Many times if the land that a family held was held by lease or by copyhold, it was held for "lives." In this situation it usually went to the youngest male. When held for "lives" it was usually for three "lives," e.g. grandfather, father, and son. By giving the land to the youngest male in each generation, it insured that the land would be kept in the family longer. After the third life the land then reverted back to the lord of the manor unless some other arrangement had been made with the manor. Allen Peterson