What is a medieval freeman?

Answer 1

1st AnswerA medieval freeman was a person that was given some land in return for services to the king. A freeman had fifteen strips of land in each field but in return he had to work to pay for it, help with the ploughing at harvest and help give out duties to Peasants. A freeman could leave the site without permission of the manor lord and could marry anyone, even from a different manor. Another answer:A freeman was a peasant farmer who was not bound by the manorial obligations that serfs had. He rented his land as what was called a copyholder, meaning that he had a lease. While he did not have the serf's obligations, he also did not have the serf's rights, and could be put off his farm when his lease expired.

There is a link below to the section of an article on serfs dealing with freemen.

Answer 2

A freeman was a commoner who was not a slave or serf who was owned by someone else; in effect he was his own owner; and free to own property and find whatever work and opportunities he could find.