Legal Definitions - heriot

Heriot refers to a historical legal custom where, upon the death of a tenant, a specific payment or tribute was due to their landlord (often called the "lord of the fee"). This payment typically consisted of goods or personal property, known as "chattels," rather than money. It was a customary obligation tied to the land tenancy, ensuring the lord received a valuable item upon the change of tenancy.

• Example 1: Agricultural Tenancy

  Imagine a medieval village where a family has farmed the same plot of land for generations under a lord. When the head of the family, Elara, dies, the custom of the manor dictates that her eldest son must present the lord with her best plow horse. This horse is the heriot, a customary chattel payment made to the lord upon Elara's death, allowing the family to continue their tenancy.

• Example 2: Artisan's Lease

  In another historical scenario, a skilled artisan, Master Thomas, holds a lease on his workshop from a local baron. The terms of his tenancy, established by long-standing tradition, require that upon his passing, his most valuable tool – perhaps a finely crafted anvil or a unique set of woodworking chisels – must be surrendered to the baron. This transfer of a specific valuable item upon Master Thomas's death serves as the heriot.

• Example 3: General Estate Custom

  Consider a historical estate where tenants held small cottages and garden plots. When a tenant named John passes away, the estate's records indicate a customary heriot: the lord is entitled to claim John's "best beast" from his possessions. If John owned a cow, a pig, and a few chickens, the lord would claim the cow, as it was considered his most valuable animal, fulfilling the heriot obligation.