from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MORGANTIC MARRIAGE. During the middle ages, there was an intermediate estate
between matrimony and concubinage, known by this name. It is defined to be a
lawful and inseparable conjunction of a single man, of noble and illustrious
birth, with a single woman of an inferior or plebeian station, upon this
condition, that neither the wife nor children should partake of the title,
arms, or dignity of the husband, nor succeed to his inheritance, but should
have a certain allowance assigned to them by the morgantic contract. The
marriage ceremony was regularly performed; the union: was for life and
indissoluble; and the children were considered legitimate, though they could
not inherit. Fred. Code, book 2, art. 3; Poth. Du Marriage, 1, c. 2, s. 2;
Shelf. M. & D. 10; Pruss. Code, art. 835.