Category Archives: Act of Parliament

Gretna Green: The “Las Vegas” Marriage Destination of the Regency Period

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Scottish Elopements and the Marriage Act of 1753 “An Act for Better Preventing of Clandestine Marriage,” popularly known as Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act (1753), was the first statutory legislation in England and Wales to require a formal ceremony of marriage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Gretna Green, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, reading, real life tales, Regency romance, terminology, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Marriage by Proxy, Possible or Myth?

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

When the Hardwick Act for the Prevention of Clandestine Marriages went into effect in March of 1754, the rules for marrying in England changed dramatically. Prior to that time, all the couple had to do was to pronounce their vows before a clergyman of the Church of England. Heck, it did not even have to be one’s local clergyman or even one’s local church. In fact, the Fleet Street prison saw quite a few marriages in those days Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

“Nothing is Certain but Death and Taxes” . . . Death Fits the Bill, Yet What of Taxes? Happy Lady Day to All!

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

There were hundreds of taxes and so a variety of dates on which they would be due. Some were pay as you go, so to speak. For others, the tax man came along and counted the number of windows in the person’s residence and looked at the number of footmen employed and counted the crested carriages owned and other four-wheeled vehicles, etc., and made his demand. A person then had “x” number of days to pay the tax. Some taxes were due in quarter days and some on cross quarter days. Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, buildings and structures, business, estates, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Nothing is Certain but Death and Taxes” . . . Death Fits the Bill, Yet What of Taxes? Happy Lady Day to All!

March 25, Lady Day – What are the Quarter Days in UK?

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

In the Western liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name in some English-speaking countries of the Feast of the Annunciation, which is celebrated on 25 March, and commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, holidays, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, medieval, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on March 25, Lady Day – What are the Quarter Days in UK?

Popular Regency Era Parks + the Release of “Loving Lord Lindmore”

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

London held a variety of popular parks during the Regency era. Let us explore a few of them.  St James’s Park is a Royal Park, named after a once isolated medieval hospital dedicated to St James the Less, now the … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, book release, eBooks, England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, research, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

29 January 1820, the End of the Regency Period

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

This week in history marks the end of what was called the Regency Period, the era which we relish as being best reflected by Jane Austen’s stories. King George III died on 29 January 1820, and his son, Prince George … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 1701 Act of Settlement

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

The Act of Settlement prevented George IV from marrying Maria Fitzherbert, the woman he affected, but what did the Act entail? The Act of Settlement was a Parliamentary Act meant to settle the issue of succession to both the English … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The 1701 Act of Settlement

Annulments, Divorces, Criminal Conversation in the Regency

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

First, permit me to say that in the Regency period, divorces were few. They were expensive. The Church of England opposed divorce as vehemently as did the Roman Catholic church. The Church of England only permitted a “legal separation,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, American History, British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Could a Person Change His Name During the Regency Era?

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Was it possible for someone to change his name during the Regency? I recently purchased An Index to Changes of Name: Under Authority of Act of Parliament or Royal Licence, and Including Irregular Changes from I George III to 64 Victoria, … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What is a “Letters Patent” and Why Is the Term Always Plural?

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Letters patent is defined as a “type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title or status to a person or corporation. Letters patent can be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, American History, aristocracy, British history, commerce, England, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, kings and queens, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, research, terminology, Victorian era, word play, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What is a “Letters Patent” and Why Is the Term Always Plural?