Category Archives: British history

The Common Law of Dower or What Does the Wife Inherit During the Regency?

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Originally there were varieties of dower (not to be confused with dowry) such as dower ad ostium ecclesiae (“at the church door”) and dower ex assensu patris (by the heir with his father’s consent), in which before the couple was married, the wife was endowed of particular pieces of the property – specific lands. In Medieval times more so than modern ones, sometimes land held in knight service was exonerated from dower by the widow’s taking dower de la pluis beale (“of the most fair”) of her husband’s socage land. Continue reading →

Posted in British history, estates, family, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, primogenture, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cheddar Man and Mr. Targett: Stone Age Connections

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Okay, today, I am not talking about cheese, though the “gentleman” in question is associated with Cheddar, England, which is famous for its cheese. Cheddar is also famous for Cheddar Gorge and a line of limestone caves found there. Rather, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, England, exploration, family, Great Britain, history, real life tales, science, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dressmaking During the Regency

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Often in a Regency book, we find a situation where the woman requires a new day dress, gown, riding habit, etc. I was reading a book of late where the modiste finished several gowns in two days, but was that … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, fashion, Georgian England, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

We have all likely read the part in a Regency romance where marriage settlements were discussed, but how did those come about?  “A marriage settlement in England was a historic arrangement whereby, most commonly and in its simplest form, a trust of land … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

Happy 13th Book Birthday to “The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery”

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

On July 1, 2010, Ulysses Press released The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery. It was the first of my cozy mysteries, and it remains a favorite. In 2019, I received the rights to all my Ulysses Press titles back from the company. I have periodically been rereleasing them with new covers and to new readers.

I would love to share something of the historical tidbit that is the key to solving the mystery, but, what fun would that be for all those who love a good mystery and think themselves capable of spotting the clues early on. Moreover, as I skipped kindergarten (and a few other grades), I never learned to share properly. LOL! The whole “solving the mystery thing” revolves around one key clue all the characters miss. Hopefully, you will you be wiser than they are. Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, British history, excerpt, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, marriage, mystery, paranormal, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, royalty, spooky tales, suspense, tall tales, Ulysses Press, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “Regency Summer Scandals” Anthology + a Giveaway

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

In my latest tale, Loving Lord Lindmore, my heroine has some hoydenish tendencies, for the stories in the A Regency Summer Scandal Anthology, are all about scandals and who commits them. Lady Cora has been taught to use a knife … Continue reading →

Posted in anthology, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, medieval, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Honourable East India Company + the Release of “The Earl’s English Rose” + a Giveaway

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

The vast majority of men who went into East India Company employment had some family/friend connection who assisted them to become established. Such is why we often read how the hero has a distant relative who is a Director of the East India Company and assists him to earn a position with the firm. Alternatively, the hero of one’s tale could have been in military service; by the Regency era, the East India Company had its own private army and navy in India, with English officers and mostly Indian ‘sepoys’ (privates).

The man might be required to work in London for several years, likely something to do with their warehouses – as a writer or secretary or clerk, perhaps. Or he could work directly for East India House, possibly as a secretary to one of the directors. I found one mention (in The East India Company’s London Workers) of a minor aristocrat working as a warehouse laborer, although this would be very very uncommon (and probably unbefitting of a romance novel hero). Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy 4th Book Birthday to “Letters from Home”!!!

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

I particularly loved this story for I am a military brat and wife, and I adore a strong military hero. Major Lord Simon Lanford is just such a man. He is the “spare” in the Regency adage of “an heir … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage, military, primogenture, publishing, reading habits, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How Was It to Shop in Market Towns and Villages of Early 1800s England?

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Obviously, there would not be street vendors, but rather peddlers, who would travel from village to village, selling their ware. “A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, higler or solicitor (with negative connotations since the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Portland Place, London’s Widest Street and the Adam Brothers’ Legacy

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Portland Place was designed by Robert and James Adam in 1767. Originally, Robert Adam had thought to make this area a veritable street of palaces. Unfortunately for Adam, all attempts to do so failed, and rows of townhouses, though spacious and more than a bit intimidating at times, was settled upon. A “close” of great houses it has been called. The width of the thoroughfare/street was determined by the 3rd Duke of Portland’s obligations to his tenant, Lord Thomas Foley, whose northward view from Foley House could not be interfered with: Therefore, the width of Portland Place is the width of Foley House. At around 125 feet wide, the street is commonly referred to as the widest street in London. The agreement was signed in January 1767 and confirmed by an Act of Parliament in April of that year. James Adam negotiated the understanding for the development, which, initially, only covered the southern half of Portland Place, as well as the streets leading off it to either side, going as far north as Weymouth Street. The agreement for the northern half was negotiated in April 1776. Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, aristocracy, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, legacy, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Portland Place, London’s Widest Street and the Adam Brothers’ Legacy