Tag Archives: marriage

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

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

June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Scottish Marriages and Elopements in the Regency Era

Those of us who read and write Regency novels have all heard of elopements to Gretna Green. Harking back to 1754 and the introduction of a new controversial Marriage Act in England, Gretna Green flourished as a haven for runaway … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, British history, Church of England, eBooks, excerpt, Gretna Green, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, romance, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Questions on Age of Consent for Marriage During the Regency Era

I often receive questions from readers or new authors to historical romance regarding the legal age to marry during the Regency. Below are some of the questions I have received and my response. Perhaps it will help another writer or … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Questions on Age of Consent for Marriage During the Regency Era

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Heartless Earl: A Common Elements Romance Project Novel on Sale Until November 5

In my Regency romantic suspense release, The Heartless Earl, Sterling Baxter, the Earl of Merritt, has married a woman who left him as quickly as she gave birth to their son. He is cuckolded in the eyes of Society and trapped … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, marriage, mystery, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mystery and Suspense Month: The Heartless Earl: A Common Elements Romance Project Novel on Sale Until November 5

Mystery and Suspense Month: Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy on Sale Until November 5

ALL BOOKS FEATURED THIS MONTH ARE ON SALE IN THE eBOOK VERSION FOR $1.39. GRAB THEM WHILE THE PRICE IS RIGHT. THE SALE ENDS SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER, 2023. Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep was originally released by Black Opal … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, marriage, mystery, publishing, Regency romance, suspense, trilogy, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy 6th Book Birthday to The Earl Claims His Comfort: Book 2 of The Twins’ Trilogy

On 4 August 2023, I shared an excerpt from Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy, Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep, Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy, for that book was celebrating its 7th’s Book Birthday. Today I have an … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, books, British history, castles, estates, family, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, medicine, mystery, primogenture, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

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

Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

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 11th Book Birthday to A Touch of Cashémere, Book 3 of the REALM Series!

Previously, I brought you book 2 of this fabulous series. [If you wish more information on all the books in the series, visit my website rjefferscom.wordpress.com to read excerpts.] You will notice I brought out books two and three of … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, books, buildings and structures, eBooks, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, Napoleonic Wars, Realm series, Regency era, Regency romance, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Pitfalls of Breaking an Engagement During the Regency Era

Only if a man uncovered a flaw in the morals of the lady to whom he proposed could he even consider calling off a marriage proposal. Once he spoke the words and the lady had accepted, there was no “take backs.” If the man left the woman standing at the altar as a no-show, it was thought he had discovered something of her low character, generally, that she had known another intimately. Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, reading habits, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments