COPYHOLD

A species of estate at will, or customary estate in England, the only visible title to which consists of the copies of the court rolls, which are made out by the steward of the manor, on a tenant’s being admitted to any parcel of land, or tenement belonging to the manor. It is an estate at the will of the lord, yet such a will as is agreeable to the custom of the manor, which customs are preserved and evidenced by the rolls of the several courts baron, in which they are entered. 2 Bl. Comm. 95. In a larger sense, copyhold is said to import every customary tenure, (that is, every tenure pending on the particular custom of a manor,) as opposed to free socage, or freehold, which may now (since the abolition of knight-service) be considered as the general or common law tenure of the country. 1 Steph. Comm. 210. Copyhold commissioners. Commissioners appointed to carry into effect various acts of parliament having for their principal objects the compulsory commutation of manorial burdens and restrictions, (fines, heriots, rights to timber and minerals, etc.,) and the compulsory enfranchisement of copyhold lands. 1 Steph. Comm. 643: Elton. Copyh. Copyholder. A tenant by copyhold tenure, (by copy of court-roll.) 2 Bl. Comm. 95. Privileged copyholds. Those copyhold estates which are said to be held according to the custom of the manor, and not at the will of the lord, as common copyholds are. They include customary freeholds and ancient demesnes. 1 Crabb, Real Prop. p. 709,