Medieval History Term of the Week: Escheator
Escheator
[es-chee-ter]
Etymology: Middle Eglish eschete, from Aglo-Frech, reversio of property, from escheir to fall, devolve
The royal official responsible for holding inquests on the deaths of tenants-in-chief to determine who should inherit the property and taking custody of any lands coming into the king’s custody because of the minority of heirs or the vacancy of a bishopric or monastery. Escheators also conducted inquests into the alienation of lands held of the king and lands granted to the church without royal permission.
(Waugh, Scott. England in the Reign of Edward III, 238)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on February 6th, 2009
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