Search Result for "frank-marriage": 

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Frank-marriage \Frank"-mar"riage\, n. [Frank free + marriage.] (Eng. Law) A certain tenure in tail special; an estate of inheritance given to a man his wife (the wife being of the blood of the donor), and descendible to the heirs of their two bodies begotten. [Obs.] --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

FRANK-MARRIAGE, English law. It takes place, according to Blackstone, when lands are given by one man to another, together with a wife who is daughter or kinswoman of the donor, to hold in frank-marriage. By this gift, though nothing but, the word frank-marriage is expressed, the donees shall have the tenements to them and the heirs of their two bodies begotten that is, they are tenants in special tail. It is called frank or free marriage, because the donees are liable to no service but fealty. This is now obsolete, even in England. 2 Bl. Com. 115.