What is a 'Freeman'

Star

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• Oct 20, 2008

• #1

I was in some company today where two senior gentleman were referred to 'Freeman' <Surname> and not their first names i.e instead of 'John Smith' they were addressed as Freeman Smith. Any ideas what this is about?

 

JLibourel

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• Oct 20, 2008

• #2

Could be some of these nut jobs who refuse to acknowledge any government authority and don't pay taxes. They style themselves "Freemen." Hadn't heard anything much about them in a decade or so. They were sort of contemporaneous and of a piece with the "Citizen Militia" movement.

 

redgrail

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• Oct 20, 2008

• #3

Are you in London? Could be these gentlemen have the Freedom of the City... http://www.guild-freemen-london.co.uk/

 

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• Oct 20, 2008

• #4

They used to mine the sand in Dune.

 

Jekyll

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• Oct 20, 2008

• #5

 

Tokyo Slim

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• Oct 20, 2008

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Journeyman

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #7

Originally Posted by Tck13

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They used to mine the sand in Dune.

Wasn't that the Fremen?

 

Willsw

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #8

Maybe you misheard them. "Foreman" seems logical.

 

Beta

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #9

Originally Posted by Journeyman

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Wasn't that the Fremen?

+1 for sci fi

 

redgrail

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #10

Originally Posted by Beta

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+1 for sci fi

+1 for eerily blue eyes and recycling your own piss and sweat as drinking water.

 

Flambeur

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #11

Isn't that a social/class term in the UK? Similar to Esquire or something? Like a couple steps above a commoner?

 

redgrail

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• Oct 21, 2008

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Originally Posted by Flambeur

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Isn't that a social/class term in the UK? Similar to Esquire or something? Like a couple steps above a commoner?

Yes. In the feudal era. Above villeins, cottagers and slaves.

 

T&A

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• Oct 21, 2008

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Originally Posted by Flambeur

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Isn't that a social/class term in the UK? Similar to Esquire or something? Like a couple steps above a commoner?

Never used as such these days, nor is commoner, and esquire is on the way out.

Also, freemen of the City of London and other English cities don't use it as a prenominal title in that way.

I bet they're tax resistors - they are "free" in the sense of owing no debt to the State. Still quite a few of them around.

 

RyJ Maduro

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #14

Perhaps a local government position? In New Jersey, county officials are referred to as "Freeholders."

 

gnatty8

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• Oct 21, 2008

• #15

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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Could be some of these nut jobs who refuse to acknowledge any government authority and don't pay taxes. They style themselves "Freemen." Hadn't heard anything much about them in a decade or so. They were sort of contemporaneous and of a piece with the "Citizen Militia" movement.

You do mean patriots don't you?