From: Peter Cockerill via [gen-medieval@rootsweb.com] Sent: 21 May 2016 17:17 > > Dear Colleagues, > > The extract below is from the Will of Jacob Proctor Merchant Taylor of the city of London dated 1616 (Borderline medieaval!?) > > 'Then my mynde and will is that Jane my loving wife shall have and enioye one full third parte of all my goods Chattells money and Debts which is of righte due unto her by the laudable custome of the Citie of London' > > What was the laudable custom of London? > > Thank you in anticipation. > Peter > ------------------------------- ________________________________________ From: Vance Mead via [gen-medieval@rootsweb.com] Sent: 21 May 2016 17:31 >> >> I think it was something along the lines that a third of the property went to the widow, a third went to the children, and the last third could be bequeathed freely according to the will of the testator. >> Vance >> ------------------------------- ________________________________________ That's it exactly, though it only applied to chattels, not to land. The rule had originally applied everywhere in England (it is mentioned in Magna Carta), but ceased to be the law in the province of Canterbury in the later middle ages, except in London where it continued in force until 1724. (It was abolished in the province of York in 1692). Matt Tompkins