Wills and inheritance in late Anglo-Saxon England 871-1066.
Abstract
In this thesis, the sources considered suitable for
the study of inheritance were reviewed, and a theoretical
model for a system of customary inheritance was
developed. The study divides into two part seach
relating either to the sources or to the model. The
first part of the thesis re-evaluates the traditional
divisions of sources for the study of inheritance and
devises new divisions for use in this study. The second
part of the thesis uses these new divisions in developing
a model for the operation of inheritance and discusses
the role of these sources in relation to that model.
In place of the traditional division of source
material for the study of inheritance, a system was
devised consisting of two broad areas: Wills and
Additional Documents. The area of Wills was divided into
the following headings: Written Wills, Oral Declarations,
Category A, B, or C Lost Wills, and Grants made while
Dying. Additional Documents included the following
material: Reference to an Inheritance, Reference to
Property Descent, and Documents relevant to the nature of
wills. The merits and limitations of these sources were
discussed with reference to their preservation whether as
single sheet contemporary copies or in cartularies.
The theoretical model for a system of customary
inheritance is relatively simple. The relationship
between that system and the sources alters the
traditional perspective on those sources with the result
that the evidence from written wills is seen as
supplemental rather than central to the study of
inheritance. From this new perspective, it becomes
apparent that the property donated inside wills
represents only a portion of a donor's total possessions
and that in the operation of the customary inheritance
system, male donees are preferred as the recipients of
landed property.
Authors
Hemming, Eric WhitesideCollections
- Theses [3831]