(Vol. iv., p. 133.)
Since my former communication I have collected the following list of
places where this custom prevails:--
In Surrey:
Battersea.--Lysons' _Environs_, vol. i. p. 30.
Wimbledon (Archbishop of Canterbury's Manor).--Lysons' _Environs_,
vol. i. p. 523.
Streatham (Manor of Leigham Court).--Lysons' _Environs_, vol. i.
p. 481.
Richmond, Ham, Peterham.--Lysons' _Environs_.
Croydon (Archbishop of Canterbury's Manor).--Clement _v._
Scudamore, 6 _Mod. Rep._ 102.; Steinman's _Croydon_, p. 9.
In Essex:
Maldon.--_Blount's Tenures_ by Beckwith.
In Suffolk:
Lavenham.--_Blount's Tenures_ by Beckwith.
In Gloucestershire:
The county of the city of Gloucester.--_1st Report of Real
Property Commissioners_, 1839, app. 98.
In Middlesex:
Islington (Manor of St. John of Jerusalem).--Nelson's _Islington_.
Isleworth.--Lysons' _Environs_, vol. iii. p. 96.
In Cornwall:
Clymesloud.--_Blount's Tenures_ by Beckwith, p. 407.
In Nottinghamshire:
Southwell.--_Comp. Cop._ 506.; _Blount's Tenures_ by Beckwith.
In Northamptonshire:
Brigstock.--_Beauties of England and Wales_, vol. ii. p. 201.
In Warwickshire:
Balshall.--_Pat. 20 R. 2. m. 2._; _Blount's Tenures_ by Beckwith,
p. 629.
In Lincolnshire:
Stamford.--_Camd. Brit._ tit. _Lincolnshire_; _Blount's Tenures_
by Beckwith, p. 416.
There are some variances in the custom in these several places; the
particulars would be too long for an article in "NOTES AND QUERIES;" but
the principle of descent to the youngest son prevails in all.
It would be very desirable to complete this list as far as can be done,
and I hope some others of your correspondents will give their aid to do
it.
The origin of this custom, so contrary to the general law of descent by
the common law, is also a subject worthy of more investigation than it
has yet received. What is stated on the subject in the law books is very
unsatisfactory. It might tend to throw some light on this point if any
of your correspondents would communicate information as to any nations
or tribes where the law of descent to the youngest son prevails, or did
prevail, according to ancient or still existing custom.
I have also received the following list of places where the custom of
Borough-English prevails, from Charles Sandys, Esq., F.S.A., of
Canterbury. It is taken from notes to the third edition of Robinson's
valuable work on Gavelkind, p. 391. note _a._, and p. 393. n. _c._ This
list had escaped me, as my edition of Robinson is an old one.
"It appears by communications from the stewards to the late Mr.
Sawkins, that in the following manors, lands are descendible after
the custom of Borough-English:--
"Middlesex.
St. John of Jerusalem, in Islington
Sutton Court
"Surrey.
Weston Gumshall, in Albury
Colley, in Reigate
Sutton next Woking, in Woking
Little Bookham, in Little Bookham and Effingham
Wotton, Abinger, Paddington, Paddington Pembroke: in the parishes
of Wotton, Abinger, Ewhurst, and Cranley
Gumshall Tower Hill, Gumshall Netley; Shere Vachery, and Cranley;
Shere Eborum: in the parishes of Shere Ewhurst and Cranley
Dunsford, in the parish of Wandsworth
Compton Westbury
Brockham, in Betchworth
"Essex.