Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

FREEDMAN

519

FREE

FREE FISHERY. A franchise in the hands of a subject, existing by grant or pre scription, distinct from an ownership in the soil. It is an exclusive right, and applies to a public navigable river, without any right in the soil. 3 Kent, Comm. 410. FREE ON BOARD. A sale of goods "free on board" imports that they are to be delivered on board the cars, vessel, etc., with out expense to the buyer for packing, cart age, or other such charges. In a contract for sale and delivery of goods "free on board " vessel, the seller is under no obligation to act until the buyer names the ship to which the delivery is to be made. 117 Pa. St. 508, 12 AtL Rep. 32. FREE SERVICES. In feudal and old English law. Such feudal services as were not unbecoming the character of a soldier or a freeman to perform; as to serve under his lord in the wars, to pay a sum of money, and the like. 2 Bl. Comm. 60, 61. F R E E SHIPS. In international law. Ships of a neutral nation. The phrase "free ships shall make free goods" is often inserted in treaties, meaning that goods, even though belonging to an enemy, shall not be seized or confiscated, if found in neutral ships. Wheat. Int. Law, 507, et seq. FREE SOCAGE. In English law. A tenure of lands by certain free and honorable services, (such as fealty and rent,) and which are liquidated and reduced to a ceitainty. It was called "free socage" because the serv ices were not only free, but honorable; where as in villein socage the services, though cer tain, were of a baser nature. 2 Bl. Comm. 78, 79. FREE SOCMEN. In old English law. Tenants in free socage. Glanv. lib. 3, c. 7; 2 Bl. Comm. 79. FREE TENURE. Tenure by free serv ices; freehold tenure. FREE WARREN. A franchise for the preserving and custody of beasts and fowls of warren. 2 Bl. Comm. 39, 417; Co. Lilt. 233. This franchise gave the grantee sole right of killing, so fai as his warren extend ed, on condition of excluding other persons. 2 Bl. Comm. 39. FREEDMAN. InRoman law. One who was set free from a state of bondage; an emancipated slave. The word is used in the same sense in the United States, respect ing negroes who were formerly slaves.

years; in distinction to being bound as an apprentice. 3. Enjoying full civic rights. 4. Available to all citizens alike without charge; as a free school. 5. Available for public use without charge or toll; as a free bridge. 6. Not despotic; assuring liberty; defend ing individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; said of governments, institutions, etc. Webster. 7. Certain, and also consistent with an honorable degree in life; as free services, in the feudal law. 8. Confined to the person possessing, in stead of being shared with others; as a free fishery. 9. Not engaged in a war as belligerent or ally; neutral; as in the maxim, "Free ships make free goods." FREE ALMS. The name of a species of tenure. See FBANK-ALMOIGNE. FREE-BENCH. A widow's dower out of copyholds to which she is entitled by the custom of some manors. It is regarded as an excrescence growing out of the husband's in terest, and is indeed a continuance of his es tate. Wharton. FREE-BORD. In old records. An al lowance of land over and above a certain limit or boundary, as so much beyond or with out a fence. Cowell; Blount. The right of claiming that quantity. Termes de la Ley. FREE BOROUGH MEN. Such great men as did not engage, like the frank-pledge men, for their decennier. Jacob. FREE CHAPEL. In English ecclesias tical law. A place of worship, so called be cause not liable to the visitation of the ordi nary. It is always of royal foundation, or founded at least by private persons to whom the crown has granted the privilege. 1 Burn, Ecc. Law, 298. FREE COURSE. In admiralty law. A vessel having the wind from a favorable quarter is said to sail on a "free course." FREE ENTRY, EGRESS, AND RE GRESS. An expression used to denote that a person has the right to go on land again and again as often as maybe reasonably nec essary. Thus, in the case of A tenant enti tled to emblements.

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