I can help with number 3 as I asked the same question. An assize is like a jury, so being on an Assize would be like being on jury duty. Mike Bostwick JaneKate@aol.com wrote: > I am reading old documents and histories and come across words I don't > understand. I'm hoping someone from Orkney can (please) help me out! > 1)What is an odal property? > 2)Are odallers the same as farmers? > 3)In legal documents of the 1600's, what does "is on an Assize" mean? > 4) in a document from 1669 "John and his wife, give state, saving liferent of > his mother to Thomas....." (Maybe "life rent" is two words....??) > 5) What exactly was the Uthell Book? I have 3 pages copied from the book, and > it appears to be lists of current landholders....but what does "land Uthell" > mean exactly after every entry? For example "two penney land Uthell" > Thanks for your help....Jane in New Hampshire, USA