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From: "Dobricky, John" <>
Subject: RE: [MDSTMARY-L] RE: Henry Thompson
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 12:09:21 -0500


Thanks for the clarification. This is also why I always talk about
individuals who "possessed" a particular tract of land before the
American Revolution. Of course, some of the land was held in "freehold"
and, often, that was designated in the name--for example, "St.
Winifred's Freehold." See ya' John D.

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 10:29 AM
To: ; Dobricky, John
Subject: Re: [MDSTMARY-L] RE: Henry Thompson


John, et al

Land transactions in Maryland until the Revolutionary War were
based on the proprietary system. In Maryland it was often the Lord of
the Manor who presumably owned the land. Land was leased or rented to
occupants for the [beginning around 1700] for the lifetime of someone.
That is why, on the Rent Rolls you often found terms like - for the life
of Robert Clarke, Sr, John Clarke, Robert Clarke, Jr. By adding the
children to the lease, you kept the property longer. After the Rev War,
the land lease system still applied to some of the land in Maryland, up
until the present.

In the early 1950's we lived in NW DC while I worked for the
Govt trying to raise enough $ to buy a home downpayment. Our neighbors
purchased a home in Maryland just north of the University of Maryland
that included a 99 year lease on the land with an option to renew it.
The widow is still living there and their lease still has about 50 years
to run. It will probably be the great great grandchildren who will
receive the land or renewal fee 50 years from now.

In the Rent Rolls, you will find that the name of the 'leasor'
or 'renter' or whatever is listed first and then for lifetimes of
.........; and then the possessors name, who often may be a sub-leasor,
who is now living on the property. In many instances, people like James
Clarke had several parcels of land like Clarks East Discovery; Clarks
West Discovery; etc., land that he found unoccupied and unclaimed and
I'm sure he needed someone to farm it.

The lease or patent usually tells what the annual rent amount
is, when it it due, and where to pay it [in the early days of MD, on
Religious Feast Days.]

Charley

writes:




However, I was thinking about the "Battin's Cliffs"
"sale." I put
"sale" in quotes because I have come to believe that a
lot of the real
estate transactions we think were sales were actually
mortgages.






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