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List of Civic Offices

Sep 21, 2024

List of Civic Offices in Medieval London

This table records essential information about civic offices in MLD. The first column records the standardized names given by MLD to civic offices, whether elected or appointed. The second column notes the years of service for that office currently recorded in MLD, in which the ‘year’ is the first year of an annual term of office. A straight line separating a span of years (-) indicates that all known officeholders for these years are in MLD. A wavy line (~) indicates that there are some gaps in this span. Because this table will be updated as officeholders are added, it is important to note the access date when citing this page.

The third column records alternative titles or names for this office, as well as the sources used for the names of officeholders and sometimes a brief description of the office. We aim to cite the primary source recording the election or appointment, either in the Source field or in the Activity field when we have used lists of officeholders from an authoritative secondary source. See Sources and Abbreviations for the abbreviated references used in the Notes column. For abbreviations in the Activity field of MLD records, users need to consult the list of abbreviations in the publication cited in the Source field for that record.

In the official MLD record of an officeholder’s term of office, the Activity field begins with ‘Elected’ when the office is elected (as noted in the third column) or ‘Served’ when the office is appointed. These individual records are most easily found using Browse Records. Because not all elections and appointments to civic offices are recorded in extant sources, MLD also includes civic officeholders when mentioned in other contexts, although the Activity field for these records does not begin with ‘Elected’ or ‘Served.’ These incidental references (such as when a mayor or aldermen serve as witnesses to a deed or preside over a court, or when a minor office like Sheriff’s clerk is noted in a legal record) are, however, rarely noted in the Civic Office field for mayors, sheriffs, and aldermen for which definitive lists are available. The main exceptions are appearances in twelfth- and early thirteenth-century documents, when the lists of officeholders like aldermen are less secure.

For more on the changing numbers, selection process, status, and duties of these civic officials, see Caroline M. Barron, London in the Later Middle Ages: Government and People 1200-1500 (Oxford, 2004), esp. chapters 6-8. For legal offices, see Penny Tucker, Law Courts and Lawyers in the City of London, 1300-1500 (Cambridge, 2007), esp. chapter 7. The descriptions for many of the offices noted below owe much to these two works. Many thanks to Penny Tucker for her help with describing the legal offices in this chart. The table below also notes other publications on specific offices. The most high-status offices are in red; legal offices are in purple.

This is a work in progress, so we welcome corrections and contributions: please notify us via our Contact form.

Cite this page as: “List of Civic Offices in Medieval London,” Medieval Londoners, at https://medievallondoners.ace.fordham.edu/list-of-civic-offices/ (accessed [today’s day/month/year]).

Office (standard spelling)	Years in MLD	Notes on alternative titles, sources, and duties
Alderman	1108, 1148≈1227, 1230-1550	Beaven, I and II, with corrections (and many additions for the 13th century) by McEwan, Aldermen. Also in MLD is data from "Attendance of Members at the Court of Aldermen, 1416-1462," in Barron thesis, 541-3. The office dates back to the early 11th century, but only some aldermen are known for period up to c. 1230. Terms of election varied over time; the office was hereditary before the late 13th century, but by 1394 aldermen generally seved for life. One alderman served for each of the 24 wards (23 before 1394).
Assayer of oysters	1409~1449	Assayer of oysters at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 586.
Auditor	1390~1488	Auditor of the accounts of the Bridgewardens and Chamberlain. Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 594-99 (for 1409-62)); London Bridge (1501); LMA CLA/007/FN/002/003-004, 060. Individual references also recorded for some Auditors for other years between 1368 and 1547 in HPO, 1386-1421; HPO, 1422-61, and HPO, 1509-1558. By the late 14th century two alderman and four commoners were usually elected each year as auditors. See B. Masters, "Introduction" to Chamber Accounts of the Sixteenth Century (London, 1984): ix-xxxii.
Bailiff of Billingsgate	1416~1439	Barron thesis, 582. Appointed to adminster the quay and collect tolls; the city aquired the right to charge tolls here in 1400. His servant was also named in 1416.
Bailiff of piepowder court of Southwark	1550	Carlin, Southwark, 292.
Bailiff of Queenhithe	1298, 1316, 1416~39	Ekwall (1298, 1316); Barron thesis, 582. Appointed to adminster the quay and collect tolls, a right the city enjoyed since the mid-13th century.
Bailiff of Southwark	1327~1552	Carlin, Southwark, 291-2. On occasion a deputy or under bailiff was named.
Beadle of the ward	1417, 1419, 1422, 1426, 1428-9, 1438-40, 1444, 1450, 1453-4, 1456, 1461	Barron thesis, 545-55. Taken mainly from the Journals and memoranda rolls. Coverage is spotty since names are not available for all wards in all years.
Bridgewarden	1303, 1311, 1320, 1325, 1336-7, 1342~50, 1355, 1381~1464, 1473-88, 1501, 1537 1388-92, 1403-62, 1485-89, 1501	Ekwall (1303-1336); Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 600-1 (for 1404-62); London Bridge (1381, 1501, 1537); LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 018-019, 060. Two elected each year. Notice of the dates of service often come from the accounts in the Bridge House records, although the Activity field for these records still starts with 'Elected.'
Chamber Clerk	1294~1505	Controller. Barron, London, 363; Tucker, Law Courts, Appendix 8.3. By late 15th century, his duties included preparing annual accounts of the city, serving as clerk to civic committees, disbursing money, and attending court of aldermen, among others. Chosen by the common council. Received share of fees from freedom entries and, by the late 14th century, an annual wage of 100s. Office often held for life.
Chamber serjeant		By the late 14th century, the Chamberlain had 3 serjeants who were chosen by the common council Received an annual salary of 40s and a share of fees from enrolling freedom entries. Duties included collecting city property rents. A high-level office often held for life.
Chamberlain	1237, 1274-1532	Barron, London, 361-2, drawing on B. R. Masters, The Chamberlain of the City of London 1237-1987 (London, 1988), 105-09; supplemented by Cal. Letter Books. Supervised city revenues; responsible for assets of orphans. Elected and usually served a term of multiple years. Two chamberlains up until 1300, thereafter one. See B. Masters, "Introduction" to Chamber Accounts of the Sixteenth Century (London, 1984): ix-xxxii.
City attorney at Boston fair
City clerk		A generic designation for clerks who worked for the city in some undefined capacity; they could have helds positions such as a clerk of the Guildhall, a Mayor's court clerk, or a chamber clerk, among others. Some would have had formal legal training. Tucker, Law Courts, appendces.
Clerk of Bridge works	1440~86, 1501-2	LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 060; Barron thesis, 593; London Bridge (1501). Composed and wrote duplicates of the Bridge accounts. Tended to be a permanent position.
Clerk of city works	1478-1518	Master of the works of the city; Clerke of the Workes and Repractions of the landes and tenements belongyng to the Chamber. B. R. Masters, "The City Surveyor, the City Engineer and the City Architect and Planning Officer," Guildhall Miscellany 4:4 (1973): 237-55.
Clerk of Common Clerk	1529	The Common Clerk had four clerks in his office by the 1460s. Incidental references only.
Clerk of mayor's court	1436, 1440; 1454-82, 1488, 1492, 1507-8, 1512~23, 1526, 1529~40	Tucker, Law Courts,Baker, Men of Court. They were able to work as attorneys for litigants in the Mayor's court, who paid them for their services, but likely earned more private income from writing out bills and other court documents for clients. By the mid 15th century, there are are references to four clerks or attorneys of the Mayor's court; the fourth was appointed by the Common Clerk. Although clients usually hired clerks of the Mayor's court to represent them in the Mayor's court, there are instances of chamber clerks and serjeants working in both the Mayor's and Hustings courts. By 1537, all but one of the clerks serving as attorneys had specific jobs, such as dealing with city orphans, enrolled deeds, handling sureties in legal actions and swearing in Company wardens. The second clerk, received 25s from the city, plus fees that he made.
Clerk of recorder	1517	Tucker, Law Courts.
~~Clerk of sheriff's court~~	~~1497~~	~~See below, Sheriff's clerk. One reference. Baker, Men of Court.~~
Clerk of the Guildhall	1456-7, 1473, 1480-1	Also clerk of the Guildhall Chamber. Tucker, Law Courts; Baker, Men of Court; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/060.
Clerk of undersheriff	1529	Tucker, Law Courts.
Coalmeter	1427~1460	Coalmeter at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 585.
Collector of Bridge passage-tolls	1404~84	Keeper of monies/tolls on carts and wains crossing the Bridge. LMA, CLA/007/FN/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501); Barron thesis, 591 (she names 3 and labels the office Bailiff of London Bridge).
Collector of Bridge rents	1404~1486, 1501	Receiver/Renter/Rent gatherer of rents on properties of London Bridge. Barron thesis, 589; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501). One to two men served in this office each year.
Collector of Bridge rents and farms at the Stocks/ Collector of Bridge farms at the Stocks	1424~1501	Collector/Renter/Rent gatherer of Bridge farms at the Stocks; receiver of foreign and quit rents and farms from the butchers and fishmongers at the Stocks. Later the office was focused only on collecting the farms at the Stocks. Barron thesis, 590; LMA, CLA/007/FN/02/060; London Bridge (1501).
Common attorney	1376~1540	Licensed by the city to serve as an attorney (i.e., who could represent a litigant) in the Sheriffs' court from 1393 onwards (before that, sheriffs' clerks could act as attorneys in this court). By the 15th century, most were 'lawyers' in that they had legal training and were inreasingly members of a legal inn. Tucker, Law Courts, App. 8.4
Common Clerk	1274~1514	Barron, London, 364, drawing on B. Masters, "The Town Clerk," Guildhall Miscellany 3 (1969): 55-74. A permanent, waged official. First termed 'the principal clerk of the city' in the 1270s with an annual salary of 100s, which rose to £10 by c. 1335, and was supplemented by fees for enrolling deeds, wills, and writs. Duties were many and included drafting letters, serving as an envoy, keeping city records safe, compiling records such as the Letter Books, Journals, and city custumals. Elected by the common council by the late 14th century. Had four clerks by the 1460s.
Common councillor	1376~~1485	Cal. Letter Books, HPO 1386-1421; CPMR; CLA/007/FN/02/060. Representative body that began in the 14th century. Their numbers varied depending on how they were elected, either by ward or craft, both of which were over time subject to limitations. Between 1422 and 1454, the size of the council almost doubled to 188. Elected every year, but many served multiple terms. [Incidental references thus far, but more common councilmen will be added in due course.]
Common Hunt	1379~1500	Barron, London, 368. Duties included supervising hunting expeditions of the mayor and aldermen, maintaining the city's hunting hounds, and securing venison warrants. Chosen by the common council. A permanent position that paid £10 annually from the late 14th century.
Common pleader (before 1518)	1315~1498	Before 1518, 'common pleader' referred to clerks (many of them lawyers with legal training) who were hired by clients to speak on their behalf in the city courts, although some were also employed by the city to provide advice on the common law or to represent the city as an advocate in other courts. The title of commun narrator civitatis (as in CLBE, 20) could also refer to the Common serjeant, which in MLD is standardized as Common serjeant-at-law (see below).
Common pleader	1518-1554	A new city office in the early 16th century (although the title had been used in the 13th and 14th century). Generally had legal training. Tucker, Law Courts, App. 8.1.
Common serjeant-at-arms	1291~1504	Common crier. Barron, London,366, drawing on P.E. Jones, "Common Crier and Serjeant-at-Arms," Transactions of Guildhall Historical Association 3 (1963): 80-7, and LMA file by B. Masters, "Officers of the Mayor's Household before 1600." Appeared by late 13th century. A humbler legal office. Selected by the common council.
Common serjeant-at-law	1319~1545	Common serjeant; common pleader. Barron, London, 359-60 who draws on B. R. Masters, "The Common Serjeant," The Guildhall Miscellany 2 (1967): 379-89. Also Tucker, Law Courts and Baker, Men of Court. At first the city's legal advisor and prosecutor in its own courts, who also watched over the interests of orphans. Originally a high office elected by all freemen but later chosen by the common council and mainly served as their legal advisor. The office was often a stepping-stone to higher legal offices.
Common Weigher		There were various common weighers, including a common weigher of silk.
Constable of the ward	1417, 1422, 1424, 1426-7, 1429, 1441. 1439, 1445-6, 1448, 1450-1, 1454-61	Barron thesis, 545-55. Taken mainly from the Journals and memoranda rolls. Coverage is spotty since names are not available for all wards in all year
Controller of the balance		There were several different types of balances.
Cornmeter	1300, 1322, 1428~1458	Cornmeter at Queenhithe and Billingsgate. Ekwall (for servants of the cornmeter 1300, 1322); Barron thesis, 584. Position usually held by cornmongers; their job was to measure grain brought in or sent our for sale. Also could arrange for the grain to be carried to the bakers and brewers at standard rates. There were nine master cornmeters in 1300, with 23 servants, some of whom were also cornmongers (Riley, ed., Liber Albus, i, 272; EMCR, 102-3). See also Meter, below.
Coroner	1225-1509	Barron, London, 370-2, drawing on W. Kellaway, "The Coroner in Medieval London," Studies in London History Presented to P.E. Jones (London, 1969), 87-9. Deputy coroner was entered when noted in one of these sources.
Keeper of Blackwell Hall	1405, 1424-5, 1462	Custos. Barron thesis, 588. Market house for cloth set up here c. 1397-8. The keeper collected rents from those leasing space here. The office came to be controlled by the Drapers but supervised by the city.
Keeper of city's charters	1270	Title held by Arnold Fitz Thedmar, but not evident afterwards.
Keeper of St Botulph's quay
Keeper of the common seal	1425, 1427, 1440-8, 1451, 1455, 1458, 1461	Keeper of the keys to the common chest. Barron thesis, 579-80. The keepers included the mayor, 1-4 aldermen, and 3-4 commoners. They held the keys to the inner and outer chests containing the common seal.
Keeper of the conduit
Keeper of the gate		Various gates specified. Probably the same as the keeper of the keys of a gate.
Keeper of the great beam	1376, 1411, 1420~58	Custos. Barron thesis, 581. The position was held by a Grocer.
Linenmeter at Steelyard
Mayor	1190-1558	MASL. One elected each year. Often served for many years in the 13th century, but stricter term limits were enforced by the second half of the 14th century.
Mayor's esquire	1381-1522	Mayor's swordbearer. Barron, London,365. Title originated c. 1381. Mostly a ceremonial office. See T. K. Collett, "The Swordbearer," Transactions of the Guildhall History Association (Dec. 1956): 39-45.
Mayor's serjeant	1492	Lambert, Skinners. Incidental references only.
Mayor's valet	1445	Incidental references only. Barron thesis. See B. R. Masters, "The Mayor's Household before 1600," in Studies in London History presented to P.E. Jones (London, 1969): 95-11.
Meter	1322	Various types of tasks involving supervision of measuring and/or selling specific commodities. In 1322 (CLBE, 167) meters were appointed a Queenhithe and Billingsgate to guard where corn was sold and prevent it from being taken out of the city (during a period of grain shortages). See also Cornmeter, Linenmeter, Oystermetere, and Saltmeter in this chart.
MP	1283, 1290, 1296~1385	Beaven, I, 263-74. 2-4 men elected for the term of a specific parliament.
MP	1386-1558	HPO, 1386-1421; HPO, 1422-61 (in print but eventually will be online); HPO, 1461-1504 (volume is not yet published, but we worked from a list of London MPs compiled for this volume by Matthew Davies); HPO, 1509-1558. 2-4 men elected for the term of a specific parliament. The introductions to the London constituency in these volumes provide the best discussion of this position.
Oystermeter	1407, 1420, 1445.	Oystermeter at Queenhithe or Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 587. Billingsgate oystermeter position was held by three of the mayor's valets from 1445.
Porter of ___	1309-10, 1321, 1409-10, 1414-16, 1431, 1454, 1460	Janitor or keeper of specific gates of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books; Barron thesis, 556.
Porter of Bridge House	1424~1486, 1501	Keeper of the door of Bridge House in Southwark, who also kept and maintained the dogs of the Bridge House to safeguard its contents. Barron thesis, 592; LMA, CLA//007/FN/02/003-004, 060; London Bridge (1501). One man tended to hold the office for many years.
Recorder	1298, 1304, 1320~1545	Barron, London, 356; Tucker, Law Courts, Appendix 7.1. In the late 13th-14th century, mainly supervised record-keeping in the city courts and offered advice about the law and procedure. Primarily professional lawyers, especially by the late 14th century. By the 15th century, he was the chief legal officer of the city, who represented the city in royal courts. He could take on private clients (especially the city crafts), but the city did not like this distraction. Recorders often served multiple years in a row.
Saltmeter	1427~1459	Saltmeter at Queenhithe and/or Billingsgate. Barron thesis, 583.
Scavenger of the ward	1422	Barron thesis, 545-55. Names are not available for all wards.
Secondary	1453, 1465-6, 1474, 1494-7, 1504-6, 1509~30	By the 15th century, the secondary had become the head of the sheriff's clerical administration, which was based in the sheriff's compters or counters; one sheriff was based near the Poultry and the other at Bread Street. There was also a deputy secondary at the Bread Street compter. Baker, Men of Court; Tucker, Law Courts; B. Masters, "The Secondary," Guildhall Miscellany 10 (1964): 425-33.
Serjeant at mace	1436~1508	Serjeant of the Chamber of the Guildhall. Barron thesis, 569; LMA, CLA//007/FN/02/003, 060; London Bridge (1501). Men tended to serve multiple years in this position.
Serjeant of the Channel	1385~1517	Barron, London, 369. First appointed in the mid 1380s to keep streets clean and clear of rubbish; his remit expanded to some markets and the banks of the Thames in the 15th century. Assisted by a valet. Probably appointed by the court of aldermen, the office was often held as a serjeant of the chamber.
Sheriff	1190-1558	MASL. Two sheriffs elected each year. Each had his own undersheriff, secondary, and clerk of the papers, and a variety of other staff.
Sheriff's clerk	1445~1497	Unspecified clerk of the sheriff. Probably appointed to a specific counter or held a specific role in the counter (e.g., the secondary's clerk), but others could have focused on purely clerical work such as registering writs received from the central courts. Tucker, Law Courts; Baker, Men of Court. Incidental references only.
Sheriff's prothonotary	1527	Tucker, Law courts. Incidental references only.
Tax assessor		Anyone who assessed taxes on behalf of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books. Incidental references only.
Tax collector		Anyone who collected taxes on behalf of the city. Ekwall; Cal. Letter Books. Incidental references only.
Undersheriff	1298, 1309, 1374, 1379, 1383, 1391~1535	Barron thesis, 357-58; Ramsay thesis; Tucker, Law Courts, App. 7.3; and information from Hannes Kleineke at the HPT. Originally known as a sheriff's clerk, the title of undersheriff came into regular use by 1356. Originally one, but later an undersheriff for each sheriff. Even by the 14th century but especially by the 15th, had significant legal training. By the 15th century, their chief duties were to administer the sheriff's court and counter. Sheriffs also appointed an undersheriff for Middlesex (he is not consistently noted in MLD).
Warden	1172, 1265-70, 1272-3, 1284-98, 1320-1, 1391-2	Custos. MASL; ODNB. A warden was occasionally selected to represent the interests of the king during periods of conflict with the city; the last one served in 1391-2.
Warden of Boston fair		Incidental references only.
Warden of Ludgate gaol	1409-10, 1414-16, 1431, 1441, 1457-60	Custos/Keeper of Ludgate gaol. Barron thesis, 556. Also a deputy (locumtenens) of Ludgate gaol in 1416 and 1431, and an valet/yeoman (custos velett) in 1454, and sub-warden (sub custos) in 1457-60.
Warden of Newgate gaol	1310-11, 1386, 1416, 1431, 1434, 1441, 1446~56	Custos/Keeper of Newgate; Janitor of Newgate; Keeper of the keys of Newgate. Ekwall; Barron thesis, 557. Coverage spotty even for 1446-56,
Waterbailiff	1385~1522	Keeper of the water of the Thames and surveyor of nets. Barron, London, 367. First appeared in the mid 1380s. Was assisted by a valet. Selected by the common council, though on occasion in the 15th century at the instance of the king or the duke of Gloucester.
Wine searcher	1422, 1439~61	Barron thesis, 573-6. Twelve vintners, usually appointed by the court of aldermen, to search out corrupt wine. Appointed annually. Six searched in the eastern and six in the western part of the city.
Yeoman of the Chamber		Incidental references only.

