Tag Archives: marriage laws

Promissory Estoppel as a Means to Marry in the Regency or Otherwise

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Marriage by Estoppel One of the possibilities I explored in researching my book, MR. DARCY’S BRIDEs was marriage by estoppel as a plot point. According to Investopedia, “Promissory estoppel is a legal principle that a promise is enforceable by law, … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Austen Authors, British history, Church of England, eBooks, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, Scotland, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

“Rule of Thumb”: The Wife as Property in the Regency Era, Part I

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

I have written several scenes in my 55+ books in which the wife is abused by her husband, sometimes mentally and sometimes physically. During the Regency there was no laws against such abuse. The wife held no rights. In fact, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, marriage, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Broken Engagements in the Regency Period

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

 A popular plot in Regency era romances is the broken engagement, but what was the truth of the situation? Unless he suddenly uncovered a flaw in the morals of he lady, once a man proposed to a woman, he was … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs, romance | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

A Levirate Marriage? Art Thou Thy Brother’s Keeper?

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Recently, I listened to a minister discuss what is known as a Levirate Marriage, a marriage between the widow and the husband’s brother. Many Christians, especially those in the Western world, consider this a reprehensible action, but the Bible does … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Levirate marriage, Living in the Regency, real life tales, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Annulments, Divorces, Criminal Conversation in the Regency

Posted on January 3, 2022 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

Fleet Prison Marriages of the 1700s

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Regina Jeffers

Marriage ceremonies associated with the Fleet Prison is London were many in the mid to late 1700s. It is estimated that in the 1740s over half of London’s marriage ceremonies took place in “marriage shops” surrounding the Fleet Prison. By … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, real life tales, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Was an Annulment Possible in the Regency? + Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Giveaway

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Regina Jeffers

 One of the “what ifs” in my latest Pride and Prejudice vagary, A Dance with Mr. Darcy, revolves around Lydia’s marriage to Mr. Wickham. What if the marriage could be voided? What would it entail to break her bond to … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, excerpt, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

Posted on July 1, 2019 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

Handfasting as a Means to Marriage in “Lady Chandler’s Sister” + a Giveaway

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Regina Jeffers

Although Sir Alexander Chandler and Miss Alana Pottinger do not come to their Happily Ever After in Lady Chandler’s Sister through handfasting, it is a subject of discussion. They met in Scotland, and handfasting was a more common practice there. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Opal Books, book release, British history, eBooks, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Scotland, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Handfasting as a Means to Marriage in “Lady Chandler’s Sister” + a Giveaway

Clandestine Weddings and the Release of “Lady Chandler’s Sister” + a Giveaway

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Regina Jeffers

Clandestine/Irregular Weddings in Scotland  A clandestine wedding plays a key role in solving the mystery that occurs in my latest Regency romantic suspense, Lady Chandler’s Sister: Book 3 the Twins’ Trilogy. But exactly what constituted a clandestine or irregular marriage during … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Opal Books, book release, British history, eBooks, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Ireland, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, real life tales, Regency romance, research, romance, Scotland, suspense, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments