Bethell v Hildyard | |
---|---|
Court | Chancery Division |
Decided | 1885 |
Citation | Bethell v Hildyard 38 Ch.D. 220. |
Court membership | |
Judge sitting | Striling J. |
Keywords | |
polygamy, marriage |
Bethell v Hildyard 38 Ch.D. 220. [1885 B. 2119.] is an important legal judgment of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, England.[1] The matter heard before Justice Striling concerned succession to property by the child of a marriage contracted by Christopher Bethell, an English man in Bechuanaland South Africa with Teepoo, a Barolong woman according to the customs of the Baralong people.[2]
The marriage was held not to be a valid marriage according to the law of England because the customs of the Baralong people permitted polygamy. The child was held not entitled to succeed to her father's property.