In both the 1861 and 1871 census', my ancestor Richard Emery (b. 1808, Malmesbury - d. 1885, Malmesbury) is listed as a 'Capital Burgess of Foot'. I recently connected this to the organisation known as the "Warden and Freeman of Malmesbury" which seem to have operated as some sort of town council for Malmesbury, and operated a ceremonial hierarchy (with a Capital Burgess being the highest rank).

Firstly, I am wanting to understand how this organisation worked and what its influence was over Malmesbury. Secondly, I would really like to find out about my family's involvement in the group - I am aware that to be a member you had to be a son or son-in-law of a commoner, and as I have only traced as far as Richard's father, Richard Emery (b. 1773, Malmesbury), and Richard Jr.'s wife (Elizabeth Miles - b. 1814, Corston, Wiltshire - d. 1900, Hornsey, Middlesex) doesn't seem to be from the Malmesbury area, the records of the society may be useful in tracing my family tree. There is a book entitled "List of Malmesbury Commoners 1600-1886" by S. Box which would be hugely useful in this endeavour, but I can't seem to get hold of it anywhere!

If anyone has any information about this organisation, or is also trying to find people connected with this society, please comment!