Notes concerning the early "Freemen" in New England.

Before a man (women were always excluded) could vote, or hold public office in the Massachusetts Bay Colony towns, he must be a "freeman." He must have taken the "oath of fidelity" to the English Crown, he must be 21 yrs of age, of quiet and peaceful behavior, and own land, earning at least 40 shilling per year, or have a personal estate of £40.- . He had to give some evidence that he was a respectable member of a congregational church. Then he was allowed to take the "freeman's oath." In 1631, when dissent in regard to religious opinions first appeared, it was required to be a church member. However, this did make some people uneasy, and in 1632, it was stated that someone holding public office, should NOT be a church elder. Still Baptist, Quakers etc. were excluded
The oath was the first thing printed in Cambridge bij Stephen Daye in 1634 and read:

I, (A.B.) being by Gods providence, an inhabitant and freeman of this Commonwealth; do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the Goverment thereof. And therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful Name of the Ever-living God, that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound; and will also truely endeavor to maintain and preserve the liberties and priviliges thereof, submitting myself to the wholesome Laws and Orders made and established by the same. And further that I will not plot or practice any evil against it, or consent to any that shall do so; but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy preventing thereof.
Moreover, I do solemnly bind my self in the sight of God, that when I shall be called to give my voyce touching any such matters of this State, in which Freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage as I shall judge in my own conscience may best conduce and tend to the publike weal of the body, so help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

While in 1630 the list of 159 freemen admitted included many without obvious religious ties, in 1631 they decided that only "those as were church members" would be admitted as Freemen. As Hutchinson states in his History of Massachusetts:

"None have voice in the election of Governor, Deputy and Assistants, none are to be Magistrates, Officers or Jurymen, grand or petit, but Freemen. Now the most of the persons at New England are ot admitted to their church, and therefore are not Freemen; and when they come to be tried there (in General Court), be it for life or limb, name or estate, or whatsoever, they must be tried and judged too by those of the Church, who are, in a sort their adversaries; How equal that has been or may be, some by experience may know, others may judge." (Hutchinson, Hist. of Mass., in NEHGR 3, pg 42.)

The irony of course is that the people fleeing religious persecution, established their own theocracy, persecuting others.

Source: New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1849 (vol.3 ), pg 41-43.