Legal Definitions - yeomanry

The term yeomanry refers to two distinct but related concepts, primarily within a historical British context:

• Firstly, it can describe the collective body of yeomen. Historically, a yeoman was a person who owned and cultivated their own land, often holding a social status below the gentry but above mere laborers. They were typically independent, self-sufficient farmers or freeholders.

  • Example 1: In a 17th-century English county, a significant portion of the agricultural land was owned and worked by families who had held their farms for generations. These independent landowners, who formed the backbone of the local economy and often participated in local governance, were collectively known as the county's yeomanry. They were respected for their self-reliance and contribution to the community's prosperity.

    Explanation: This example illustrates the first meaning of yeomanry by describing a group of independent, landowning farmers who collectively represent a distinct social and economic class within a historical community.

• Secondly, and more specifically, yeomanry refers to volunteer cavalry units in Great Britain. These units were historically formed for local defense, often composed of landowners and farmers who could provide their own horses and equipment. Over time, many of these units were integrated into the Territorial Army.

  • Example 2: During the early 19th century, with ongoing conflicts in Europe, a group of prominent landowners and their tenants in a rural English shire decided to form a mounted volunteer force to protect their local area from potential invasion or civil unrest. They trained regularly, using their own horses, and were officially recognized as the "shire's yeomanry cavalry."

    Explanation: This example demonstrates the second meaning, where yeomanry refers to a specific type of volunteer military unit, historically composed of mounted individuals from the landowning class, formed for local defense in Britain.