The King's Town Upon Hull Warbler

A catalog of legal terms from Littleton’s ‘Treatise on Tenures’ (first edition published in 1481 or 1482). Nothing contained herein should be construed as a providing of legal advice. In all cases, please retain counsel.

• Demesne (domain)
  by ArchBishop
  June 18, 1641

  Under the feudal system, all the land retained and managed by a lord of the maonor, for their own use, occupation or support. Distinguished from land sub-enfeoffeed to sub-tenants.

• Enfeoffment
  by ArchBishop
  June 18, 1641

  Deed by which a person is given land in exchange for a pledge of service.

  English law. Right to pass to heirs as inheritance.

• Escheat
  by ArchBishop
  June 17, 1641

  Transfer real property of a person who has died without heirs to the Crown or state

  Common Law (reverted to feudal lord)

• Disseise
  by ArchBishop
  June 17, 1641

  To wrongly remove (a party) from real property that is lawfully possessed.

  To deprive (a person) of the possession of land, especially wrongly or by force.

• Freehold
  by ArchBishop
  June 17, 1641

  A tenure of real property by which an estate, or an estate for life, is held, in fee simple or fee tail.

• Fee simple
  by ArchBishop
  June 17, 1641

  A “fee” is a vested, inheritable, present possessory interest in land.

• Copyhold
  by ArchBishop
  June 17, 1641

  Tenure of land held according to the custom of the manor. A title deed received by the tenant, a copy of the relevant entry in the manorial court roll. A tenant/mesne lord legally known as copyholder.