Husting
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[edit] Development of the term
The origin of the term comes from the Old English word hústing or Old Norse term húsþing, literally the "thing" or "ting," meaning the assembly of the household of personal followers or retainers of a king, earl or chief, contrasted with the "folkmoot," the assembly of the whole people.
"Thing" literally meant any inanimate object, but also could refer to a cause, suit, or assembly; a similar development of meaning is found in the Latin res, as in the word 'republic' or res publica ('public thing'), meaning 'commonwealth'. The word still appears in the names of some of the legislative assemblies throughout Scandinavia, for example the Folketing of Denmark, the Althing of Iceland and the Storting of Norway.
"Husting," or more usually the plural "hustings," developed to mean a court of the city of London. This court was formerly the county court for the city and was held before the lord mayor, the sheriffs and aldermen, for the purpose of hearing pleas of land, common pleas and appeals from the sheriffs. It had probate jurisdiction and the ability to register wills. The charter of Canute (1032) contains a reference to "hustings" weights, which points to the early establishment of this court. It is doubtful whether courts of this name were held in other towns, but John Cowell (1554-1611) in his Interpreter (1601) s.v., "Hustings," says that according to Fleta there were such courts at Winchester, York, Lincoln, Sheppey and elsewhere. However, the passage from Fleta, as the New English Dictionary points out, does not necessarily imply this (II. lv. Habet etiam Rex curiam in civitatibus ... et in locis ... sicut in Hustingis London, Winton, est.).
This hustings court jurisdiction eventually became obsolete, but the court still sits occasionally for registering gifts made to the city. Today, the Hustings Court tradition can be found in some areas of in the United States, such as in Virginia, where Hustings Courts formerly decided local criminal and other matters[1][2] In Richmond, Virginia there is also a park called Hustings Court Square[3], where polling votes used to take place.
- ^ "Word of the Day". RandomHouse.com. http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000509.
- ^ In 1973 Virginia's Hustings Courts and Corporation Courts were reorganized as city Circuit Courts. Virginia Acts of Assembly 1973, c. 544. See also Code of Virginia, § 17.1-500.
- ^ "Major Parks in our Richmond's Urban Park System". Virginia Commonwealth University. http://www.courses.vcu.edu/ENG-nae/parks_in_richmond.htm.
