Richmond
"Nottinghamshire.
Southwell
"Hertfordshire.
Much Hadham."
G. R. C.
Southwark, Sept. 24, 1851.
The accompanying extract is from the History of the borough of Stafford, in White's Directory and Gazetteer of Staffordshire, which is just published:—
"The ancient custom of Borough-English formerly prevailed here, by which the youngest son succeeded to property, as heir-at-law, in preference to the elder children. The origin of this part of our common law is not very well ascertained, but it is generally supposed to have arisen from the ancient system of vassalage, which gave the lord of the manor certain rights over his vassal's bride, and thus rendered the legitimacy of the eldest born uncertain; or perhaps it may have originated in the natural presumption, that the youngest child was least capable of providing for itself."
F. J. M.