Feoffment

A gift of any corporeal hereditaments to another. It operates by transmutation of possession, and it is essential to its completion that the seisin be passed.

Watk. Conv. 183.

The conveyance of a corporeal hereditament either by investiture or by livery of seisin.

1 Sullivan, Lect. 143; 1 Washb. Real Prop. 33.

The instrument or deed by which such hereditament is conveyed. This was one of the earliest moods of conveyance used in the common law. It signified originally the grant of a fee or feud; but it came in time to signify the grant of a fee inheritance in fee, respect being had rather to the perpetuity of the estate granted than to the feudal tenure.

1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law, 9D.

The feoffment was likewise accompanied by livery of seisin. 1 Washb. Real Prop. 33. -The conveyance by feoffment with livery of seisin has become infrequent, if not obsolete, in England, and in this country has not been used in practice. Cruise, Dig. tit.

32, c. 4, § 3; Shep. Touch, c. 9; 2 Bl. Comm. 20; Co. Litt. 9; 4 Kent, Comm. 467; Comyn, Dig.; 12 Viner, Abr. 167; Bac. Abr.; Dane, Abr. c. 104; 1 Washb. Real Prop. 33; 8 Cranch (U. S.) 229.