A more thorough explanation:

The Custom of York is a historical practice that was prevalent in the city of York. It was a way of dividing the property of a man who died without leaving a will.

According to the Custom of York, the man's property was divided into different parts depending on his marital status and whether he had children or not. If the man was married and had children, his property was divided into three equal parts. One-third went to his widow, one-third to his children, and one-third to the administrator.

If the man was married but had no children or was single but had children, his property was divided into two parts. Half went to the administrator, and the other half was divided equally between the widow and children.

If the man was single with no children, all his property went to the administrator.

For example, if a man died in York without leaving a will and was survived by his wife and two children, his property would be divided into three equal parts. One-third would go to his wife, one-third to each of his children, and one-third to the administrator.

The Custom of York was a way of ensuring that the property of a man who died without leaving a will was distributed fairly among his family members. It was a common practice in York during the medieval period and continued until the 19th century.