Legal Definitions - yeoman

Definition: A yeoman is a historical term that can refer to several different things:

1. An attendant in a royal or noble household.
2. A commoner; a free-holder (under the rank of gentleman) who holds land yielding 40 shillings per year. This means that they were not wealthy enough to be considered a gentleman, but they owned enough land to be considered a respectable member of society.
3. One who owns and cultivates property. This refers to someone who owns and works on their own land, rather than being a tenant farmer or laborer.
4. A petty officer performing clerical work in the U.S. Navy.

For example, a yeoman in the 18th century might have been a farmer who owned a small plot of land and was able to vote and serve on juries because of his status as a free-holder. In the U.S. Navy, a yeoman might be responsible for keeping records and performing administrative tasks.

Overall, the term yeoman refers to someone who is a respectable member of society, but not necessarily wealthy or of noble birth.