Swedish Occupation: Ålderman

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An Ålderman (also called Verkmästare) was a master who was designated as the chairman of the guild. Guild members would decide who would be the ålderman. He represented the guild to outside groups, monitored the apprentice contracts, and the placement of both apprentices and journeymen to masters. He issued the travel papers for the journeymen, controlled the journeyman society, and exercised opinion on judicial matters to the guild court in cases of misconduct. He monitored control of the master’s products, and gave permission to the widows of masters to continue their deceased husbands work. Together with the Rådbisittare, the Ålderman represented the guild to the city magistrate. The position of Ålderman was for life.