What’s New in MLD?

May 4, 2020

What’s New in MLD?

Below is a quick checklist of what types of information can be found in MLD; see also Sources and Abbreviations for full bibliographic information. The main sources used are in round brackets. Future upload dates are in square brackets; [ongoing] means some but not all of the data are in MLD. Last updated 6 September 2022.

Civic Offices:

All Mayors and Sheriffs (from MASL), all Aldermen (from Beaven) to 1550
Other civic offices (mostly for the late middle ages) include the Recorders, Undersheriffs, Common Pleaders, Chamberlains, Chamber Clerks/Controllers, Common Clerks, Auditors, Mayor’s Esquires/Swordbearers, Common Criers/Common Serjeants-at-Arms, Waterbailiffs, Common Hunts, Serjeants of the Channel/Surveyors of Streets and Lanes, Coroners, and Deputy Coroners (Barron, London and Barron thesis). Recorders, Common Sergeants, Common Attornies (from appendices of P. Tucker [2024])
MPs for London: all from 1290 to 1558, with links to the HPO 1381-1422 and HPO 1504-58 MP biographies
Bridge House and ward offices (beadle and constable): primarily for the fifteenth century (Barron, London and Barron thesis).
Mayors of the Westminster staple: up to 1540 (Rich)
Westminster office-holders, c. 1350-1540 (Rosser, Medieval Westminster)
Southwark manorial officers (Carlin, Medieval Southwark)
MPs for Middlesex (when they had a close association with London): HPO [2024]
Undersheriffs for Middlesex: Freemen thesis [2024]

Legal Records:

Lawyers in the central courts: from The Men of Court, 1440 to 1550, ed. J. Baker, Selden Society, 2 vols. [ongoing: surnames A-C , done D-H coming in April 2024]
London Assize of Nuisance, 1301-1431: All London residents recorded in the calendar edited by H. Chew and W. Kellaway [2024]
Chancery clerks: biographies in M. Richardson, The English Chancery Clerks under Henry V (1999)
Coroners’ Rolls: For 1300-1, 1321-2, 1323-4, 1324-5, 1325-6, 1336-7, 1338-9, and 1339-40. All London residents, including perpetrators, victims, sureties, and jurors, recorded in the Calendar of Coroners Rolls [2024]
CP40 cases with London plaintiffs and defendants [2024]

Craft Members and Officials:

Bakers: Master and clerk of the company, 1481-1547 (Thrupp, Bakers)
Barbers: Craft officials: Master and Wardens to 1550 (Young)
Barber-Surgeons: all known medical practitioners to 1520 (Talbot and Hammond; Getz)
Carpenters: Wardens, beadles, and clerks of the company, 1437-1519 (Leach thesis)
Cornmongers: those active late 13^th to mid 14^th century (Feeding the City database) [Fall 2024]
Cutlers: names of newly admitted apprentices and their masters, 1441-98 [Fall 2024]
Embroiderers: all those listed in the main London civic sources, CCR, and CPR
Fletchers: mostly those active in the 15th and early 16th century (Kleineke dataset)
Goldsmiths: Wardens and Renters, 1334-1509 (Reddaway, Goldsmiths)
Grocers: Craft officials–Masters and Wardens to 1540 (Kingdon) [ongoing]
Mercers: c. 3500 member biographies compiled by Anne Sutton
Mercer-Merchant Adventurers: c. 900 records noting their membership and overseas trade, compiled by Anne Sutton
Mercer-Staplers: c. 235 records noting their overseas trade activities, compiled by Anne Sutton
Merchants: c. 450 biographies of merchants, 1300-1500 by Sylvia Thrupp, Merchant Class of Medieval London
Merchant Taylors: all wardens, many members c. 1450-1520 (Davies and Saunders, Merchant Taylors, and Hopkinson, Ancient Records); women and family members, c. 1450-1520
Painters: all those identified in London and Westminster (Drimmer)
Pinners: see Wiresellers
Saddlers: members and officeholders (Letter Books; Sherwell, Descriptive and Historical Account of the Guild)
Skinners: names of admitted apprentices and their masters, 1491-1530, plus those named in the accounts of the Skinners’ fraternity
Stainers: members and craft officials (Englefield) [2024]
Stationers: members and officials (Christianson, Directory of London Stationers and Book Artisans) [2024]
Surgeons: all known to 1520 (Talbot and Hammond; Getz)
Tailors: see Merchant Taylors
Tapicers: those noted in the main London and national sources, mostly 14th-15th century
Wiresellers and Pinners: wardens and wills of guild members (Megson, Pinners and Wiresellers Book, 1462-1511)
Woodmongers: those active c. late 13^th-mid 14^th century (Feeding the City database) [2024]

Taxes:

1186 tallage on Jews: [2024]
1189 tallage on Jews: [2024]
1194 Donum of Northampton (Abrahams and Jenkinson)
1239 and 1241 tallages on Jews: Hillaby, “Jewry Revisited,” and Stacey, “Tallages” (2024]
1292 lay subsidy for London (Ekwall)
1319 lay subsidy for London (Ekwall)
1332 lay subsidy for London (Curtis)
1381 poll tax for Southwark (Fenwick, Poll Tax)
1411-12 subsidy for London (Stahlschmidt) [2024]
1436 subsidy for London (Thrupp, Merchant Class)

Wills:

PCC will references: Names, occupations, and probate dates of testators residing in London, Southwark, and Westminster c.1390-1540 (TNA PROB 11) [will be entered in four sections: first to appear in Fall 2022]
PCC Southwark wills: summary abstracts for wills 1499-1540 provided by Cliff Webb [Spring 2024]
Surrey Archdeaconry Court wills: summary abstracts for Southwark for 1490-1532 provided by Cliff Webb [2024], plus wills from the Spage Register for Southwark, 1484-90 [2024]
PCC probate inventory references: Names, occupations, and dates of extant inventories of testators residing in London, Southwark, and Westminster c.1468-1540 (TNA PROB 2) [appearing in installments; first group Spring 2023; seocond group Summer 2024, etc…]
Hustings Wills (Sharpe, Hustings)
Logge Register wills: all those named in the wills of Merchant Taylors (Logge Reg)

Property records:

Deeds, c. 1250-1330, from TNA, E40, as abstracted in A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds in the Public Record Office [ongoing]

Other Sources:

Female and male heads of the religious houses in London [Female heads added 2022, male heads to be added in Winter 2024]
Londoners referenced in articles in The Ricardian [ongoing]
Jewish Londoners [Winter 2024]
New DNB: Links to over 1000 medieval Londoners in the New DNB [2024]
Names in the indices of the Calendar of Letter Books and CPMR [2024]

Occupations

May 3, 2020

Table 1: Occupations and Crafts in Medieval London

This table shows standarized spellings of all the occupations found in the documents entered in MLD, along with brief notes on the formation of crafts associated with these occupations; when the organized craft/guild/mistery/company is meant, the occupation is capitalized. See Sources and Abbreviations for the abbreviated references used in the Craft Notes column. Since information in this table is regularly updated, it is important to note the accesss date when citing: “Table 1: Occupations and Crafts in Medieval London,” Medieval Londoners, at https://medievallondoners.ace.fordham.edu/occupations/ (accessed [today’s day/month/year]).

For a useful corrective to the emphasis on Livery companies, along with a discussion of the relationship between the freedom of the city and the guilds/companies, see E. M. Veale, “Craftsmen and the Economy of London in the Fourteenth Century,” in Studies in London History Presented to Philip Edmund Jones, ed. A.E.J. Hollaender and W. Kellaway (Leicester, 1969), reprinted in The Medieval Town: A Reader in English Urban History 1200-1540, ed. R. Holt and G. Rosser (New York, 1990), 120-40.

