In message <kgriffiths5000$81.131.109.18$.002e01c4b538$41bcba20$e64218d4 @KFGriffiths>, Keith Griffiths <kgriffiths5000@btinternet.com> writes >This query came up on another list but there has been no response. I wonder >whether our list might care to comment. > >Regards >Keith Griffiths > >----- Original Message ----- >I've recently come across a will with the following written: > >Item I give and bequeath unto Ann my wife my clock during the term of her >natural life I also give her the sum of twenty shillings of lawful money of >Great Britain in full purpose and to the intent utterly to debar her of >Dower right or and Title of Dower and to exclude her of and from all manner >of right or title claim or demand to any moveable goods of chattels of mine >which some call Thirds or any other right or title to any house or land of >or belonging to me otherwise than was agreed upon and specified in a >Londor?[I couldn't make out this word] Articles made between us before >marriage and instead of her Thirds A widow was normally entitled to one third for life of the moveable estate i.e household goods, cash, furniture, livestock, tools, stock in trade, leaseholds etc. Entailed land went to the heir, as did most copyholds, but freeholds were subject to dower. In some manors, widows did have a right to a third of the copyhold, but not if they remarried or lived with another man, A husband usually surrendered his copyhold to the use of himself and his wife or the longest liver, if he wanted her to remain on it after his death. This was rather inconvenient if the property was needed by the heir (oldest son probably) to run the farm or business, or run his household. And if the widow was his stepmother, even more so,- even if she was his mother, if she didn't get on with his wife. So a prudent man who could afford it made settlement (in this case a Bond or Articles) setting out what his wife as widow would be given of equivalent value to one third of the personal estate. This might be a small cottage (a dower house for the gentry) or an annuity of equivalent value to a third of the average proceeds of the farm or whatever. The widow's thirds, or widow's bench was a contentious item in many families, and you may find a clause that the widow is going to get this share of furniture and a room and this amount of money, and if she demands her thirds she loses the lot./ -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society