to see when his leases began, and if there is any other information about him?
If he had 'leases for lives', he may well have mentioned his sons.

If you think he came from Somerset, have you looked at Rowsell families there in the right time frame?
Once again. I'd look for any wills that might mention him, both at the PCC (on TNA or Ancestry), or trawl TNA for any mention of land deeds etc. Don't just look at wills for any one who may have been his father  - spinster aunts and bachelor uncles were also very good at leaving bequests to their nephews and nieces.
I see TNA has some 24 'hits' for "Rowsell" Somerset, between 1600 and 1800.
The TNA site doesn't do variations of names, so you would need to try other spellings on a separate search. I've seen 'Rouswell/ Rosewell/Rosewall/Rowswell' etc.

What about the Somerset Archives?
Have you had a dig around in their catalogue?
https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/


It might involve a lot of digging.

[Bookbox]

I am told that I should consult the Freedom Registers for the period 1658-1753 [MS 6446/1] and 1694-1754 [Ms 6446/2].

The eldest Thomas Rowsell who I call Thomas Rowsell 1 was born either in London or Somerset (I think) in about 1702 ... I hope to find his origins through the freedom registers as other avenues of research have proved fruitless.

It would be unusual for freedom registers to provide information on a person's origins.

An apprenticeship binding, on the other hand, may provide the name and parish of residence of the father, but not always.

The records of the Butchers’ Company are at Guildhall Library (not at London Metropolitan Archives). They are listed here ...
https://search.lma.gov.uk/LMA_DOC/CLC_L_BI.PDF

As your profile states you are in London, you could email them to book a visit and order the relevant documents in advance.
guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk

If you aren’t able do that, you could engage an independent researcher to visit on your behalf. I may be wrong, but I believe the LMA’s Paid Document Research Service no longer undertakes research commissions for records held at Guildhall.

[wurding]

You don't actually say where these Freedom Records are.
London Metropolitan Archives?
Are they on Ancestry? (I don't have a sub).
Otherwise have you tried contacting the LMA to get copies?

These are at Guildhall. I do not live in London anymore so it is hard for me to go there.
I do not have an ancestry sub either. I don't think the records of freedom papers for this era are digitised.

The will of Thomas Rowsell date of probate 15th Sept 1773 of Wimbledon, was at the PCC.
Do you have it?

Yes I have the will already.

Have you looked for any Land Tax records for him? (These are on Ancestry).

I have not found any for this ma back when I had a sub.

There must be some records for these estates somewhere. Have you tried to track them down to see when his leases began, and if there is any other information about him?
If he had 'leases for lives', he may well have mentioned his sons.

No I have not. How would I go about that?

If you think he came from Somerset, have you looked at Rowsell families there in the right time frame?
Once again. I'd look for any wills that might mention him, both at the PCC (on TNA or Ancestry), or trawl TNA for any mention of land deeds etc. Don't just look at wills for any one who may have been his father  - spinster aunts and bachelor uncles were also very good at leaving bequests to their nephews and nieces.
I see TNA has some 24 'hits' for "Rowsell" Somerset, between 1600 and 1800.
The TNA site doesn't do variations of names, so you would need to try other spellings on a separate search. I've seen 'Rouswell/ Rosewell/Rosewall/Rowswell' etc.

What about the Somerset Archives?
Have you had a dig around in their catalogue?
https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-archives/

There was a theory that Rowsells of London came from Rosewells of Somerset and indeed some of the latter moved to London in the 1600's while the former appear in London in the early 1700's but I have not been able to link them up. Sorry I do not know what TNA is. Thank you for the link to the somerset archives.

[wurding]

I am told that I should consult the Freedom Registers for the period 1658-1753 [MS 6446/1] and 1694-1754 [Ms 6446/2].

The eldest Thomas Rowsell who I call Thomas Rowsell 1 was born either in London or Somerset (I think) in about 1702 ... I hope to find his origins through the freedom registers as other avenues of research have proved fruitless.

It would be unusual for freedom registers to provide information on a person's origins.

