University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Honors Theses Student Research 1981 The evolution of the statute of uses and its effects on English Law Timothy L. Martin Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses Part of the History Commons, and the Law Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Timothy L., "The ve olution of the statute of uses and its effects on English Law" (1981). Honors Theses. 1064. https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1064 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. THE EVOLUTION OF THE STATUTE OF USES AND ITS EFFECTS ON ENGLISH LAW A THESIS Presented by Timothy L. Martin To Dr. John Rilling Professor of British History For Completion of the Honors History Program May 1, 1981 LtSRARV Df.iTVERSITY OF RICHMOND VIRGINIA 23173 THE DEVELOPME�\JT OF THE ENGLISH USE FROM THE CONQUEST TO THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII The Norman Conquest (1066) signified a new epoch in the evolution of the law of succession of real property in England. The introduction of the Norman brand of feudalism necessitated a revision in the primitive Anglo-Saxon mode o f succession.. 1 The feudal system was necessarily dependent upon a stable chain of land ownership, and thus, the principle of primogeniture emerged as the dominant form of land convey- ance. 2 By the end of the twelfth century it was held that, "God alone, and not man, can make an heir.113 Land pur chased during one's lifetime could be freely transferred, but wills and deathbed grants of property were forbidden.