WebFree Bench. " Free bench " is a legal term referring to an ancient manorial custom in parts of England whereby a widow, until she remarried, could retain tenure of her late husband's land. "Free Bench (Lat. francus bancus ). The widow's right to a copyhold. It is not a dower or gift, but a free right independent of the will of the husband. WebDefinitions (Senses and Subsenses) 1. A fine paid to the lord for getting a bondwoman with child [see Homans, Engl.Village Life 169]. Show 7 Quotations.

childwite: meaning, origin, definition - WordSense Dictionary

Websexual intercourse, pregnancy or birth; some were labelled as ‘childwite’ and others were merely described. The distinction between illegitimate sexual activities identified as leyrwite/childwite and those not so identified seems to have had no importance. See, for example, British Library, Additional Roll [hereafter BL, Add. WebJan 19, 2024 · On some manners a separate fine called “childwite” was levied for bearing a child out of wedlock, but in Elton premarital sexand pregnancy were lumped together. … pac river center stage

child-wite and childwite - Middle English Compendium

WebLegitimacy, in traditional Western common law, is the status of a child born to parents who are legally married to each other, and of a child conceived before the parents obtain a legal divorce. Conversely, illegitimacy, also known as bastardy, has been the status of a child born outside marriage, such a child being known as a bastard, a love ... http://www.wisieforkids.com/ jennifer mathews 18