Burgage

A species of tenure, described by old law 'writers as but tenure In socage, where the king or other person was lord of an ancient borough, in which the tenements were held by a rent certain. Such boroughs had, and still have, certain peculiar customs connected with the' tenure, which distinguished it from the ordinary socage tenure. These customs are known by the name of "Borough English" (q. -v), and they alter the law in respect of descent, as well as of dower, and the power of devising. By it the youngest son inherits the lands of which his father died seised. A widow, in some boroughs, has dower in respect to all the tenements which were her husband's; in others, she has a moiety of her husband's lands so long as she remains unmarried; and with respect to devises, in some places, such lands only can be devised as were acquired by purchase; in others, estates can only be devised for life.

2 Bl. Comm. 82; Glanv. bk. 7, c. 3; Litt. § 162; Cro. Car. 411; 1 Salk. 243; 2 Ld. Raym. 1024; 1 P. Wms. 63; Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 150; Cro. Eliz. 415.