Reply to Downton Abbey: Season 4, Ep 2 *SPOILER ALERT!!!*

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Reply to "Downton Abbey: Season 4, Ep 2 *SPOILER ALERT!!!*"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can someone clarify the estate/entail law of the time?  How was Matthew able to will the estate to Mary instead of it automatically going to baby George, but Lord Grantham wasn't able to will the estate to Cora when they were all clearly dismayed initially that a distant cousin they didn't know (Matthew) was the male heir?  Or was Lord Grantham just accepting a sexist convention of male inheritance that wasn't legally mandated?[/quote]

I think that while the $$ (which was later lost) could have been passed from Lord Grantham to Cora, but the earldom could not be passed, since Lord Grantham had no sons. They were unwilling to upend tradition and probably break up Downtown as a result.

I think Matthew could have willed the $$ to Mary and the title would pass on to George. But, Mary being the mother (and presumably guardian) of the future earl, would be able to keep everything within the immediate family which would be more tenable than titled but broke Matthew and moneybags Cora.

Matthew had to be removed as the actor didn't want to stay on the show. Ditto for O'Brien.

Rose is meant to be a connection to the "Jazz Age" stuff but I'm with most of you, I don't care much for it.

Surprised Daisy hasn't gotten some interest from outside the Abbey, what with her on the way to having a decent-sized farm. [/quote]

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