Ancient Demesne Or Domain

Concept of Ancient Demesne or Domain

Traditional meaning of ancient demesne or domain [1] in the English common law history: A tenure existing in certain manors held by the Crown at the time of Edward the Confessor or William the Conqueror. A species of copyhold with fixed services and certain privileges; see 1st Book (“The Rights of Persons”), Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England 286; 2 id. 99. A plea of ancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to real actions, or actions where the freehold may come in question; see the entry on types of courts, 42. [rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Based on A concise law dictionary of words, phrases and maxims, “Ancient Demesne or Domain”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. This term and/or definition may be absolete. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary, based on a glossary of terms, included Ancient Demesne or Domain.

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