SCT-INVERNESS-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: [SCT-INV-L] Re: "FEU" and "Martinmas"
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 09:57:58 EST

In a message dated 08/12/00 11:46:38 PM Central Standard Time,
writes:

<< Martinmas refers to the Feast day of St Martin, November 11th, just as
Christmas refers to the Feast Day of Christ.

"FEU" is a Scottish Legal term referring to a perpetual lease at a fixed
rent, in particular a peice of land. (I suspect that the fixed rent may
have been a mere token such as a Red Rose, or a Pepper-Corn, just to
establish that the property was not freehold but was on leased land, common
law being often that a squatter could establish a right of ownership if he
lived on land for a certain length of time without paying rent to the owner,
hence nominal rents being asked for merely to maintain the ownership.)

Often leases and rents were paid for, begun and ended on specific days
usually the "Quarter Days", and frequently also related to local Fairs and
major Market Days.
Liz P, Northern Ontario.

My auntie and several others pay a rent of 3 "bricks of
peat," (don't know the correct English term) to the local or nearest Kirk as
rent for the houses I hold, more or less, in trust for the family. This
"rent" is paid every Christmas Eve I believe it is. In return for that rent
they have the right to live on the land until they pass on at which time it
may go to a child of theirs or to another party or may be reclaimed by myself
or one of my heirs. The only stipulation is that they or an assigned steward
must work the land. (That can be defined as keeping a residence and cutting
the grass once a year, or cleaning the ashes from the fire)
By agreement while they are young and working they pay property taxes to the
government, (within reason) and keep up the land by crofting etc.
Unfortunately many of the young are leaving the area to seek their fortunes
on distant shore or in the South and I fear that before too long I shall no
longer have the privilege of providing a home for the elders of my family. It
is my hope that with the new movement north I may however be able to get "new
comers" on the land and that our way of life can continue for several more
generations.
Dave>>

This thread:

• Re: [SCT-INV-L] Re: "FEU" and "Martinmas" by <>