Richard, Thanks so much as this is similar in the Will I have for William SMITH of Thrisk--He died in 1812 and the will is dated 1813. Part of this Will states the following: I devise all my real estate situated in the township of Thirsk aforesaid which was the joint property and estate of myself and my late brother Thomas Smith deceased unto my Nephew, John Smith his heirs and assign for ever. I also give and devise all the remainder of my real estate situated in the said township which I have lately purchased of different person----"unto my nephew John Smith his heirs and assign for ever I give and devise all my copyhold estate situate at Knayton in the said county which i have --surrendered to the use of this my will ---" Thanks for sharing another idea of copyhold.. I appreciate this help. Margaret L In a message dated 5/30/2008 2:35:54 P.M. Central Daylight Time, richard.thomson7@ntlworld.com writes: Margaret A copyhold document was the starting point of my family history research several years ago. My family still had the copyholders copy of the entry in the court rolls of Allerton Liberty, dating from 1805 when my 4xgreat grandfather died, and his farm was passed on to my 3xgreat grandfather. When I looked at the original in the court roll at the North Yorks Record Office, I found that the wording was the same of course. A bonus was that the clerk had copied the whole of his will into the roll, which includes the sentence "I Give and Devise all my said Freehold and Copyhold Messuages Lands Closes or parcels of Ground hereditaments and premises situate in the township of Brompton aforesaid or elsewhere unto and to the use of my said Son Thomas STAINTHORP his heirs and assigns for ever." thus indicating that a copyhold tenancy could be inherited. Technically the farm was surrendered back to the lord of the manor (the Bishop of Durham), and then it was granted to the son upon paym! ent of a fine of 1 shilling and sixpence, and another payment of 11 shillings and eightpence. Both moderately small sums for a farm of 160 acres. The farm passed to my 2xgreat grandfather by the same means, and the copyhold was eventually sold by my great-great grandfather's executors in 1899. Richard ------------------------------- **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)