Talk:Copyhold

Copyhold Acts
This article could mention the copyhold acts of approximately 1880.

Thus a sale of copyhold in 1881 by Wm. Cooper to James Bakewell was recorded in the Abstract of Title for a property in Belper as follows:

" in manner . . above specified at the Will of the Ld (of the manor) by the rents &c for the same due & of right accustomed accdg to the custom of the sd Manors

the sd J.Bakewell did in his own proper person out of Crt (to wit) at the time & place afsd come befe the said J.Gadsby & prayed to be admitted tent to the afsd Copyhold pres pust to the afsd surr

AND for such estate & Admce thto the sd W.Cooper then gave to the Ld of the sd Manors £30 for a Fine his fealty was respited and he was thupon admitted tenant

William Cooper gained copyhold of the property, but he also gained three subtenants. Moreover the previous copy holder had raised a mortgage on it from yet another person.

Finally in 1882

under the provons of "the Copyhold Acts" to be the sum of £102. 10. 2 & the sd sum of £102. 10. 2. had been duly paid under the diron of the sd Copyhd Commrs

THE Copyhold Commrs in pursuance of the power vested in them by "the Copyhold Acts" did by that Award of Enft enfranchise

ALL the sd Copyhold land and hdts descrd in thr Schedule thto with their appurts SAVE AND EXCEPT the rights reserved by "the Copyhold Acts" Sec 48

TO BE HOLDEN as freehold and for ever discharged from all fines heriots reliefs and rents and all other incidents whatsoever of Copyhold or Customary tenure save and except as afsd

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Chevin (talk • contribs) 17:24, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Tenants and subtenants
The copyholder might well sublet parts of the property, and parts of such parts might also be sublet. Moreover the copyhold might the security for a mortagage. Presumably if the copyhold was to be sold or transferred, the Court Baron would take account of such eventualities. Thus the property from which the above extract taken was an inheritance upon which a mortgage was subsequently raised, while part of it was let to a small holder (who improved it) and further sublet three workshop/dwellings. Thus the abstract of title is complex to say the least. The more so because it was inherited by a niece and at a time before the Married Women's Property Acts, the Belper Court would not allow the transaction to go ahead until the person concerned had testified in open court that she was not under duress from her husband. Chevin (talk) 15:58, 3 October 2012 (UTC)

Selling copyhold with lives
It was quite possible to sell copyhold with lives, and I could produce a number of examples, but of course the acquiescence of the lives was required. If this was obtained before money changed hands, then there was no great problem. More problematic was devising such copyholds by will; I have examples where the testator demanded a written statement of the lives' agreement to surrender. (In this case, the lives were two of her children, and she wanted the proceeds of the sale to go to all eight of her children.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.35.180.249 (talk) 11:05, 11 March 2015 (UTC)