Free Bench — is a legal term relating to an ancient manorial custom in England whereby a widow could retain tenure of the land until she remarried. Free Bench (francus bancus). The widow s right to a copyhold. It is not a dower or gift, but a free right… … Wikipedia
Free bench — ( francus bancus ), in English law, is the interest which a widow has in the copyhold lands of her husband, corresponding to dower in the case of freeholds. It depends upon the custom of the manor, but as a general rule the widow takes a third… … Wikipedia
Free bench — Free Free (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
free-bench — freeˈ bench noun (historical) A widow s right to an endowment out of her husband s lands • • • Main Entry: ↑free … Useful english dictionary
free bench — noun or free bank Etymology: translation of Medieval Latin francus bancus : the interest formerly held in English law by a widow or sometimes a widower in the copyhold or customary lands of the deceased spouse compare dower 1 … Useful english dictionary
Free Bench — ♦ Dower lands assigned for a widow s maintenance. (Bennett, Judith M. Women in the Medieval English Countryside, 234) … Medieval glossary
free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate … Black's law dictionary
free-bench — In old English law, a widow s dower out of copyholds to which she was entitled by the custom of some manors. It was regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband s interest, and was a continuance of his estate … Black's law dictionary
free bench — A widow s dower in copyhold lands, which she usually held subject to the condition that she should remain chaste and unmarried. See 2 Bl Comm 129 … Ballentine's law dictionary
Free — (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} ( [ e]r); superl. {Freest} ( [e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre[ o], fr[=i]; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i], Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr. pr[=i] to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