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Occupation	Notes
apprentice-at-law	A practicing lawyer in the common law courts below the rank of serjeant-at-law.
apothecary	Often called spicers in the 13th century; members of Pepperers by early 14th century. Mystery of Apothecaries noted in 1328 (CLBE, 232), but there are no subsequent references, and probably remained members of the Pepperers. From 1345 to early 17th century were members of the Grocers (Barron, London, 200; Memorials, 120-1; Nightingale, Grocers, 134, 548).
archdeacon	A senior member of the clergy who headed up an administrative sub-unit of the diocese, called the archdeaconry. His administrative duties included presiding over his archdeaconry's court and assisting the bishop in other matters.
armourer	Ordinances 1322 (Memorials, 624). Incorporated 1452 as the Fraternity or Gild of St George of the Men of the Mistery of Armours. Had rights of search and control over armour and weapons. Established hall in 1428. Absorbed the Heaumers.
arrowsmith	Also arrowheadmaker. They were metalworkers who made the metal heads for arrows, which were then fitted to the shafts by fletchers.
bailiff	supervisory official, often for a manor. Also a legal/policing official in the city.
baker	Also pestur. Paid annual fine to Exchequer for their gild, 1155-76 (Thrupp, Bakers, 2). Incoporated by letters patent in 1307. Orginally two fraternities, the White and the Brown Bakers, who were amalgamated and received royal charter in 1509. See S. Thrupp, Bakers.
barber-surgeon	See barbers.
barber	First master of the Barbers sworn in at Guildhall in 1308. Ordinances 1376 (Memorials, 393); they were governed by a Master and three (originally two) Wardens. Within the craft there were also barber-surgeons; in 1415 Masters were appointed to supervise Barbers practicing as surgeons (Memorials, 606); they were incorporated in 1462 (CPR 1461-67, 109). Informal alliance with Fellowship of Surgeons in 1493; each group selected two wardens who togther oversaw surgical matters within the city. In 1540, the Company of Barbers and Fellowship of Surgeons united, though they split again in 1745. See also Surgeons, below. See S. Young, The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London (1890), and J. Colson and R. Ralley, “Medical Practice, Urban Politics and Patronage: The London ‘Commonalty’ of Physicians and Surgeons of the 1420s” EHR 130 (2015).
bargeman	Operated a barge on the Thames to transport people and goods.
basketmaker	No charter; claimed to exist by prescription
batour	Beater of metal (goldsmith, coppersmith, or brasier)
beerbrewer	Brewed beer. Ordinances in CLBL, 52-3.
berman	A porter of wine tuns.
blackmith	Articles 1372, 1394, and 1408 (Memorials, 361, 537-9, 569-70). 1434 Ordinances granted by the wardens and masters in the brotherhood of St Loye with the whole company of the craft of Blacksmiths (Coote, Ordinances, 40-44). United with Spurriers in 1571.
blader	See bladesmiths and cornmongers.
bladesmith	Also called bladers. In existence 1408 to 1532. Joint petition of the Cutlers and Bladesmiths in 1408 (Memorials, 568-9)
boatman	Sailed or rowed boats on rivers. Not an organized craft.
botcher	Repaired or sold second-hand clothing (Davies, ed. Court Minutes of the Tailors, p. 305)
bottlemaker	Botellers; they made leather bottles. Regulations in 1373 (CLBG, 317), on occasion involved in assaying leather and presenting their masters (Veale, 'Craftsmen,' 130). Petition of Horners and Bottlemakers 1475-6 who wish to merge because so impoverished (CLBL, f. 116)
bowyer	Made bows for archers. By March 1371, the Bowyers and Fletchers had separated into two crafts; see 1371 article articles of the Bowyers and Fletchers (Memorials, 348-50). 1387 petition with Cutlers, Bowyers, Fletchers, Spurriers and Blacksmiths of London against Nicholas Brembre and others (TNA, SC 8/21/1006). Grant of arms 1488. See B. Megson, "The Bowyers of London, 1300-1550," London Journal 18 (1993): 1-13, and idem, Such Goodly Company: A Glimpse of the Life of the Bowyers of London 1300-1600 (1994).
braeler	Bracemakers. Ordinances 1354 (Memorials, 277)
brazier	Brass-founders. Ordinances 1322 (Memorials, 624). Absorbed the Fraternity of Potters. Incorporated 1479. Merged with Armourers in 1708.
breechgirdler	Made belts for holding up breeches; also bracegirdler.
brewer	Known as Guild of Our Lady and St. Thomas Becket in late 12th cent. Gild by 1376. Ordinances 1406. 1345 ordinance against Brewers wasting water from the conduit in Chepe (Memorials, 225). Charter 1437-8. First grant of arms 1468.
*broiderer*	Broiderers (also Broders) is the name of the craft of embroiderers. The craft in existence in 13th century but not incorporated until 1561. Note that MLD uses 'embroiderer' for the occupation and 'Broiderer' for the craft.
broker	Middleman who facilitated trade between wholesalers and retailers. Regulations in CLBK, 350-1 (Journal 5, f. 97b)
buckler	Bokelers, bucklesmiths. Made metal buckles (thus a type of smith)
bureller	Also burler, burlester. Weaver of burel cloth (a rougher, cheaper woollen cloth). Could also mean someone who helped refine finished cloth. Incorporated by letters patent of Hen. III. Complaint to mayor in 1300 about high prices of weavers (Barron, London, 202).
burser	See pursers.
butler	Person in wealthy households who purchased wine. Also a royal official who supervised wine imports for the crown.
butcher	Fined as an adulterine gild in 1180 (Unwin, Gilds, 47-8). Butchers retailing meat at the Stokkes (Memorials, 141); petition of butchers of Stokkes market (ibid, 179); lease to buchers of St Nicholas Shambles on annual payment of a boar's head (ibid, 214); regulations for sale of butchers' meat and fish in vicinity of the Stokkes and conduit in Chepe and for cleansing the dock at Dowgate (ibid, 222). Fined in 1474 for making ordinances without consulting the corporation. First charter in 1606. See P. E. Jones, The Butchers of London (1976).
calender	Also kalendar. Applied hot iron to new, damp cloth.
callere	Made cauls (women's hair nets made out of linen thread). Also callear, caller, calier, callmaker, keller.
capper	Letters patent from Henry III. 1404 petition of the Hurers and Cappers (Memorials, 558-9) Fraternity of Hurers, otherwise Cappers and Hatters, was a Gild in honour of St. James the Apostle; absorbed in 1448 by Haberdashers.
cardmaker	Makers of iron cards for the carding of wool. See Riley, Munimenta Guildhallae Londonensis, v. 3, 300.
carpenter	Fellowship granted royal licence 1344. Ordinances 1455. Permission to use a common seal in 1466. Built first Hall 1428-9. Incorporated 1477. See D. Leach, "Carpenters in Medieval London c. 1240 – c. 1540," Ph.D.thesis, Univ. of London, 2017.
carter	Not an organized craft though the Fellowship of Carmen was established in 1517 to control the cartage trade, though the Woodmongers, who owned more carts, objected to their control.
carver	See joiners
casketmaker	See forcers
chaloner	Worked with chalon, a type of woollen cloth or frieze, often figured, that was used for blankets, bedspreads, hangings, and tapestries.
chandler	See tallowchandlers and waxchandlers.
chapeler	Made or sold hats (a milliner)
chapemaker	Made and fitted chapes or metal trimmings such as the aglets attached to the ends of laces, or the points of a scabberd or knife sheath. The Chapemakers were absorbed into the Wiresellers in the 15th cent.
chaplain	A priest who was associated with a chapel, chantry, or other religious institution that was not a parish.
chaucer	Made coverings for legs (hose) and feet (footwear) of leather or cloth.
cheesemonger	Formager. By-laws approved by Court of Alderman 1377 (Memorials, 405).
clerk	Someone hired to write and care for documents. Hired to work for civic, ecclesiastical, and legal institutions, as well as by priviate individuals. See also court-hand writer, parish clerk, scrivener, writer of texts, writer of court letters.
clergy	In the MLD occupation field, used as a catch-all term for secular clergy or when the religious order of a cleric is unknown
clockmaker	Could have been members of the Blacksmiths.
clothworker	Pararii fined as an adulterine gild in 1180 (Unwin, Gilds, 47-8). Gilds of Fullers and Shearmen amalgamated to form Fraternity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Art or Mistery of Clothworkers in 1528. Ordinances 1531-2 followed those of Shearmen and Fullers. See Herbert, Livery II: 643-64.
coal-merchant	Sold coal.
cobbler	1395 agreement between Cordwainers and Cobblers (Memorials, 539-41); letter on dissension between the Cordwainers and Cobblers (ibid, 570-1); 1409 inquisition for regulation of the Cordwainers and Cobblers (ibid, 571-4)
coffrer	Made chests called coffers.
coiner	Coynours, coigneurs. See moneyers.
comber	Ran through raw wool with large combs to clean and straighten the fibers for spinning into yarn.
cook	Organization of Cooks formed c. 1170; included the Cooks of East Cheap and the Cooks of Bread Street. Ordinance of the Cooks and Pastelers or Piebakers (Memorials, 426). Regulations for Cooks and Piebakers and the sale of butter (ibid, 432); Orindances of the Pastelers or Piebakers as to pasties (ibid, 438). Incorporated 1482. See A. Borg, A History of the Worshipful Company of Cooks (2011)
cooper	Evidence of some kind of craft organization by 1298 (CEMCR, Roll A, m. 1). By-laws/ordinances approved in 1396 (Memorials, 541), 1407-8, 1409, 1420, 1440, and 1488. In 1407, required to bring their casks into Chamber of London to be marked for quality of wood and proper size. Received land for Hall 1490, completed in 1547. Incorporated 1501.
coppersmith	See founders. Known to make gilt bronze effigies in the late 14th century (Veale, 'Craftsmen,' 135)
corder	Corders of the Ropery and Canvassers, with Pepperers, merged with Grocers.
cordwainer	Ordinances 1271-2. Articles of the Cordwainers, or Tawyers in 1375 (Memorials, 391-2). Incorporated 1438-9 (also received power of search over all workers in black and red tanned leather and new boots and shoes within the City and 2 miles from Cornhill). Confirmed 1557. Built Hall c. 1440. 1395 agreement between Cordwainers and Cobblers (Memorials, 539-41); letter on dissension between the Cordwainers and Cobblers (ibid, 570-1); 1409 inquisition for regulation of the Cordwainers and Cobblers (ibid, 571-4). Incorporated 1438-9 (also received power of search over all workers in black and red tanned leather and new boots and shoes within the City and 2 miles from Cornhill). Confirmed 1557. Built Hall c. 1440
cornmonger	Noted as a craft in 1328; references to individuals in the mistery of Cornmongers, 1364-98. Last reference to the craft in 1422; see N.S.B. Gras, Evolution of the English Corn Market (1915), 167-9.
corsour	Horsedealers. 1372 petition with Drovers granting tolls for three years on sales of livestock at Smithfield to fund cleaning of Smithfield (Memorials, 366). Craft noted in 1422 Brewers Book list; pre-existed the approval of its ordinances in 1488 (CLBL, 265). 1
court-hand writer	See scriveners.
corviser	Leatherworker, cordwainer.
currier	Dressed/curried leather, tawyer. Fraternity by 1363. Ordinances 1415 approved by Court of Alderman. Royal authority to administer oaths to officers of gid in 1559-60. Received land to build Hall 1516. See E. Mayer, A History of the Worshipful Company of Curriers of the City of London, Part One (2000).
cutler	Court of Aldermen granted them powers of search in 1344 with by-laws (Memorials, 217-19). Ordinances 1380 (Memorials, 438-42). 1387 petition with Cutlers, Bowyers, Fletchers, Spurriers and Blacksmiths of London against Nicholas Brembre and others (TNA, SC 8/21/1006). Ordinances on grinding Shearman's shears (Letter Book K, f. 14v; printed in London English, 107-8), 1408 Ordinance made between the Cutlers and Sheathers (Memorials, 567-8). 1408 petition from the Cutlers and Bladesmiths (Memorials, 568-9). Charters 1415, 1422, 1509, 1553, 1558 and later. Purchased Hall in Cloak Lane in 1451. See C. Welsh, History of the Cutlers' Company of London and of the Minor Cutlery Crafts, vol. 1 (1916)
deacon	Ordained clergyman who assisted priests with the liturgy and administrative tasks.
dean	Senior member of the clergy, usually a priest, who is head of a group of canons at a cathedral
draper	Ordinances for the Brotherhood by 1322 (CPR). Charter 1364. Incorporated 1438 as the Gild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary Virgin of the Mistery of the Drapers of the City of London. Charter 1479. Hall in St Swithun's Lane. See E.J.P. Quinton, 'The Drapers and the Drapery Trade of Late Medieval London, c. 1300-1500,' Ph.D. thesis, University of London, 2001. See Herbert, Livery I: 389-498.
drover	Drives animals to market.
dyer	1362 regulations for checking the malpractices of the Dyers (Memorials, 309-10). Incorporated 1471.
embroiderer	In the craft of Broiderers. MLD uses 'embroiderer' for the occupation and 'Broiderer' for the craft.
enameler	Amailler. Applied enamel to metal. Often associated with or in the Goldsmiths company.
farrier	Ordinances 1356 (Memorials, 292).
fellmonger	Merchants of animal skins. but never an organized craft. See E. M. Veale, The English Fur Trade in the Later Middle Ages (2003).
feltmaker	Made and sold felt hats. A livery company by 1501-2.
ferrour	More commonly known as Smiths
filazer	A court official who filed writs in the courts of Common Pleas or King’s Bench. Likely had legal training, especially by by the fifteenth century. By the late fifteenth century and probably earlier, most were lawyers.
fisher	Caught fish with weirs, or nets, or hooks and lines. On occasion, could mean someone who mainly sold fish.
fishmonger	Sold salt fish. Fined as an adulterine guild in 1154. Their rights confirmed by king in 1272 (Liber Albus, 323), 1307, 1327. Charter 1364, (CPR 1364-7, 5) and 1399. Incorporated 1433. United with the Stockfishmongers in 1537, although there were earlier efforts to merge, most of which failed. Granted arms in 1494. Hall given to company in 1435 in Thames St. See J. Colson, 'London's Forgotten Company? Fishmongers: Their Trade and Their Networks in Later Medieval London,' in The Medieval Merchant, ed. C. M. Barron and A. F. Sutton, 2014. See Herbert, Livery II: 1-120.
fletcher	Worked with wood and feathers to make arrows. Fletchers and bowyers were in the same craft until c. 1371. See the 1371 Articles of the Bowyers and Fletchers (Memorials, 348-50). 1387 petition with Cutlers, Bowyers, Fletchers, Spurriers and Blacksmiths of London against Nicholas Brembre and others (TNA, SC 8/21/1006). See H. Kleineke, The Worshipful Company of Fletchers. The Early Centuries c. 1371-c. 1571 (2021).
forcer	Casketmakers. Craft in 1406 (Memorials, 563).
founder	Cast metal, including bells and cannons, but also made other metal items (Veale, 'Craftsmen,' 135-6). Fraternity and regulations by 1365 (CLBG, 194-5). Regulations in 1389 (Memorials, 512-13) condemned using weak solder for candlesticks or defective metal for stirrups, spurs, and buckles. By 1469 known as the Coppersmiths but by 1489 had become the Founders and possessed a livery. By 1508 the craft was associated with St Margaret's Lothbury and St Clement's chapel. By-laws of 1515 (similar to those of 1489). Had a hall by 1534 between St Margaret's church and Coleman St. See G. Hadley, Citizens and Founders: A History of the Worshipful Company of Founders 1365-1975 (1976)
fourbour	See furbishers.
free sewer	Taillor who had finished apprenticeship and worked in tailoring for others, but had not set up his own shop.
friar	Member of one of the mendicant religious orders such as Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc…
fripperer	Also feliper, phleper. Sold second-hand clothing. Unclear if ever a formal craft. See K. K. Staples, 'Fripperers and the Used Clothing Trade in Late Medieval London,' Medieval Clothing and Textiles 6 (2010): 152-71. See also upholders.
fruiterer	Complained about competition from non-citizen fruit sellers in 1463 (CLBL, 30-4)
fuller	1369 petition that those who buy cloths with obvious defects do so at their own peril (Memorials, 341); 1376 Ordinances (Memorials, 400-2). Charter 1428. Incorporated 1480. Amalgamated with Shearmen to form Clothworkers in 1528.
furbisher	Made sword pommels and hilts and furbished armor and weapons. Articles in 1350 (Memorials, 258).
furrier	See skinner.
fuster	Made wooden frame for saddle-horns. 1308-9 Ordinances (Liber Custumarum, Vol II, part I).
galleyman	Traders and their servants aboard (Italian) galleys who sought to sell goods or work in other occupations (often as tailors) while ashore in London (or Southampton).
galochemaker	Made wooden-soled sandals. Pouchemakers' petition to supervise Galochemakers granted by mayor and aldermen in 1408 (Memorials, 554-5; dee CLBL, 251-2). See C. Fitch, The History of Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers of the City of London with which the Ancient Mistery of Galochemakers was Incorporated in the Fifteenth Century (1926)
gardener	1345 petition to mayor on where they can sell produce (Memorials, 228-9).
girdler	Fraternity by prescription associated with St Lawrence, Old Jewry. Charter 1327 (Memorials, 154-6), confirmed in 1401. Ordinances 1344 (Memorials, 216-17). Their regulations confirmed by king in 1327 and 1401. In 1448 the Brotherhood of St Laurence was incorporated as the Mistery of Girdlers of the city of London. Hall acquired in 1431 in Old Jewry.
glasier	Made glass windows; associated with painters of glass. Had Wardens by 1373 (Velae, 'Craftsmen, 136-7). Not a formal guild until the time of Elizabeth.
glover	1349 Ordinances (Memorials, 245-7). 1354 Ordinances of the Fraternity of Glovers (Coote, Ordinances, 33-7). Merged with Pursers in 1498. Received coat of arms in 1464.
goldbeater	Perhaps an alternative name for goldsmith although there was a 17th century company with this name.
goldsmith	Fined as an adulterine gild in 1180 (Unwin, Gilds, 47-8). Received granted them right of assay and approval of all vessels made of gold or silver c. 1300. First of 15 charters granted 1327. Granted a common seal by king along with supervisory powers throughout England in 1462. Acquired land for their hall in 1323. See T. F. Reddaway, The Early History of the Goldsmiths’ Company 1327-1509 (1975) and Herbert, Livery II: 121-298.
greytawyer	See tawyer.
grinder	Either a miller or someone who ground (sharpened) tools.
grocer	Evolved from fraternity of the Pepperers who were listed as an adulterine gild in 1179. In 1345, merged with spice merchants and ropers to form the fraternity of St Antonin. Became Mistery of Grocers in 1372. A diverse group that also included the apothecaries; the richer members chiefly exported wool and imported dyestuffs and spices. Incorporated 1429. Governed by two Wardens, although a Alderman (also called Governor and later Master and by the late 1470s, the Upper Master) was appointed to provide some financial control over the Wardens. The Alderman of the craft also had to be a civic Alderman. See Nightingale, Grocers and Herbert, Livery I: 297-388.
groom	A male servant or attendant. Often a position within a lord's household or institution that ranked above a page but below a yeoman.
haberdasher	Ordinances 1371 (Memorials, 354-5). Originally two groups: the Brotherhood of St. Catherine the Virgin received a charter in 1448 describing them as the Mistery of Haberdashers, which was made up of Haberdashers of hats (sub-divided into the Hurriers or cappers and the Hatter merchants). They merged with the Brotherhood of St. Nicholas in 1502, incorporating the Fraternity of Hurers, otherwise Cappers and Hatters, as a Gild in honour of St. James the Apostle, and formed the Fraternity of Merchant Haberdashers in the City of London. The distinction remained between Haberdashers of hats and Haberdashers of small wares, such as ribbons, glloves, pins, beads and other accessories. Built hall 1458-9. See I. Archer, The History of the Haberdashers' Company (1991) and Herbert, Livery II: 531-53
hackneyman	Hired out horses.
hafter	Makes handles or hafts (probably of wood).
hanaper	Also hamper. Made hanaps (basket-like containers) or goblets. Also a Chancery office.
hatter	Articles 1347 (Memorials, 239-40). Amalgamated with the Haberdashers.
haymonger	1327 petition of the Hostelers and Haymongers on outsiders' sale of hay (Memorials, 166-7).
herbergeour	Innkeepers. 1365 ordinances as to sale by Hostelers and Herbergeours of Bread and Horsebread (Memorials, 323-4)
heaumer	Made helmets. Articles 1347 (Memorials, 237-8). Merged with Armourers.
hooder	Also 'hodere.' Made hoods.
horner	Made items out of animal horn, inluding laternns and drinking vessels. Ordinances 1391 (Unwin, Gilds, 88). Ordinances 1454 (CLBK, f. 276b). 1464 Act forbidding export of horn and granting them power of search for 24mi around London (Unwin, Gilds, 163). Petition of Horners and Bottlemakers 1475-6 who wish to merge because so impoverished) (CLBL, f. 116). See F. J. Fisher, A Short History of the Worshipful Company of Horners (new edn, 1990).
horsemonger	Horse dealers.
hosier	Made leg stockings for men and women by knitting wool, linen, or silk. They were held up by garters which were made of leather, wool, or silk and placed at the top of the calf or higher on the leg. Was not an organized craft in medieval London.
hostelers	Also ostelers. 1365 ordinances as to sale by Hostelers and Herbergeours of Bread and Horsebread (Memorials, 323-4). A fellowship by 1473, had ordinances in 1483. In 1501 recognized as having a livery by prescription. Incorporated in 1515.
huckster	Hawked goods in the streets, often food items. Many women were hucksters because they did not have the capital to retail goods in a shop or seld.
hurer	Made shaggy fur caps called hures. 1376 Ordinance of Hurers at to fulling at water mills (Memorials, 402-4). 1398 Ordinances of the Hurers (Memorials, 549). 1404 petition of the Hurers and Cappers (Memorials, 558-9) Fraternity of Hurers, otherwise Cappers and Hatters, was a Gild in honor of St. James the Apostle; absorbed in 1448 by Haberdashers.
imager	ymaginour. Carves images.
innholder	See hostelers. A fellowship by 1473, had ordinances in 1483. In 1501 recognized as having a livery by prescription. Incorporated in 1515.
ironmonger	Merchants who sold imported iron and other goods. An organized craft by c. 1300. Received Articles in 1455 from Henry VI; incorporated 1464. Original Hall on Ironmongers Lane but moved to Aldgate St after 1457. See Herbert, Livery II: 567-624.
jeweler	Works with precious gems and stones. Often associated with the Goldsmiths.
joiner	Joiners used various techniques to join wood pieces for doors, window frames, furniture, panels and decorative woodwork. Ordinances renewed in 1309. Violent trade rivalry in 1327 with the Saddlers (Memorials, 156-62). Brotherhood of St James Garlikhithe established 1375 (associated with Joiners). Governed by two Wardens from 1400-1 (LBJ, f. 8 and LBH, f. 331). Ordinances 1426 (LBK, f. 46b). Disputes with Carpenters (D. Leach thesis). See J. Lutkin, "The London Craft of Joiners, 1200-1550," Medieval Prosopography 26 (2005): 129-164.
kembester	See comber.
kisser	Makes thigh armor (cuisses).
laborer	General term for an unskilled person doing manual and usually heavy work
lacer	Maker or seller of cords (Ekwall, p. 292 no. 51)
lanternmaker	Lanterns were made out of thin leaves of horn made by horners.
latoner	Also lattner. Worked with latten, an alloy of copper and zinc whose gold color resembles brass. It was hammered into thin sheets and used to make a variety of metal items.
launderer	Also lavender. Washed laundry (especially bed linens and church linens) for a fee. A job often done by women.
lawyer	Because medieval lawyers were only occasionally identified by an occupational label (lawyere, lawiere, laweour, man of law, pleader), MLD cataloguers assign this occupation when an individual had received some kind of legal education at a common law Inn of Court or had practical experience advising clients in the royal or London civic courts. This included serjeants-at-law (men who left the the Inns of Court on graduation, who had near exclusive right to appear in the royal courts of Common Pleas and shared rights of audience in King’s Bench), apprentices-at-law (a practicing lawyer below the rank of serjeant), attornies (in the fifteenth century, when this position was more likely assumed by someone versed in the law), and court officials such as filacers (who filed writs in the courts of Common Pleas or King’s Bench). MLD cataloguers try to record only lawyers who resided in London year-round, not the many who simply visited London during term-time.
leatherseller	May have developed from two 13th century fraternities. A fraternity of Leathersellers by 1372. Craft regulations in 1398; incorporated 1444. Absorbed Glovers and Glover-Pursers 1438-9, and Pouchemakers in 1516-17. Amalgamated with Tanners. See P. Hunting, The Leathersellers Company: A History (1994).
leech	A medical practitioner.
limeburner	Makes lime by burning lime-stone. Not an organized craft.
limner	Were painters who illuminated manuscripts, often with ornamental decoration. 1357 exemption of writers of court-hand and text-writers, barbers, and limners from being put on inquisitions in Sheriffs' court (Memorials, 295). 1403 ordinances of text-writers, limners and others who bind and sell books (Memorials, 557-8)
linen armourer	Made the tunics worn under armour; may have also made bedding and clothing (Vale, 'Craftsmen,' 132). Members of the Fraternity of St John the Baptist with the Tailors. Later part of the Merchant Taylors.
linendraper	Made or sold linen cloth. Also 'teler.'
lockier	Made metal locks
longbowstringmaker	Stringer. First recognized as a craft in 1416 when they petitioned for Wardens to govern the craft, with Ordinances (Memorials, 634-5).
lorimer	Made metal bits, spurs, and other mountings for bridles and saddles. 1327 Agreement with Saddlers, Painters, and Joiners (Memorials, 156-62)
malemaker	Makes pouches or bags (probably of leather).
maltmonger/	Sold malt (usually made from barley and used to make ale)
marbler	Also marberer. Worked with marble stone. In existence c. 1281. May have merged with Masons. See also tableter.
mariner	Sailor. See also shipman and seaman.
marshal	Shoes horses, a farrier. Also one who tends horses.
mason	Regulations in 1356 (Memorials, 280-2). See D. Knoop and G. P. Jones, The Mediaeval Mason (3rd edn, 1967)
mattress maker	Made mattresses, which could be stuffed with feathers, wool, or straw.
mazerer	Maker of mazers, bowls or cups made of maple wood (Ekwall, p. 280 no. 71)
mealman	Deals in meal (coarsely ground cereal grains)
medical practicioner	medicus
mercer	Originally, they sold imported cloth and goods made from luxury textiles like silk and velvet, but they were general merchants specializing in exporting English wool cloth in exchange for high-end imports. The Mercers were founded in the late 12th century and became the premier livery company in London. Charters granted 1393 and 1424-5; by-laws 1407 and 1410. See A. F. Sutton, The Mercery of London: Trade, Goods and People, 1130-1578 (2005) and Herbert, Livery I: 225-96.
merchant	A wholesale trader, usually involved in overseas trade.
Merchant Adventurer	Merchant company chartered in 1407 that mainly exported English woollen cloth to the Netherlands, especially Antwerp. Londoners (particularly the Mercers) dominated the company, which worked closely as financiers to the English crown in the early Tudor period.
merchant taylor	Called the tailors before c. 1503. See Davies and Saunders, Merchant Taylors and Herbert, Livery II: 383-529.
meter	Responsible for measuring volume and weight of goods; usually a civic position working with a specific commodity such as corn (grain) or salt.
milkman	Presumably someone who provides or delivers milk.
miller	Operated a water or windmill, usually to grind grain
minstrel	See musician.
minter	See moneyer.
moneyer	Molded or stamped metal to make coins. A loose organization before 1462 when Edward IV incorporated all mint pesonnel as the Mint Corporation. See J. Freeman, “The Mistery of Coiners and the King's Moneyers of the Tower of London, c.1340-c.1530’, British Numismatic Journal, 70 (2001), who lists 117 moneyers in an appendix (78 of whom associated with Shoreditch in Middlesex).
monk	Member of a religious order such as the Benedictines, Cistercians, etc..
musician	Originally known as the Society of Minstrels. Incorporated 1472.
nailer	Made nails.
nakerer	Plays on (or makes?) nakers, which are small kettle drums.
netmaker (netter)	Made nets. Regulations in CLBL, 254.
notary	Drafts and records certified legal documents such as property transactions, contracts, wills, etc… Clerical notaries recorded proceedings in church courts.
nun	Female member of a religious order such as Benedictines, Cistercians, etc…
oatmonger	Sold oats (mainly as food for horses).
opener	Freeman who paid licence to open a shop (Davies, ed., Court Minutes of the Merchant Tailors, p. 306)
ostilers	See hostelers.
painter	1327 agreement among Saddlers and men of the Joiners, Painters, and Lorimers in copper and iron (Memorials, 156-62). By-laws of Fellowship of Painters in 1467, when they maintained a light in a chapel dedicated to their patron, St Luke the Evangelist. They merged with the Painter-Stainers between 1485 and 1502. See W.A.D. Englefield, The History of the Painter-Stainers’ Company of London (1936; first published 1924).
palfreyman	In charge of a riding (saddle) horse; a stable boy or groom.
pannier-maker	Made panniers, a type of large basket or container, often carried by a horse, mule, or donkey.
parchment-maker	Made parchment from sheep skins.
parish clerk	Assistated the parish priest. Cared for vestments and lighting in the church. Rang and cared for church bells among other duties. Incorporated in 1475.
parson	A beneficed clergyman such as a vicar or rector.
pasteler	See cooks.Regulations in CLBL, 310-13.
pastrymaker	See cooks and piebakers.
paternoster	Made beads, usually for rosaries.
pattenmaker	Pattens were clogs with raised soles of wood or leather and leather straps
paviour	Set paving stones. Regulations in CLBL, 170.
peleter	See skinner.
peller	Maker or seller of 'pall,'a rich (silk?) cloth, or a robe made of this cloth
pepperer	Fined as an adulterine gild in 1180 (Unwin, Gilds, 47-8). A mistery from 1316. In 1345, merged with the spicers and ropers to form the fraternity of St Antonin; apothecaries were also members. Became part of the mistery of the Grocers in 1372 (Nightingale, Grocers).
pessoner	See fishmonger.
pewterer	Made items (especially tableware) of pewter, a malleable metal alloy primarily composed of tin. Ordinances in 1348 (Memorials, 241-44) and 1438. Incorporated as the Fraternity or Gild of the Mistery of Pewterers in 1473-4; these charters confirmed in 1505 and 1513. Had a Hall in Lime St by 1487. See R. F. Homer, "The Pewterers of Medieval London," TLMAS 36 (1985): 137-63; C. Welch, History of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers of the City of London, 2 vols. (1902)
physician	Medical practicioner with formal training. Ordinance of physicians and Surgeons 1423 (London English, 108-15)
piebaker	Baked pies and pasties (small pies filled with meat, vegetables, and/or cheese). See cooks.
piecer	Similar to cobbler. Their ordinances in CLBK, 182, 329.
pinner	Made metal pins (mainly for hair). Originally part of the Girdlers. Merged with the Wiremongers to form the Wiresellers Company in 1497. See The Pinners' and Wiresellers' Book, 1462-1511, ed. B. Megson (2009),
piper	Musician who plays a pipe, a simple woodwind instrument (could also refer to a bagpipe player).
plasterer	Incorporated 1501.
platemaker	Presumably a maker of plates (wood or ceramic?)
pleader	Pleads on behalf of litigants in court. Usually had some legal training. See lawyer.
plumber	Worked with lead, especially pipes for water and cisterns. Ordinance 1365 (Memorials, 321-3); 1371 complaint on furnace used by plumbers (Memorials, 355-6). See A. Young, History of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers (2000).
pointmaker	Made points, which were ormamental cords, often ending in a metal point, used in clothing.
porter	Carried items for a fee. Athough not a guild, they were regulated by the city and were informally organized based on where they practiced their trade.
potter	Made metal (brass) pots. A term used more before the mid 14th century. See braziers.
pouchmaker	Pouchmakers petion to supervise Galochemakers granted in 1408 (Memorials, 554-5). See also leathersellers.
poulterer	Sold poultry. Incorporated 1504.
prebendary	Canon of a cathedral who draws income from a prebend, usually lands that yield rents and other profits
priest	Ordained minister of the Catholic church
printer	Part of the Stationers company.
purser	Made small bags or purses, usually of leather. Also bursers. At first associated with Glovers, but got new ordinances in 1488 with no reference to glovers. Incorporated with the Leathersellers in 1502.
quilter	Made quilts, usually a front and cover of wool cloth with a layer of raw wool in between.
rector	A member of clergy in charge of a church or other ecclesiastical institution.
roper	Made/ (twisted) rope from hemp
royal official	Only used for men who were regularly employed in a salaried position in the Exchequer or royal Wardrobe and thus resided in Westminster or London. Not used for legal clerks or lawyers.
sacker	Sackmaker. Made sacks (of burlap?).
saddlers	Seler. Charter for their confraternity from canons of St Martin le Grand temp. Henry II. Incorporated in 1394, confirmed in 1463, 1495 and 1540. By-laws 1397. 1327 agreement among Saddlers and men of the Joiners, Painters, and Lorimers in copper and iron (Memorials, 156-62). Serving-men of Saddlers forbidden to form fraternities in 1396 (Memorials, 541-4). See G. Martin, “The Early History of the London Saddlers’ Guild,” Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester 72:3 (1990): 145-54.
salters	Charter 1394.Originally known as the Brotherhood of Corpus Christi in All Hallows, Bread Street (where their Hall was located), the Salters obtained a patent from Edward III and a charter in 1394 by which they acquired a Livery. They were incorporated in 1558. See J. S. Watson, A History of the Salters’ Company (1963) and Herbert, Livery II: 555-65.
saltstondere	Sharpe (Cal. Coroners Rolls, 245) suggests it may refer to an owner or maker of stands or pans for evaporating salt.
sawyer	Cut trees and trimmed wood into planks and boards.
scriveners	First known as the Fraternity or Mistery of the Scriveners or Writers of the Court Letters of the City of London. By-laws 1373 (Memorials, 372-3). Ordinances approved by the Court of Aldermen in 1390 (Memorials, 372) and 1440. Further by-laws 1497. See Scriveners’ Company Common Paper 1357-1628, ed. F. W, Steer. London Record Society 44 (1968).
seal-maker	Engraves seal matrixes.
seaman	A mariner.
serjeant	an elevated service position; could involve legal or military duties
serjeant-at-law	Belonged to an elite order of lawyers who worked in the central common law courts; were the only lawyers allowed to argue cases in the court of common pleas. Eligible to become a judge in the central common law courts.
servant	The largest occupational group in medieval London. Worked for a specific employer, usually on a fixed term contract of a year for low wages. Often were young people who received room and board from their employer. Did a wide range of domestic and craft work, depending on the employer.
settere	A silk weaver
shapster	Seamstress, dressmaker, tailor.
shearman	Fined as an adulterine guild in 1180 (as the pannarii). By-laws approved by the city in 1350 (Memorials, 247-8); petition as to the wages they paid (Memorials, 250-1). 1452 Ordinances of the wardens of the Shearmen and the fraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Coote, Ordinances, 47-56). Incorporated 1508. When by-laws renewed in 1452-3, they were called Shermen-craft of the House of Augustine Friars of the City of London. Merged with Fullers in 1528 when they were re-constituted as the Clothworkers company.
sheather	Sheath-maker. Made sheaths or scabbards for knives.
shipman	A mariner, though often refers to a shipmaster.
shipwright	Known in the mid-13th century as the Brotherhood of Saints Simon and Jude in Southwark or Bermondsey, with ordinances dating to 1428, 1456 and 1483 but no charter. By laws in 35 Henry VI. See C. H. Ridge, Records of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, vol. 1 1428-1720 (1939)
silkwoman	Worked imported silk and metal threads into trimmings like braids and fringes for use in dress accessories, girdles, etc.. Had a formal training system with apprentices but not their own guild. In London they were associated with the Mercers.
skinner	Originally known as the Fraternity of Corpus Christi and the Fraternity of the Virgin. Received charters in 1327 (Memorials, 153-4) and 1365 (Memorials, 328-30). The charter in 1500 referred to the Fraternities of Corpus Christi at St. John in Walbrook and that of the Virgin at St. Mary Spital, between Moorfields and Bishopsgate; this division was reflected in their two halls: one at Dowgate Hill and another in St. Mary Axe and at St. Mary Spital, later incorporated with those at Dowgate Hill. See J. J. Lambert, The Records of the Skinners of London, Edward I to James I (1933) and Herbert, Livery II: 299-382.
smith	See blacksmiths.
sopere	Made soap.
spicer	See grocers and pepperers.
spinster	Women who spun raw wool into yarn. Later came to mean a never married singlewoman.
spurrier	Ordinances 1345 (Memorials, 226-8). Had a livery by 1501. Later merged with the Lorimers
stainer	See painters.
Stapler	Company incorporated in 1319 to supervise the export of English wool, which could only be exported out of ports designated as 'staples.' After Calais was designated as the only foreign staple, the Company of the Staplers at Calais was granted a monopoly on wool exports, in exchange for which the Staplers played an important role in state finance, particularly in funding the English garrison at Calais
stationer	Appeared as a craft in 1403, made up of limners (manuscript artists), scriveners, and the Fellowship of Text-Writers, some of whom wrote, bound, and sold books. Incorporated 1556. See E. Christianson, A Directory of London Stationers and Book Artisans (1990).
stockfishmonger	Stockfishmongers dealt in stockfish, which were cod or other large white fish preserved not by salting but by drying in cold air. The cured fish was hard, had a long shelf life, and could be shipped in vast quantities from Scandinavia and other northern regions. The Stockfishmongers formed a new company in the late 14th century and had their own Hall. For a brief period in the mid-15th century, they united with the Fishmongers, but then split. The Stockfishmongers were incorporated in 1508 and merged with the Fishmongers in 1537. See fishmongers.
stringer	See longbowstringmaker.
stuffer	Made quilts or mattresses? In 1422 list of crafts in Brewers Book.
surgeon	Master surgeons were admitted to the craft by 1369 (Memorials, 337) and their oath is recorded in 1390 (Memorials, 519). In c. 1415, he city appointed two masters to supervise the barbers who practiced surgery (Memorials, 606-90. the Company of Barbers allied informally with Fellowship of Surgeons in 1493; each group selected two wardens who together oversaw surgical matters within the city. In 1540, the Company of Barbers and Fellowship of Surgeons united, though they split again in 1745. See also Barbers and Physicians, above. (See R. T. Beck, The Cutting Edge: Early History of the Surgeons of London (1974); and J. Colson and R. Ralley, “Medical Practice, Urban Politics and Patronage: The London ‘Commonalty’ of Physicians and Surgeons of the 1420s” EHR 130 (2015).)
tableter	Possibly a maker of tablets or table-books, that is, re-usable writing tablets framed in wood or ivory covered with smeared wax for writing. Or a maker of chess-boards, draught-boards. Riley (Memorials, xx) suggests it was a "marbrer," a sculptor of marble tablets.
taborer	Player of a tabour, a small drum; possibly a maker of tabours.
tailor	Taylor; couseour; 'couszoun.' Organized around the fraternity of St John the Baptist from c. 1300, which later admitted many non-tailors. Incorporated 1408; 1439 charter gave them rights of search over cloth trade. Became Merchant Taylors in 1502. (Davies and Saunders, Merchant Taylors).
tallowchandler	Incorporated 1462.
tanner	Made leather by preserving heavy animal hides (mainly cattle with the hair scraped off) with oak gall. Amalgamated with Leathersellers in 15C.
tapicer	Wove and sold figured woollen tapestries for cushions, beds, and wall hangings. Ordinances 1331 (Memorials, 178-9). Could have originally been part of a branch of the Weavers and may have later merged with the Broderers or Weavers.
tapster	Served ale at an inn or tavern.
taverner	Ran taverns that mainly retailed wine. Resistance of taverners in 1331 to city regulations on wine price and sales (Memorials, 180-3). 1370 Regulations (Memorials, 341-3)
tawyer	Tawyers flayed and cured the animal skins to make soft leather. Ordinances 1365 (Memorials, 330-1). 1375 articles of the Cordwainers, or Tawyers (Memorials, 391-2). Greytawyers dressed fur skins for the skinners. White tawyers prepared skins by curing them with alum, salt and other materials that produced a white-colored leather. Swore not to flay horses within the city (Memorials, 85-6), By-laws 1346 (Memorials, 232-4), and see CLBL, 248-9.
teler	See linendraper.
tenter	Stretched newly made and washed cloth on a wooden tenter frame to dry. Regulations in CLBL, 196-8, 262.
tentmaker	Pavilonarius. Made large tents, especially for military campaigns.
tiler	Made and laid ceramic tile floors. Part of a fraternity with the Bricklayers in the 14th century, but no formal organization until 1568. Royal order in 1362 restraining prices of roofing materials and wages of tilers after a recent tempest (Memorials, 308-9)
tinker	Mends metal goods like pots and kettles.
turner	Not a formal craft. Woodworkers who turned a piece of wood on a lathe. Turners swear in 1311 not to make false measures for liquids (Memorials, 78); city regulations on liquid measures for ale and wine made by the Turners (Memorials, 234-5). See also CLBL, 169. See D. Leach, "The Turners of Medieval London," Medieval Prosopography 28 (2013): 105-136.
upholder	Dealt in second-hand clothing in the early 14th century but by 15th century, bought and sold second-hand goods, especially beds, furniture, and clothing and, increasingly, bedding. Ordinances 1360; incorporated 1626 (Unwin, Gilds, 88, 297). Grant of arms 1465. See also CKBK, 120-2. See J. F. Houston, Featherbedds and Flock Bedds: The Early History of the Worshipful Company of Upholders of the City of London (2006). See also fripperers.
vicar	A priest in charge of a parish.
vintner	Organized by 1282, royal regulations on their sale of wine in 1311 and imposed by the city in 1342 (Memorials, 213-14). Enjoyed many rights over the city’s wine trade. Drew up regulations for tavern-keepers in 1370. Incorporated in 1434. By-laws in 1507. Had a Hall in Stody’s Lane in 1357. See A. Crawford, A History of the Vintners’ Company (1977); J. G. Nichols, “The Muniments of the Vintners’ Company,” TLMAS 3 (18701): 432-47; and Herbert, Livery II: 625-42.
waterbearer	1496 statutes of the wardens and fellowship of the brotherhood of St Christopher of the Waterbearers: mainly a religious fellowship of men and women (Coote, Ordinances, 79-82)
waterman	Operated ferry or boat service on the Thames. Became an organized craft after the middle ages.
waxchandler	Incorporated 1484.
weaver (linen)	Wove linen cloth.
weaver (wool)	Wove woollen cloth. Paid 2 marks anually to Exchequer for charter granted by Henry I, confirmed by Henry II in 1150s. King John revoked charter in 1202 on annual payment of 20 marks by Londoners (Barron, London, 200). Ordinances late 13th century. Charter granted in 1327, renewed 1366, 1422, and 1540. See also 1362 regulations for the trade of Alien Weavers in London (Memorials, 306-8); 1366 articles of the Flemish weavers (Memorials, 331-2); 1370 settlement of dispute between the Flemish weavers and the weavers from Brabant (Memorials, 345). See F. Consitt, The London Weavers’ Company, vol. 1 (1933).
wheelwright	Made wheels for carts. Not an organized craft.
whimpler	Maker of whimples (veils worn by women)
whittawyer	White tawyers prepared skins by curing them with alum, salt and other materials that produced a white-colored leather. Swore not to flay horses within the city (Memorials, 85-6), By-laws 1346 (Memorials, 232-4). Greyt tawyers dressed fur skins for skinners. See tawyers.
wiredrawer	Craft of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers was in existence in 1461. Pinners and Wiremongers merged to form the Wiresellers Company in 1497. See The Pinners' and Wiresellers' Book, 1462-1511, ed. B. Megson (2009),
wireseller	Pinners and Wiremongers merged to form the Wiresellers Company in 1497. See The Pinners' and Wiresellers' Book, 1462-1511, ed. B. Megson (2009).
wolleberer	Perhaps a porter of wool (noted in 1339 )
woodmonger	Sold wood in bulk.
woolmen/monger	Woolmen fined in 1180 for operating without a license. Not incorporated until 1522. Woolmen (woolpackers, woolwinders, woolners) were granted a charter in 1484. Eventually absorbed the staplers, packers, winders, and combers. In 1505, there were 8 livery members.
woolpacker	Packed wool for export overseas. Regulations CLBL, 259. Woolpackers were a loose craft by 1469. Woolmen (woolpackers, woolwinders, woolners) were granted a charter in 1484. Eventually absorbed the staplers, packers, winders, and combers. In 1505, there were 8 livery members.
writer of court letters	See scriveners.
writer of texts	See limners and stationers. Ordinances of the mistery of letter-writers, also called text-writers (CLBK, 234-5).