An apprenticeship binding, on the other hand, may provide the name and parish of residence of the father, but not always.

The records of the Butchers’ Company are at Guildhall Library (not at London Metropolitan Archives). They are listed here ...
https://search.lma.gov.uk/LMA_DOC/CLC_L_BI.PDF

As your profile states you are in London, you could email them to book a visit and order the relevant documents in advance.
guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk

If you aren’t able do that, you could engage an independent researcher to visit on your behalf. I may be wrong, but I believe the LMA’s Paid Document Research Service no longer undertakes research commissions for records held at Guildhall.

Yes I know that they are at Guildhall library. I do not live in London though so it may be a while before I can go and check. Apparently I have to go in person, but I see the apprenticeship bindings may be my only hope at this stage

[Ashtone]

Is this 1750 record of any interest? It mentions Merton, so there's a possible Wimbledon connection.

Reference:   QS2/6/1750/Xms/54
Title: Report of Thomas Rowsell, inspector of cattle, notifying outbreaks of distemper in Merton and Battersea, and reporting on his activities in general
Date:   1750
Held by:   Surrey History Centre, not available at The National Archives [TNA]

Link: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/8bb1fd0c-fdf3-4854-91f7-c3b278f1cb90

Below is the Surrey History Centre's link for the above, plus a related 1748 record:

https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_QS_16_145_48

https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_QS_16_140_15

[goldie61]

"TNA" is The National Archives, as I mentioned at the beginning of my post - where the 1772 will is.
It would have been helpful if you had said you already had this will.
Is there some reason you think he may have also been a member of the Butchers' company - he gives his occupation as a farmer on this will, which the 'hit' on Ancestry would seem to confirm.

You would have to search for where the records of the Duchess of Marlborough's estate are.
Try searching on TNA, or even a Google search.
(If you put "Duchess of Marlborough" estate archives into Google you will get some information. You need the inverted commas around "Duchess of Marlborough".)

It's aways a good idea to give what information you have, such as having his will, or knowing where the records of the Butchers' company were, as then those trying to help you do not spend their time searching around to try to find the same information you already hold.

It's also a good idea here on Rootschat, (as in life I find), that a 'thank you' to people who have spent their time trying to help you goes down well.

[Ashtone]

Find My Past have this 1754 transcript record (no image) in case it's of any interest:

Surrey Feet Of Fines 1558-1760
Name: Benjamin Rosewell
Location: Wimbledon, Surrey
Year: 1754

Feet of Fines were documents of a fictitious suit of law created to obtain a secure transfer of land.

ADDED:

Surrey Feet Of Fines 1558-1760
Name: Benjamin Rosewell
Location: Croydon
Year: 1753

[wurding]

"TNA" is The National Archives, as I mentioned at the beginning of my post - where the 1772 will is.
It would have been helpful if you had said you already had this will.
Is there some reason you think he may have also been a member of the Butchers' company - he gives his occupation as a farmer on this will, which the 'hit' on Ancestry would seem to confirm.

AH I see, thank you. Members of the livery cos are not necessarily employed in that profession primarily so his being a farmer does not preclude his membership of the company of Butchers. His son Thomas was apprenticed into the Butchers co 7 May 1748 and his father Thomas is listed so I think it may be by right of patrimony he was admitted for the apprenticeship.

You would have to search for where the records of the Duchess of Marlborough's estate are.
Try searching on TNA, or even a Google search.
(If you put "Duchess of Marlborough" estate archives into Google you will get some information. You need the inverted commas around "Duchess of Marlborough".)

Thanks for this advice. I presume the land TR farmed was that of Wimbledon Manor House completed by Duchess of Marlborough. Should I include that in my search terms?

It's aways a good idea to give what information you have, such as having his will, or knowing where the records of the Butchers' company were, as then those trying to help you do not spend their time searching around to try to find the same information you already hold.

It's also a good idea here on Rootschat, (as in life I find), that a 'thank you' to people who have spent their time trying to help you goes down well.

Sorry about that. Excuse my bad manners and thank you for your help.