Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Childwite

In medieval England, childwite was a fine levied by the feudal lord on the reputed father when an unmarried unfree woman gave birth to a child. The Oxford English Dictionary cites the following use of the term from 1672: "Within the Mannor of Writtle in Com. Essex, every reputed Father of a Bastard gotten there, pays to the Lord for a Fine three shillings four pence, and the custome is there also called Childwit."

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
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In medieval England, childwite (or childwit) was a fine levied by the feudal lord on the reputed father when an unmarried unfree woman gave birth to a child. The Oxford English Dictionary cites the following use of the term from 1672: "Within the Mannor of Writtle in Com. Essex, every reputed Father of a Bastard gotten there, pays to the Lord for a Fine three shillings four pence, and the custome is there also called Childwit."1

References

References

  1. "childwite". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 20 November 2022. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
See also

See also