Meaning of free bench | Babel Free

Definitions

A married woman's entitlement to the use of her husband's lands or property after he dies; or the land and property itself considered as such an entitlement.

historical, uncountable

Examples

“In most manors, free-bench consists of one half of the husband's copyhold; although, in others, it consists of a third or fourth part, and in some few, of the whole copyhold.”

“The widow enjoyed the right of freebench, that is, of succession to a portion of her late husband's holding, ranging from a quarter to the whole, according to local manorial custom.”

“Some widows in Brigstock also probably sold free bench lands, despite the customary restriction on such sales.”

CEFR level