Legal Definitions - praedial tithe

A praedial tithe refers to a historical form of payment or contribution, typically a fixed proportion (often one-tenth), that was levied on the actual produce of land. Unlike a monetary tax, a praedial tithe was paid "in kind," meaning with a share of the crops, livestock, or other agricultural goods harvested or produced from the land.

This type of tithe was common in many historical societies, often collected by religious institutions or feudal lords, and represented a direct claim on the agricultural output of a given piece of property.

• Example 1: Medieval Grain Harvest

  In 12th-century England, a peasant farmer cultivates a field of barley. After the harvest, the farmer is obligated to set aside one-tenth of the total barley yield. This portion is then delivered to the local parish church as their annual contribution. This illustrates a praedial tithe because it is a fixed share (one-tenth) of the produce of the land (barley) paid directly from the harvest.

• Example 2: Colonial Tobacco Production

  During the colonial era in Virginia, a planter cultivating tobacco on their estate might have been required by the governing authority to contribute a specific percentage, perhaps one-tenth, of their cured tobacco leaves. This portion would be collected and used to support the colonial administration or the established church. This is a praedial tithe as it's a payment made from the actual agricultural product (tobacco) grown on the land.

• Example 3: Livestock Contribution

  Consider a shepherd in a historical agricultural community who raises sheep. After the lambing season, the shepherd is required to give one out of every ten newborn lambs to the local monastery or feudal lord. This represents a praedial tithe because it is a contribution made "in kind" from the increase of the livestock, which is considered a direct product or yield of the land and its resources.