I think you are referring to a lease of land for the lifetime of three people (usually of two or more generations - often husband, wife, and a son). This type of lease was also often made in the American colonies and I have seen it in Virginia records of colonial times. Not long ago, I obtained from the Somerset Record Office a copy of an ancestor's lease of farm land in the 1770s in Lydeard St. Lawrence, Somerset (it was for 14 years, which was a common duration of leases of that time and place). The lease was among a family's papers held by their solicitor and rather recently deposited at the Record Office. This particular lease was listed on their web site, which is how I learned of it's existence. I think it probably is usual that leases remained with the owners' family or with their legal papers, and could be difficult to find. But you might get lucky! You might check the Record Office website and perhaps inquire of the Record Office for guidance. For LDS film possibilities, look under Frome. There is always a description of film contents. Ruth USA ----- Original Message ----- From: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> To: <ENG-SOMERSET-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 5:48 PM Subject: [ENG-SOM] Frome Leases of Lives? This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: LoisMasters63 Surnames: Lease of Lives Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.england.som.general/12879/mb.ashx Message Board Post: This question is directed to someone with knowledge about lease of lives for Frome. Is it possible to access the 18th Century and 19th Century lease of live records for Frome? If so are these available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or would it be necessary to hire a researcher in England or Somerset? Thank you sincerely. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

There's an example for 99 years (although outside Somerset) at http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/SouthTawton/JamesMallett1710.html I'm not clear how the 99 years would work as if James were to nominate the third name at the time they would be very unlikely to be alive 99 years later. Perhaps he could nominate the third name later in life ? . At the time of the original agreement James didn't have any sons although there were later. Mike > -----Original Message----- > From: eng-somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:eng-somerset-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ruth Dunlap > Sent: 12 April 2008 23:14 > To: gc-gateway@rootsweb.com; eng-somerset@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ENG-SOM] Frome Leases of Lives? > > I think you are referring to a lease of land for the lifetime > of three people (usually of two or more generations - often > husband, wife, and a son). This type of lease was also often > made in the American colonies and I have seen it in Virginia > records of colonial times. > > Not long ago, I obtained from the Somerset Record Office a > copy of an ancestor's lease of farm land in the 1770s in > Lydeard St. Lawrence, Somerset (it was for 14 years, which > was a common duration of leases of that time and place). The > lease was among a family's papers held by their solicitor and > rather recently deposited at the Record Office. This > particular lease was > listed on their web site, which is how I learned of it's > existence. I > think it probably is usual that leases remained with the > owners' family or with their legal papers, and could be > difficult to find. But you might get lucky! You might check > the Record Office website and perhaps inquire of the Record > Office for guidance. For LDS film possibilities, look under Frome. > There is always a description of film contents. > Ruth > USA > >