esnecy
nounEtymology See eigne.
1
Law UK, Historical, Obsolete A prerogative given to the eldest coparcener (or whomever of the coparceners is so entitled by a court) to choose first after an inheritance is divided.
- When, in the fourteenth century, the estates of the Corbets were divided amongst their co-heirs, Caus Castle, being of the esnecy of the elder sister, passed to the Barons Stafford.1862, Collectanea Archæologica: Communications Made to the British Archaeological Association, volume 1, page 43:
- In 1224 Walter de Besebroc and Joan his wife, Richard de Dunuar (or Dunnewer) and Agnes his wife were parceners of land in (Little) Newton, Northants.,[…]Walter and Joan had the esnecy; the inheritance extended into Rushton and Geddington, Northants.1925, William Farrer, Honors and Knights' Fees, page 261:
1 more example
- […]touching the purparty of Maud of the inheritance of William de Brehusa, father of Maud and Eleanor, whose heirs these are; of which inheritance the said Roger and Maud required esnecy, and thereof there was a plea in the said court[…].1971, Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Preserved in the Public Record Office: 1258-1266, Great Britain: Public Record Office, page 13: