freeman

1) Among the records of the city of York are registers dating from 1272 of the 'freeman', that is men who had acquired the right or franchise to trade in the city. It should be noted that a widow 'inherited' her husband's franchise and lost it only if she remarried.

1529 agreyd that after the deceasse of all fraunchest men of this City then thayre wiffs to be as free as thaire husbands was so long as they kepe thaym sole unmaryed ... To occupy thayre husbonds crafts, York.

spellings widow
places York
dates 1529

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