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                  Friendly Societies

                  Friendly societies were originally organisations through which ordinary people, mainly tradesmen, were able to save money to cover the costs of burial, provide pensions for dependants and make provision for loss of earnings through sickness, infirmity or old age. Some were in existence in the 17th century but reached their peak in the 19th century. They were, and are, mutual benefit societies, owned by their members.

                  To begin with individual societies were often organised fairly informally, consisting of little more than a charity box, from which needy members of a society could be given a handout, at the discretion of the membership or officials of the society. In the late 18th century, many societies became better organised and they were encouraged by the Registration of Friendly Societies Act 1793.[1] Many societies folded in the 1820s when rising unemployment and increasing age of the membership put severe pressure on funds, which had stagnated because of under-subscription or unchanging subscription levels in periods of monetary inflation. The more fortunate societies survived the recession. The Friendly Societies Act 1855 established the Registrar of Friendly Societies.[2]

                  Some friendly societies also acted as social clubs. Organisations with similar aims included the Free Gardeners, Oddfellows and Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds and these established local branches in many areas of Scotland. Some friendly societies were set up to benefit particular groups or occupations, such as the Scotch Episcopal Friendly Society, the Friendly Society of Dissenting Ministers in Scotland, or the Caledonian Railway Servants Friendly Society. Other mutual benefit societies were limited to local areas, such as the United Sea Box of Borrowstounness, the Strathearn Highland Friendly Society, the Friendly Society of Carrick Farmers or the Master Bakers’ Friendly Society of Glasgow.

                  Records of Scottish Friendly Societies are held by a wide variety of business, university, local and national archives as well as by the Friendly Societies themselves.

                  Related Knowledge Base entries

                  Money and Banking

                  Bibliography

                  Cordery, Simon British Friendly Societies, 1750-1914 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003)

                  Fraser, W. Hamish, Conflict and Class: Scottish Workers 1700-1838 (John Donald, 1988)

                  MacDougall, Ian, ed., A Catalogue of Some Labour Records in Scotland (Scottish Labour History Society, 1978)

                   

                  References

                  [1] Registration of Friendly Societies Act 1793 (33 Geo. III, c.54).

                  [2] Friendly Societies Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict., c.63).

                  How do I cash in an old funeral policy from a friendly society which has been wound up?

                  The Financial Conduct Authority (formerly the Financial Services Authority) took over the functions of the Central Office of the former Registry of Friendly Societies and those of the Assistant Registrar for Scotland in December 2001. This function is now known as Mutual Societies Registration, and includes registering industrial and provident societies, building societies, friendly societies and certain other mutual societies. The Mutual Societies Registration unit of the Authorisation Division of the FSA is now responsible for these functions, and can be contacted at <https://www.fca.org.uk/> [accessed 26 April 2024].

                  How do I trace the records of a Scottish friendly society?

                  The records of Scottish friendly societies are held by a wide variety of business, university, local and national archives and other bodies. It is best to start your search with the main websites that link to a range of archives such as Your Scottish Archives or The National Archives <https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/> or the Archives Hub <https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/ > [both accessed 26 April 2024 If the Friendly Society still exists then they may have their own archives. You can also consult Ian MacDougall, ed., A Catalogue of Some Labour Records in Scotland (Edinburgh: Scottish Labour History Society, 1978) and find many friendly society regulations and publications mentioned in the catalogue of the National Library of Scotland.

                  Rules and regulations for friendly societies and similar bodies (such as building societies, industrial and provident societies, and some trades unions) dissolved before 1929 are held by the National Records of Scotland. They are listed under the reference FS. This is subdivided into:

                  • FS1 – Friendly Societies, 1st series (early friendly society rules and regulations lodged under the Friendly Society Acts, 1829 to 1852, deposited alphabetically under counties and towns).
                  • FS2 – Building Societies, 1st series (rules lodged under the Benefit Building Societies Act, 1836, deposited and arranged as FS1).
                  • FS3 – Friendly Societies, 2nd series (as FS1).
                  • FS4 – Friendly Societies, 3rd series (rules of societies removed from the register before 1920).
                  • FS5 – Industrial and Provident Societies, 1st series (rules of societies removed from the register before 1920).
                  • FS6 – Building Societies, 2nd series (rules of societies removed from the register before 1920).
                  • FS7 – Trades Unions, 1st series (rules of societies removed from the register before 1920).
                  • FS8 – Obsolete registers (names of societies and unions registered offices, and dates of certificates of registration – the information was transferred to register cards in 1922.
                  • FS9 – Friendly Societies collected rules (bound volumes containing copies of rules and regulations of friendly societies).
                  • FS11 – Building Societies, 3rd series (rules of societies removed from the register between 1920 and 1929).
                  • FS12 – Industrial and Provident Societies, 2nd series (rules of societies removed from the register between 1920 and 1929).