Historic Terms Used in the Irish Registry of Deeds (Part 2)

Continuing from yesterday’s blog, I want to finish my dictionary of terms found in the Irish Registry of Deeds. I have utilized many sources in compiling both lists. This includes genealogical books and books on English land records. The laws governing Irish deeds were based upon those governing English deeds.

Marriage Settlement: Also termed “articles of agreement” it contains mention of the marriage itself and family data binding the two families together through land transactions.

Memorials of Deeds: The common term referencing the deeds. The memorial itself is a copy of the original deed sent to the Registry of Deeds and entered as an official document.

Mortgages: The deeds of mortgages either say they are mortgages or that the property is conveyed with a redemption clause. Mortgage deeds are complex; the purchasing of a mortgage served the same purpose as the modern stock market.

Parcel: A piece of land sometimes in a common field.

Partition: A deed of partition is an agreement to divide an estate.

Pound: An enclosure maintained by an authority for the detention of stray or trespassing cattle as well as for the keeping of distrained cattle or goods until redeemed.

Quality Lot: The part of a holding distinguished by the quality of the soil for valuation purposes.

Recital:  The preliminary statement in a deed showing the reason for its existence and explaining the operative part.

Relief of Dower: The assurance by a married woman to the purchaser of land that she relinquished her right to dower in it; generally unnecessary, as the woman joined with her husband in making the conveyance.

Remainder: A future interest in property. An interest in a particular estate that will pass to one at some future time, as on the death of the current possessor.

Severance: The division of an estate into independent parts.

Title: The means by which an owner of land has the right to possess that property.

Trust: The estate of a person who is invested with the legal ownership of land on the condition that it is held for the benefit of another.