Database Guide

Apr 30, 2020

Guide to the Database

The following Guide offers brief descriptions of each field in the Medieval Londoners Database (MLD). Codes used in the field grid (which appears below each record when the green cross is clicked) are also noted here in square brackets. A fuller (11-page) Codebook used by the Cataloguers is available on request; email mld@fordham.edu.

Field	Contents (specific values for a field are noted in bold)
Record ID	Unique number, randomly assigned for each record in the database
Person ID	Each distinct individual is randomly assigned an ID number that accompanies every record for this person in the database. See the Protocols for Name Linkage for the guidelines followed in determining whether references to individuals with similar names are actually associated with the same person. When the contents of the record are possibly but not definitively associated with a known person, this doubt is signaled by a P in the Record Type field (see below), and the record is shaded pink.
Title	Title or status noted for the individual in this record
Document Name	Name of individual as written in the source for this record (often rendered in the format of surname,forename), whether a primary or secondary source. Persons without a surname are not included in MLD unless they are also known by a craft, occupation, craft office, or civic office.
Standard Name	Standardized (modern English) surname, forename. Identical Standard Names all have the same Person ID. See the List of Standardized Forenames for the anglicized standard name and variant spellings. Different individuals with the same Standard Names are distinguished by (randomly assigned) roman numerals after the forename. The Standard Names of women include all of their surnames (starting with her maiden name if known), in chronological order, each separated by a hyphen. Non-Londoners who own property in the city have their home residence included at the end of this field (after ‘of’) followed by the home county in square brackets. Special protocols are followed for Jewish names. Not all names given in the Activity field of a record receive their own unique record, which is often the case for deeds, long court cases, wills, and testatments; see, for example, the Protocol for MLD Data Entry of Wills and Testaments.
Alias	Different surname or explicit alias used in this record source.
Identifier	Individual is: an Alien [X]; Apprentice [A]; Clergy [C]; Gentry/Nobility [G]; Jewish [J]; Craft Master [M]; Orphan (O]; Widow or Widower [V]; Woman [W]. London citizens who are knighted and use the title ‘Sir’ are not considered gentry, nor are their wives who are given the honorific ‘Dame.’
Citizen	Y (Yes) if noted as citizen in this record. All elections of Mayors, Sheriffs, Aldermen and MPs are assumed to be for citizens and marked as C. Records that specifically note an entry to the freedom of the city of London are marked Freedom [F].
Craft	Craft (capitalized) refers to any type of occupational association of individuals in this record source, even if the association (fraternity, guild, company) is largely religious or considered adulterine. For standardized spellings we use and notes on the crafts, see Table 1: Occupations and Crafts and Table 2: Civic Engagement of Medieval London Crafts.
Cft_Flag	A code that indicates the credibility of the information in the Craft field based on this source record. a = recorded as an apprentice in this craft (note that many apprentices did not complete their term and become full members of the craft) D = craft explicitly stated in this primary source d = craft given by a secondary source that cites a primary source G = craft/guild membership inferred from position/office held in the craft N = the occupational surname of this individual is part of the evidence for assigning this craft O = craft surmised from another source by the contributing editor, often explained in the Activity field P = a possible craft backed up by some but not definitive evidence S = when contributing editor believes there is strong evidence in this record that the individual belonged to this craft T = this record notes when the individual formally transferred to another guild
Occupation	In lower case; refers to the type of work done by this individual according to this record source. For standardized spellings and notes on occupations, see Table 1: Occupations and Crafts. Individuals with occupational surnames before 1300 that are preceded by ‘le’ or ‘la’ are assigned that occupation, unless there is evidence to the contrary, and the Occ_Flag field must contain a N and P code (see below).
Occ_Flag	A code that indicates the credibility of the information in the Occupation field based on this source record. D =occupation explicitly stated in this primary source d =occupation given by a secondary source that cites a primary source g =occupation assumed from craft/guild membership stated in this record N =the occupational surname of this individual is part of the evidence for assigning this occupation (not used for records after 1330) O =occupation surmised from another source by the contributing editor, often explained in the Activity field P =a possible occupation backed up by some but not definitive evidence S =when contributing editor believes there is strong evidence in this record that the individual practiced this occupation
Activity	Summarizes the circumstance of the individual’s appearance in this specific source record. MLD aims as much as possible to replicate the information in the event/activity noted by this record source, including the primary and secondary source abbreviations (enclosed in round brackets) used by the source. Only on rare occasions does MLD make an editorial comment, which is enclosed {in curly brackets). Every instance of an election to the high civic offices of Mayor, Sheriff, MP, and Warden start with the word Elected, which makes it possible to identify the different dates that individuals held these offices. References to the beginning and end of service as an Alderman (mostly drawn from A. P. Beaven, Aldermen of the City of London) start the Activity field with Served as Alderman. Most other civic offices also start with the word Served as since there is no consistent information on elections for these offices. The complexity of the records taken from A. P. Beaven, Aldermen of the City of London is handled with footnote citations within the Activity field. This field also contains cross references to surname spellings that differ from that used in the Standard Name; these begin with the word See and have a X in Rec Type. Note that not all individuals named in Activity fields have their own entry in MLD, since to do so would triple the work load. Their individual names, however, can be found by using the Keyword Search on the Browse Londoners or Browse Records screens or through the Advanced Search function.
Ward	The ward associated with the Activity in this record source; records associated with Southwark or Westminster are also noted as such in this field. For the standardized spellings used for wards in MLD, see the Wards page. Maps of the boundaries of the Wards of London (West Sheet) and (East Sheet) are available in two downloadable pdfs by the Historic Towns Trust.
Parish	Notes any religious institution associated with this record, including the cathedral, parishes, chapels, colleges, hospitals, mendicant and monastic houses, and the precincts associated with them. See London Churches and Parishes for the standardized names used by MLD (and links to further information on many of the major religious institutions).
Street	Specific streets associated with this record source, as noted in the Activity field. Street names are left in their original spellings, though all versions of ‘Street’ are abbreviated as St. Only streets in the medieval city of London, Southwark, and Westminster are noted here. See H.A. Harben, Dictionary of London (1918) and the “Gazetteer of the Atlas of London c. 1520” for the names of streets and buildings and their geo-coordinates and links to pdf maps by the British Historic Towns Atlas project (1989). An updated street gazetteer (2020) is now available in print.
Civic Office	The civic office held by this individual as mentioned in this record source. Includes elected and appointed offices, as well as administrative, legal, market, and ward offices, even if the appointment was mainly an official license to offer specific services. See the List of Civic Offices for standard spellings and brief descriptions. Records that mention the offices of Mayor, Sheriff, and Aldermen in the course of their official duties (such as witnesses or presiding in court) are not noted in this field because official records (from MASL and Beaven) of these civic offices are already in MLD.
Craft Office	Notes offices held (wardens, masters, beadles, etc…) in craft associations, including companies, fraternities, guilds, and parishes.
Property	Notes type of involvement of the individual in this property record: [C]= the individual owns or rents commercial property (shop, seld, warehouse, wharf, quay, etc..); [D]= (deed): the individual is involved in a property transaction (final concord, grant, mortgage, release, quitclaim); [I]= (inheritance): the document mentions or implies inheritance for this person; [L] = the individual was leasing property or paying rent; [O] = the individual is or was the owner of a property noted in this record; [P] = (plea): property is mentioned in a legal plea’; [R]= (rental): property record is from a rental; [W]= (will): property specifically mentioned in a will; [Y]= (dowry): record states or implies that property involved in a dowry (code given only for wife/widow and her husband).
Will	Notes type of involvement in this will record: [A] = administrator of will; [H] = heir of a bequest; [D]= previously deceased person mentioned in the will; [E]= executor; [O] = overseer of will; [W]= willmaker, testator; [Z] = witness. See also the Protocol for MLD Data Entry of Wills and Testaments for which names in a will get a unique record.
Yr Flag	Indicates the quality of information about the Year recorded. If blank, the Year is explicitly recorded in this record. Other options are: aft = after this year; bef = before this year; by = by this year; c. = circa (around) this year; d. = died this year; during =used for references from indices of pages that give date ranges; occ. = occurs within a date range, the earliest year of which is given in Year; ? = year is uncertain
Year	Year that activity/event recorded in this source occurred. If there is a date range (such as for elections), the first year is entered here.
Date Range	Date range over which activity/event occurred. Can include year/months/days or simply year ranges
Doc Date	Year/Mo/Da that activity/event was recorded in this source (for example, the date of the court case, not the date of the crime or debt)
Rec Type	Notes the type of record. The options are: B = this record notes the burial location of the individual C = this record includes all the information given in the source E = this record includes an election to office M = this record involves maritime trade, ships, or property (such as a quay) P = the name linkage provided for this individual, as reflected in the Person ID, is possible but not confirmed. These records do not appear in the Profile view for Londoners but will appear (shaded pink) in the Record view T = this is a tax record X = this record is only a cross-reference to an alternative spelling of a name
Source	Source used for this record. Many records can be generated from one source, but each record is compiled from only one source. See Sources and Abbreviations for full bibliographic information and notes about how each source has been used by MLD, and for links to online sources and the abbreviations that the sources themselves use (as noted in the Activity field).
Contributor	Surname, forename of person who has contributed or given us permission to use the raw data in this record; they are also listed in Acknowledgements. Websites from which we have received permission to scrape data are also acknowledged here.
Cataloguer	Surname, initials of those who manually or electronically entered the data in this record. These names are usually those of the Editors and Contributing Editors, who also do the name linkage.
Seal	Thumbnail of the seal of this individual as it appears in this record, with link to http://www.digisig.org, the Digital Sigilllography Resource of John McEwan.
Link Bio	Hyperlink to the online biographic source for this individual, such as Oxford DNB entries (forthcoming).
Source URI	Hyperlink to the online source used for this record, such as the Mayors and Sheriffs of London website and History of Parliament entries for MPs; also used to link to digitized copies of print sources.
Related_Links	Links to external websites with specific information about this record and individual (such as Layers of London or Visual Sources of Medieval London).

