Tag Archives: dowry

Dower Vs. Dowry, Do You Know the Difference?

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

Lets do a quick breakdown before we discuss specifics. The key difference between “dower” and “dowry” lies in who provides the wealth and when it is given. Dowry is the property a bride brings to her marriage, typically from her family to … Continue reading →

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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 →

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A Widow’s Stipend, Jointures, Dower, Settlements, and Dowry. Which is Which in the Regency?

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

  English Common Law provided a widow a life interest in one-third of the freehold lands her husband owned at the time of their marriage. She could not be denied these rights unless she was found guilty of treason, felony, … Continue reading →

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A Regency Lexicon – And Then There Was “D”

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Regina Jeffers

A Regency Lexicon The Daily Courant – England’s first daily newspaper; founded in 1702 Damask – a fancy silk or linen fabric used for table linen; usually had a flower design raised “Dark Lady” – sometimes used to refer to … Continue reading →

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