For much of its history Newhaven was effectively under the control of the Society of Free Fishermen, which exercised power far beyond its original intention as a friendly society. It was established to provide help to members and their families in times of need. It was possible for such societies in early times to earn revenue by means of an impost or headtax on sailings or a tax on landings. However, by 1900 it conformed to the pattern of other benefit societies and entry money and regular contributions (subscriptions) were paid by the members. Interestingly, by that time only 'lawful sons' of existing members could join.

The Society negotiated with the Royal Navy on behalf of the community during the Napoleonic period. It tried to minimise the effects of periodic demands for manpower by the navy. One way of doing this was to provide volunteer substitutes to meet the quotas. Sometimes an extraordinary fund was raised to reward the volunteers.

In the Seventeenth century, the Society undertook to relieve the kirk session of the burden of supporting the poor in Newhaven. It had always looked after its own poor and distressed members and seems to have made it a point of pride that it always would. This avoided the indignity of having members 'on the parish' or subject to the repressive qualifications applied to those seeking ailment from the kirk session. It also meant that that proportion of money due by Newhaven to the kirk session of North Leith parish could be kept to be spent only in the village.

The Society's financial position was helped by its involvement in bidding for the nearby oyster fishery, which it could then administer to its benefit, and by rental fees due on sub-let portions of its land at the Links. Reserves of cash could be loaned out at interest or be used to purchase bonds and securities.

Many of the Society's tenants on the Links were associated with the fishing industry. They included chandlers, coopers, net and sail makers. In 1885, David Turner promised to devote the whole of his business to the local fishermen if he were granted ground for his sail-loft. Other facilities on the land were rented by the fishermen themselves. These included the barking houses where sails, nets and ropes were treated with preservative prior to use.

As the de-facto administration of Newhaven, the Society took a prominent role in public works in Newhaven. It was the moving force behind the development of a new harbour there and celebrated in style when the foundation stone was laid in 1876.

The society was essentially democratic, electing its officers from amongst the membership. This list of past boxmasters was prepared by a member who had himself held various offices over the course of 23 years. Note that the same surnames crop up time and again - as sons followed fathers into the society, so they progressed in turn to the senior positions. Until 1816, the officers were just two, the boxmaster and clerk. After 1816, a 'preses' (chairman) was elected but the boxmaster kept the treasurer element of his position. The clerk or secretary usually held the post for a number of years.

The society extended it remit by providing the building for a local school. By 1828, this was run by the Newhaven Education Society in conjunction with the Free Fishermen. Other schools had been opened for girls and infants. The boy's school taught reading, grammar, writing and arithmetic to the system of the Edinburgh Sessional School.

Probably from the first and certainly to the last, the Society kept all its important documents secured in a box in the possession of the officer termed the 'boxmaster'. This account describes the role of the boxmaster in relation to the box. His other duties were as the Society's treasurer and, at one time, as chairman. When the Society was would up its documents went to the National Archives of Scotland and many of its possessions and artefacts to the care of Edinburgh City Museums.