Database Guide (old)

Apr 11, 2020

Guide to the Database

The following Guide offers brief descriptions of each field in the Medieval Londoners Database (MLD).

Field	Contents (specific values for a field are noted in bold)
Record ID	Unique number, randomly assigned for each record in the database
Person ID	Each distinct individual is randomly assigned an ID number that accompanies every record for this person in the database. See the Protocols for Name Linkage for the guidelines followed in determining whether references to individuals with similar names are actually associated with the same person. When the contents of the record are possibly but not definitively associated with a known person, this doubt is signaled by a P in the Record Type field (see below under Record Type).
Document Name	Surname, forename of individual as written in the source for this record
Standard Name	Standardized (modern English) surname, forename. Identical Standard Names all have the same Person ID. Different individuals with the same Standard Names are distinguished by (randomly assigned) roman numerals after the forename.
Alias	Different surname or explicit alias used in this record source.
Identifier	Individual is: an Alien; Apprentice; Clergy; Craft Master; Jewish; Orphan; Widow or Widower; or Woman
Citizen	Yes if noted as citizen in this record. All elections of Mayors, Sheriffs, Aldermen and MPs are assumed to be for citizens. Records that specifically note an entry to the freedom of the city of London are marked Freedom.
Craft	Craft (capitalized) refers to any type of occupational association of individuals in this record source, even if the association (fraternity, guild, company) is largely religious or considered adulterine. For standardized spellings we use and notes on the crafts, see Table 1: Occupations and Crafts and Table 2: Civic Engagement of Medieval London Crafts.
Cft_Flag	A code that indicates the credibility of the information in the Craft field based on this source record. D = craft explicitly stated in this primary source d = craft given by a secondary source that cites a primary source G = craft/guild membership inferred from position/office held in the craft N = the occupational surname of this individual is part of the evidence for assigning this craft O = craft surmised from another source by the contributing editor, often explained in the Activity field P = a possible craft backed up by some but not definitive evidence S = when contributing editor believes there is strong evidence in this record that the individual belonged to this craft T = this record notes when the individual formally transferred to another guild
Occupation	In lower case; refers to the type of work done by this individual according to this record source. For standardized spellings we use and notes on the crafts, see Table 1: Occupations and Crafts and Table 2: Civic Engagement of Medieval London Crafts.
Occ_Flag	A code that indicates the credibility of the information in the Occupation field based on this source record. D=occupation explicitly stated in this primary source d =occupation given by a secondary source that cites a primary source g =occupation assumed from craft/guild membership stated in this record N =the occupational surname of this individual is part of the evidence for assigning this occupation O =occupation surmised from another source by the contributing editor, often explained in the Activity field P =a possible occupation backed up by some but not definitive evidence S =when contributing editor believes there is strong evidence in this record that the individual practiced this occupation
Activity	Summarizes the circumstance of the individual’s appearance in this specific source record. MLD aims as much as possible to replicate the information in the event/activity noted by this record source, including the primary and secondary source abbreviations (enclosed in round brackets) used by the source. Only on rare occasions does MLD make an editorial comment, which is enclosed {in curly brackets}. Every instance of an election to the high civic offices of Mayor, Sheriff, MP, and Warden start with the word Elected, which makes it possible to identify the different dates that individuals held these offices. References to the beginning and end of service as an Alderman (mostly drawn from A. P. Beaven, Aldermen of the City of London) start the Activity field with Served as Alderman. All other civic offices also start with the word Served as since there is no consistent information on elections for these offices. The complexity of the records taken from A. P. Beaven, Aldermen of the City of London is handled with footnote citations within the Activity field. This field also contains cross references to surname spellings that differ from that used in the Standard Name; these begin with the word See. Note that not all individuals named in Activity fields have their own entry in MLD, though we are working towards that goal. Individual names can be found by using the Advanced Search function.
Ward	The ward associated with this record source, as noted in the Activity field. Records associated with Southwark or Westminster are also noted as such in this field. See also M. Payne and J. Smith, “The Wards and Their Aldermen.” Maps of the ward boundaries in c. 1520 are available in 2 pdfs by the British Historic Towns Atlas.
Parish	The parish associated with this record source, as noted in the Activity field. For the parishes in each ward and details on each parish, see the Genuki, “City of London Wards and Their Parishes.” Maps of the parish boundaries in c. 1520 are available in two pdfs by the British Historic Towns Atlas.
Street	Specific streets associated with this record source, as noted in the Activity field. Left in their original spellings, though all versions of ‘Street’ are abbreviated as St. Only streets in the medieval city of London, Southwark, and Westminster are noted here. See the “Gazetteer of the Atlas of London c. 1520” for the names of streets and buildings and their geo-coordinates and links to pdf maps.
Civic Office	The civic office (capitalized) held by this individual as mentioned in this record source. Includes ward and parish offices. See the List of Civic Offices for standard spellings and brief descriptions.
Craft Office	Notes offices held (wardens, masters, beadles, etc…) in craft associations, including companies, fraternities, and guilds.
Property	Notes type of individual’s involvement in this property record: Buyer/deforciant; Seller/plaintiff; Occupier of adjoining property (could be owner or leaseholder; Owner of this property; Tenant of this property; Commercial Property (shop, seld, warehouse, wharf, quay, etc..)
Will	Notes type of involvement in this will record: Testator; Heir; Executor; previously Deceased person
Yr Flag	Indicates the quality of information about the Year recorded. If blank, the Year is explicitly recorded in this record. Other options are: aft = after this year; bef = before this year; by = by this year; c. = circa (around) this year; d. = died this year; during =used for references from indices of pages that give date ranges; occ. = occurs; ? = year is uncertain
Year	Year that activity/event recorded in this source occurred. If there is a date range (such as for elections), the first year is entered here.
Date Range	Date range over which activity/event occurred. Can include year/months/days or simply year ranges
Doc Date	Year/Mo/Da that activity/event was recorded in this source (for example, the date of the court case, not the date of the crime or debt)
Rec Type	Notes the type of record. The options are: P = the name linkage provided for this individual, as reflected in the Person ID, is possible but not confirmed. These records do not appear in the Profile view for Londoners but will appear (shaded) in the Record view. C = this record includes all the information given in the source B= this record notes the burial location of the individual M = this record involves maritime trade, ships, or property T = this is a tax record
Source	Source used for this record. Many records can be generated from one source, but each record is compiled from only one source. See Sources and Abbreviations for full bibliographic information and notes about how each source has been used by MLD, and for links to online sources and the abbreviations the sources themselves use (as noted in the Activity field).
Contributor	Surname, forename of person who has contributed or given us permission to use the raw data in this record; they are also listed in Acknowledgements. Websites from which we have received permission to scrape data are also acknowledged here.
Cataloguer	Surname, initials of those who manually or electronically entered the data in this record. These names are usually those of the Editors and Contributing Editors, who also do the name linkage.
Seal	Thumbnail of the seal of this individual as it appears in this record, with link to http://www.digisig.org, the Digital Sigilllography Resource of John McEwan.
Link Bio	Hyperlink to the online biographic source for this individual, such as the History of Parliament Online or the online DNB.
Source URI	Hyperlink to the online source used for this record, such as the Mayors and Sheriffs of London website.

Search for Londoners

Jan 19, 2016

Search Medieval Londoners Database (MLD)

There are multiple ways to search MLD for details about people who lived in London, Southwark or Westminster between c. 1100 and c. 1520, including their names, gender, occupations, craft memberships, citizenship status, civic office, and neighborhoods (ward, parish, and streets, if available), and other characteristics. For a quick guide to the different fields in MLD, see the Guide to the Database. For information on which sources we have used thus far, see Sources and Abbreviations. To understand the guidelines we followed in linking records to specific individuals, see Protocols for Name Linkage.

You can search for specific chacteristics by clicking on the filters on the left side of each search screen; note that you can choose multiple criteria within one field by holding down the Ctrl key (for example, under Identifier, all apprentices who are women). When you click on an individual’s Standard Name, MLD displays a summary or Profile View that shows all records in MLD for this person (including records that are only possibly linked to this individual, which are colored pink).

You can change which fields show up in the main search screen by clicking on the Show/Hide button at the top right. Click on the Reset button to bring the grid back to the default columns.

There are four main ways to search MLD:

Browse All Londoners

Search for Londoners: This search finds all individual Londoners who meet the search criteria you set, such as all records for a named individual. Type the name either in the Search for Keywords box at the top of the grid, or in the white text box above the Standard Name column. You can also use the filters on the right side to find individuals who meet certain criteria.

Browse All Records

Search for Londoners Records: This search finds all records related to the search terms you choose, either by clicking on specific filters in the left-hand column, or by inserting text in the white box at the head of each field column. In other words, the search results are not grouped by individual Londoner, as in Browse Londoners.

Advanced Search

Advanced Search: This search function is found on the top menu of the Browse Londoners and Browse Records pages. It allows you to search on up to five different fields (out of eighteen searchable fields) at one time by choosing one of nine different Boolean operators, such as ‘Starts With,’ ‘Equals To,’ ‘Contains’ or ‘Greater Than,’ among others.

Search Activity field

Search Activity Field. Since MLD does not make a separate record for each person named in a will or court case, the best way to find these individuals is to enter their name in the white text box above the Activity field in the Browse Records screen. You can also use this method to search for types of people (like hermits or harlots), for objects (such as types of clothing or jewels), and for types of transactions (such as quitclaim or contract), among other things.

To cite this database: “Medieval Londoners Database” (www.medievallondoners.ace.fordham.edu, accessed [today’s [day/month/year]). It is important that you cite the access date since new records are regularly being added. To cite records attached to a specific individual: “Medieval Londoners Database, Person ID [nnn]” (www.medievallondoners.ace.fordham.edu, accessed [today’s day/month/year]), where [nnn] is the MLD Person ID attached to that individual.

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List of Civic Offices

List of Civic Offices in Medieval London

What’s New in MLD?

Occupations

Database Guide

Guide to the Database

Database Guide (old)

Guide to the Database

Search for Londoners

Search Medieval Londoners Database (MLD)

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