Colonial Laws

The laws of a colony. In the United States. The term is used to designate the body of law in force in the colonies of America at the time of the commencement of our independence, which was, in general, the common law of England, with such modifications as the colonial experience had introduced. The colonial law is thus a transition state, through which our present law is derived from the English common law. In England. The term "Colonial law" is used with reference to the present colonies of that realm. COLONUS (Lat.)

In civil law. A freeman of inferior rank, corresponding with the Saxon ceorl, and the German rural slaves.

The laws of a colony. In the United States the term is used to mencement of our independence, which was, in general, the common law of England, with such modifications as the colonial experience had introduced. The colonial law is thus a transition state through which our present law is derived from the English common law. In England the term colonial law is used with reference to the present colonies of that realm. See Colony. COLON US (Let). In Civil Law. A serf attached to the soil and whose descendants so continued. Whilst the coloni were not really servi, and in many respects were held to be ingenui, they were not permitted to remove from the place on which they were born into this status. They paid rent to the owner of the land and generally in kind. Those who were coloni liberi had well-ascertained rights of property as against the owner of the land, and were subject to few other obligations; while another class, called ccnsiti, had no property, and what they might acquire was acquired for the master. Howe, Civ. L. (2d ed.) 152. It is thought by Spence not improbable that many of the ceorls were descended from the coloni brought over by the Romans. The names of the coloni and their families were all recorded in the archives of the colony or district. Hence they were called adscriptitii. 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 51.

In America, this term designates the body of law in force in the thirteen original colonies before the Declaration of Independence. In England, the term signifies the laws enacted by Canada and the other present British colonies.

Defined under Colony in Black's Law Dictionary.

In America, this term designates the body of law in force in the thirteen original colonies before the Declaration of Independence. In England, the term signifies the laws enacted by Canada and the other present British colonies.