Heriots
English Law: Heriots in the Past
A make of the best beast or other goods, as the custom may be, to the lord, on the death of the tenant. 2 Bl. Com. 97.
Developments
They are usually divided into two sorts, heriot service and heriot custom; the former are such as are due upon a special reservation in the grant or lease of lands and therefore, amount to little more than a mere rent; the latter arise upon no special reservation any, but depend merely upon immemorial usage and custom. These are defined to be a usual tribute of goods and chattels, payable to the lord of the fee, on the decease of the owner of the land. 2 Bl. Com. 422. Vide Comyn’s Digest (A digest of the laws of England, 1822) Copyhold, K 18; Bac. Ab. h. t.; 2 Saund. lndex, h. t.; 1 Vern. 441. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]
Resources
Notes and References
- Partialy, this information about heriots is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including heriots.
Leave a Reply