Legal Definitions - intercommon

Intercommon is a term with a primary modern meaning related to shared resources, and historical meanings from Scots law concerning interactions with criminals.

• 1. Sharing Common Rights: In its most common modern usage, to intercommon means to share in the rights to use a piece of land or a resource that is held in common by a community.

  • Example: In a rural village, several farming families might intercommon by having the right to graze their sheep or cattle on a designated communal pasture. Each family has a shared right to use this land, even though they do not individually own it, ensuring all can benefit from the common resource.

• 2. Historical Scots Law - Associating with Criminals: Historically, particularly in Scots law, to intercommon could refer to the act of communicating or dealing with individuals who were considered outlaws or criminals.

  • Example: During a period of unrest, if a local merchant was discovered to be regularly trading supplies with a known band of cattle rustlers, they might have been accused of intercommoning, implying they were associating with and aiding criminals.

• 3. Historical Scots Law - Prohibition from Association: Conversely, also in historical Scots law, to be intercommoned could mean to be officially prohibited or forbidden from communicating or dealing with a criminal or a group of criminals, often as a legal sanction or social exclusion.

  • Example: A person suspected of having ties to a rebellious faction might have been legally intercommoned by a court order, meaning they were explicitly forbidden from any contact or communication with members of that faction to prevent further conspiracy or aid.