Does a dowry always indicate a paternal connection?

[KingKernow]

In 1215 in the Curia Regis Rolls, Agnes the wife of Roger de Linyeine pleaded for a third part of two acres of land on Lanion (in Cornwall) which she claimed as a dowry on Hugh de Bello Campo.
Does this mean that Hugh was the father, or at least kinsman, of Agnes?

[dot.hawkes]

It is possible that the land made up part of a dowry that was to be handed over to Agnes's Husband after a certain condition of the Marriage Bond was met. Women were not allowed to own property until the married Woman's property act of the late 1800s.

it is possible that HUGH De Bello Campo was the trustee of a will that named Agnes as a benefactor and the land formed part of the inheritence with a proviso that it was only transfereable as a dowry.

At that time the manoral courts would have handled all aspects of lae the Royal courts would have handled land matters, as all land was granted from the Crown.

it is worth looking at the probatel courts to locate a will that may mention Agnes. I am not sure which Archdeaconry that part of cornwall was in but your local record Office will be able to advise you. It may even have been Canterbury actually.

[KingKernow]

Thanks for your help. I'm not sure that I'll have much luck looking for a will from the 13th century, and if I do there's no chance of being able to read it. Thanks anyway, K.

[dot.hawkes]

Ok I have found my book on Probate Jurisdictions,
Cornwall was under the Province of canterbury but the diocese of Exeter and archdeaconry of cornwall, the records are at Truro.But surviving Wills only date back to the 1500s.
perhaps there are estate papers for de Bello campo at truro record office.

[dot.hawkes]

the earliezt will I have ever transcribed was 1430, you could try loking into the manor court rolls anyway, check this link out:
http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid =7672

Manor courts were held several times a year and there are glossaries available to explain what the proceeedings meant and how they involved the local peasants

[KingKernow]

Thanks for your help.

[heathcliffe]

I have only recently been researching the Linyeine tree. Roger was one of my numerous Greats Grandfather.
I have discovered that the name De Bello Campo was changed to Beauchamp the Norman french name. I therefore wonder if Hugh was a relative of Agnes and was a trustee of the will.