Tag Archives: law

“Kinks” in the Peerage Laws in Great Britain

First, and foremost, one must understand the creation of peerages is a royal prerogative. Letters patent are used exclusively now for this task, but this was not always so. Letters patent are a form of open or public proclamation and a … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Elizabeth I, England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Proxy Marriages: Valid or Invalid?

Upon occasion I have come across a plot line in a Regency historical novel where the couple is married by proxy. Unfortunately, such a marriage was not valid. Today’s interpretation of a marriage by proxy tells us that it is … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Proxy Marriages: Valid or Invalid?

“Bell, Book, and Candle” and Excommunication During the Georgian Era

In the Roman Catholic church, “bell, book, and candle” came to be synonymous with “major excommunication,” or “anathema.” The phrase dates back to the 9th Century and has symbolic meaning. The “bell” came to mean the public character of the … Continue reading

Posted in British history, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Regency era, religion, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Common Practice of Primogeniture in Regency England

Of late, I have been studying the laws and statutes that comprised the practice of primogeniture in Regency England. In truth, I can only work on the project for a few hours each day for some of the material is … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, Anglo-Saxons, British history, business, commerce, Georgian England, history, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, primogenture, Scotland, titles of aristocracy, Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Effects of Primogeniture on Family Dynamics

 As a writer of historical fiction set in England during the Regency era, I am constantly dealing with the ramifications of the practice and the law of primogeniture. In primogeniture, the first born legitimate son is the sole inheritor of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, eBooks, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“King v. Curll,” Prosecuting an Infamous Publisher

As a former journalism teacher, I was familiar with the term “curlicisms,” but until I was working on a piece on criminal conversation last week, I had forgotten the source of the word was one Edmund [sometimes called “Edward”] Curll.  … Continue reading

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The Roots of Primogeniture and Entailments

The concept of “love and romance” were never required in marriage among the English aristocracy. Certainly there were some who did marry for love, but early on, the idea of marriage became a “business transaction,” instead of a romantic joining … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, estates, Living in the UK, political stance, primogenture, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Simple Overview of the English Courts During the Regency Period

One of the surprising things upon which many readers of the courtroom scene in The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin commented was the lack of a “defense attorney” for the accused. A prosecutor served the British courts, but the accused … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

George Ross, Defender of States’ Rights and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“George Ross’s father was born at Balblair, Scotland, in 1679 or 1680. Rev. George Aeneas, the 5th Laird Balblair Ross (b.1679, d.1754), had 2 wives and 16 children, and was an Anglican clergyman who had immigrated from Scotland. The paternal … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, British Navy, Declaration of Independence, Georgian England, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments