> > Good morning list, > > > > I have been researching the DURLEY family, Church of England, ?from > Whitchurch.? What the Durley family were really well known for is being early prominent Methodists. However, pre 1837, they would have had to marry in the Church of England, and it was Wesley's policy to use the church for baptisms, since his hope was to improve the decadent church and bring Method to it. In my research I have found that the eldest son inherited > the land whilst the others were left with nothing.? It was normal in the the majority of places for the eldest son to get the main family farm or estate (there were other customs like Borough English and gavelkind, but primogeniture is usual) This was often enshrined in legal formality by entail, or by manorial custom, for copyholds. The hope was that in time of trouble, any sibling in difficulties could go back to the farm for help and shelter. line that > inherited seemed to do well for themselves whereas the others did not. The younger sons were normally put to a good trade, and given their chance to made headway.or (sometimes) given bought in pieces of land. A small farm was not practical to divide up. When this happened, the whole set up was likely to become economically unviable in a generation or so. Result, no farm to go back to. > > It wasn't until the 1860's that I found a will that left land to?both > sons.? Represents probably greater prosperity with extra land bought for the purpose. Of course the eldest received the majority.? Was this common? > Yes EVE McLAUGHLIN Bucks Genealogical Society