Borough English

Borough English, a custom abolished by Adminis-tration of Estates Act, 1925, s. 45. See (English) Law of Property Act, 1922, 12th Schedule; evidently of Saxon origin, and so named to distinguish it from the Norman customs. By this custom, which was met with in some burgage tenemental lands and elsewhere, if a person had several sons, and died intestate, the youngest son inherited all the realty, which belonged to his father, situated within such borough. It was based on the assumption that the youngest son, on account of his tender age, was not so capable as the rest of his brethren to keep himself. Among the pastoral tribes, the sons, as soon as they attained the proper age, migrated from the paternal habitation, with an allotment of cattle, to seek a residence elsewhere; the youngest son usually continued with his father, and thus became the heir to his house, 2 Bl. Com. 83.

The custom obtained in the manor of Lambeth, Surrey, in the manors of Hackney, St. John of Jerusalem in Islington, Heston and Edmonton in Middlesex, and in other counties.