- free bench
- A widow's dower in copyhold lands, which she usually held subject to the condition that she should remain chaste and unmarried. See 2 Bl Comm 129.
Ballentine's law dictionary. Anderson, W.S.. 1998.
free bench
Look at other dictionaries:
Free Bench — is a legal term relating to an ancient manorial custom in England whereby a widow could retain tenure of the land until she remarried. Free Bench (francus bancus). The widow s right to a copyhold. It is not a dower or gift, but a free right… … Wikipedia
Free bench — ( francus bancus ), in English law, is the interest which a widow has in the copyhold lands of her husband, corresponding to dower in the case of freeholds. It depends upon the custom of the manor, but as a general rule the widow takes a third… … Wikipedia
Free bench — Free Free (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
free-bench — freeˈ bench noun (historical) A widow s right to an endowment out of her husband s lands • • • Main Entry: ↑free … Useful english dictionary
Free-Bench — In the will of Anketin de Betteville occurs the expression saving to Matilda his wife her free bench out of his mansion in Bradstreet according to the custom of the City, 1290 1 (Ct. H.W. I. 96). Robert de Wyrcestre gave to his wife for… … Dictionary of London
free bench — noun or free bank Etymology: translation of Medieval Latin francus bancus : the interest formerly held in English law by a widow or sometimes a widower in the copyhold or customary lands of the deceased spouse compare dower 1 … Useful english dictionary
Free Bench — ♦ Dower lands assigned for a widow s maintenance. (Bennett, Judith M. Women in the Medieval English Countryside, 234) … Medieval glossary
free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate … Black's law dictionary
free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate … Black's law dictionary
Free — (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr. pr[=i] to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
