Frank-marriage

English Law: Frank-marriage in the Past

It takes place, according to Blackstone, when lands are given by one man to another, together with a wife who is daughter or kinswoman of the donor, to hold in frank-marriage. By this gift, though nothing but, the word frank-marriage is expressed, the donees must have the tenements to them and the heirs of their two bodies begotten that is, they are tenants in special tail. It is called frank or free marriage, because the donees are liable to no service but fealty. This is now obsolete, even in England (see more about this legal system). 2 Bl. Com. 115. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about frank-marriage is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including frank-marriage.

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